Post-'Rona' Sensible Family Car

[h3dshot]

Hello folks,
Looking for some inspiration please.
I currently have a 2010 2.0 diesel guilietta (170bhp) with 134k on the clock.
The Mrs has a 2008 ford fiesta 1.4 petrol piece o crap.

Given the rona' situation I've been told I can work from home for the foreseeable future and at least into 2021. Moving forward I can see this being permanent or WFH for 3-4 days of the week. I currently average around 12k a year in miles and this reduced milage doesn't warrant a diesel.

The Mrs' fiesta has done about 6k in 2 years and is flat as a fart.

We're looking to buy our first house in the next 6-18 months so ideally whatever we buy as a commuter/shopping trip/daily is large enough to accommodate furniture, wood, tiles etc and probably a dog in the near future too.

My initial thoughts went to a diesel insignia estate as they're dirt cheap and 160hp so plenty of grunt. But given the reduced milage I'm not so sure anymore.

I think the next car has to be petrol with a bit of grunt and enough practicality.

Budget 2-4k something of a similar interior quality and gadgetry to an insignia (2014 FL). The obly requirements from the Mrs are that it has cruise control and parking sensors and is a step up in interior quality from her fiesta.


I recall reading that the Honda civic 1.8 petrols (2008~ shape) were reliable, practical and efficient?

I'm sure I read something similar about a Mazda 6...

Anything else that you could recommend? With the Mrs driving I expect it to get dinged up so not wanting to spend much and it needs to be pokey enough that I don't doze off while driving.

TIA!

[ZX10R NIN]

If you're looking for for a good wagon to take on loads to the dump as well as pick ups from D.I.Y stores then I'd say take a look at these:

2.0T Insignia SRI Estate

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Elite hatch

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

SRI Hatrch

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

2.5 Mazda6 Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Saab 9-5 Vector Sport Estate

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

9-3 Linear

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...