family commuter

[LGriffiths88]

g'day all,

need to upgrade my car to a more family friendly one now. at the moment my current 120d coupe just won't fit the bill.

what's out there for me, budget of 5-7k. need to be diesel (80mile round trip 5 days a week). decent to drive. big enough for a family of 4 (jnc a newborn) and reliable

have been looking at mazda 6's and alfa 159's

[Northernchimp]

How about one of these? This one is slightly over budget but you get the idea...

http://www.cargiant.co.uk/Saab/93/details-609358-S...

[LGriffiths88]

never thought of saab's. not the most appealing to look at cars, but kit wise they do look very well specced!

[Sensibleboy]

MK5 VW Jetta. 2.0 TDi Sport trim looks smart enough. Fits the budget and is a remarkably complete car. Handles nicely (assuming you don't need it to do track days), solid build, roomy inside, fast enough, 50+mpg on the motorway, huge boot and they tend to be looked after better than the equivalent Golf too.

Or even the Passat...much the same mechanically...just with an electronic handbrake.

[Bill]

LGriffiths88 said:

g'day all,

need to upgrade my car to a more family friendly one now. at the moment my current 120d coupe just won't fit the bill.

what's out there for me, budget of 5-7k. need to be diesel (80mile round trip 5 days a week). decent to drive. big enough for a family of 4 (jnc a newborn) and reliable

have been looking at mazda 6's and alfa 159's

Depending on which era Mazda 6 diesels have a terrible reputation, as does one of the VAG 2l diesels iirc.

[JmatthewB]

You could get a decent Mk5 Golf GT TDi for that money. Much more practical than the 1 series and all the car you'll ever need.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

[J3JCV]

We have one of these Mazda5's but in petrol form and I think it is the best family wagon going: http://goo.gl/yu9x0n

[The Moose]

Northernchimp said:

How about one of these? This one is slightly over budget but you get the idea...

http://www.cargiant.co.uk/Saab/93/details-609358-S...

Awful thing

[LGriffiths88]

i've read the 2.2 mazda diesels are better. i have been looking at the current gen mondeo and last gen focuus (face lift).

[J3JCV]

I forgot to add that once you have had sliding rear doors and children in the car you wont ever want to go back to conventional rear doors,(whilst having children in car seats)! Finding a car sized wagon with those rather than the big people carriers / vans, limits you to the Mazda5 and the brand new C-max.

[300bhp/ton]

JmatthewB said:

You could get a decent Mk5 Golf GT TDi for that money. Much more practical than the 1 series and all the car you'll ever need.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

Well it's all the car assuming you want one of the drabbest dullest cars ever created. Complete with a send you to sleep interior.

[Willy Nilly]

Mondeo, Shirley? Or an Accord.

[Bullett]

Octavia

[300bhp/ton]

X-Type diesel estate?

Practical, frugal, a good steer for fwd and a nicer place to sit than most mass market cars.

That said, can you get a diesel S-Type of XJ358 in budget? Not as frugal but a much better performer.

Likewise I have quite a soft spot for a well attired Citreon C6.

[LGriffiths88]

Hmmm the x type is an older gents car. I'm only 25 haha. Even though the mondeo can be a bit of a stretch

Like the interior of the Citroen but the front end isn't doing much for me. What spec mondeo is ideal? A titanium? Have been looking at a focus? But can't see any with a leather interior.