Cars, choices, apathy and inevitability.

[Drago]

Costly to run? Not so sure about that, no one want big vehicles so they depreciate like an elevator in death valley. Buy a 3 year old and the ten grand saved buys you years of motoring.

I agree without about soft roader rubbish. Useless off road, not as good on road as a conventional car, why bother? If you want a car, buy a car, if you want a fourbie, buy a proper fourbie. This soft roader sheet is for people that think they're Ranulph Fiennes but in reality are more Reggie Perrin. Combine the worst aspects of 2 different types of vehicles was a stupid idea.

 

[BrumJim]

Having ruled out Fords and Skodas, you've probably ruled out the best choices.
Would probably go with the Seat Alhambra if I was in your situation.

 

[Crackle]

What's wrong with Skodas? Although none will probably meet your needs

All people carriers have a nausea inducing ride in my experience (from taxis, might be the magic tree overload however, probably be the same with over perfumed teenagers )

Given your responses to date, I think you'll be looking at a very short short list? Sharanbragalaxy variant?

Nothing. That's why I said, irrational dislike I quite like the Yeti but it isn't big enough and I suspect it's quite pricey too.

 

[vickster]

Nothing. That's why I said, irrational dislike I quite like the Yeti but it isn't big enough and I suspect it's quite pricey too.

My parents have a Yeti, lovely. But they are 15k+

What's your budget?

 

[Crackle]

Would probably go with the Seat Alhambra if I was in your situation.

I had one of them for a few days and really liked it. Great engines, solid feel. Need to check what's what on prices and engines now.

 

[BrumJim]

VW group, so good spares availability, and cheap end of the market.

 

[Crackle]

What's your budget?

Flexible'ish. Want something 2nd hand, so initial madcap depreciation has gone, around 40K and a few years old. Thinking in terms of 12-13k.

 

[BrumJim]

Flexible'ish. Want something 2nd hand, so initial madcap depreciation has gone, around 40K and a few years old. Thinking in terms of 12-13k.

Vauxhall Zafira. Although if you are ruling out Fords, I can't see why you should rule in Vauxhalls.

 

[Crackle]

VW group, so good spares availability, and cheap end of the market.

I think it may be just outside the budget, as currently set, which is why it never made the short list. Same with S-max and a couple of others.

 

[vickster]

BMW 5 series estate? Not cheap to run, although good diesels. Take a lot of crap. Think have 3 proper seats. Audi A6 too

 

[Crackle]

Hyundai i30 Estate. The diesels in particular are very good, with plenty of poke, but give excellent mileage. The cars themselves are surprisingly roomy.

The build quality is, of course, excellent.

It would be on my list of desirable estates but estates are out.

Vauxhall Zafira. Although if you are ruling out Fords, I can't see why you should rule in Vauxhalls.

I drove one and didn't like it and can't warm to them since.

 

[vickster]

Transit van, stick the teens in the back and terrorise cyclists

 

[Crackle]

Transit van, stick the teens in the back and terrorise cyclists

No problem with that but the dog tends to slide around which is a bit distracting when you look in the mirror and see the dog going past every now and again, accompanied by the sound of claw on floor.

 

[vickster]

Hyundai i800 looks like an economical utlitarian bus, dull looking

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/used-ca...e-5dr-willesden-fpa-201504132560736?logcode=p

 

[4F]

Ignoring the fact you mentioned estates were out then I would say the Skoda Octavia Estate or the slightly larger Skoda Superb estate

We tried the people carrier MPV route a while back (Hyuandai Trajet) and I wish I had never done it as the 4 or 5 times a year it was full was just not worth the additional yearly running costs.