New Family Car? - DanRaines

Hi I am looking for a new family car in the budget range of 3000-4000 needs to be reliable and have a big boot (carry pushchair, bags), Currently own a corsa which is no longer big enough. Any Ideas?

New Family Car? - Happy Blue!

More details please?

How many miles each year do you drive? is a Focus size about right or would a small MPV be better?

At this price range you should be looking for condtion rather than a specific model.

New Family Car? - DanRaines

Happy Blue I drive about 12000-15000 miles a year, as long as I can fit a buggy and holiday bags in the car anything will be ok, the corsa boots are not big enough for me to carry everything I need.

New Family Car? - tanvir

A nice late mk3 low mileage Mondeo 1.8, for example:

www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/20121203449...p

I had a 2.0TDCi which chewed up its DMF at 140k. But the 1.8 petrol is very reliable. And the Mondeo is well sorted in terms of driving position, space, handling, comfort... god I miss that car :(

Edited by tanvir on 02/01/2013 at 13:24

New Family Car? - Happy Blue!

As Tanvir said, you may find better value cars one class larger than the Focus size. Primera, Mondeo, Accord, Mazda6, Avensis etc etc. At this age you might find a good diesel, but there is no reason why a petrol engine should be ignored.

New Family Car? - unthrottled

Primera, Mondeo, Accord, Mazda6, Avensis etc etc.

As tempting as the "more for less" stratefy appears, some of these cars could be more of a hindrance than a luxury in certain urban environments. Yes, you learn to cope, but why cope when life can be easier?

New Family Car? - DanRaines

So unthrottled what you recommend - any views on the mitsubishi lancer - good money.

New Family Car? - gordonbennet

Lancer, anonymous unless an EVO or lookalike, overlooked otherwise and an excellent no nonsense all round competent vehicle, as was Carisma (1.8 GDi best avoided).

Available as quite quick but still anonyomous form as 2.0 litre sport estates.

I think there is mention of the best value and most reliable years on the right of the page in the WD item.

New Family Car? - DanRaines

Gordonbennet,

Unfortunately cannot afford an EVO :), just trying to find a new family car...

New Family Car? - gordonbennet

I can afford an EVO but rather not stump up the regular eye watering costs of keeping one fettled..;)

Plenty of 1.6 and 2 litre NA Lancers about that would make fine cars, you could do far worse.

New Family Car? - barney100

Volvo V70, loads of room and diesels pretty economical.

New Family Car? - Avant

Or a Volvo S60 which still has a big boot - petrol would be better than diesel at the age of car that Dan is looking at.

Mondeo, Avensis, Mazda 6, Octavia, S60 - any of these could do you well. All of these can also be had as an estate apart from the S60 (Volvo has the V70 instead).

New Family Car? - countryroads

Thing is, despite the price bracket anyone is looking at, its nice to have someone that you can be proud to own...I too like the S60 and it has a bit of class and presence, lovely interior strong engines and a decent chassis.....they can burn oil so check level and condition if you look at any, cambelt also important. That 5cylinder noise too, yes! If any warning lights on, electronic throttle can be an issue, not massively costly though.