New family car 14k limit

[sheffieldjosh123]

Hi Guys / Girls

Another advice topic, sorry!

I’m after a general car for towing the family around in, myself my partner and my little girl and hopefully another one on the way soon. I work one day in the office (140 mile round trip mainly motorway miles) every week and then 4 days at home pottering around to the post office / shops etc. I don’t know if I should be swaying towards diesel for the motorway miles I do one day a week or stick to a petrol for the day to day running’s it’ll do for the majority of the week.

My budget is £14k with the hope I’ll get some on a part ex for my current VW golf. ( I can’t be bothered with the hassle of selling private appreciate I’ll not get as much).

So far I’ve looked at a Renault Kadjar 1.5 dci and have a test drive tomorrow.

More swayed towards an SUV however please send me any suggested cars I should be looking at, very obvious but I need it to be reliable (that’s what they all say) and quite economical. However I do get a fuel card with work so fuel isn’t really an issue.

Thanks again,

[Deerfoot]

I'd be looking at a 1.8 petrol Honda Civic with that criteria, decent space and should be reliable...

[ZX10R NIN]

sheffieldjosh123 said:

Hi Guys / Girls

Another advice topic, sorry!

I’m after a general car for towing the family around in, myself my partner and my little girl and hopefully another one on the way soon. I work one day in the office (140 mile round trip mainly motorway miles) every week and then 4 days at home pottering around to the post office / shops etc. I don’t know if I should be swaying towards diesel for the motorway miles I do one day a week or stick to a petrol for the day to day running’s it’ll do for the majority of the week.

My budget is £14k with the hope I’ll get some on a part ex for my current VW golf. ( I can’t be bothered with the hassle of selling private appreciate I’ll not get as much).

So far I’ve looked at a Renault Kadjar 1.5 dci and have a test drive tomorrow.

More swayed towards an SUV however please send me any suggested cars I should be looking at, very obvious but I need it to be reliable (that’s what they all say) and quite economical. However I do get a fuel card with work so fuel isn’t really an issue.

Thanks again,

I'd say with your usage both diesel & petrol are viable & you can get some great family cars for you budget that'll also be fine when the next little one comes along.

Insignia Elite Nav:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205205...

SRI VX Line:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208028...

Koleos Signature Nav:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207147...

Infiniti QX50 GT Premium:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206016...

Kuga Titanium X:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207288...

Vignale:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111239...

Kadjar Dynamique S Nav 160:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207278...

Ford Edge:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207258...

X Trail:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206206...

Sportage KX-4:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202252...

[sheffieldjosh123]

Thank you for taking the time to suggest a couple of examples.

If I’m being honest, I want to get a car from a dealership if I’m spending that kind of money on one then at least I’ve got some form of warranty etc.

Mileage is a big thing for me, ideally needs to be under 40 for me to justify spending a chunk on one.

Sorry, I should of mentioned this in my ad but again thank you for recommending some, appreciate it.

I do like the look of the Renaults of late, am I being naive in thinking they aren’t like they used to be reliability wise? I have always stuck to the notion of French being very unreliable and the electric handbrake element doesn’t help my nerves when parting with such money, I guess there’s more things to go wrong with an electric handbrake or am I being naive again?

Thanks!

[ZX10R NIN]

sheffieldjosh123 said:

Thank you for taking the time to suggest a couple of examples.

If I’m being honest, I want to get a car from a dealership if I’m spending that kind of money on one then at least I’ve got some form of warranty etc.

Mileage is a big thing for me, ideally needs to be under 40 for me to justify spending a chunk on one.

Sorry, I should of mentioned this in my ad but again thank you for recommending some, appreciate it.

I do like the look of the Renaults of late, am I being naive in thinking they aren’t like they used to be reliability wise? I have always stuck to the notion of French being very unreliable and the electric handbrake element doesn’t help my nerves when parting with such money, I guess there’s more things to go wrong with an electric handbrake or am I being naive again?

Thanks!

With the type of cars you're looking at French cars will be just as reliable as German/Japanese ones.

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Saturday 6th August 21:58

[Evanivitch]

Hyundai Ioniq. Decent sized boot, 65 MPG on petrol, reliable, reasonably well equipped.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207268...

[sheffieldjosh123]

Not a fan of the look personally and very high mileage.

Thank you for the suggestion, appreciate it.

[sheffieldjosh123]

ZX10R NIN said:

With the type of cars you're looking at French cars will be just as reliable as German/Japanese ones.

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Saturday 6th August 21:58

I have been looking at Volvo V40 D2’s as well, would you recommend them?

[ZX10R NIN]

They're good cars but the D3/4 are the picks, another hatchback well worth a look is the Infiniti Q30:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204154...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206297...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206216...

Also take a look at the DS5:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207228...

[edc]

Not particularly exciting but what is when you are looking around with little ones, I recently picked up a Citroen C4 Grand Picasso 67 plate for just over £14k. If you just want space and a slightly raised searing position these make very adaptable family cars.

[Evanivitch]

sheffieldjosh123 said:

Not a fan of the look personally and very high mileage.

Thank you for the suggestion, appreciate it.

I wouldn't consider anything less than 20,000 miles a year to be high mileage, but okay..m

[georgeyboy12345]

Don't buy an SUV, get an estate or a larger hatch like one of these

Skoda Octavia 1.4 TSI SE
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203153...

Want a bit more go? Here's a vRS
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207167...

Want a bit more space? Here's a Superb 2.0 TDI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208048...


Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi 180 ST-Line
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206237...


Vauxhall Insignia 1.5i Turbo SRi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207087...


VW Passat Variant 2.0 TDI GT
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208048...


Volvo V60 D4
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206146...


Mazda 6 2.0 165 Sport Tourer
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204064...


Or if you absolutely must have an SUV, I'd go for this 240 bhp Subaru Forester XT
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201291...

[jaydeeuk1]

Can get a brand new dacia sandero stepway with charge left over. Full warranty, no need for Mot, and no more plasticky than a golf.

[Belle427]

Estates are more useful I find but it’s hard to look past a Kia Sportage if you want an SUV.

[sheffieldjosh123]

Evanivitch said:

I wouldn't consider anything less than 20,000 miles a year to be high mileage, but okay..m

No I meant starting mileage on the car itself

[sheffieldjosh123]

jaydeeuk1 said:

Can get a brand new dacia sandero stepway with charge left over. Full warranty, no need for Mot, and no more plasticky than a golf.

I think I’d get laughed at if I drove a Dacia from my colleagues and friends, it’s the reputation and I bet they’re much improved now I just can’t lol. Thank you though.

[Paul578]

An incognito choice for a growing family may well be a Vauxhall Zafira, production ended in 2018 we have a 2017 facelifted 1.4T Techline, with it's cavernous boot for kiddy paraphernalia and unless you go poverty spec you get the muti-adjustable middle row seats. We get at least 45mpg when crusing 4-up at 70mph. Mechanically the car has been fine over the last 5 years, it steers well, comfy and quiet, but the long gearing makes the engine's performance feel tepid at best.

[darreni]

Have a good look at the nissan qashqai. I bought a 2016 1.5dci tekna (same engine as the renault you mentioned).

The tekna spec is loaded - 360 cam, led headlights, nav etc. Easy 50mpg average. Nissan dealers can offer 2 years warranty & servicing in the deal.

[ZX10R NIN]

Considering you're only doing the 140 mile round trip once a week I'd look for something with a bit more go than the 1.5dci, just because when loaded with the family & kit you have to work them a bit harder.

Options wise there are plenty but here's where I'd be looking.

Hatchbacks:

V40 D4 R Design Nav Plus:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201171...

V40 D4 R Design Nav:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205065...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206186...

Infiniti Q30 Sport these are a A220cdi in everything bar the bodywork but they have a (the first car linked to is great value) nicer interior:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204154...

Premium Tech so you get Adaptive Cruise as well as AWD:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207127...

Premium In Touch:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206297...

Focus ST-2 185:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201291...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207067...

Mazda3 Sport Nav 165:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205065...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202032...

Rep cars, now for me the Mondeo was the pick but they're not great value at the moment & the later Insignia runs them close so the Mondeo doesn't make the top four.

Insignia SRI VX Line 170, you'll be hard pressed to beat these (with the space/price/age) they also come with Android Auto/Car Play:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208068...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204234...

Petrol 165:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207258...

Mazda6 Sport Nav 165:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207288...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206206...

Infiniti Q50 Sport 170:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207278...

Jaguar XE Portfolio 240:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110058...

180:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207238...

SUV's

Infiniti QX50 these are from a class above the others listed in both quality & go:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205256...

Kuga Titanium X Sport 180:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208038...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206016...

Titanium X:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112310...

Fiat 500X 170:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202042...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201171...

Kadjar Dynamique S Nav 160:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206066...

S Edition:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206086...

Hope this helps.

[edc]

If you are planning on having 2 kids close together and ever intend to have an adult in the back at the same time then get a car with 3 individual rear seats like a C4 Picasso, Touran, Smax etc. Most other cars outside of something the size of an Audi Q7 can't get 3 car seats or 2 car seats plus leaving the other seat useable.