Various - Replacement car advice and opinons

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Mon 28 May 2012 16:11
Various - Replacement car advice and opinons - Dabooka

Hello, after a little advice and input.

The missus and I are thinking of replacing my trustworthy but aging Mazda Tribute with something a little smaller. We always planned on replacing it later in the year, with the tax and MOT due in July; prudence suggests getting rid before then. We’re looking at an ‘09ish, but would happily go older or newer.

Factors to be considered include a 4x4 / awd is essential (not necessarily permanent though) as we do get snowbound in the winter. Happens every year as we live down a farm track, and the ability to get out to work and the shops is a luxury we've become accustomed too....

My commute is about 25 per day, dual carriage way and city centre and my wife travels about 70 in her Note. I have learned a lot on here about modern diesels needing a good run out etc, but would happily switch cars if it made sense (regarding mpg) otherwise she'd rather stick to the Note. Finally have a 9 month old so being able to chuck a pram in the back on occasion would be nice too.

So far Suzuki seem to be the marque of choice, the SX4 getting a good write up on here (although mixed reviews elsewhere) and appear to offer good value, but I know Toyota have a few suitable runabouts. Step father just got an ’09 Santa Fe which is lovely, but probably a bit pricey for us just now.

Any views thoughts would be appreciated.

Cheers, Dabooka

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Tue 29 May 2012 01:04
Various - Replacement car advice and opinons - Avant

If you need a big 4 x 4 wagon, the Honda CRV is a good bet: plenty around and available with petrol or diesel engines.

You could also think about a Skoda Octavia Scout, which will be much more like a normal car to drive once you're off the farm track. Look for the newer 2.0 litre common-rail diesel or the 1.9 TDI, avoiding the old 2.0 PD.

Edited by Avant on 14/06/2012 at 14:42

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Tue 29 May 2012 10:55
Various - Replacement car advice and opinons - Dabooka

If you need a big 4 x 4 wagon, the Honda CRV is a good bet:;emnty aropuing and available with petrol or diesel engines.

You could also think about a Skoda Octavia Scout, which will be much more like a normal car to drive once you're off the farm track. Look for the newer 2.0 litre common-rail diesel or the 1.9 TDI, avoiding the old 2.0 PD.

Thanks for the input; never would've even considered (or indeed known!) about the Scout.

Also, on this occasion size isn't importnat! It's been nice and handy for trips to the tip / B&Q etc, but could cope easily enough with a smaller motor.

Edited by Dabooka on 29/05/2012 at 10:57

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Tue 29 May 2012 14:37
Various - Replacement car advice and opinons - Happy Blue!

If your wife can get out in the Note even on snowy days, do you need 4x4 or will good snow tyres do you? If 4x4 is vital then obviously you are limited in the range of cars available. Fiat Panda 4x4 gets good reviews for something quite small. Are there any Subaru Forester diesels around that are within your price bracket? A bit smaller than a Tribute but much more versatile.

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Tue 29 May 2012 22:54
Various - Replacement car advice and opinons - Dabooka

Not had the Note for the snowy weather yet, but my old 206, her Golf and neighbours Fiesta and Premacy usually get abandoned. And it's not much better on the local roads for a couple of mile, so I think I'll have trouble persuading the missus not to get a 4wd/AWD option.

I looked at the Forester before the Tribute became available, looked like an excellent choice at the time, as we did the Panda (which was our first choice) but seemed an horrendously expensive option for what you got.

I'm rubbish at this sort of thing! Spent a couple of hours looking at CR-Vs, Vitaras and the Superb. SX4 seems to be winning in terms of value for money and either need to add more cash or get an older motor. Wa shopign to spend around 8k for around 4 yr old

Thanks for your help! :-)

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Wed 30 May 2012 03:49
Various - Replacement car advice and opinons - Carole4X4
Just a thought, if you like the note how about a Nissan Xtrail.
As depreciation is heavier than say a rav4 or crv erc a 4 or 5 yr old Xtrail could be close to budget.
Just as an aside, my Terrano II never got stuck in the snow, mind you it did have the correct tyres fitted.
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Thu 14 Jun 2012 20:17
Various - Replacement car advice and opinons - RT

If you need a big 4 x 4 wagon, the Honda CRV is a good bet: plenty around and available with petrol or diesel engines.

You could also think about a Skoda Octavia Scout, which will be much more like a normal car to drive once you're off the farm track. Look for the newer 2.0 litre common-rail diesel or the 1.9 TDI, avoiding the old 2.0 PD.

Honda CR-V and Skoda Octavia Scout are very capable 4wd cars - but big 4x4's they aren't!

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Thu 14 Jun 2012 12:43
Various - Replacement car advice and opinons - Dabooka

After looking at the SX4 at our local Suzuki delaer, it was deemed a little small by the wife, and they didn't have a AWD version available anyway (the lovely example that was in was sold unfortunately). Well after a couple of weeks trawling Autotrader et al, we increased our budget and broadened our range following input from HJ and family / friends.

So we have looked at and test driven a Kia Sportage and a Hyundai Tucson; nice and loaded but not really us, although it opened our eyes up to iother softroaders. We can't seem to find a Suzuki Grand Vitara available for a test drive or a RAV4 within age range. I like the Honda CRV a lot, but it's at the thick end of our budget at £12k-ish

Yesterday I stopped off an no fewer than 5 dealerships on my way home to see what they have in, and the other 'alf found a small 4WD Fiat on here way home. Took it for a test drive and loved it and it's a sodding Fiat Sedici. I pointed out it's an SX4 clone which was "too small" but apparently it's not as small as she first thought.

So anyway, I'm off for a test drive at some point to see what I think. There's not much out there on these things, and I've never owned a Fiat, so anything I should be looking out for? It's a 1.9 diesel, '58 plate.

Cheers,

Dabooka

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If you cover no more than 100 miles per day and have easy access to a charging point at home or work, then an EV is ideal for you.

Is an electric car right for me?