MPV advice - budget of up to £5,500.00.
Discussion
I bought a 2009 Volvo V50 last year, when my son was 18 months old,hoping that it would make life easier - I was wrong.
Not only does the V50 have a deceptively small boot, but I am realising that estates are not the best choice when it comes to small children and the need for space.
I am now looking at MPVs and would be really grateful for some advice on what to look at.
I originally turned my nose up at MPVs on the basis that they all looked a bit ugly and they did not have the usual brand appeal - I totally understand their point now. As a dad of a two and a half year old, all I really care about is getting him and my wife around with all their stuff, safely and without too much hassle.
Any pointers would be much appreciated.
Not only does the V50 have a deceptively small boot, but I am realising that estates are not the best choice when it comes to small children and the need for space.
I am now looking at MPVs and would be really grateful for some advice on what to look at.
I originally turned my nose up at MPVs on the basis that they all looked a bit ugly and they did not have the usual brand appeal - I totally understand their point now. As a dad of a two and a half year old, all I really care about is getting him and my wife around with all their stuff, safely and without too much hassle.
Any pointers would be much appreciated.
I think that the big consideration here is that the estate you have gone for actually has a very cramped interior and not a particularly big boot! My brother had one and I ran around in it briefly when I sold it for him, I'd actually go as far as to say many standard hatchbacks offer greater flexibility.
I would personally look at a more practical estate car in the first instance, you might be surprised.
My girlfriend has two kids and runs a 307 SW - not the most PH of cars and a little long in the tooth now, but I've been amazed how much space it has and how practical it is (with two extra kid sized seats mountable in the boot) without looking like an absolute bus.
I would personally look at a more practical estate car in the first instance, you might be surprised.
My girlfriend has two kids and runs a 307 SW - not the most PH of cars and a little long in the tooth now, but I've been amazed how much space it has and how practical it is (with two extra kid sized seats mountable in the boot) without looking like an absolute bus.
elsmandino said:
estates are not the best choice when it comes to small children and the need for space.
Really? Managing just fine with a 2.5y/o and a 8 w/o in a Golf estate here, and I won't be looking for something bigger next time round. We had a 1-series when we just had one child, that was fine too as we still had a back seat free for any extra stuff - was still OK going away with a fairly big pushchair, travel cot, highchair, etc. The usual MPV benefits - sliding seats, properly fitting 3 across rear row, 7 seats, etc - seem moot if you've only got one kid.
When my first son was little we had a Scenic, which was alright but the electrics failed bit by bit.
We now have a 2011 Zafira Elite, it's top of the range, full leather (wipe clean) and handles everything that is thrown at it (literally) very well. I know they get a bad press but for the money I think they are ideal. We paid £7k for ours two and half years ago.
We now have a 2011 Zafira Elite, it's top of the range, full leather (wipe clean) and handles everything that is thrown at it (literally) very well. I know they get a bad press but for the money I think they are ideal. We paid £7k for ours two and half years ago.
Plenty of S-Maxes about at that price point. Supposed to drive suspiciously like cars. May be worth a look.
EDIT: There's one with the same engine as the Focus ST/RS around: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017... so you can have some fun too ;P
EDIT: There's one with the same engine as the Focus ST/RS around: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017... so you can have some fun too ;P
Edited by ChiggyWiggy on Wednesday 14th June 15:02
Either the Mazda5 S Max or Zafira will tick the boxes:
Mazda5 Sport
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
S Max
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
Vauxhall Zafira VXR
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
Mazda5 Sport
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
S Max
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
Vauxhall Zafira VXR
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
Load of people here at work have S-Max Titaniums as their kid snotter and absolutely love them.
Some of these guys own nice sportscars too, and like the Ford for dirt cheap running costs and the fact that they don't have to care about it at all.
I personally intend to find something packing a V8 for ferrying the kid around if we manage to have one. Hoping that an inappropriately noisy, thirsty and hard-riding BMW M3 or Merc C63 will indoctrinate my spawn with petrolheadness.
It will, of course, probably just make them cry. Hence people buying S-Maxes for ferrying young kids who need to sleep.
Some of these guys own nice sportscars too, and like the Ford for dirt cheap running costs and the fact that they don't have to care about it at all.
I personally intend to find something packing a V8 for ferrying the kid around if we manage to have one. Hoping that an inappropriately noisy, thirsty and hard-riding BMW M3 or Merc C63 will indoctrinate my spawn with petrolheadness.
It will, of course, probably just make them cry. Hence people buying S-Maxes for ferrying young kids who need to sleep.
Thanks very much for all your input on this.
It does seem that Ford seems to be very much a favourite for MPVs.
The S-Max seems to get some very favourable reviews. Is it worth even considering a Grand C-Max?
Someone near me owns a Mazda 5 - I had a bit of a nose at it the other day and I was surprised at how nice it looked in the flesh (it was a red "sport"). I couldn't really have a proper look in without it looking too suspicious.
It does seem that Ford seems to be very much a favourite for MPVs.
The S-Max seems to get some very favourable reviews. Is it worth even considering a Grand C-Max?
Someone near me owns a Mazda 5 - I had a bit of a nose at it the other day and I was surprised at how nice it looked in the flesh (it was a red "sport"). I couldn't really have a proper look in without it looking too suspicious.
Edited by elsmandino on Monday 19th June 14:48
5 years ago my ex asked me to help her buy a car. She settled on a S-Max and a VW Touran. I think the VW was £500 more expensive but it was the Tdi sport with sat nav, entertainment system, privacy glass, alloys etc.
The ford looked cheap and nasty compared to it. She plumbed for the VW and it has been brilliant, never missed a beat and she's looking to selll it now with 95k on it. I used it a few times and was impressed by its ergonomics and turn of speed (170bhp?). She can probably get £4.5-5k for it.
The Ford would probably be about £2k worth.
I would choose the VW over anything else out there.
The ford looked cheap and nasty compared to it. She plumbed for the VW and it has been brilliant, never missed a beat and she's looking to selll it now with 95k on it. I used it a few times and was impressed by its ergonomics and turn of speed (170bhp?). She can probably get £4.5-5k for it.
The Ford would probably be about £2k worth.
I would choose the VW over anything else out there.
Fastchas said:
5 years ago my ex asked me to help her buy a car. She settled on a S-Max and a VW Touran. I think the VW was £500 more expensive but it was the Tdi sport with sat nav, entertainment system, privacy glass, alloys etc.
The ford looked cheap and nasty compared to it. She plumbed for the VW and it has been brilliant, never missed a beat and she's looking to selll it now with 95k on it. I used it a few times and was impressed by its ergonomics and turn of speed (170bhp?). She can probably get £4.5-5k for it.
The Ford would probably be about £2k worth.
I would choose the VW over anything else out there.
Can't help but feel you'll be in a minority on here with that suggestion. (Of two.. With me. The ford looked cheap and nasty compared to it. She plumbed for the VW and it has been brilliant, never missed a beat and she's looking to selll it now with 95k on it. I used it a few times and was impressed by its ergonomics and turn of speed (170bhp?). She can probably get £4.5-5k for it.
The Ford would probably be about £2k worth.
I would choose the VW over anything else out there.

I've thrown the touran in as a suggestion on a couple of threads asking similar to here and always been dismissed.
We've had one (the same one) for nearly 9 years, with a baby and toddler (and small dog) to start with and theyre now nearly 10 and 12.
It's a 2.0 TDi Sport (140), has done everything we've ever asked of it, b&q runs, towing a caravan round North Wales, 6 kids to a tag rugby tournament, pushchairs, bikes, now carries 4 bikes on towbar mounted rack.
Has only let us down once! Actually recently and I don't regret paying the big bill to get it back on the road with a new clutch and DMF.
IMO it's a great family car, massive boot, removable / configurable seats, not massive externally (shorter than golf estate), 45mpg.
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