More space needed, what should I look at first?

[whytheory]

I currently have a Clio which I have on a great PCP deal, I drive 20k a year and find the Clio very comfy and like all the toys (LED headlights, auto wipers / lights / climate). Now I have a baby space is tight however, with the rear facing child seat there's hardly room for my wife in the car, and with the pushchair in the boot theres no room for anything else.

Essentially I need something to check the above boxes while being economical on the long commute, I've been looking for a few weeks and here's what I've come up with;

A) Buy a second car, it will probably sit unused 95% of the time and conventional wisdom says owning two cars is the most expensive option, however by my sums that's not the case, I have only one car lined up for this;

2010 Renault Scenic 1.5 DCi with 130k miles FSH 1 owner, £1,495

B) Exit the PCP (WBAC will pay more than the settlement figure) and buy a larger car, currently looking at the following;

2013 Citroen C4 Picasso 2.0 HDi with 80k miles FSH 1 owner £5000

2013 Mercedes E250 CDi with 259k miles FSH 2 owners £5300

2017 VW Golf 1.6 TDi BMT with 75k miles FSH 1 owner £8500

What should I look at first? Or should I be looking at something completely different?

[KomodoWagon]

I don't have kids myself but all the people I know or am related to that do tend to go for medium-sized estates.

So stuff like Skoda Octavia, Volvo V50 or V60, Ford Focus, Seat Leon ST or Exeo, Toyota Auris or Avensis.

[Scootersp]

KomodoWagon said:

I don't have kids myself but all the people I know or am related to that do tend to go for medium-sized estates.

So stuff like Skoda Octavia, Volvo V50 or V60, Ford Focus, Seat Leon ST or Exeo, Toyota Auris or Avensis.

OP I'm having the same sort of dilemma, some of the above are on my radar as well as newer cheaper, Fiat Tipo/Dacia Logan etc.


I'm finding it hard to decide on newer low mileage but a lower quality car or, 'better' car but older and/or high mileage. My mindset is currently swaying towards a newer no frills car which is unlike me but it interests me how people eventually pick from their budget. I have no real style bias, marque snobbery or newness snobbery I just want cheap hassle free motoring, like shedding without the constant car flipping?

[BigTrak79]

i have a similar dilemma, currently using a mx5 for myself and b-max for the wife and baby but the bmax boot is too small for the pushchair. deciding whether to keep the mazda and upgrade her bmax to a grand cmax or similar or bin off the mx5 and get myself an estate.
primary option to replace the bmax is the grand cmax as the sliding doors are actually incredibly helpful in tight spaces with a baby. If we lkeep the bmax and swap out the mx5 i'm thinking mazda6 estate

[whytheory]

I had considered a new Ford Tourneo Courier (they seem to be trying to give them away) in the spirit of no worries motoring, but the lack of any toys at all does put me off.

Medium estates definitely a good shout, just finding the right one, I'm picky clearly...

[ooid]

Dump the citroen..

Get a 60k-80k miles, Lexus RX350.
Reliable, Bullet proof v6 SUV, less than 7k.

[coldel]

We used a Ford Focus in the early years, but switched to a Qashqai (series 1 2008 car) recently now our son is 8 and its brilliant - you can see why it sells the numbers it does. Only slightly longer than a Focus but feels very roomy inside.

[Olas]

Golf estate has all the space and practicality you need along with cheap and widely available parts. 'Golf' is the answer to more than 50% of these questions.

[chrislusty]

Scootersp said:

OP I'm having the same sort of dilemma, some of the above are on my radar as well as newer cheaper, Fiat Tipo/Dacia Logan etc.


I'm finding it hard to decide on newer low mileage but a lower quality car or, 'better' car but older and/or high mileage. My mindset is currently swaying towards a newer no frills car which is unlike me but it interests me how people eventually pick from their budget. I have no real style bias, marque snobbery or newness snobbery I just want cheap hassle free motoring, like shedding without the constant car flipping?

We've got a Tipo and it truly is a great car, it’s slow as it’s only got the 1.4 95bhp engine, bigger engines are available, but apart from that, the ride is smooth, build quality is great considering its price, its spacious, comes with Apple Car Play, it’s quiet when on the move. It doesn’t have all the latest toys, however it costs considerably less than cars in its class, so something has to give. We’ve got the Mirror spec and that comes with Apple CarPlay as standard, so nice touch screen to use too.

[Scootersp]

chrislusty said:

We've got a Tipo and it truly is a great car, it’s slow as it’s only got the 1.4 95bhp engine, bigger engines are available, but apart from that, the ride is smooth, build quality is great considering its price, its spacious, comes with Apple Car Play, it’s quiet when on the move. It doesn’t have all the latest toys, however it costs considerably less than cars in its class, so something has to give. We’ve got the Mirror spec and that comes with Apple CarPlay as standard, so nice touch screen to use too.

cheers for that feedback, I'm used to living in the past car wise (nothing newer than a 09 plate and that was a couple of years ago) so it'll be fine for me I'd imagine.

The only thing that's got me wavering is a private focus estate, few quid more, bit older and a few more miles but heated front screen is something I've had before and liked but then almost zero call for it this year down south!

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say the Mazda5 in Sport or Venture Edition spec will fit the bill they'll be 2011> & below 80k

Sport these come pretty much loaded with spec Xenons Full Heated Leather seats etc.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Venture Edition

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Or look for a C5/DS5:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[chrislusty]

Scootersp said:

cheers for that feedback, I'm used to living in the past car wise (nothing newer than a 09 plate and that was a couple of years ago) so it'll be fine for me I'd imagine.

The only thing that's got me wavering is a private focus estate, few quid more, bit older and a few more miles but heated front screen is something I've had before and liked but then almost zero call for it this year down south!

Yes we've had Mondeos and a fiesta with the heated screen, and in Wales it’s s used weekly throughout the winter. The Tipo doesn’t nt take long to clear the windscreen though, it has basic air con, but works well.

Let me know if you want any other info on it.

[GreatGranny]

Ditch the 2 car idea IMO.

You're buying an old diesel Renault which are well known for major issues. It's just not worth it especially if it will be lying unused for 95% of the time.

I think there are better options than the ones you have listed.

Avensis estate

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Astra Estate

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

308

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?sort=year-...

Fabia

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?sort=year-...

i30

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Focus

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Mondeo

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...