Estate vs mini MPV - what family donkey?
Discussion
I need to replace my humdrum family wagon. Over the years, I've mostly had estate cars, because I appreciate the versatility and tend to prefer the looks over their saloon counterpart. And because of course estates are cool.
Now I need to change my Legacy estate I'm looking around and curious what the benefits are of smaller MPVs. Why might I choose a Ford C-Max instead of a Focus estate, forex? Same underpinnings and everything, so why do people go for one over the other? I need my car to put me and my wife and two small children in, and our things, as well as the usual car duties of going along and stopping correctly. I can put my family and things into an estate, or a mini MPV - so why should I not just buy another estate car as usual?
What will an MPV do for me that an estate can't?
Now I need to change my Legacy estate I'm looking around and curious what the benefits are of smaller MPVs. Why might I choose a Ford C-Max instead of a Focus estate, forex? Same underpinnings and everything, so why do people go for one over the other? I need my car to put me and my wife and two small children in, and our things, as well as the usual car duties of going along and stopping correctly. I can put my family and things into an estate, or a mini MPV - so why should I not just buy another estate car as usual?
What will an MPV do for me that an estate can't?
Why do you 'need' to change?
The Legacy is a great car (unless it's dying of course) with kids at 5&7 a normal big family hatch will give lots of space and boot size.
Keep the Legacy or spend the (lesser) money in making it tip top. Failing that another Legacy or Outback. You'll miss the Subaru pace and surefootedness. I run a 2003 WRX estate and we have 3 boys and two dogs. I keep it clean an well maintained and it doesn't stop shopping trips, family holidays or continental breaks in comfort plus I can be a hooligan when driving alone
The Legacy is a great car (unless it's dying of course) with kids at 5&7 a normal big family hatch will give lots of space and boot size.
Keep the Legacy or spend the (lesser) money in making it tip top. Failing that another Legacy or Outback. You'll miss the Subaru pace and surefootedness. I run a 2003 WRX estate and we have 3 boys and two dogs. I keep it clean an well maintained and it doesn't stop shopping trips, family holidays or continental breaks in comfort plus I can be a hooligan when driving alone
Coldfuse said:
Surely an estate nine times out of ten has more load space anyway?
Such as your example, the focus estate has a larger boot than the c-max (just)
Plus if we are using those particular examples, the focus estate also comes in ST and ST Diesel flavour
All things my basic lizard brain has wheezingly pointed out to me so far. Where's the thought process that derides all that and signs on the line for a C-Max: less room, but a little taller - done!Such as your example, the focus estate has a larger boot than the c-max (just)
Plus if we are using those particular examples, the focus estate also comes in ST and ST Diesel flavour
We have an e46 tourer - at one point last year(when out little one was 7 weeks old) we had a C Max hire car during a weekend we needed to make a 200 mile trip.
It actually seemed like there was less interior space in the C-Max, TBH. Yeah, there were more cubby holes inside the cabin, and it was taller, but the boot was narrower (couldn't fit our pram in lying down) and there seemed to be less rear space had to keep moving the front seat to get the baby seat out the back, which we don't have to do in the e46.
The bonus of the e46 was the fact it doesn't drive like a bus. I was prepared to give the C-Max a go, but I really disliked it and the way it drove. I couldn't see a reason why I'd buy one over an estate. If I wanted 7 seats then yeah, maybe a full size MPV, but that's a whole different question.
It actually seemed like there was less interior space in the C-Max, TBH. Yeah, there were more cubby holes inside the cabin, and it was taller, but the boot was narrower (couldn't fit our pram in lying down) and there seemed to be less rear space had to keep moving the front seat to get the baby seat out the back, which we don't have to do in the e46.
The bonus of the e46 was the fact it doesn't drive like a bus. I was prepared to give the C-Max a go, but I really disliked it and the way it drove. I couldn't see a reason why I'd buy one over an estate. If I wanted 7 seats then yeah, maybe a full size MPV, but that's a whole different question.
HaloGen8 said:
Why do you 'need' to change?
The Legacy is a great car (unless it's dying of course) with kids at 5&7 a normal big family hatch will give lots of space and boot size.
Keep the Legacy or spend the (lesser) money in making it tip top. Failing that another Legacy or Outback. You'll miss the Subaru pace and surefootedness. I run a 2003 WRX estate and we have 3 boys and two dogs. I keep it clean an well maintained and it doesn't stop shopping trips, family holidays or continental breaks in comfort plus I can be a hooligan when driving alone
You're right on all points. I heart my Legacy masses, but it's heading towards a million billion miles and going-wrong things are on the rise. I forsee some big bills imminently, and also it's a pretty thirsty solution to a dreary commuting requirement.The Legacy is a great car (unless it's dying of course) with kids at 5&7 a normal big family hatch will give lots of space and boot size.
Keep the Legacy or spend the (lesser) money in making it tip top. Failing that another Legacy or Outback. You'll miss the Subaru pace and surefootedness. I run a 2003 WRX estate and we have 3 boys and two dogs. I keep it clean an well maintained and it doesn't stop shopping trips, family holidays or continental breaks in comfort plus I can be a hooligan when driving alone
Re: hatch vs estate. I just like estates!
Oh, maybe that's why people buy mini MPVs?
If you've only got two kids, I'd go for an estate. If you've got three, it's the mini-MPV as most estates (even big ones) can't fit three kid's seats in across the back.
That said, while we were expecting number 3, we bought a Picasso in advance of his arrival because it popped up cheap at the time. Even with the two kids, it made life so much easier it was silly. No stooping down to get them into their seats, the boot swallowed everything, I stripped the seats out and used it to move house (literally for everything, except the big stuff that didn't fit like the sofa!) Even the doors don't seem to swing out as far as a normal car, yet you have more room to lift them in and out.
But, even with all that, I think I'd still go estate if I didn't have to have a mini-MPV. You could still own some fun cars, and as great as the Picasso has been as a tool, I don't really like it as such.
That said, while we were expecting number 3, we bought a Picasso in advance of his arrival because it popped up cheap at the time. Even with the two kids, it made life so much easier it was silly. No stooping down to get them into their seats, the boot swallowed everything, I stripped the seats out and used it to move house (literally for everything, except the big stuff that didn't fit like the sofa!) Even the doors don't seem to swing out as far as a normal car, yet you have more room to lift them in and out.
But, even with all that, I think I'd still go estate if I didn't have to have a mini-MPV. You could still own some fun cars, and as great as the Picasso has been as a tool, I don't really like it as such.
BMW E61 and Range Rover Sport owner here - the BMW with twice the mileage is always the car I'll choose for longer than a half hour journey. Better in nearly every way than the RRS and the boot is bigger (longer, which is what you need when you need size I find) and there's no problem getting our kids in and out (6 & 3).
Ok it's not quite the comparison you're looking for but the BM is the 4th estate I've owned and in the month of huge Bork it'll be replaced with an estate of similar ilk.
Ok it's not quite the comparison you're looking for but the BM is the 4th estate I've owned and in the month of huge Bork it'll be replaced with an estate of similar ilk.
I'd say the mini-MPV's are bought by people who don't care about cars (or have another fun car).
They are without exception dreary and horrible. Anything fastish (like the Zafira VXR) will still be wobbly and horrible round a corner, bought by angry dads who've been told they need an MPV and always out on a mission to prove their manhood.
While some estates can also be dreary and horrible that depends on what they're based on, there are plenty of 'hot' estates that are still fun to drive (eg the Focus ST [although note you can't tow with it!])
They are without exception dreary and horrible. Anything fastish (like the Zafira VXR) will still be wobbly and horrible round a corner, bought by angry dads who've been told they need an MPV and always out on a mission to prove their manhood.
While some estates can also be dreary and horrible that depends on what they're based on, there are plenty of 'hot' estates that are still fun to drive (eg the Focus ST [although note you can't tow with it!])
I've had a C-Max for just over a month now. I didn't like the shape of the Focus Estates. I also liked the fact that you can remove the seats in a C-Max. We have a greyhound too, so we were always going to need an estate/Mini MPV of some sort.
I bought the C-Max for my wife to buy off me and I can then go and buy something exciting for me (IE, D3 or an M3)
Although our baby won't arrive until January, Mrs Bakerstreet said she liked the idea of a higher car for getting the baby in and out of.
I bought the C-Max for my wife to buy off me and I can then go and buy something exciting for me (IE, D3 or an M3)
Although our baby won't arrive until January, Mrs Bakerstreet said she liked the idea of a higher car for getting the baby in and out of.
All the sort of stuff I would have expected, frankly. I always secretly suspected that mini MPVs were chosen by people who were overly susceptible to adverts and believed the line about ultimate versatility - but I'm quite willing to be told otherwise.
It does seem, however, as though my gut feeling that estates are best is probably right (for me). And because estates are best.
It does seem, however, as though my gut feeling that estates are best is probably right (for me). And because estates are best.
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