Shed-ish money bratbox SUV/MPV

[cj2013]

Done a few of these over the past 3 or 4 years, but this is a slight different remit. Definitely no estates in this stage of thinking.

I don't do a lot of miles in a 'family' car, especially during these unusual times, but still need one for trips aways and what-not.

I've got to the stage where we don't use ISOFIX, so no concerns there, but we have 2 large child seats and a double push chair system thing to lug around. That means that when I use the car, it's either going to need room for all that plus a fair whack of luggage, or because I'm off to B&Q or similar.

I'm keeping some money aside to potentially support a family issue, so I'm downgrading and generally therefore would like to stay around shed money (maybe up to £1500, but prefer to stick to shed value). I do my own spannering and generally have decent insurance quotes regardless of what it is, so not concerned too much around maintenance costs to an extent.

So:
- At least 5 seats
- Large luggage space (obviously if it's a 7 seater, it's normally going to allow for that)
- Max £1500
- Somewhat reliable/economical as much as is possible
- The o/h prefers the comfort of higher ground clearance vehicles
- It's not a PH vehicle, so I'm leaning towards Autos (as long as they don't have a box made of polystyrene)

Although it's generally not going to mean an awful lot due to the mileage I'll likely do (between 4k to 8k p/a I anticipate), I don't think I could live with something that's doing low 20's or less to the gallon. Although the bigger picture might even it out, needing to spend £100 in fuel for a 200 mile round trip is going to just put off. I don't think it's a risk on the budget, but I'd also prefer to avoid 06 onwards mega RFL rates (£500+ pa) if possible.
Slidey doors and removable/configurable seats are a bonus, of course. I'm in the South West, which tends to make prices a little spikier on some models, due to demand.

So far I was thinking:

- Chrysler Grand Voyager (or maybe non-Grand)
Mate of mine has one; owners generally seem to like them. American and a bit dated, but lots of positives. 2.5CRD looks like a good engine?
- Mazda5?
Considered these before, slidey doors and seem to generally be good? They've gone into lemonade money ownership so I've seen a lot of bodged sheds going through Facebook Marketplace, which puts me off a bit (like the Zafira A...)
- Grand Scenic
Seem to get a lot of a value for money, but I've experienced the 'designed obsolescence' nature of them before, and it's a little off-putting to think that all the windows and electrics can crap themselves by random occurrence.
- XC90
Not sure it's a good idea to get one of these for shed money, although you do see them.

I've also considered estates like a Saab 9-3, A4 Avant, Mondeo etc, but I'm not sure whether the mrs will accept the 'lower' seating position. Seriously, on a 200 mile journey you don't want the ear-ache of travel sickness or whatever!

So yes, bit of a stretch, but not considering any traditional 'estates'. Any thoughts on the list/something I've not considered. I don't mind 'unusual' or 'rare' so long as it's not like finding nemo to get spare parts.

[ChrisH72]

My cousin has had a Citroen C8 for donkeys years. Definitely not my kind of car but it's huge, I'm sure the seats come out and he's had sofas and all sorts in it. It's most likely a diesel and I don't think he's had much go wrong over the years. They're certainly shed money now.

[cj2013]

ChrisH72 said:

My cousin has had a Citroen C8 for donkeys years. Definitely not my kind of car but it's huge, I'm sure the seats come out and he's had sofas and all sorts in it. It's most likely a diesel and I don't think he's had much go wrong over the years. They're certainly shed money now.

They're the Eurovan platform (C8, 807, Ulysee). I was looking at them 2 or 3 years ago but they all seem to have dropped into the lemonade budget households, meaning it's almost impossible to find out that isn't an absolute dog for shed money.

I joined a Facebook group for them at the time (this one https://www.facebook.com/groups/Eurovan2/) and all I saw was posted from people trying to 'get rid' of theirs, complaining about them always breaking, or the usual horrors involving patching them up with chinese ebay parts. A bit similar to my Mazda5 concerns.

[ChrisH72]

Can you get a Previa for that money?

[ZX10R NIN]

Grand Picasso

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

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

Mazda5 TS

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

1.9d Espace

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

2.8d Grand Voyager

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

VW Touran

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

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

[cj2013]

ChrisH72 said:

Can you get a Previa for that money?

It would appear so (good shout), just not in this area of the country. Will have to keep an eye out.



Of course trying to avoid the question being "I can't find a car", and more being ideas/anecdotes/advice on the choices. I do, of course, know you can buy something, but it doesn't make many of them a good idea (which is what I'm looking at).

Some of them are frustrating, e.g. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Chrysler-Voyager-2004/1...

"Great condition inside and out"

Has 3 weeks of MOT and the last two suggest it is falling to pieces.