Family hatchbacks - suggestions

ci_newman

ci_newman

ci_newman

Don
Joined
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Hi all. My wife currently drives an '01 1.4 Civic, which we've owned since 2003. It has aged pretty well, but it's at the point where big bills are going to start coming our way. Aside from annual services, it has never had / needed a single non-service item replacing other than brake pads. The clutch has just started slipping, the A/C died long ago and the exhaust is pretty rusty the whole length of the car (although it isn't blowing yet). In the years we've owned it, we've clocked up 80k miles and the car has just ticked over to 106k miles in total.

With our first baby on the way, we've decided that it's time to replace the car whilst our finances are in check and under control, to eliminate the risk of a break-down in the future and a change would be nice anyway.

General requirements?

  • 5-doors
  • Enough power to pull a trailer in the future
  • Only a few years old as we plan to keep it a long time
  • Plenty of accessible boot-space for a new family (push chairs etc)
  • Annual mileage is approx 8k - 10k a year, although the wife won't be commuting as much in the next year and I have the DC5 for my daily
  • As many toys as possible :D
Budget is £7k - £8k plus whatever we can get as part-ex on the Civic.

My initial thoughts are pushing me towards some of the following:

  • 2008 1.8 Titanium Focus: Link
  • 2007 1.8 ES Civic: Link
  • 2006 1.6 Fsi Golf: Link
I have considered the Leon and the A3, but on paper the VFM / kit-list is not as good as the other cars mentioned above.

Before someone mentions the "m"-word, I'm finding it pretty difficult to locate a petrol & hatchback model of the car that is nearby to me. It is also that much larger than the others that it would over-hang our driveway onto the foot path outside our house, which adds inconvenience. I haven't totally dismissed it though.

I open the floor to suggestions :)
 
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Mondeo!

you have no idea how much bootspace you need! Day to day focus etc will be fine but as soon as trips away, holidays and trips to the grandparents start happening and you need travel cots, luggage, high-chairs and a buggy in the boot you will regret it.

also - with the mondeo you can get the baby car seat and 2 passengers in the back, will struggle with smaller cars. If more kids are on the cards you will never get 2 child seats and a passenger in he back.

would look at that size of car tbh or some family van s-max type thing.
 
I'd be looking for an estate rather than a hatch tbh. Far more accessible boot (typically a completely flat load space), and will be utterly cavernous.
 
gouldar said:
Mondeo!

you have no idea how much bootspace you need! Day to day focus etc will be fine but as soon as trips away, holidays and trips to the grandparents start happening and you need travel cots, luggage, high-chairs and a buggy in the boot you will regret it.

also - with the mondeo you can get the baby car seat and 2 passengers in the back, will struggle with smaller cars. If more kids are on the cards you will never get 2 child seats and a passenger in he back.

would look at that size of car tbh or some family van s-max type thing.
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What he said! (except the bit about vans with windows :p ) We fill the boot of my mondeo now for a weekend away. Our daughter is nearly 5monts old, and they just take up so much stuff. Prams and car seats are huge! Not to mention all the other rubbish that comes along.

How my parents managed with a 1984 polo, which included camping trips I will never know!
 
chrislusty said:
What he said! (except the bit about vans with windows :p ) We fill the boot of my mondeo now for a weekend away. Our daughter is nearly 5monts old, and they just take up so much stuff. Prams and car seats are huge! Not to mention all the other rubbish that comes along.

How my parents managed with a 1984 polo, which included camping trips I will never know!
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Because you don't NEED half the crap that parents seem to believe is absolutely essential these days. My mother managed fine with a mini estate and three of us - a Mk2 Focus is more than adequate for a single child, especially with split rear seats.

However, bigger cars are extremely useful for other job, e.g. carrying furniture, so my recommendation will be an Octavia Estate; masses of space but not as long or as wide as a Mondeo.
 
gouldar said:
Mondeo!

you have no idea how much bootspace you need! Day to day focus etc will be fine but as soon as trips away, holidays and trips to the grandparents start happening and you need travel cots, luggage, high-chairs and a buggy in the boot you will regret it.

also - with the mondeo you can get the baby car seat and 2 passengers in the back, will struggle with smaller cars. If more kids are on the cards you will never get 2 child seats and a passenger in he back.

would look at that size of car tbh or some family van s-max type thing.
Click to expand...

Nonsense.

The Focus has the biggest boot of the three short list cars and is more than large enough to accommodate a small family.

For example - a large (£100+) shop, pushchair and associated toys, bags etc. that come with a baby leaves plenty of space.

Another example is us going on Holiday - 2.5 suitcases, pushchair, hand luggage - all in the boot.
 
MikeHiow said:
Nonsense.

The Focus has the biggest boot of the three short list cars and is more than large enough to accommodate a small family.

For example - a large (£100+) shop, pushchair and associated toys, bags etc. that come with a baby leaves plenty of space.

Another example is us going on Holiday - 2.5 suitcases, pushchair, hand luggage - all in the boot.
Click to expand...

no debate on the focus having the largest boot of the three listed but it is a fair bit smaller than the mondeo.

depending on the pram they could struggle with the shopping. Little buggy for a toddler will be fine but one of the 3-wheeled triangle fold buggies eats a lot of boot space.

Octavia estate wouldn't be a bad shout. Jetta perhaps - not a fan myself but gives you a golf with a reasonable boot.
 
We've been out and tried a few different cars today. Some feedback:

  • The wifey just can't get on with the horizontal pillar in the rear window of the Civic and thinks it obscures her vision too much
  • The Skoda Octavia is off of the list as she can't get a seat position where she can fully depress the clutch pedal and not bang her knees on the steering column when releasing it (she is quite short, and needs the seat quite high to see over the steering wheel)
Of the original short-listed cars, the Focus comes out trumps. The fly in the ointment is the Mondeo, as that offers far more car for the same money. I need to arrange a dealer test drive where I can test-fit parking it on our driveway. That said, it is pretty damn difficult to find a petrol version of this car without it being the ST model. This car here is pretty local, is within budget and is the right model type though.
 
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Some Ocatavias may have height adjustable drivers seating depending on the trim level, may have been missing from the model you tried.

The Mondeo looks pretty good for the money - worth a test drive at least.

Have you considered the smaller Volvo estates - the V50 may suit you.

best of luck with whatever you choose.
 
I would definitely go for Mondeo over Focus, the boot in Focus isn't bad... but I find I get frustrated with the lack of space a bit too often for my liking.
 
The Focus is however the more nimble drive - it feels a lot more connected and actually handles far better than a family hatchback really should.

Don't get me wrong, the MK3 Mondeo isn't hundreds of miles behind but I'd pick the Focus over the Mondeo every day (and I did - regularly walking past the smooth V6 Mondeo to drive the 1.6 Focus instead)
 
MikeHiow said:
The Focus is however the more nimble drive - it feels a lot more connected and actually handles far better than a family hatchback really should.

Don't get me wrong, the MK3 Mondeo isn't hundreds of miles behind but I'd pick the Focus over the Mondeo every day (and I did - regularly walking past the smooth V6 Mondeo to drive the 1.6 Focus instead)
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I have the Integra for my interesting drive, the new car will be for the wife to use :) It looks like I need to get a test drive booked in both really!
 
As she likes the Focus how about a C-Max? They seem similar VFM with a little more space and an even more van like driving position that sounds like it will suit your wife.
 
Hi, some good Mk4 Mondeo H/B's, petrol or diesel, preferably diesel for towing, for the OP's budget can be had.
Chris
 
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Nissan Qashqai?

Lots of kit , keyless entry and start , huge panoramic sunroof and Nissan Reliability
 
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