Volvo V40 to swap - Jazz Note IX20?

[Johnny Longstaff]

Hi folks. Not the most exciting of PH topics but I would appreciate any ideas and real world experience.
I inherited a Volvo V40 which initially I was quite excited about - free car and on paper a good bit nicer than our Roomster, which has been an excellent family wagon for 10 years. Turns out the Volvo isn't very practical. I'm 6' 2 and when I'm driving my 11 year old can hardly fit in the back seat behind me. For the whole family its a non starter, dog doesn't like the boot and despite the fact that it is in theory more luxurious than the Roomster SWMBO and I would both rather drive the Skoda.
We started with 'can we change it for something a bit interesting?' so my first thought was great a 2CV but the boot won't suit the dog, quite hard to find and like everything else has gone up in value a lot since I last had one (Sellers remorse - oh yes!!!). So what about a Morris Traveller or old Defender - too scary in the general maintenance and cost to keep on the road.
I'm looking for a reliable car with enough rear leg room to get the whole family and dog in when required although the Roomster is staying until something really terminal happens to it. I am thinking Honda Jazz, Nissan Note or Hyundai IX20 as most of the estates don't get much rear legroom until you get quite big and long. Won't do the miles to justify diesel and I don't think it will be long before it costs to drive them into Bath.
Ideally budget is what I get for the Volvo. WBAC reckon just North of £7k, I think £6k as there are a couple of scrapes on two of corners so they are bound to take a bit off. Not desperate to put a lot more money in on top of what I get for the Volvo, as that will eat into the fund for the Roomster replacement when that happens so I don't know if part exchange would work.
Anyone got any experience of any of my 3 ideas or indeed anything else I should be considering? Thanks in advance

[georgeyboy12345]

Do you really need 2 cars? Why not spend the 6 grand on something more fun, like a holiday? If you must have a car, why not something more fun ?

[Johnny Longstaff]

Good point, most of the time no but every now and again yes. We've always had the option of borrowing a second car until now.

[Canon_Fodder]

Johnny Longstaff said:

We started with 'can we change it for something a bit interesting?'

I am thinking Honda Jazz, Nissan Note or Hyundai IX20

[Johnny Longstaff]

The interesting ones were the 2Cv, Defender and Traveller. The others are more like the sensible / boring options.

[ChrisH72]

We have an ix20 as our family car.

Obviously it's very sensible and boring and almost certainly a car that few on PH would consider. I wasn't sure about it at first but it's mainly for my wife to drive and she is a Hyundai fan. Had it 5 years now and it's grown on me a lot. Its hard to believe that in 2016 it cost just over 10k as an ex demo, especially as its the top spec 'premium se' too. Great value and nothing has gone wrong in 55k miles.

Things we like. It's like the TARDIS. Despite having a small supermini footprint there's tons of space. Boot is 440 litres I think and has adjustable floor. The rear seats slide for either more boot space or leg room. Panoramic roof makes it very airy inside. Comfy and very easy to drive with light controls. I actually like the 1.4 petrol engine, while not at all fast it is eager and a nice gear change makes it quite good fun to punt around.

It's a bit dated inside but then so is my fiesta ST. Works best around town and is fairly good on the motorway although there's no cruise which is a pain.

I think MPVs do a good job as family cars. They're not popular so that makes them cheap. Certainly worth looking at all the ones you mentioned. We looked at the Note but it had less space than the ix20, especially the boot. The Jazz was too expensive and didn't have the sunroof we wanted.

Forgot to add that the Kia Venga is mechanically identical to the ix20 so is worth a look. I wasn't too keen on the look of the front end and also the 'jazzy' seat fabrics.

Another option is the C3 Picasso. My dad is on his second and really likes them. He's 6'2 and finds the Citroën very comfy. Current one is a 1.2 puretech petrol in platinum spec. I've driven it and the engine is good, with more poke than the ix20. Quite soft to drive but spacious, comfy and loaded with kit. Should be cheap too.

Edited by ChrisH72 on Sunday 12th September 08:33

[Johnny Longstaff]

Thanks for the reply. I wasn't sure the Note could be big enough - could say the same about the Jazz I think so I am going to have a look for a Hyundai and a Jazz to have a look at and maybe take for a test drive.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say a Mazda5 in Sport spec would be a very good buy:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108286...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108045...

Sport Nav

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108045...

Venture Edition

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109047...

[Johnny Longstaff]

That's another good call - I'd forgotten about the Mazda, thank you. I'll see if I can find anything close to have a look at.

[georgeyboy12345]

Some other ideas

Instead of worrying about rear leg room and your dog, forgo it completely (you have your Roomster for the dog & kids anyway) and get a 2 seater

BMW Z4 2.5i
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107175...


Mazda MX-5 2.0i
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107145...


Mercedes SLK350
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109127...



Edit: Or if you want something a bit more spacious that the kids can get in on, how about one of these?

BMW 630i Sport
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108256...


Mercedes CLK200 Kompressor
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107225...


Saab 9-3 2.0T Aero Convertible
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109107...


Volvo C70 2.4i
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107305...

Edited by georgeyboy12345 on Sunday 12th September 23:36

[Johnny Longstaff]

Nice ideas but it's a bit soon for that kind of thing. I'm hoping that a 2 seater will be for the next time we change cars.By that time the boy will have his own car and an MX5 or a GT86 will be on my list!