Family car?

[Powderhead]

I'm umming and ahing about what car to buy. Baby Powderhead is here now and I'm driving a VW Fox at the moment which is way too small for us.

Got 12-15 grand to spend on something low mileage, and no older than 4 years old. Needs to be quiet on the motorway, suitable for a family of 4, have pretty decent trim and a few techie toys, be quick-ish, and can't be a diesel because diesels make me want to kill myself.

Considering a Focus Estate. Maybe a 3-series. Maybe even a Toyota Auris, since I live in Kingston and fully expect Sadiq Khan to fuck me over for not having a hybrid at some point in the future

What do? Any suggestions of things I haven't thought of?
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[autistboi]

I'd be looking more towards a Mondeo / Superb / Avensis but that's just me. I find Focus / Astra / Auris size cars just too small for a family. I've read that, unless you wanna go spending £80k on a S-Class, 7 Series or A8, the Skoda Superb offers more legroom front and rear than anything else on the market. Superb estate, very nice! Bur pricey, could get a nice Mondeo far cheaper with just as much kit on it representing better value for money.

Anything Japanese or German, Volvo or Ford should see you ok. In short stay away from French, Italian and American POS (Ford excluded). Korean is ok, I understand they mostly use Japanese engines etc. but just don't have the long-running reliability reputation of the Japs and the Krauts.

Draw up a shortlist of models and see what the lowest mileage and youngest thing you can get within your budget and a set distance from home.

[Sister Sledge]

I know a diesel isn't what you want because charges but remember too that they've moved on a fair bit since 10 years ago. I have a 2 litre that does 144 and gets over 55 to the gallon.

Personally I'd go with something from the VAG group - Seat are probably the cheapest? Dealerships for SEAT up here are very good with customer service.
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[BTTD]

https://stock.mercedes-benz.co.uk/used/vehicle-details/c-180-estate/WDD2042312G268996/104

Mercedes C Class estate.
Friend bought one a few years back. Not that fast, but very comfy on motorways. He rates it highly as an everyday car.
I have an E class estate, but they're pretty much all diesels when you look at them second hand. If you can find a petrol E class, and it's within your budget (I think it'll be £20k plus), it has a massive boot and is a great family car.
I would suggest Subaru outback or legacy petrol models, but I don't think you'll find one at that price. Nice cars though if you can.

[weasley]

You are a couple with one new baby, right? You don't need an estate and/or SUV (you appear to agree with this but others are suggesting otherwise). We had a Mk2 Focus when our first one arrived and it was perfectly up to the job. The Honda Civic is another good choice, if you can stomach looking at it. SEAT Leon offers a lot for your money, same with Skoda Octavia. Volvo V40? VW Golf is an obvious one, but none the worse for it. Audi A3 sportback or A4 if you have the money.

Having said you don't need an SUV, a cross-over type can be useful, not really for extra space but for the extra height - wrestling a child into their seat is far easier if you can do it without stooping. Something like a Qashqai, RAV4, B-Class, Yeti, Karoq, Ateca et cetera ad nauseum.

Cars we had through our kids' growing up:

Ford Focus mk2 - perfectly adequate; had this from newborn kid 1
BMW 130i (alongside the Focus although we did use it sometimes and it was fine - had this from newborn kid 1)
Volvo V50 - awesome family car; had this with newborn kid 2 plus toddler kid 1
Merc B-class (mk1) - adequate but disappointing; had alongside the Volvo and used the Volvo when possible
Skoda Yeti - very awesome family car.

Currently in a SEAT Leon (this would work OK I think, although the boot isn't as big as I remember the Focus being) and a Volvo XC60 (great car but big and spendy).

Key things you need to know:
- does a rear-facing car seat fit in the back with the front seat in a decent position?
- does your buggy/stroller fit in the boot and can you both lift it over whatever lip there might be, one-handed?
- is the interior wipe-clean?
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[grr666]

Honda CR-V
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[LustyLew]

[BTTD]

[Riejufixing]

[grr666]

[BTTD]

On a long journey I use a box mounted onto a towbar. Less wind noise than a roof box, easier to pack as it's not on the roof, but.... it can interfere with opening the tailgate. I don't put a dog in the back though so once the boots packed it stays packed till we get where we're going.
I think it's called bakrak or something.

[Diggs]

The kids called it the 'window-licker', but my old Berlingo was a perfect family car, and we had 3 kids plus a mutt. Bought it new in 2005 and only sold it last month, it was that useful. 120k on the clock, still going strong.
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Gone (in order of ownership) - Raleigh Runabout, AP50, KH125, GP125, KH250, CBX550, Z400, CB750FII, 250LC, GS550, ZXR750H1, Guzzi Targa, GSX750F, KH250 x2, Bimota SB6R and counting...

[Powderhead]

Thanks for the replies all.

[grr666]

I should add I'm only considering the 2.0 petrol V-tec variant. Don't want diesel. I've driven the 2.0 petrol before, they
go well enough for a dog wagon. Got the bike for when I want to go fast. BTW, most of the 2.0 petrols are FWD only the range
topping EX trim level gets (part time quattro style) 4wd on the petrol version. Been looking at these for a while.
I am however also considering the Mazda equivalent, the CX5 in its 2.0 sport guise which is a more 'dynamic' car than the
Honda, with a more engaging drive. Only 2wd available in the petrol variant there as well.
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Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[B5234FT]

In basically the same conditions and have just bought a 3 year old Kia Sportage.

[Polarbear]

I like estates. I bought mine (Jaguar XF estate) because of the versatility and is still a nice drive with all the toys.

Perforated heated leather seats however do not mix with baby puke as Lusty Lew already mentioned

I did look at a Skoda estate and a Volvo but in the end heart ruled head and I got the Jaaaaag.

I would certainly go for an estate or something similar. My previous car was a Ford C-Max petrol. It had awsone amounts of room in it and in the back. I had the 2 litre auto petrol. It was a drinker but the 1800 manual is meant to be loads better.

It's also based on the Focus chassis believe it or not so it handles well for a big lump.

Later ones have rear sliding doors which wifie says they are a godsend with rugrats and car seats. ( I wouldn't know, they go in the boot with the dog when I take them anywhere )
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[BrownTrousers]

I am led to believe the Nissan Qashqai is the default option for a family car these days. Has been popular for a while so second hand ones should be widely available in your price range. Top end ones have some toys, plus it's Japanese so should be reliable....

Having said that, in similar situation a couple of years back i went for a Volvo V40. Not as big as a crossover (or estate) obviously but i only have one child to ferry around so has been perfectly big enough. Bit nicer to look at and more luxurious inside than the Qashqai my sister bought at the same time.
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[c_dug]

New Volvo's are quite nice, I'd be tempted by something like this within your budget: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201904187125373?atmobcid=soc3

Or if you can stretch a little, maybe this:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201904217185341?atmobcid=soc3

Practically speaking the first one is a decent shout, if head rules heart.
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[Grubscrew]

Skoda Yeti. Brilliant , and if you get the 4x4 even better.
A very practical vehicle.
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[stevo as b4]

I'd get a nice estate if:

1, you arnt a snob and must have an SUV/Crossover because it's the thing to have these days.

2, You don't need a high up driving position or need a high car for access, I.e mobility issues.

Your likely to get petrol or diesel Euro 6 car in budget of the age spec you want, but I'm not sure about a hybrid, and how many hybrid estates there are around too?

The only law is don't buy a Fiat Tipo estate or Dacia MCV as anyone that does should be set on fire and then hanged.

There's got to be plenty of nice Civics, Focus, Golf, Skoda or BMW 3-series estates in your budget though, maybe even a Subaru Legacy or Audi A3 estate?

And don't buy anything 4wd unless it's a high up tonka toy go anywhere beast or a saloon/estate car that's got way too much bhp for one axle to transmit to the tarmac.

I know a few people at work with Quashqi/Tucson/ Sportage type cars that are only fwd. And how much of a prick do they look in winter ice and snow in high up SUV's going nowhere.

[P.]

[Ste]

Volvo.

Obviously.

[wr6133]

[mentalboy]

15K is a lot of money to spend on something that'll be ferrying around two grubby crotch goblins, get something that you can hose out with a pressure washer and won't mind eventually selling on for a major loss because they've trashed the back of the cabin!
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[Diggs]