Finally,,, a 'What Car'!

[phil1979]

Hi All, bit of a dull one, I'm afraid.

The wife has been pedalling a rather beautiful Ford Fusion around for a few years now, and it's starting to show its age. Finished in metallic dysentery beige, it would be nice for the replacement to be a little funky looking.

Criteria: It needs to fit 2 babies, and the kit that goes with them, albeit not for huge journeys - I'll use mine for longer runs.

I cannot abide French, and Vauxhall is out, too. Anything else would be considered. Really boring boxes (such as her current steed) are not top of the list.

As her journeys are fairly short, I would be looking at petrol instead of diesel.

Budget-wise, circa £12k is top end, and would want something under 5 years old.

Early thoughts in my head were Kia Soul, Nissan Juke (though maybe a bit small - not sure), or something Honda.

Any thoughts, or left-field options, are welcome.

Over to you...

[Olly86]

Are Mini Countrymans within budget? Or even Mini Clubman?

Toyota Rav4?

Edited by Olly86 on Wednesday 9th January 09:06

[kambites]

Skoda Roomster/Yeti?

If two doors would be viable it opens up things like the Scirocco, I suppose.

Edited by kambites on Wednesday 9th January 09:06

[phil1979]

Couple of interesting options there that I had not thought of.

The Mini, though - isn't there only a rear passenger door on one side?

[kambites]

phil1979 said:

Couple of interesting options there that I had not thought of.

The Mini, though - isn't there only a rear passenger door on one side?

The Clubman only has three doors, yes. The Countryman is the four-door pseudo-SUV thing.

[Olly86]

phil1979 said:

Couple of interesting options there that I had not thought of.

The Mini, though - isn't there only a rear passenger door on one side?

The Clubman only has one rear passenger door, the Countryman has 4 doors. Have a feeling the Countryman is over budget but will hold its value come re-sale time being a Mini.

[phil1979]

Just looked the the Countryman - i think it's outside of budget and, as we would be holding on to it for a while (and will no doubt take a kiddy-beating), the upsides of lower depreciation probably wouldn't pay dividends for us.

[Dr Interceptor]

Clubman would be good - there's a well specc'd 2008 car in the Classifieds that is within budget...

Has leather, satnav, climate etc...

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

[Seacube]

Nissan Qashqai is always a popular choice for those with your needs.

[Dr Interceptor]

phil1979 said:

Just looked the the Countryman - i think it's outside of budget and, as we would be holding on to it for a while (and will no doubt take a kiddy-beating), the upsides of lower depreciation probably wouldn't pay dividends for us.

Haggle hard and the early Countrymans will fall into budget...

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

[Captain Muppet]

MX5?

[Olly86]

Maybe a BMW X3? A fair few within budget and nicely spec'd and should withstand kids dismantling the interior!

[Krikkit]

It's a bit bigger than the others you've suggested, but what about a Volvo S40? Good, safe cars with a bit of something different about them. Your budget will get you a really decent one, even with the integrated childseats, leather, nav etc.

[shiftydave]

Captain Muppet said:

MX5?

Love it.

[kambites]

Krikkit said:

It's a bit bigger than the others you've suggested, but what about a Volvo S40? Good, safe cars with a bit of something different about them. Your budget will get you a really decent one, even with the integrated childseats, leather, nav etc.

I guess the Saab 9-3 might be another slightly left-field choice. There are some bargains to be had since the company went under because people are paranoid about parts availability. Could even get a nice convertible for the money if the boot's big enough. Maybe a little hard to get kids into the back with the roof up, though.

Edited by kambites on Wednesday 9th January 09:26

[Krikkit]

kambites said:

Krikkit said:

It's a bit bigger than the others you've suggested, but what about a Volvo S40? Good, safe cars with a bit of something different about them. Your budget will get you a really decent one, even with the integrated childseats, leather, nav etc.

I guess the Saab 9-3 might be another slightly left-field choice. There are some bargains to be had since the company went under because people are paranoid about parts availability. Could even get a nice convertible for the money if the boot's big enough.

Another good suggestion! I'd probably go for the Ovlov, but either is a fine steed. The Saab prices are hilarious nowadays, despite there being huge parts stock.

[phil1979]

Volvo is an option, although I find the looks a little dull. X3 - it would be a really basic, old, or leggy one at my budget.

Nissan Cashbox looks pretty good - I like the idea of Japanse reliability, if this is still the case.

[crusty]

5 door Golf GTI

[Tuvra]

Juke is tiny.

Something like this I would go for:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-325-3-0TD-auto-2009M...

I know you said Petrol but the diesel lumps are great for economy and performance

[Krikkit]

Tuvra said:

Juke is tiny.

Something like this I would go for:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-325-3-0TD-auto-2009M...

I know you said Petrol but the diesel lumps are great for economy and performance

Or buy the equivalent-sized petrol for a lot less, because everyone has a diesel boner these days.