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Family car?

Robert M

Robert M

pfm Member
Hi, I'm looking to get a new secondhand family car as my 1998 primera is starting to disintegrate from the rust.

I love the Honda Civic 1.8i (2008) and the wife loves the nissan qashqai 1.6 petrol.
She says the honda is too small, I'm saying it's got 100ltr more in boot space.
She thinks the nissan is a bigger car all round, I say that nissan is a Renault and comes with trouble.
She says nissan is safer?

All opinions welcome on the above and others.

Cheers.
 
Saab 9-3 Saloon or Sportwagon. Well put together and excellent value ! 2.0 litre petrol @ 150bhp or 210 bhp are excellent engines. Just something else to consider. I've run Saabs without problems for many years.
 
100 litres of extra boot space is only any good if you can fit the family in at the same time.

Honda Civics aren't built very well.

I'll second the Focus above. And I'm definitely not a Ford fan.

Try loads of cars out for yourself over a weekend or two. With the family to support views on if there's enough space.

Hic.
 
As regards the Qashqai, I had a 1.6 petrol on hire for a weekend and found it underpowered for a reasonably heavy car. It was ok comfort wise and good space but really lacking any gumption. Had to change down a gear on a motorway going up an incline?? Last car I was in where I had to do that was a 1984 Nissan Micra 1.0.

I like the Civic's but haven't driven one. I know a couple of people that own Civic's and they like them. I'm sure there are one or two Civic owners on here that might have some personal advice.
 
That's a piece of money. You have a lot of choice.
Saab is a good choice, they are sensational value for money now that the average car buyer is convinced that you can't buy any spares for them any more. Just like you can't get bits for Rovers any more (you can) even though the youngest is 10 yrs old now.
Women like Qashqais and the like because they are tall. They will come up with a thousand reasons for why they are better until you capitulate. Up to you when or if that happens, but just be aware that it's unlikely to be rational.

I suppose that you have to ask what you want the thing to do and go from there.
 
I was a Saab fan but they are shoddy compared to the average Honda.

Although I've had various Fords and currently own a Fiesta ST2, I really rate Skoda's. Great VFM and good to drive, my Octavia VRS just goes on and on as does the wife's Fabia VRS.
 
It's always difficult recommending cars for people. Different things have different priorities.

Generally, I really like Lexus cars as they are well made, well engineered but the diesels aren't a favourite amongst the critics. The auto petrols are well regarded but they aren't the most economical of cars......but I wouldn't expect it to break down.

If you're prepared to go to the limits of your budget, you just might get a VW Passat CC diesel. Good size, lots of room, comfortable and good looking as well as really economical. You could look at Merc C Class?? They're nice as well.
 
Robert M said:
Really? I thought they were ment to be bullet proof, so to speak.
Click to expand...

Yep mine is. It's a 2004 Type S and has had no problems at all over the four years that I've had it. It's practical, comfortable, reasonably economical and fairly nippy. The only minor annoyance is that turning circle isn't tight enough.

Rich
 
A Skoda. Wonderful, practical cars that drive well, are extremely well built, have bags of room (mine is a Roomster), decent ergonomics and good performance. They're a bit of a bargain in and outside of the VAG world.

I'd hesitate about Ford. They do drive well, probably the best of their class, but I've had a succession of Fords as hire cars, all with low kilometers, and inevitably something stops working, usually related to the onboard computer. Can be unnerving when you're haring down a mountain road and the alarm beeps suddenly to warn you a door is open. It isn't, of course, but no amount of slamming will change the mind of the computer. Had that in two different models now.
 
The Ford Focus also has a tiny boot, the smallest in its class, about 320 litres. Most cars in that class are 350-400 litres.
 
Subaru Legacy or Outback.

If getting a diesel legacy make sure you get 2011 on as the early ones had teething troubles. Petrol cars a mostly bullet proof.

Fantastic cars to buy used spend only 50% to 75% of your budget. Estates have masses of room. Legacy saloon is cheap as chips to buy.

Performance car is a legacy turbo, JDM imports are better spec, parts from your local Eurocar parts of subaru dealer, loads of indy specialists when servicing is needed.

Check out some imports here http://www.goodmayesmotors.co.uk/
A touch expensive but look very nice.

Offroad in an Subaru outback... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0vufG7y-Mg

Sold my 1998 legacy to my sister several years ago she ran it for several more years, then sold it to a local farmer with about 200K miles on she it still sees it driving around locally. All it needed was regular servicing, tyres etc.

Me I drive a Subaru Forester at the mo, also a fantastic car.
 
You could do worse that look at a Skoda Roomster.
(Some people don't like to look at it because of its shape)
My '58 Reg. 1.4 diesel easily does 60 to a gallon, even commuting.
The boot is huge.
The driving position is high up and visibility is excellent.
(Incidentally, the rear seat are 44mm higher than the front seats, so for Royalty-type waving it's ideal )
It has, of course, VW reliability...
What's not to like?

Going back to the shape, I like it as it is quirky without being ugly like the Nissan Juke.
(Evidentially the designer of the front wasn't talking to the designer of the back !)
I love mine.
I have had it for nearly 6 years and I expect to still have it in another 6.
 
Good to see another Roomster fan. They are quite ugly, but you get an awful lot for your money. They are built like tanks. Extremely flexible, too, as the rear seats can be either folded or removed entirely.
 
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