Help with a very specific set of requirements
Discussion
Picture the scene:
Your car is 5 years old and should have been replaced at 3.
It is a 2.2l Diesel Honda FR-V.
Budget is approximately £25k
Ex-demo's would be OK potentially
A used car is not off limits either, but it must be '58 plate or later unless particularly special
It needs to conform to a list of non-negotiable requirements:
MUST be automatic
MUST be high enough so that an elderly and highly immobile lady can get in and out of it (but mustn't be too high, as then she cannot get into it. The seats basically at arse-height, so she can almost fall into the seat and step out of it again. The seats also CANNOT have high side bolsters as this makes it harder for said old lady to get into)
MUST have leather seats so the elderly lady can slide into/out of the seat easier
MUST be able to get at least 35/40mpg combined (another diesel most likely)
MUST have a big enough boot to fit a wheelchair and a Labrador in at the same time comfortably, i.e. not crushing the dog (bigger boot than the FR-V, for a guide)
It would be nice if it had the following, even as options:
Heated front seats
Panoramic sunroof
Some kind of Sat-nav system built in
A half decent stereo
Doesn't look exactly like a van (I'm looking at you, VW Touran...)
Some cars we have already looked at that have fallen by the wayside are:
Chrysler Grand Voyager - seats were too high & too far in
Peugeot 3008 - Boot was not big enough
Toyota Avensis Verso - Boot was not big enough
Some cars that are on the potential list at the moment:
Peugeot 5008 (new)
Mercedes R-Class (used)
Any help would be greatly appreciated, it's a bit of a tricky set of factors!
Your car is 5 years old and should have been replaced at 3.
It is a 2.2l Diesel Honda FR-V.
Budget is approximately £25k
Ex-demo's would be OK potentially
A used car is not off limits either, but it must be '58 plate or later unless particularly special
It needs to conform to a list of non-negotiable requirements:
MUST be automatic
MUST be high enough so that an elderly and highly immobile lady can get in and out of it (but mustn't be too high, as then she cannot get into it. The seats basically at arse-height, so she can almost fall into the seat and step out of it again. The seats also CANNOT have high side bolsters as this makes it harder for said old lady to get into)
MUST have leather seats so the elderly lady can slide into/out of the seat easier
MUST be able to get at least 35/40mpg combined (another diesel most likely)
MUST have a big enough boot to fit a wheelchair and a Labrador in at the same time comfortably, i.e. not crushing the dog (bigger boot than the FR-V, for a guide)
It would be nice if it had the following, even as options:
Heated front seats
Panoramic sunroof
Some kind of Sat-nav system built in
A half decent stereo
Doesn't look exactly like a van (I'm looking at you, VW Touran...)
Some cars we have already looked at that have fallen by the wayside are:
Chrysler Grand Voyager - seats were too high & too far in
Peugeot 3008 - Boot was not big enough
Toyota Avensis Verso - Boot was not big enough
Some cars that are on the potential list at the moment:
Peugeot 5008 (new)
Mercedes R-Class (used)
Any help would be greatly appreciated, it's a bit of a tricky set of factors!
I've recently purchased an XC70 and think it's a great car but it might not be quite high enough for you, certainly worth a look though.
We looked at an A6 Allroad but due to the sloping rear window couldn't get 2 golden retrievers comfortably in the boot so wheelchair and dog might be a bit tight.
Other half's parents have similar access requirements as you and ended up with a Honda CRV although you might find the side bolsters a little tall.
We looked at an A6 Allroad but due to the sloping rear window couldn't get 2 golden retrievers comfortably in the boot so wheelchair and dog might be a bit tight.
Other half's parents have similar access requirements as you and ended up with a Honda CRV although you might find the side bolsters a little tall.
Yeah, I wasn't sure where to put it to be honest. :S
Thanks for all the comments. Freelander/CR-V/Rav-4 are all too high. I had been liking the idea of the A6. She is quite small for a lab but we were (ideally) hoping to squeeze the wheelchair in endways, as in along one side of the boot instead of along the back row of seats. This would work in the Peugeot 5008 very well.
My Mum is actually quite annoyed that the 5008 fits the bill so well - she thinks it's quite ugly really, but knows she has to have what fits the bill for now.
We might go and see a Volvo XC70 & an A6 Allroad next weekend, to see if that type of motor is suitable.
Thanks for all the comments. Freelander/CR-V/Rav-4 are all too high. I had been liking the idea of the A6. She is quite small for a lab but we were (ideally) hoping to squeeze the wheelchair in endways, as in along one side of the boot instead of along the back row of seats. This would work in the Peugeot 5008 very well.
My Mum is actually quite annoyed that the 5008 fits the bill so well - she thinks it's quite ugly really, but knows she has to have what fits the bill for now.
We might go and see a Volvo XC70 & an A6 Allroad next weekend, to see if that type of motor is suitable.
delboy735 said:
Ford S-max Titanium TDCi Auto ?? a specced up one ex demo should be within your budget.
These are really lovely and we liked a Titanium X one we saw that was 8 months old I think, but the seat bolsters are too high 
Liking the look of this though... http://pistonheads.com/sales/2878537.htm
Gatsods said:
Liking the look of this though... http://pistonheads.com/sales/2878537.htm
If Volvos are tickling your fancy, in their inimitable Swedish way, why not have a look at XC60s? I reckon they will be a little bit higher than the XC70, but not quite full fat 4x4 height. Boot reads at 655litres against 439 for the Honda.Plenty of kit and the car mags seem to like them. Might have to shop around at your budget, but worth a look?
vladcjelli said:
If Volvos are tickling your fancy, in their inimitable Swedish way, why not have a look at XC60s? I reckon they will be a little bit higher than the XC70, but not quite full fat 4x4 height. Boot reads at 655litres against 439 for the Honda.
Plenty of kit and the car mags seem to like them. Might have to shop around at your budget, but worth a look?
They are really stylish cars in my opinion. Plenty of kit and the car mags seem to like them. Might have to shop around at your budget, but worth a look?
Mum likes it too, but it really is the Nan test haha! She cannot 'climb' as such into anything at all. If anything a small drop is more usable than a height increase.
Not too long ago she had an Isuzu Trooper... that wasn't fun when we were using a bathroom step to get her in and out of it
Mum hates the Yeti annoyingly, as they are really great cars. They do, however, have seats that are a little too inset for my Nan to reach them, although it could have worked.
And MrDave, that is the plan if we can't find something that fits the bill well enough! It is a lovely car.
Very odd when we bought it though, you could have either leather, a sat-nav or a sunroof. None of the three were compatible, at least not on a '55 plate.
And MrDave, that is the plan if we can't find something that fits the bill well enough! It is a lovely car.
Very odd when we bought it though, you could have either leather, a sat-nav or a sunroof. None of the three were compatible, at least not on a '55 plate.
Gatsods said:
Liking the look of this though... http://pistonheads.com/sales/2878537.htm
T6....very much doubt you'd be getting the mpg you want out of that one 
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