Open to advice ASAP :) - Buying a family car - suggestions !!

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Fri 30 Sep 2011 00:31
Open to advice ASAP :) - Buying a family car - suggestions !! - willowtreemum

Previously vehicle now sold . Advice required urgently as to what to purchase now as I cant be without a car for long with 4 children !!

Having a breakdown at the thought ( no pun intended lol )

So , perhaps an MPV or 4X4 , something like that ...I require a car big enough for 4 children and one VERY LARGE dog , but as I'm only 5ft tall , I sometimes struggle driving larger estates . I need as lower engine size as possible , something with no huge repair bills likely , cheap on parts etc , for gods sake NO MORE TIMING CHAINS , I never want to hear that word ever again !!!...on a budget oF £1800 - 2000 maximum - Am I asking to much ?!?!

Any advice what to look at would be greatfully received ...ALSO , and general faults to look out for would be helpful :) Thankyou xxx


I had been looking at Vauxhall Zafira's or Fiat Multipla's...Thoughts ??

Edited by willowtreemum on 30/09/2011 at 00:37

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Fri 30 Sep 2011 00:41
Open to advice ASAP :) - Buying a family car - suggestions !! - Avant

Glad you've sold the Verso, otherwise the willow would have been weeping....

At this budget level, condition is much more important than make or model, because you don't know how well the previous owner (more usually owners) has/have treated the car.

Try to find something that's been regularly serviced and has records to prove it. If I'm pushed into recommending makes / models, the Japanese makes tend to stand up to neglect better than others. The next size up from your Yaris Verso - the Corolla Verso - is well worth a look. The advantage of the Zafira is that there will be lots around to choose from.

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Fri 30 Sep 2011 00:54
Open to advice ASAP :) - Buying a family car - suggestions !! - willowtreemum

The Willow was almost pulling her flamin leaves out !!! ;)

Will have a looksy at the Corolla Verso , thankinyoukindly x , tell me it doesnt have a chain though eh < makes cross with fingers >

There are an awful lot of Zafira's around , I did notice that , but never having owned one , I dont know what rep they have < muchly confused , and thats never good in a woman >

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Fri 30 Sep 2011 01:15
Open to advice ASAP :) - Buying a family car - suggestions !! - willowtreemum

ANY THOUGHTS ON A 2003 MERCEDES VANEO AMBIENTE ?!

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Fri 30 Sep 2011 17:28
Open to advice ASAP :) - Buying a family car - suggestions !! - pugswhdi

I'd like to try and help out here and suggest a few cars for you as I'm into this sort of thing and often help out family and friends with this. You've indicated that you need space for you, 4 kids and a large dog. Is 5 seats enough? and how old are the children so that consideration can be given to their car seat requirements.

A 2003 merc vaneo would not be on my list.

I'll check back later!

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Fri 30 Sep 2011 18:08
Open to advice ASAP :) - Buying a family car - suggestions !! - sandy56

Hae alook at a Puegot 406 estate a few around these days and make excellent family wagons.

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Fri 30 Sep 2011 21:08
Open to advice ASAP :) - Buying a family car - suggestions !! - willowtreemum

Thanks...The Merc wasnt on mine after speaking to a friend either , now more lost than ever !!

Had a Look at the Peugeot 406 but that seems a bit to big for me to even see over the steering wheel let alone park the b***** thing :)

5 Seats are enough as long as I have a big boot . Children : 2 teenagers , 2 little uns and trust me , I need bootspace for the dog as he comes everywhere with us , usual problem I find is that the car is ok , but the boot hasnt enough headroom for him ( he's tall as well as wide )

I managed perfectly well space wise with my Toyota Verso as the bootspace was really good . Prior to that I had both a Scenic and a Multipla but spent a fortune on both over the years...

< flaps arms in frustration >

Edited by willowtreemum on 30/09/2011 at 21:18

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Fri 30 Sep 2011 22:34
Open to advice ASAP :) - Buying a family car - suggestions !! - pugswhdi
5 seats and particularly large big boot points me towards a van type vehicle. Under £2k and I reckon a citroen xzara Picasso will actually be hard to beat. Getting old now but a simple petrol petrol model makes a good honest family wagon.

Other things to consider would be the van variants; citroen berlingo, Peugeot partner or renault kangoo or the (in my opinion underrated) Mazda demio. As I said though the Picasso will be hard to beat overall as a car.

Have a look around there are loads about at under £2k and see what you think. Spend less and hold money back in case you need it for the car, house or kids!
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Sat 1 Oct 2011 00:21
Open to advice ASAP :) - Buying a family car - suggestions !! - willowtreemum

I had the Kangoo and Berlingo on my list :) My friend has a Masda Demio , pig ugly , but never lets her down !! ...I had skirted over the Picasso to be honest , and yet I'm not actually sure WHY , maybe somebody once said something bad about one and it's partially logged in my stressed out brain , but I'll do some more research now..thanks chick x

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Sat 1 Oct 2011 20:22
Open to advice ASAP :) - Buying a family car - suggestions !! - pugswhdi
I bought a demio as I had to get a car that our family of five could travel in with baby seats etc. Got the demo for £450 ended up driving it for 6 months totally trouble free then sold it for the same money - didn't even have to tax or mot it!

There are plenty of horror stories about most cars, but when you take int account the huge numbers of picassos that sold and you still see about they must be well enough liked but do avoid the diesels for lowest overall costs.
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