What Car for a colleague? - sorry.
Discussion
Ok, a Colleague of mine has just asked me for Car advice, i thought i'd throw it out to the forum and see what you guys would choose:
said Colleague has recently had a baby, and had a Citroen DS3. the Citroen was obviously unsuitable for baby related travel, and lack of rear doors, small load space and general size of the car have all meant it wasnt working.
he now needs either an estate or a people carrier for the family and has approx £7.5k to spend. he has seen the following:
54 plate Volvo 47k FSH
57 plate Citroen C4 Picasso slightly higher milage FSH.
he is pretty open to other ideas. not fussy on make, just wants a good reliable family car that wont cost the earth to run/maintain.
over to you guys...
said Colleague has recently had a baby, and had a Citroen DS3. the Citroen was obviously unsuitable for baby related travel, and lack of rear doors, small load space and general size of the car have all meant it wasnt working.
he now needs either an estate or a people carrier for the family and has approx £7.5k to spend. he has seen the following:
54 plate Volvo 47k FSH
57 plate Citroen C4 Picasso slightly higher milage FSH.
he is pretty open to other ideas. not fussy on make, just wants a good reliable family car that wont cost the earth to run/maintain.
over to you guys...
I'm in the same position, or rather was, a few months ago. All I would say is get something that's hassle-free and easy to trade on. Because the amount of space he needs will either reduce dramatically in the year (if they don't have more kids) or even increase further (if they choose to have another soon after). Furthermore, things like career choices, funds availability & outlook on driving enjoyment could all be up in the air for a while.
So, something LIKE a Mondeo, or Focus estate, could be a good call.
So, something LIKE a Mondeo, or Focus estate, could be a good call.
bls1 said:
I'm in the same position, or rather was, a few months ago. All I would say is get something that's hassle-free and easy to trade on. Because the amount of space he needs will either reduce dramatically in the year (if they don't have more kids) or even increase further (if they choose to have another soon after). Furthermore, things like career choices, funds availability & outlook on driving enjoyment could all be up in the air for a while.
So, something LIKE a Mondeo, or Focus estate, could be a good call.
exactly. i'm sure he would love a SC RRS but he is far more sensible than i am and he isnt a PH'er. it was a genuine question from someone who needs a bigger car than the one he's got. i aggree that a people carrier may be a bit OTT for a 1 baby family but thats why i wanted your opinions.So, something LIKE a Mondeo, or Focus estate, could be a good call.
must add i know nothing about having children or buying people carriers.
As others have said, any mainstream 5 door Golf sized hatchback will do. You want something with a bit of legroom in the back, otherwise the baby spends the journey kicking the front seats, so I'd at least go above Fiesta size. Other than that, everything will have a boot that's big enough unless he carries tons of stuff for some reason. Our Nissan Note coped just fine with 4 adults and one baby (with seat) and a long weekend's luggage for the lot of us, for instance. Shoulder room in the back was cramped, but plenty of legroom. If he needs bigger, then cool, but I can't see the need for a people carrier specifically, or an estate for that matter, unless he would really like one.
Saying that, I didn't find my old 3 door Golf a problem with our baby. The folding seatback gave me somewhere to sit while strapping the baby in.
Saying that, I didn't find my old 3 door Golf a problem with our baby. The folding seatback gave me somewhere to sit while strapping the baby in.
"any Golf-sized hatchback will do"... the guy is committed to selling a DS3 to get a larger car, surely better to go a little too large than a little too small.
In my experience there are 2 x camps when it comes to people who have had a baby. Those who don't want to change their (Golf) car, they always manage, and can't understand why people would go large. And those who are already decided on getting on larger (estate) car, and can't understand how people with smaller cars survive. Its like garden sheds really, however big it is, the stuff put in it grows to fit. Its also about CONVENIENCE with packing not having to be a military operation.
One other point is how much they will be driving. For example if they will be staying with parents a long way away for several nights, the amount of gear they will want to take will grow exponentially. If they aren't planning nights away, well its just enough room for the tesco shop and a child-seat.
In my experience there are 2 x camps when it comes to people who have had a baby. Those who don't want to change their (Golf) car, they always manage, and can't understand why people would go large. And those who are already decided on getting on larger (estate) car, and can't understand how people with smaller cars survive. Its like garden sheds really, however big it is, the stuff put in it grows to fit. Its also about CONVENIENCE with packing not having to be a military operation.
One other point is how much they will be driving. For example if they will be staying with parents a long way away for several nights, the amount of gear they will want to take will grow exponentially. If they aren't planning nights away, well its just enough room for the tesco shop and a child-seat.
i do understand the point about why bother to change, but he wants to and thats it.
some good ideas put forward - i have suggested the cars mentioned.
i personally would keep "my" car and get something family orientated for when we all needed to go out - i can see how a DS3 could be a bit of a pain. the boot is a tight fit for a buggy, and the lack of rear doors makes it a bit of an effort to put baby in back, then not much room for the Mrs and changing bags.
think i have talked him away from an MPV (knee jerk reaction by someone who needs a bigger motor and is starting a family) so now i'm pointing him toward a "normal" family car.
thanks for all input so far!
some good ideas put forward - i have suggested the cars mentioned.
i personally would keep "my" car and get something family orientated for when we all needed to go out - i can see how a DS3 could be a bit of a pain. the boot is a tight fit for a buggy, and the lack of rear doors makes it a bit of an effort to put baby in back, then not much room for the Mrs and changing bags.
think i have talked him away from an MPV (knee jerk reaction by someone who needs a bigger motor and is starting a family) so now i'm pointing him toward a "normal" family car.
thanks for all input so far!
I've got a Scenic - in all honesty, i have the little guy in it 2 days a week (i'm at work mon-fri).
There is no need for such a big car, he extra boot space is handy, but the're pretty s
te on fuel, it claims abou 35mpg but the most i've managed driving like a Grandad is about 32 around town.
Just get something 5 door!
There is no need for such a big car, he extra boot space is handy, but the're pretty s
te on fuel, it claims abou 35mpg but the most i've managed driving like a Grandad is about 32 around town.Just get something 5 door!
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