Help - what car for my sister?

[heisthegaffer]

Hi all

My sister has finally had her money back on a Qashqai which she bought from a st bag dealer who is a Japanese franchise based in CW9 after a ridiculous battle lasting about a year.

She needs a replacement that fulfills the following criteria:-

Leather seats
Heated seats
Heated windscreen would be nice
Needs to be roomy, her son is coming on for well over 6 foot and can't fit in a mondeo
Budget £14k or less
40k miles or less
New as possible


She's keen on a Kuga so can people let me know what a good engine is wnat what to avoid. It's general journeys, taking her kids to school on a 50 mile round trip 3 times a week. Wants something with a bit of go in it so not keen on tiny engine.

Not another Qashqai.

What are Kia Sport ages like? She's heard they're not that reliable which surprised me.

Anything else?

Ive suggested a BMW 2 series Tourer thing which is not nice looking but probably ticks most boxes.

[Pedro25]

Forget the BMW 2 series touring, my Mrs had one for 18 months it was the 220d m sport, we got rid, it feels very narrow inside the car, the visibility around the drivers A pillar is appalling, had to stop at every roundabout as she just couldn't see whether traffic flow would allow her to move out safely. It was quick and well specced just not the car for her. I thought it was strange when she always offered her car for me to drive and leave mine for her!!
If your nephew is already 6ft at 14 he will feel very claustrophobic!!

[DaveH23]

If she likes Nissan look at Infiniti.

Inside they're pretty much the same place to sit.

[ZX10R NIN]

Kia Sportage GT Line S:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411116...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409043...

Kuga Titanium Edition:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410185...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411196...

Tucson:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411126...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410054...

[Monkeylegend]

ZX10R NIN said:

Kia Sportage GT Line S:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411116...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409043...

Kuga Titanium Edition:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410185...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411196...

Tucson:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411126...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410054...

The two Kuga's are both wet belt with the 3 cylinder engine?

If so I would avoid like the plague.

[heisthegaffer]

Thanks all. No wet belts and no more Nissans.

Ive suggested a CRV (after 3 Civics which were brilliant except for air con compressors on 2) but tricky to find the spec she wants in budget

[sp222]

We had a 220d luxury for about 4 years and I didn't find it cramped at all so from my experience it would be fine for a 6 ft+ person.

If it's doing short journeys I would avoid the diesels though - just before we got rid of ours the engine management light came on after it had been used for all the short runs for a while..

Interior is great - idrive works well and they look pretty good value now so I think it's probably at least worth a test drive. My wife still misses hers..

[SAS Tom]

In the common theme of recommending your own car, a Skoda Superb should fit the bill. Not an SUV but has more space inside than most cars or SUV’s.

[ZX10R NIN]

heisthegaffer said:

Thanks all. No wet belts and no more Nissans.

Ive suggested a CRV (after 3 Civics which were brilliant except for air con compressors on 2) but tricky to find the spec she wants in budget

In which case the Hyundai/Kia are the picks followed by the CX 5:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408293...

[nobrakes]

^ what are wet belts?

[BlueMR2]

nobrakes said:

^ what are wet belts?

Cambelt in oil.

Tends not to end well unless serviced very regularly.

Little bits come off the belt, if you end up with too many it blocks the strainer and oil pressure drops.

Then you need a new engine.

[Monkeylegend]

BlueMR2 said:

nobrakes said:

^ what are wet belts?

Cambelt in oil.

Tends not to end well unless serviced very regularly.

Little bits come off the belt, if you end up with too many it blocks the strainer and oil pressure drops.

Then you need a new engine.

And very expensive to replace and many garages won't do them.

[roadie]

My dad has an Active Tourer and it is a decent car. I would say it is very spacious - we have had 5 adults in it a number of times, albeit not for really long journeys. It is also flexible, as the back seats can be moved forward and back.

My dad's is the 225i x-drive so is reasonably swift also.

Problems have been the infotainment system and the headlining around the pano roof.

[Pixel Pusher]

heisthegaffer said:

Leather seats
Heated seats
Heated windscreen would be nice
Needs to be roomy, her son is coming on for well over 6 foot and can't fit in a mondeo
Budget £14k or less
40k miles or less
New as possible


Anything else?

Vauxhall Grandland X

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410295...

Heated leather seats
Heated screen
Sub £14k
Sub 40k miles.

[Monkeylegend]

Pixel Pusher said:

heisthegaffer said:

Leather seats
Heated seats
Heated windscreen would be nice
Needs to be roomy, her son is coming on for well over 6 foot and can't fit in a mondeo
Budget £14k or less
40k miles or less
New as possible


Anything else?

Vauxhall Grandland X

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410295...

Heated leather seats
Heated screen
Sub £14k
Sub 40k miles.

Does that also have the wetbelt engine issues?

[Silvanus]

If she wants new as possible, MG HS

[ZX10R NIN]

Monkeylegend said:

Does that also have the wetbelt engine issues?

Yes it does but the 1.6t hybrid doesn't & that also ticks the boxes:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410024...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411296...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411025...

[heisthegaffer]

Thanks all. Might have missed this but is the Kuga 1
5 wet belt?

[ZX10R NIN]

heisthegaffer said:

Thanks all. Might have missed this but is the Kuga 1
5 wet belt?

Yes

[Harry you Potter]

Volvo V70 ? She could enter the world of bangeromics