New Car Help

[Snizzlepops]

Some advice please from anyone with a knowledge of cars or a good car!

Although my lovely 04 Ford Focus is still going with no real issues, my plan at some point in the next couple of years is to treat myself to a new car but I don't know what would suit my needs as someone who knows very little about cars out there!!

Myself and partner have talked about essentials for my new car which include:

Space for a dog(or two)
Space for a kid(or two)
Good for a Bike rack (if possible the tow bar one because we think they look safer/easier than our current strap-to-the-boot-jobby which never sit well on my Focus)

The OH was suggesting more of a 4x4 like Nissan Juke/Qashqai but someone at work suggested an estate car is a good solution but not sure what else is worth looking into!

Any suggestions?

 

[Globalti]

What's your budget?

I would suggest a Passat estate, which is the cyclist's car par excellence because you can get two adults and two kids plus their four bikes inside one but new ones are quite pricey. The new B8 is a massive improvement on the old models and even more spacious inside.

There's good reason why used B6 and B7 models are finding their way into the taxi trade in such numbers. Example: just found an '11 plate B7 facelift model with 179,000 miles manual 2.0 diesel SE for £4,989.00 on Autotrader.

 

[oldfatfool]

Skoda octavia estate. Reliable, strong, we fit 4 greyhounds in the boot with the seats out no problem. Also I rigged up a roof rack bike holder onto a couple of bits of wood and the bike sits in the boot solid as a rock rather than having it exposed and unlocked on the outside

 

[Sandra6]

Qasquais are a nightmare for fitting child carseats safely, as are fords.
I'm a fan of VW, golfs or polos, and the newest golfs come with a fold in-out tow bar thing.
Before choosing our golf we did like the look of Kia sportage and Citroen ds4.

 

[Snizzlepops]

Nice work @oldfatfool !

What's your budget?

Budget might vary but realistically looking between £5-10k depending on if I win the lottery then it might be a bit more..!

 

[Dec66]

Skoda Yeti?

 

[Snizzlepops]

Qasquais are a nightmare for fitting child carseats safely, as are fords.
I'm a fan of VW, golfs or polos, and the newest golfs come with a fold in-out tow bar thing.
Before choosing our golf we did like the look of Kia sportage and Citroen ds4.

Oh That is very useful and noted! I was going to look into VW's as my mum has had a couple!

 

[KneesUp]

Is the Focus big enough for the dogs?

I have a Civic (the previous model -not the current one) which is externally a similar size to your Focus, and you can get a 26" wheel bike in sideways because the rear seat flip up as well as the more usual folding forward.

I have a tow bar that I haven't fitted yet, but you can fit those to almost any car of a reasonable size. You are right that tow bar racks are safer and quicker to fit. Mine comes apart and fits in the hidden 'well' in the bottom of the boot (under a false floor - most cars have the fuel tank under the boot floor, but in the Civic its under the seats, so you get a really deep boot - mine also has jump leads, 3 sets of walking boots and various other bits in it)

The Juke / Quashquai never strike me as being much good - neither an efficient car nor a proper off roader. And they seem small inside from memory. Still, lots of people like them. What is it that attracts you to them?

 

[screenman]

My Passar is now on 180,000 miles and does not need changing yet. Some good advice so far though.

 

[Globalti]

Juke and Kumquash are lifestyle statements. You need a practical estate. The Skoda is an excellent suggestion because it's just a less pricey VW in a different body. My cycling buddy has a Superb estate and in the back seat you need a loud-hailer to talk to the people in the front, they are so far away.

 

[MikeW-71]

Skoda Rapid.

 

[Kestevan]

Citroen C4 Picasso. Room for everything, and if you buy one a couple of years old they're not expensive (initial depreciation is a mare though).

 

[KneesUp]

Juke and Kumquash are lifestyle statements. You need a practical estate. The Skoda is an excellent suggestion because it's just a less pricey VW in a different body. My cycling buddy has a Superb estate and in the back seat you need a loud-hailer to talk to the people in the front, they are so far away.

Just remember that like (apparently) many Volkswagen Audi Group (VW, Seat, Audi, Skoda) they may be emitting way more carp than they are supposed to.

 

[Globalti]

Just hang on a few more weeks; right now a university in Germany is working flat out to prove that all the other manufacturers cheated as well. Until then VW are playing for time. I wonder who is funding the research?

 

[KneesUp]

Just hang on a few more weeks; right now a university in Germany is working flat out to prove that all the other manufacturers cheated as well. Until then VW are playing for time. I wonder who is funding the research?

Is this in an attempt to redefine the moral low-ground where people cheat and know others are cheating - and yet say nothing - as 'normal' and acceptable behaviour'?

Good luck, motoring PR departments.