Anyone know anything about cars?

[DimPrawn]

IMHO, you need something within 5 years old. Walk away from any Renault Espace over 3 years old, and any scenic pre 2004 I'd say; the electrics were an issue.

If you go for an ex-mobility car, they're less likely to have been caned.

Zafiras are Vauxhalls, and are a bit basic, Renault Scenics have a bit more kit, and boxes and storage places everywhere. If the Zafira wasn't a Vauxhall, I think they'd be fine.

One other thing to note, is early C4 picassos, weren't renowned for their build quality. The Picasso itself, is a bargain, and 5k should pick you up a recent one without too many miles.

£5k limits the choice really, if you want a newish car, which I would.

Agree mate. The more modern the better, got to be diesel I'd say and as much kit and luxury as possible. I can't personally stand cloth seats, especially in something like a people carrier. Go all dirty and smelly.

Lots of glass is good, so if it has a fully glass roof, great.

I'd expect climate control, electric everything, heated seats as a minimum.

[rootsnall]

Poverty spec, petrol engine, Vauxhall?

Okay then.

Deliberate choice of poverty spec and petrol engine to show how you can get a lot newer and lot lower mileage for your money. When I was recently looking I twigged that it cost about £600 for moving up a model and all you got was having volume control on the steering wheel column and some different wheel trims. I must admit our bog standard Zafira is a tad spartan !

[rootsnall]

electric everything

it'll break and you'll get a nice big bill !

[DimPrawn]

it'll break and you'll get a nice big bill !

You just get used to having a dwindling spec as things stop working.

[rootsnall]

You just get used to having a dwindling spec as things stop working.

True, I had some wires snipped on a 100K miles+ Vectra to allow me to open the doors manually, but a few months later some more important electrics went and it was end.

[eek]

I'd agree with this, but have an unreasonable and pathological hatred of Vauxhalls.

I have a pathological hatred of Renault based on what happened to an old (owned from new) megane after 50,000 miles.

[DimPrawn]

I have a pathological hatred of Renault based on what happened to an old (owned from new) megane after 50,000 miles.

£50K miles is end of life for most French cars.

[eek]

Agree mate. The more modern the better, got to be diesel I'd say and as much kit and luxury as possible. I can't personally stand cloth seats, especially in something like a people carrier. Go all dirty and smelly.

Lots of glass is good, so if it has a fully glass roof, great.

I'd expect climate control, electric everything, heated seats as a minimum.

Diesels are only good if you do 10+ mile journeys the majority of the time. If your average journey is less than that you want a petrol otherwise be prepared to buy a new DPF at vast expense.

When my wife's job changed I rapidly replaced the diesel zafira with the petrol alternative. I know they are tulipe but if thats what the wife wants that is what she can have.

[Old Hack]

Diesels are only good if you do 10+ mile journeys the majority of the time. If your average journey is less than that you want a petrol otherwise be prepared to buy a new DPF at vast expense.

When my wife's job changed I rapidly replaced the diesel zafira with the petrol alternative. I know they are tulipe but if thats what the wife wants that is what she can have.

Good point, and they only really make sense if you do more than around 12,000 miles a year for the extra cost of fuel, and premium they carry over petrols.

[DimPrawn]

Good point, and they only really make sense if you do more than around 12,000 miles a year for the extra cost of fuel, and premium they carry over petrols.

Having lots of torque they tend to give a better drive in the bigger heavier 7 seat people carriers.