Very low mileage is as bad as very high mileage. If you're buying an 8 year old car, then far more important than mileage is condition and records of servicing, etc.

Would you actually get 2 bikes in the boot of a Yaris ?

Assuming that the children will be in the back seats, I think the Yaris will be too small for the bikes. The children will grow while you have thr car and the bikes will be replaced with bigger ones.

Have a look at a Skoda Fabia estate: go for a petrol one as most of your driving is in the city. A Nissan Note might also do, as the previous version (that you'll be looking at) is tall, and the bikes can go upright in the back.

A Toyota (Corolla) Verso would also be fine for children and bikes, but you said you wanted a 'fairly small' car. The smaller Yaris Verso wasn't popular in the UK (possibly due to its chronic ugliness) and wasn't on the market for very lon/g - so you might struggle to find one.

Edited by Avant on 22/01/2016 at 23:11

Why is 70k a problem on a 2008 car? What's wrong with th ecar and why is it mileage related. Or is it purely psycological? Personally I run a 2007 Saab 9-3 Aero saloon that has just turned 100k and I expect to keep it at least another 8-10 years.

Also why compromise your car buying for the temporary need to carry two small bikes? those toddlers will soon be needing bigger bikes that almost cartainly won't fit inside a car. there are plenty of bike carrying solutions available from accessory stores. I use roof bars and Thule Freeride carriers to carry 4 adult mountain bikes on my Saab. Even if I changed my car, I could keep my cycle carriers.

Still, you pays your money .......