Countryman, Yeti, Kuga, Etc...
Discussion
Hi All,
Any experiences of the above or similar?
Looking to change the OH's car from a Fiat 500 to something that will handle 100 mile commute 3 times a week on M/W with a little more comfort, plus more space for 2 dogs.
Up to about £6k budget, but prefer to spend £5k or less. Age wise - 2010 or newer. 60k miles ish.
Countryman seems a funky alternative - similar styling to her Fiat, but ride supposedly awful.
Yeti is a cracker in terms of practicality - maybe a litle boring?
Kuga seems weel reviewed and surprisingly reliable for a Ford.
Other options?
Merc B class also on radar and tend to be a bit cheaper as a lot less desireable. Maybe an A3 sportback - I had one before and it wasn't bad.
Any thoughts or other options? Off to view a lot of the above at the weekend. Just wondering if I have missed anything.
Any experiences of the above or similar?
Looking to change the OH's car from a Fiat 500 to something that will handle 100 mile commute 3 times a week on M/W with a little more comfort, plus more space for 2 dogs.
Up to about £6k budget, but prefer to spend £5k or less. Age wise - 2010 or newer. 60k miles ish.
Countryman seems a funky alternative - similar styling to her Fiat, but ride supposedly awful.
Yeti is a cracker in terms of practicality - maybe a litle boring?
Kuga seems weel reviewed and surprisingly reliable for a Ford.
Other options?
Merc B class also on radar and tend to be a bit cheaper as a lot less desireable. Maybe an A3 sportback - I had one before and it wasn't bad.
Any thoughts or other options? Off to view a lot of the above at the weekend. Just wondering if I have missed anything.
My other half is on her second Kuga - 17 plate.
Can't fault it. Nice high driving position so she can see into people's houses. Good size boot and handles well. It is the titanium and comes pretty well specc'd.
Apart from the alternator going at 80k on the previous, which is probably fair enough, we have had no problems.
Residuals on them are really good.
Depends on the size of the dogs. Bernese Mountain Dogs or chihuahuas?
The Countryman isn't that bad, but the boot isn't brilliant. It's better than the Mini hatch, obviously, but not by masses and it's very upright (as Deerfoot says, like the Yeti).
I'd be erring towards an estate car but it does depend on the size of the dogs.
Most of my dog friends have estates, not SUVs. Reason being the extra height can be an issue for some dogs in terms of getting in and out, especially once they get on a bit. An acquaintance of mine who breeds greyhounds specifically advises against having an SUV for this reason (although greyhounds are especially delicate and can injure themselves doing almost anything).
The Countryman isn't that bad, but the boot isn't brilliant. It's better than the Mini hatch, obviously, but not by masses and it's very upright (as Deerfoot says, like the Yeti).
I'd be erring towards an estate car but it does depend on the size of the dogs.
Most of my dog friends have estates, not SUVs. Reason being the extra height can be an issue for some dogs in terms of getting in and out, especially once they get on a bit. An acquaintance of mine who breeds greyhounds specifically advises against having an SUV for this reason (although greyhounds are especially delicate and can injure themselves doing almost anything).
Thanks for comments so far - very useful.
2 small terriers so think they would fit ok in the boot's of any of them. The appeal of SUV/MPV over estate is the higher driving position - OH prefers that and greatly dislikes driving my saloon as she struggles to gauge the front of the car.
2 small terriers so think they would fit ok in the boot's of any of them. The appeal of SUV/MPV over estate is the higher driving position - OH prefers that and greatly dislikes driving my saloon as she struggles to gauge the front of the car.
OH has a Kuga Titanium X.
It's.....fine. Reliable, high driving position, kids like it, dog (Labrador) has plenty of space in the boot.
It is just. so. dull.
Absolutely nothing wrong with it, they are perfectly capable cars. Just sooooo boring.
Great heated windscreen, good heated seats.
But dull. So dull.
It's.....fine. Reliable, high driving position, kids like it, dog (Labrador) has plenty of space in the boot.
It is just. so. dull.
Absolutely nothing wrong with it, they are perfectly capable cars. Just sooooo boring.
Great heated windscreen, good heated seats.
But dull. So dull.
I had two Yetis and loved them - both CR170 4x4 manuals.
No Lotuses, but genuinely fun to drive, more capable off road than I needed by some margin, lots of space inside but not huge outside. No reliability issues with either. I was quite sad when they discontinued them rather than make a Yeti 2.
No Lotuses, but genuinely fun to drive, more capable off road than I needed by some margin, lots of space inside but not huge outside. No reliability issues with either. I was quite sad when they discontinued them rather than make a Yeti 2.
The Kuga in Titanium spec would be my they're reliable & a good car but they seem to hold their money well:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
The Yeti's seem easier to find although they're lacking grunt compared to the Kuga's
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Antera SE Nav I don't know much about these but they seem to tick all of your boxes
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Diamond
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Captiva (same car as the above)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Hyundai Santa Fe
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Vitara SZ5
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
The Yeti's seem easier to find although they're lacking grunt compared to the Kuga's
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Antera SE Nav I don't know much about these but they seem to tick all of your boxes
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Diamond
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Captiva (same car as the above)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Hyundai Santa Fe
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Vitara SZ5
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
The Countryman isn't awful, my wife has one and she loves the thing and it can fit me the wide and two young kids in easily in comfort.
The boot is very small for what it is, yes you will get your dog's in I'm sure but it's ok for a weekly shopping trip but not much more.
The build quality is fine but not amazing, I imagine a Skoda would probably have better internal.plastics. I feel it's a bit style over substance, I own a Volvo V60 of similar age and I take my Volvo everytime but I think the Mini is very acceptable just not ground breaking.
My wife wanted a Mini though and she wouldn't have been happy with any other make, she's not really interested in cars but does love the Mini.
The boot is very small for what it is, yes you will get your dog's in I'm sure but it's ok for a weekly shopping trip but not much more.
The build quality is fine but not amazing, I imagine a Skoda would probably have better internal.plastics. I feel it's a bit style over substance, I own a Volvo V60 of similar age and I take my Volvo everytime but I think the Mini is very acceptable just not ground breaking.
My wife wanted a Mini though and she wouldn't have been happy with any other make, she's not really interested in cars but does love the Mini.
We're on our 2nd Countryman.
Good for passenger space but boot is quite small.
Ride is fine on the basic models with sensible wheels and no run flats. We had a Cooper on 16" wheels and it was really quite good.
We now have a Cooper S on 18" wheels and the ride is awful, even after ditching the runflats. It finds imperfections in roads that you wouldn't notice in most other cars (non BMW group cars anyway).
Good for passenger space but boot is quite small.
Ride is fine on the basic models with sensible wheels and no run flats. We had a Cooper on 16" wheels and it was really quite good.
We now have a Cooper S on 18" wheels and the ride is awful, even after ditching the runflats. It finds imperfections in roads that you wouldn't notice in most other cars (non BMW group cars anyway).
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