New Car Help

[Piemaster]

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?

I've had a Quashquai as a hire car. Pleasant enough to drive, but it had a high loading lip for the rear and for such a large car the interior space was disappointing. I'd agree with comment about it being a lifestyle thing. We ended up with a Skoda Roomster, easy rear access, deceptive space, odd styling, and calling it the 'Roomster' meant it really had to live up to it or Skoda would look very stupid.
Having wrestled uncooperative children into car seats in a Range Rover consider how high you will have to lift them to get them in with SUV type vehicles.

I'd suggest an MPV, C4, Fiat 500XL was quite nice, Zafira, or as above, a big estate

 

[vickster]

I'm very fond of my Skoda Fabia VRS estate. Octavia might be better size wise

I've had three adults, a roadbike and luggage in mine going a couple of hundred miles

 

[KneesUp]

The 500XL (the Mini-Maxi?) doesn't seem that big either. I mean, it looks massive for something that it trying to ape the styling of the original 500 (and, if I may say, ridiculous to my eyes), but there doesn't seem to be much room actually inside them. It's a shame that Fiat apparently see it as the replacement for the Multipla, which for all it's problems (mainly that people judged it; a practical vehicle, on it's looks - and that it was made by Fiat as cheaply as possible) was packaging genius. I wish mine hadn't dissolved. The Honda FR-V is the next best option if you are a family of three like us - when you need lots of space you have the whole back of the car as the three people can all sit up front. I'd have one were it not for wanting a proper car again after a Picasso (also a very practical vehicle btw)

 

[Levo-Lon]

Kia ceed sport waggon..great car

 

[Racing roadkill]

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?

Vauxhall Mokka. It's a 'soft roader' and can come with an integrated rear cycle rack.

 

[DRM]

Ford Galaxy, seven seats, loads of room, and quite economical, I have a 1.6 tdci, with 5 adults and all the luggage in returned 54 mpg going to the Vendee at around 65 mph average speed,, we were pushed for time coming back for the ferry home and stuck at 80 mph and it still returned 46 mpg, £130 ved for the year.

 

[PaulSB]

I have a Peugeot 3008 and find it excellent. Very comfy inside, good ride, 55mpg, high driving position, split rear seats. The boot space is clever, tailgate folds down for loading, the boot has an adjustable floor.

I'm on my second and in five years I haven't found anything that doesn't fit in it easily.

I've only looked vaguely but have the impression second hand or pre-registered are reasonable.

 

[mybike]

I had a Focus and replaced it with a C Max Ecoboost which has proved great. I never had a problem with child seats for the grandchildren but I've had no experience of carrying dogs. Maybe a C Max Grand might be better for you, but it was too big for my garage. I have a removable towbar fitted specifically to use with a bike rack* which has been fine, bar the front wheel on my Tesco Special ending up rather close to the ground.

* The Thule one that you hang the bikes on.

 

[Globalti]

My brother is a chassis and powertrain engineer based in Detroit and a couple of years ago he came over with his American wife and her brother (mad as a box of frogs, both of 'em....) and they hired a Passat estate at Heathrow. My bro reckoned it was one of the best balanced cars he'd ever used in the way it drove and handled; he went home and bought a Jetta diesel. VW USA have just bunged him $1000 to keep him quiet while they resolve their little problem.

 

[Andrew_P]

BMW 5 Series estate 5 people luggage and 4 bikes across France without blinking. Can be fitted with a detachable and hidden Tow Bar for the 4 bike rack.

 

[Dave 123]

I've had a Peugeot 508 SW estate for 18 months. I'm really pleased with it.
Voluminous rear end, seats come down at the pull of a lever easily. Mid range, but has enough features to not be dull.
It's really economic to run, either around town or motorway miles.
Roofline is low, so it's not too much of a reach to get the tandem up and down.
Audi A6/ Passat class for a lot less money.

 

[KneesUp]

My brother is a chassis and powertrain engineer based in Detroit a ... VW USA have just bunged him $1000 to keep him quiet while they resolve their little problem.

And £700 is enough to keep him quiet? I guess he doesn't know much, but it shows that VW are worried - as well they might be.

 

[slowmotion]

Lady Slowmo has a four year old Golf Estate as a company car. We both hate it with a passion. The seats are very uncomfortable and it's no fun to drive. Utterly boring really. She has to replace it with something else soon so I'm grateful for the advice on this thread.

 

[Racing roadkill]

[QUOTE 4163330, member: 45"]Some decent suggestions. Apart from the Mokka, which is rubbish.

I'd geti a Yeti.[/QUOTE]
Yeah total rubbish, but yet you recommend a VAG P.O.S. I think I know just the place for you.

 

[vickster]

[QUOTE 4163330, member: 45"]Some decent suggestions. Apart from the Mokka, which is rubbish.

I'd geti a Yeti.[/QUOTE]
My parents have a Yeti. I reckon my Fabia is as if not more voluminous, an Octavia certainly would be