Cars, choices, apathy and inevitability.

[The Jogger]

Outlander?

 

[Crackle]

My list looks like this now:-

VW Touran
Ford Galaxy ( though not so keen on the way Ford's drive despite what people say)
Ford S-max ( I decided to look at it again)
Toyota Verso
Peugeot 5008
Mazda 5
Citroen C4 Grand Picasso
Citroen C8
Alhambra (though not many in budget)
Mitsubishi Outlander

Not on the list:-

Espace + 807 (nothing available in mileage and price)
Zafira (drove one, didn't like it)
Sedona (again, the engines let them down)
R Class (out of budget, soooooo out of budget)
Renault Grand Scenic (no farking roof rails, I mean....)
Kia Carens (currently on this list on the basis of having owned a Kia)
Fiat 500l mpv (I had one as a hire car, not bad but just not as good as the others)

It's way too long, I may have to pull 3 out of a hat.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

I've got a Corrola Verso and wouldn't have thought it was big enough for you, unless the current Verso is much bigger (I know there were various Verso versions, but the later ones I've seen look the same as my 05 plate. I happen to have the 7 seater, but the final two seats are of the tiny scoop in the floor variety and have never been used in mine.)

 

[The Jogger]

The Landy didn't even get on the 'not on the list' list

 

[Piemaster]

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.

Wheres @Fnarr when you need him?

 

[Crackle]

The Landy didn't even get on the 'not on the list' list

yeah, sorry.

I'd quite like an old series 3 County but not as a family car.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

It's way too long, I may have to pull 3 out of a hat.

That's quite a big reinforced hat you will need not to mention a bit of muscle building

 

[mr messy]

http://www.dreamcars.co.uk/classic-american-cars/cars-for-sale/index.php?gazpart=show&gazgal=74

Comes with extras...

 

[Drago]

The Outlander is the best driving vehicle on that list my a country mile. Purchase one immediately. That's an order,

 

[Crackle]

The Outlander is the best driving vehicle on that list my a country mile. Purchase one immediately. That's an order,

What about tyre and service costs when you had yours?

 

[Drago]

Wasn't bad on tyres. Mine was the base spec with 16" wheels so the tyres themselves weren't pricy, and the Missus did most of the miles on that one and being a harder driver than me didn't munch through them unduly. This might be because with the 4wd set to auto (you get 2wd, auto and Lock) it automatically feeds some power to the rears if it senses the fronts are working a bit hard, so that spreads the load and the wear. It's a very sophisticated and robust 4wd system, with a proper diff lock setting if you ever need it. A serious cut above the rubbish AWD systems you get in Kias of Qashqais ( note the distinction).

Even in the bottom spec it had half leather, climate, multimode cruise, 6 speed. It was a punchy engine which could surprise a lot of other drivers, but driven sensibly on a run would hover over 50mpg. It was a truly excellent machine, and I'm surprised we don't see more of them.

 

[Geoff Crowther]

Diesel Subaru Forester ... end of discussion

 

[Brains]

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.

Yeahbut it's a LANDROVER !

 

[Drago]

Diesel Subaru Forester ... end of discussion

Superb motors, until they break. A seized glow plugins a £4000 engine out job. It's a £150 job on a Craplander.

 

[rich p]

What about tyre and service costs when you had yours?

And you thought my cooker hood thread was dull @theclaud