£10k budget - family car, cycling, floods....
Discussion
Me and the missus have been talking about upgrading our 12 year old Golf. I sold my e39 530d Touring when our daughter was born to free up some money ... we both regret that now despite the cars niggles.
We're stuck on what to get next... The last few years crap weather in the winter (bad snow or bad floods) has got me wanting something with a little more ground clearance and better in the snow (when we get it), something with more room inside for when we go camping and so I can get my bike in the back if I go off somewhere to ride, and a few mod-cons (Golf doesnt even have central locking or lekky windows!), newer and lower mileage, reliable and good on fuel (30mpg minimum).
A 4x4 like Navara, Pathfinder, etc, is too big for the missus so we've been looking at Citroen C-Crosser's as they cover all the things we're after and are better looking than the Outlander and 4007. They have fold up third row kid seats in the boot too which is a little bonus and they are really well specc'd and look really smart too - we're looking at the Exclusive model.
Are there any other cars we could be looking at instead?
We're stuck on what to get next... The last few years crap weather in the winter (bad snow or bad floods) has got me wanting something with a little more ground clearance and better in the snow (when we get it), something with more room inside for when we go camping and so I can get my bike in the back if I go off somewhere to ride, and a few mod-cons (Golf doesnt even have central locking or lekky windows!), newer and lower mileage, reliable and good on fuel (30mpg minimum).
A 4x4 like Navara, Pathfinder, etc, is too big for the missus so we've been looking at Citroen C-Crosser's as they cover all the things we're after and are better looking than the Outlander and 4007. They have fold up third row kid seats in the boot too which is a little bonus and they are really well specc'd and look really smart too - we're looking at the Exclusive model.
Are there any other cars we could be looking at instead?
Looked at the 530d's ... only this is I'd want an M-Sport again, SE's look pretty dull. Sub 10k they are all high mileage ... had enough of high mileage issues on my e39 - suspension, brake pipes, hammered with stone chips. Have looked at the Outbacks/Allroads and the Outbacks are still over budget for a new shape diesel with low mileage and the older model was petrol only ... the H6 are terrible on fuel and the auto gearbox is, well ... horrible in a word. The older Allroads are ugly and have issues with the engines and suspension and the newer shape in my price range are all high mileage again. lol, maybe I'm too picky and fussy ... really want to be happy with what I buy though.
Nigel Worc's said:
Don't laugh ....... what about a Dacia Duster ?
lol, I've not seen one yet ... but read about them, Dacia screams Daewoo at me ... very loudly Take it the XC90 would be out then due to its heft. XC60 perhaps? 2-3 year old seem to be in budget, around the 100k mile mark, but barely run in for a Volvo. Or if you're a fan of the "allroad" types, then the XC70 is a no-brainer. Decent ground clearance, tempted myself when it's time to chop in the V70. Thinking it would be a nicer ride on gravel/rutted country lanes since we moved to the sticks. Not that our current wheels have any problem with that, very softly sprung compared to their '90s predecessors.
How much flooding and snow does the Oxfordshire area get?
For better in the snow you fit winters.
More ground clearance through floods is a bit pointless as you shouldnt really drive through stuff that deep unless you know what you are doing anyway.
Bad snow doesnt exist in the UK and when you go abroad the natives survive just fine in normal cars with winters. Most 'soft roaders' are jacked up cars with the air intakes, etc. just as vulnerable as a normal car anyway.
So pick whatever you want and save up for some winter tyres as/when needed.
For better in the snow you fit winters.
More ground clearance through floods is a bit pointless as you shouldnt really drive through stuff that deep unless you know what you are doing anyway.
Bad snow doesnt exist in the UK and when you go abroad the natives survive just fine in normal cars with winters. Most 'soft roaders' are jacked up cars with the air intakes, etc. just as vulnerable as a normal car anyway.
So pick whatever you want and save up for some winter tyres as/when needed.
Edited by KTF on Thursday 27th February 21:40
19ninety said:
Looked at the 530d's ... only this is I'd want an M-Sport again, SE's look pretty dull. Sub 10k they are all high mileage ... had enough of high mileage issues on my e39 - suspension, brake pipes, hammered with stone chips. Have looked at the Outbacks/Allroads and the Outbacks are still over budget for a new shape diesel with low mileage and the older model was petrol only ... the H6 are terrible on fuel and the auto gearbox is, well ... horrible in a word. The older Allroads are ugly and have issues with the engines and suspension and the newer shape in my price range are all high mileage again. lol, maybe I'm too picky and fussy ... really want to be happy with what I buy though.
You may not like, but it is new, and within budget, and has a three year warranty, backed by renault I believe.Nigel Worc's said:
Don't laugh ....... what about a Dacia Duster ?
lol, I've not seen one yet ... but read about them, Dacia screams Daewoo at me ... very loudly I've driven one and I was quite impressed with it :
http://www.greenhous.co.uk/plus/dacia-dusterrange?...
lightthefuse said:
Take it the XC90 would be out then due to its heft. XC60 perhaps? 2-3 year old seem to be in budget, around the 100k mile mark, but barely run in for a Volvo. Or if you're a fan of the "allroad" types, then the XC70 is a no-brainer. Decent ground clearance, tempted myself when it's time to chop in the V70. Thinking it would be a nicer ride on gravel/rutted country lanes since we moved to the sticks. Not that our current wheels have any problem with that, very softly sprung compared to their '90s predecessors.
Sorry think it was the xc70 I mean tnot the xc90... I'm a big fan of volvo estates, had a 740, purchased for £400, scrapped 10 months later (which I still feel guilty about!) f!or £250. Pretty low cost motoringlightthefuse said:
Take it the XC90 would be out then due to its heft. XC60 perhaps? 2-3 year old seem to be in budget, around the 100k mile mark, but barely run in for a Volvo. Or if you're a fan of the "allroad" types, then the XC70 is a no-brainer. Decent ground clearance, tempted myself when it's time to chop in the V70. Thinking it would be a nicer ride on gravel/rutted country lanes since we moved to the sticks. Not that our current wheels have any problem with that, very softly sprung compared to their '90s predecessors.
I'm not in the sticks as such but the roads here are shocking and I had lots of issues with the e39's 18" wheels running 35 profiles on the rear... Loved the car but made me angry driving it as spent the whole time dodging craters in the road. Even the golf is feeling the wear from it now and have been driving through the same flood for three months now! XC90 is in range but a bit heavyweight, haven't looked up the fuel economy yet but imagine it's going to be juicy like the X5's. Wasn't overly taken by the XC70... But I wonder if that's just a volvo thing, squidgy comfy seats, etc. More looking tomorrow!
subaru outback, has a bit more ground clearance than the legacy = I get almost 30mpg from the 3.0R I bought in january, plenty of room on the back for all manner of gubbins - mine is currently full of balloons following a trip to the temple of the yellow M with my little lad a a couple of his cronies.
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