Cars, choices, apathy and inevitability.

[Davidc]

With your specification I'd go for the Alhambra or Touran (both VW group) and both supposed to be very reliable.

Thought about one for me when I replaced my over 100k Citroen C5 - never had a fault from new - in January but it's only for me so I bought a smaller Skoda (also VW group) instead.

 

[I like Skol]

Land Rover Defender 110

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...earchad/used,nearlynew,new/usedcars?logcode=p

Do you not like Crackle?

I have a 110 because I enjoy tinkering and like fixing things.

I would never recommend a Land Rover to anyone as a family car. The initial purchase price might seem reasonable for such a practical 'lifestyle' vehicle that is also very capable when the elements are against you (it can be murder in the Waitrose car park sometimes) but once you have replaced the gearbox, renewed all the wheel bearings, taken the gearbox out again to fit a new clutch arm, replaced the leaky, floppy steering box, fitted new oil seals to the diffs to try and keep some oil in there, welded in a new rear crossmember and patched up the big holes in the footwells you will begin to wonder what attracted you.
When you then spend your first winter being dripped on every time it rains and trying to keep the interior full of damp bodies from misting up all the windows with a blower that is less powerful than someone half-heartedly waving a hanky, and you are getting through diesel at a rate of one expensive gallon every 20 odd miles, you will be quite sure that you must have been mad to even consider Land Rover ownership.
Once you then start the second phase of the repair cycle which involves redoing a lot of the work that has already been done, but for slightly different reasons and replacing what appear to be reasonably good parts and tyres when trying to cure that intolerable shake that occurs at most speeds above 52mph you will be ready to beat to death with a sloppy propshaft any idiot who tries to tell you that spares are dead cheap and Land Rovers run forever.

You will then extend your overdraft even further to try and complete the repairs so you can sell the damn thing.

I love my 110 and wouldn't be without it, luckily for me it is only a toy.

 

[Crackle]

Just stay away from VW Routan, as its' just a rebadgered Chrysler Minivan.
Mitsubishi Outlander, or Shogun, perhaps?
They make Outlander Sports in Normal.
http://www.mitsubishi-cars.co.uk/

I like the Outlander: Ticks my quirky/practical box. I think it falls down on CO2 and mpg and a weird shaped boot because of the wheel arch intrusion, I won't get the bouldering mats to lie down between those arches plus the bench 60/40 split is not as flexible as three separate seats but I would consider it. Might try and see one in the flesh.

I'm confused now. I thought you were trying to find the dullest thing possible

Yes but the dullness is nuanced

Land Rover Defender 110

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201501300560572/sort/atcustom/postcode/gu337aa/page/1/price-from/10000/price-to/12000/model/defender_110/radius/40/channel/cars/make/land_rover/onesearchad/used,nearlynew,new/usedcars?logcode=p

Many years ago, I nearly bought one but Skoly has said it all. Plus, they are big, far bigger than they look.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Up until recently I had a Volvo V70 which was great for roominess, only a 5 seater but with a big boot. Shíte Co2 (automatic) and the fuel was poor at just over 40 plus Mrs McG said it was an old mans car and someone at work said they thought they were only driven by dentists.

 

[Freds Dad]

Of course you will find the perfect vehicle at the right price and the wife won't like the colour. You need to factor colour into you choice.

Have you thought of a Honda CRV?

 

[Crackle]

[QUOTE 3643374, member: 259"]I still kind of regret getting rid of our Mazda 5 "sport".

You could transport 6.5 large people in it no problem and you used to find a new cunningly hidden stowage place every week. Sliding rear doors are great. Nothing ever went wrong except the hard disk. The only downside was the rear door was plastic rather than metal and the car itself was deeply uncool.[/QUOTE]

Mazda 5, I'd forgotten about them and plastic rear ends are more common than people think. Like I said, cheese and cardboard.

Up until recently I had a Volvo V70 which was great for roominess, only a 5 seater but with a big boot. Shíte Co2 (automatic) and the fuel was poor at just over 40 plus Mrs McG said it was an old mans car and someone at work said they thought they were only driven by dentists.

My mate used to buy a V70 every few years with a 100,000 on the clock, drive it to 200,000 and then get the next one. It won't fit fit on my drive though. Anything I buy has to be shorter than 4.60m

 

[bikingdad90]

What about a Skoda Fabia Scout Estate?

Plenty of boot room (swallows a mama and papa zoom pram and the weekly shop) enough room to handle three children, comes with alloys, front fogs and cruise control as standard. As it comes with roof rails you can stick the bikes on top too. It is stylish too.

I've got a 1.4 Turbocharged Diesel and get about 50mpg out of it or up to 55/56mpg on long runs on the motorway. Plenty of grunt off the line when warmed up. My only negative is cabin noise from the engine can be loud if you raw off the line but settles down when cruising.

 

[Fab Foodie]

I've been campaigning a 57 plate Citroen C8 diesel that's on 140k miles. Like the Picasso it is made of cheese and (probably) like the Picasso it has been very reliable (touch wood). They are also very cheap second hand.
It has accommodated a whole load of miserable teenagers in great comfort over very many miles, like 8 hours at a go. It can do close to 50mpg if driven very carefully on a motorway, though 42 is more general.
It's very comfortable, very smooth and pretty quiet when cruising and for a big old bird handles fairly well too (though it's no Galaxy).
Without the 2 rear seats I can accommodate 4 adults, 4 bikes inside and all our kit without recourse to external racks or boxes.
It's flat-floored so take out some seats and it's great to sleep in.

It'll be hard to replace.

 

[vickster]

What about a Skoda Fabia Scout Estate?

Plenty of boot room (swallows a mama and papa zoom pram and the weekly shop) enough room to handle three children, comes with alloys, front fogs and cruise control as standard. As it comes with roof rails you can stick the bikes on top too. It is stylish too.

I've got a 1.4 Turbocharged Diesel and get about 50mpg out of it or up to 55/56mpg on long runs on the motorway. Plenty of grunt off the line when warmed up. My only negative is cabin noise from the engine can be loud if you raw off the line but settles down when cruising.

I've got a Skoda Fabia estate. It'll take 4 adults comfortably but not 5, decent size boot but not massive. Octavia or better the huge Superb for volume

I have the VRS version, none of that stinky diesel muck for me Don't even need to warm up to get the grunt having a turbo and a supercharger Not the most economical but pretty good for its performance (mid 30s on super UL) but I do few miles

 

[Drago]

I can't fit behind the front seats in a Labia unless they're well forward. I'm big, but I isn't all that big.

 

[Crackle]

I've been campaigning a 57 plate Citroen C8 diesel that's on 140k miles. Like the Picasso it is made of cheese and (probably) like the Picasso it has been very reliable (touch wood). They are also very cheap second hand.
It has accommodated a whole load of miserable teenagers in great comfort over very many miles, like 8 hours at a go. It can do close to 50mpg if driven very carefully on a motorway, though 42 is more general.
It's very comfortable, very smooth and pretty quiet when cruising and for a big old bird handles fairly well too (though it's no Galaxy).
Without the 2 rear seats I can accommodate 4 adults, 4 bikes inside and all our kit without recourse to external racks or boxes.
It's flat-floored so take out some seats and it's great to sleep in.

It'll be hard to replace.

I had not forgotten your C8, it should really go on the list but I had also not forgotten how much that wing mirror cost

Get a nice sports car for you and the missus...


...and make the smelly teens walk or get public transport.

Sorted!

HTH.

I have long ago accepted my lower position in the hierarchy of family life. Sometimes I'm above the dog, sometimes I look on him with envy.....

 

[The Jogger]

Do you not like Crackle?

I have a 110 because I enjoy tinkering and like fixing things.

I would never recommend a Land Rover to anyone as a family car. The initial purchase price might seem reasonable for such a practical 'lifestyle' vehicle that is also very capable when the elements are against you (it can be murder in the Waitrose car park sometimes) but once you have replaced the gearbox, renewed all the wheel bearings, taken the gearbox out again to fit a new clutch arm, replaced the leaky, floppy steering box, fitted new oil seals to the diffs to try and keep some oil in there, welded in a new rear crossmember and patched up the big holes in the footwells you will begin to wonder what attracted you.
When you then spend your first winter being dripped on every time it rains and trying to keep the interior full of damp bodies from misting up all the windows with a blower that is less powerful than someone half-heartedly waving a hanky, and you are getting through diesel at a rate of one expensive gallon every 20 odd miles, you will be quite sure that you must have been mad to even consider Land Rover ownership.
Once you then start the second phase of the repair cycle which involves redoing a lot of the work that has already been done, but for slightly different reasons and replacing what appear to be reasonably good parts and tyres when trying to cure that intolerable shake that occurs at most speeds above 52mph you will be ready to beat to death with a sloppy propshaft any idiot who tries to tell you that spares are dead cheap and Land Rovers run forever.

You will then extend your overdraft even further to try and complete the repairs so you can sell the damn thing.

I love my 110 and wouldn't be without it, luckily for me it is only a toy.

Well I've had two 90's and I love them, quite often doing a round trip to London for work. The first one was a bit of a pig the but last one which I have just sold (and intend to get another) was a brilliant 300tdi R380 gearbox , clutch done loads of miles and yes a few drafts but like marmite i love em.

 

[Fab Foodie]

I had not forgotten your C8, it should really go on the list but I had also not forgotten how much that wing mirror cost
.

Damn, did you have to remind me? I'd barely gotten over it!

 

[Fab Foodie]

I have long ago accepted my lower position in the hierarchy of family life. Sometimes I'm above the dog, sometimes I look on him with envy.....

Have you ever heard the Stewart Lee story about the cat and the tapeworm, where he admires the closeness of their relationship?

I'm usually just below the goldfish in the FF household hierarchy.

 

[Drago]

Well I've had two 90's and I love them, quite often doing a round trip to London for work. The first one was a bit of a pig the but last one which I have just sold (and intend to get another) was a brilliant 300tdi R380 gearbox , clutch done loads of miles and yes a few drafts but like marmite i love em.

after almost 2 facades and a dozen different Landies I gave up and went Japanese. Haven't had to weld anything since then, and I've almost forgotten how to hold a spanner. I love them, but won't own another.