Reply to: Anyone know anything about cars?

[DS23]

go for a grand c4 picasso. diesel 2 litre. 7 seats, comfortable, nice design touches, reasonable build quality. 45mpg. loads of them about - should be able to get a good-un for 5k.

[formant]

I know absolutely nothing about cars at all - my family never had one, I did not get one until I was 25 etc.

However, my wife will hopefully be passing her test soon and will want a car. It looks like the best bet for us is oen of those big people carrier things, the ones with loads of seat or storage space depending on how you configure it.

Can anyone recommend any ones which are particularly good or ones to avoid? I would probably want to spend less than 5k if I can.

Volvo XC90s are fantastic. Unlikely to get one that isn't ancient for under 8k though. Most 6 year old ones still go for around 11k.

[Old Hack]

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

They do, absolutely, but to be honest, not many women drivers would benefit from it, and as she's only just passing her test (hopefully), I am not too sure she'd noticed/be bothered.

[Mich the Tester]

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

Bollocks. I had a Peugeot 407 and it lasted nearly 100,000 km (60K miles).

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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]

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.

[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.

[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]

electric everything

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

[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 !

[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.

[Old Hack]

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.