Please help me find a cheap babymobile!

[foreverfalling]

Hi, looking for some ideas.

I've been holding out on buying a car during the current mad pricing. My S4 lease (£290 p/m) went back and I can't face spending the current lease prices at the moment. Planning to get something nice, next year - maybe in 6 months time but until then I just want a car to do the job.

Currently using the wife's Aygo which wont be big enough for a baby.
So requirements are very little. Enough to fit a baby in and the pram etc, cheap reliable enough and something that wont depreciate too much.

Ideally Under £5k (could stretch higher - if its something thats good value for money) - I've even been looking at £2-3k area as I'm really not fussed. We will hardly be going anywhere over winter.

So far I've considered a Mazda 6 2.2d estate, which look well equipped with leather and good space etc.
Like the idea of an old Merc or something - understand running costs may be higher but not too put off by that.
Ideally Auto but not that important .

I've not bought used for a while as have been leasing when I see the good deals so not sure if its worth buying from private or trade.

Thanks for the help!

[ZX10R NIN]

foreverfalling said:

Hi, looking for some ideas.

I've been holding out on buying a car during the current mad pricing. My S4 lease (£290 p/m) went back and I can't face spending the current lease prices at the moment. Planning to get something nice, next year - maybe in 6 months time but until then I just want a car to do the job.

Currently using the wife's Aygo which wont be big enough for a baby.
So requirements are very little. Enough to fit a baby in and the pram etc, cheap reliable enough and something that wont depreciate too much.

Ideally Under £5k (could stretch higher - if its something thats good value for money) - I've even been looking at £2-3k area as I'm really not fussed. We will hardly be going anywhere over winter.

So far I've considered a Mazda 6 2.2d estate, which look well equipped with leather and good space etc.
Like the idea of an old Merc or something - understand running costs may be higher but not too put off by that.
Ideally Auto but not that important .

I've not bought used for a while as have been leasing when I see the good deals so not sure if its worth buying from private or trade.

Thanks for the help!

At your price point the 2.2d Mazda6 is not the engine to go for look for the 2.0d as it's the same engine that's in the Mondeo/508/C5 & well proven.

You'll get a nice well spec'd reliable Estate for your budget.

Ford Focus Titanium X 160

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109267...

Citroen C5 VTR+ 160

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108186...

Top spec 2.0d Mazda6 140

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110138...

Laguna2 Dynamique TomTom 150 very good reliable cars & you can get a very nice one well under budget:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110208...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109177...

High apec 508 Allure 160 Auto

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107084...

All the above are reliable cars for me the Focus/508 & Mazda6 are the picks.

[foreverfalling]

Thanks very much for the help. Any particular reason to avoid the 2.2D?

I saw this one which is local to me - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MAZDA-6-2-2D-SL-ESTATE-...

[ZX10R NIN]

The 2.2d has issues with timing chain & oil pump failure & in this case it's not internet hyper boil.

[foreverfalling]

ZX10R NIN said:

The 2.2d has issues with timing chain & oil pump failure & in this case it's not internet hyper boil.

Thank you very much appreciate the time taken. Will have a look at the cars you mention.

[georgeyboy12345]

I'm with ZX10 on avoiding those 2.2d in the Mazda. The petrol version should be more reliable, like this 2.0 TS2
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108126...


Other alternatives

Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi Estate
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108256...


Honda Accord 2.2 i-DTEC Tourer
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102058...


Vauxhall Astra SRi 2.0 CDTI Estate
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109147...


Hyundai i30 1.6 CRDi Estate
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108075...


Saab 9-3 2.0T Vector Sportwagon
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109077...

or in diesel flavour - 1.9 TTiD Sportwagon
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109237...

Edited by georgeyboy12345 on Wednesday 20th October 23:52

[Leptons]

I’ve just had this, we needed a winter hack that fits the baby and associated gubbins in. Bought a Toyota Rav 4 2.0 petrol (avoided the 2.2 D for the reasons mentioned above) and so far do good!

[eleveneleven]

i'd go for a Honda Accord 2.2 i-DTEC

Not bad to look at, big enough for prams, car seats etc. Comfortable & quiet on the move, lots of poke and has plenty of toys as standard. (heated leather, sat nav, reverse cam, sensors, memory seats etc)

reliability is unreal on older Hondas, so chances are you wont even have to think about it until its time to replace it.

with the way things are at the moment you'll get a much better deal if you buy private.

This one looks great
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110138...

Edited by eleveneleven on Wednesday 27th October 12:19

[Jamescrs]

If you want a cheap baby mobile you could do worse than a Vauxhall Zafira or Citron C4 Picasso.

They will be cheap and are massively practical and you will prbably appreciate the higher seating position loading baby in and out.

Probably hold their value relatively well if you don't go for a new one whcih I assume you won't.

yes they are hateful to drive and look at but that's not what you asked for.