Family car for under £20k? - Page 1 - Car Buying

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CorrectHorseBatteryStaple

Author

Discussion

Original Poster

3 posts

88 months

Thursday 9th May 2019

I'm umming and ahing about what car to buy for a family of 4. I'm driving a VW Fox at the moment which is way too small for us. I've got up to £20k to spend, but I'd rather spend closer to £12-15k in an ideal world. £15k or so is probably the sweet spot!

It needs to be:

low mileage
no older than 4 years old
quiet on the motorway
suitable for a family of 4 and luggage
have pretty decent trim and a few techie toys
be quick-ish
can't be a diesel because I live inside the M25 and I want to avoid silly charges, especially as I plan on owning it for 10 years or so. I'd consider a hybrid, but would prefer petrol
I'm leaning towards an estate rather than a crossover/SUV-type car. However, sliding rear doors would be a plus...
would prefer German/Japanese/Ford/Volvo

Cars I've considered:

Focus estate (although this might be too small for a family?)
C-Class estate
E-Class estate (although this might be out of my price range...)
Volvo V60
Maybe a 3-series?

Any suggestions of things I haven't thought of? I'm not too worried about the badge (to a point!)... I'm more concerned about the engine and the trim, but I would prefer something from Germany/Japan/Ford/Volvo.

What would you do...?

TWPC

904 posts

190 months

Thursday 9th May 2019

In addition to the above and limiting it to £15k, you could also look at the following:

Honda CR-V
Skoda Yeti

Honda Civic estate 1.8 - last gen
VW Golf estate
Mazda 6 estate
Skoda Octavia estate

anonymous-user

83 months

Thursday 9th May 2019

Isn't German or Japanese or a ford, but I love my Peugeot 3008.

2018, more gadgets than you can shake a stick at, great for motorway runs, high quality interior

Cost me just over 20

Baldchap

9,623 posts

121 months

Thursday 9th May 2019

Squillion Golf R estates on Autotrader well within your budget.

Reffro

168 posts

184 months

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?sort=spons...

Thursday 9th May 2019

neil-c

488 posts

210 months

Thursday 9th May 2019

Have you considered a Skoda Octavia estate. Probably fits most criteria. VRS maybe?

DoubleD

22,154 posts

137 months

Thursday 9th May 2019

What about a mondeo estate?

AC43

13,594 posts

237 months

Thursday 9th May 2019

CorrectHorseBatteryStaple said:

E-Class estate (although this might be out of my price range...)

What would you do...?

Someone suggested a Skoda Octavia VRS estate which is a good shout.

Or get a Superb estate with the same 280 PS petrol. Utterly vast inside. Rear legroom like a LWB S Class.

I've on my second E Class estate but my FIL has had Octavia & Superb estates and I like them.

nmd87

839 posts

219 months

Friday 10th May 2019

How about the Astra estate with the 200bhp engine?

https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-reviews/vauxhall...

I've seen these on Autotrader within your £15k budget.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Jamescrs

6,345 posts

94 months

Friday 10th May 2019

sambucket said:

Been looking at a volvo v60 for similar. Any thoughts on reliability etc?

've got a V60 on a 61 plate with T4 petrol engine so a little older than you are looking at, mine still feels very well screwed together, came with a wallet of receipts and nothing to suggest anything other than routine servicing by a local main dealer. I have a family of 4 and it suits us very well, mine comes with loads of toys, DAB, Bluetooth, front and rear sensors, reverse camera, blind spot warning lights, collision warning, adaptive cruise control and probably other bits I've forgotten to list.

Mine is quite a high spec I believe though this is my first Volvo, its a very good comfy car overall, would recommend it for a good family car.

Summit_Detailing

2,431 posts

222 months

Friday 10th May 2019

Superb 2.0T
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Octavia VRS
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Mondeo
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Leon Cupra
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Focus ST
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

cheers,

Chris

Dadof2

153 posts

161 months

Friday 10th May 2019

Skoda Superb would be my choice or SMax if you need 7 seats

I have a Vw Touran which is half way between the above but therefore not as good as either!!

ZX10R NIN

30,528 posts

154 months

CorrectHorseBatteryStaple

Friday 10th May 2019

Original Poster

3 posts

88 months

Saturday 11th May 2019

Thoughts on these? I'm still agonising over it laugh

quinny100

1,013 posts

215 months

Saturday 11th May 2019

From your list, I’d take the V60.

Octavia is dated and nearly £20k is too much.
If you want a Leon, lease a new one - they’re dirt cheap.
Too much to spend on a previous generation Focus
1.5 TSi VW engines have running issues

DoubleD

22,154 posts

137 months

Saturday 11th May 2019

I went to Le Mans in a Mondeo, did it in one go. It was very comfortable and the boot is huge.

Summit_Detailing

2,431 posts

222 months

Saturday 11th May 2019

From those specific cars I'd be going to view and drive the Leon and V60.

cheers

Chris

Hub

7,124 posts

227 months

Saturday 11th May 2019

The V60 is more of a large hatchback - the boot isn't massive for the estate.

ZX10R NIN

30,528 posts

154 months

Saturday 11th May 2019

None of the above I'd be looking at this Vignale (ignore the tdci bit it's a petrol) Petrol & a better car than everything you listed.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

seadragon

1,137 posts

244 months

Friday 24th May 2019

Golf R estate. Have owned mine from new and first car I’ve owned I haven’t wanted to replace

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