Car for parents - £12k budget

rossk26 · 3 Apr 2013 at 09:53

My dad is retiring next year and has just been given a large chunk of retirement pay already, so most of it is being used to pay off the mortgage, and some of it he wants to use to buy a new car.

Requirements:

No older than 3 years
Petrol
No larger than a focus
But enough room in the boot for golf clubs
Parking Sensors (mother is terrible at parking)
Reasonably economical and good reliability

My dad has never really been into cars, he currently drives on '04 Skoda Octavia Ambiente which is pretty banged up and has interior parts falling off. However I would like to get him into something slightly interesting which can hopefully make his retirement drives to the beach a little more pleasant!

Initial thoughts I've had:

Ford Focus 1.6 Titanium

Seat Exeo 2.0 TSI Sport - Bit of a wildcard maybe...

Imy · 3 Apr 2013 at 09:58

They'll probably be happy with the Focus. It's a good all-rounder. I probably wouldn't describe it as interesting though.

There's also the Kia Cee'd with it's 7 year warranty. Similar to the Focus I believe.

rossk26 · 3 Apr 2013 at 10:26

Imy said:
They'll probably be happy with the Focus. It's a good all-rounder. I probably wouldn't describe it as interesting though.

There's also the Kia Cee'd with it's 7 year warranty. Similar to the Focus I believe.

Yeh maybe the word interesting wasn't a good adjective! A decent(ish) interior with a few nice toys would suffice. Which is why I picked the Titanium model...

AshD93 · 3 Apr 2013 at 13:51

Might be worth looking for something with auto park

Mr Jones · 3 Apr 2013 at 14:36

Just to throw a curve ball, A Toyota iQ2 or iQ3.

Reasons:

It looks small but it's the same width as any decent cars, thus seating 2 in the front is extremely comfortable. The doors are really wide so 'access' should be come an issue or required, isn't a problem, seats are fairly high too.

Petrol, decent MPG and the back seats can be thrown down for ample of boot space for golf clubs. With the seats up though, you can seat 1.5 people comfortably but only a brief case size boot. I know it doesn't sound 'great' with this aspect but I'm suggesting this because on 2 of my outing since owning this cars, retired folks been wooing and ahhing at my car.

Seriously, it seems to draw them towards me like I'm a post office opening at 9am.

There's also parking sensor available if really desired - or if you're lucky to find one fitted already. No road tax, driving into London CC is free (both only applies to post 2010 iQs AFAIK). Did I mention old people seems to gravitates to them?

For £12K, you can have it near Brand New with everything thrown in or a half decent iQ2 at 2 to 3 years old around £8K mint. The iQ3 is a little faster but road tax band A (£30) and London CC charge, if it's something worth noting. Oh and parking this 'short' car is a doddle, never had an issue finding parking in half spots when in town.

Just a thought.

Tute · 3 Apr 2013 at 14:52

Any way you could get him into a Mondeo? Just that you say he wants to carry golf clubs around - he might well appreciate the extra space? Also you tend to get more for your money with a Mondeo over a Focus.

ci_newman · 3 Apr 2013 at 14:54

Mr Jones said:
Just to throw a curve ball, A Toyota iQ2 or iQ3.

Reasons:

It looks small but it's the same width as any decent cars, thus seating 2 in the front is extremely comfortable. The doors are really wide so 'access' should be come an issue or required, isn't a problem, seats are fairly high too.

Petrol, decent MPG and the back seats can be thrown down for ample of boot space for golf clubs. With the seats up though, you can seat 1.5 people comfortably but only a brief case size boot. I know it doesn't sound 'great' with this aspect but I'm suggesting this because on 2 of my outing since owning this cars, retired folks been wooing and ahhing at my car.

Seriously, it seems to draw them towards me like I'm a post office opening at 9am.

There's also parking sensor available if really desired - or if you're lucky to find one fitted already. No road tax, driving into London CC is free (both only applies to post 2010 iQs AFAIK). Did I mention old people seems to gravitates to them?

For £12K, you can have it near Brand New with everything thrown in or a half decent iQ2 at 2 to 3 years old around £8K mint. The iQ3 is a little faster but road tax band A (£30) and London CC charge, if it's something worth noting. Oh and parking this 'short' car is a doddle, never had an issue finding parking in half spots when in town.

Just a thought.

And yet the OP has mentioned that they need to fit golf clubs in the boot? :confused:

rossk26 · 3 Apr 2013 at 15:00

Mr Jones said:
Just to throw a curve ball, A Toyota iQ2 or iQ3.

Reasons:

It looks small but it's the same width as any decent cars, thus seating 2 in the front is extremely comfortable. The doors are really wide so 'access' should be come an issue or required, isn't a problem, seats are fairly high too.

Petrol, decent MPG and the back seats can be thrown down for ample of boot space for golf clubs. With the seats up though, you can seat 1.5 people comfortably but only a brief case size boot. I know it doesn't sound 'great' with this aspect but I'm suggesting this because on 2 of my outing since owning this cars, retired folks been wooing and ahhing at my car.

Seriously, it seems to draw them towards me like I'm a post office opening at 9am.

There's also parking sensor available if really desired - or if you're lucky to find one fitted already. No road tax, driving into London CC is free (both only applies to post 2010 iQs AFAIK). Did I mention old people seems to gravitates to them?

For £12K, you can have it near Brand New with everything thrown in or a half decent iQ2 at 2 to 3 years old around £8K mint. The iQ3 is a little faster but road tax band A (£30) and London CC charge, if it's something worth noting. Oh and parking this 'short' car is a doddle, never had an issue finding parking in half spots when in town.

Just a thought.

Thanks, but London CC charge is irrelevant as we live up North, and my parents never travel to London. THe iQ is just too small unfortunately, they definitely need a 5 door hatchback ideally, as with grandchildren on the way, easy access to baby seats is necessary, and they will probably be a permanent feature in the car! So don't want to have to take them out, put the seats down to put golf clubs in the back.

A focus is the minimum size really, fiesta is even too small I think. A mondeo would be ideal, but my dad isn't to keen as my mother doesn't bode so well with large cars. She dislikes driving the octavia as it's "hard to park", and with the mondeo being even bigger again, I kind of threw it out of the equation. The exeo I linked above is an estate, but it has PS, and visibility seems to be good for parking?

What about a Focus estate? Or are they hard to find in the desired spec?

Janesy B · 3 Apr 2013 at 15:01

Mr Jones said:
Just to throw a curve ball, A Toyota iQ2 or iQ3.

Reasons:

It looks small but it's the same width as any decent cars, thus seating 2 in the front is extremely comfortable. The doors are really wide so 'access' should be come an issue or required, isn't a problem, seats are fairly high too.

Petrol, decent MPG and the back seats can be thrown down for ample of boot space for golf clubs. With the seats up though, you can seat 1.5 people comfortably but only a brief case size boot. I know it doesn't sound 'great' with this aspect but I'm suggesting this because on 2 of my outing since owning this cars, retired folks been wooing and ahhing at my car.

Seriously, it seems to draw them towards me like I'm a post office opening at 9am.

There's also parking sensor available if really desired - or if you're lucky to find one fitted already. No road tax, driving into London CC is free (both only applies to post 2010 iQs AFAIK). Did I mention old people seems to gravitates to them?

For £12K, you can have it near Brand New with everything thrown in or a half decent iQ2 at 2 to 3 years old around £8K mint. The iQ3 is a little faster but road tax band A (£30) and London CC charge, if it's something worth noting. Oh and parking this 'short' car is a doddle, never had an issue finding parking in half spots when in town.

Just a thought.

Undoubtedly the worst suggestion anyone has made in the few years I have been posting here.

Tute · 3 Apr 2013 at 15:04

The other thing that jumped to mind is another Octavia. You can get a lot of car for your budget, maybe something like a 1.8TSI?

rossk26 · 3 Apr 2013 at 15:19

Tute said:
The other thing that jumped to mind is another Octavia. You can get a lot of car for your budget, maybe something like a 1.8TSI?

Yep I have noticed them too, will see how much things have changed. The current one is dull and terrible to drive. Which I think is putting my dad off getting another

MooMoo444 · 3 Apr 2013 at 15:20

ci_newman said:
And yet the OP has mentioned that they need to fit golf clubs in the boot?

Minigolf clubs maybe >_>

Mr Jones · 3 Apr 2013 at 15:26

ci_newman said:
And yet the OP has mentioned that they need to fit golf clubs in the boot?

Drop the back seats down and you can fit it no problem.

rossk26 said:
Thanks, but London CC charge is irrelevant as we live up North, and my parents never travel to London. THe iQ is just too small unfortunately, they definitely need a 5 door hatchback ideally, as with grandchildren on the way, easy access to baby seats is necessary, and they will probably be a permanent feature in the car! So don't want to have to take them out, put the seats down to put golf clubs in the back.

Ah, I thought it'll just be mum and dad. Factoring in Grandkids then it'll be a no no. Thus my rather unusual car idea as most of these mentioned old folks were retired, travelling around and doing nowt.

Janesy B said:
Undoubtedly the worst suggestion anyone has made in the few years I have been posting here.

Thus I mentioned a curve ball. Something not a lot of people on the forum think of before going straight with a Mondeo.

MooMoo444 · 3 Apr 2013 at 15:31

.....have you considered an MX5?

-westy- · 3 Apr 2013 at 15:35

MooMoo444 said:
.....have you considered an MX5?

Makes more sense than an iQ, you can fit a set of clubs in the boot at least

K.C. Leblanc · 3 Apr 2013 at 15:35

Since there's sprog moving on the adgenda how about some sort of Citroen Picasso type thing? Or if those are too exciting they also do some multispace vehicles (or vans with windows!).

rossk26 · 3 Apr 2013 at 15:39

Mondeo 2.0 Titanium X - Great value, and would be ideal I think. I'm sure I could persuade them into this!

Parking sensors could be retrofitted? How much would a good set-up cost? And are they easy to fit...?

rossk26 · 3 Apr 2013 at 15:41

K.C. Leblanc said:
Since there's sprog moving on the adgenda how about some sort of Citroen Picasso type thing? Or if those are too exciting they also do some multispace vehicles (or vans with windows!).

My brother suggested a Quashquai which I threw out of the window instantly. It won't be a daily occurrence, but probably more an odd day thing that they would take grandchildren out and about. Mondeo/Focus will be sufficient, and more pleasant than a MPV type people carrier?

Helios1234 · 3 Apr 2013 at 15:50

rossk26 said:
Mondeo 2.0 Titanium X - Great value, and would be ideal I think. I'm sure I could persuade them into this!

Parking sensors could be retrofitted? How much would a good set-up cost? And are they easy to fit...?

That example already has front and rear park assist.

rossk26 · 3 Apr 2013 at 16:01

Helios1234 said:
That example already has front and rear park assist.

So it does, should have read the advert rather than look for the sensors in the bumper!! They are nicely hidden on the rear in the black plastic "diffuser" section...

In my opinion this one is winning so far. Will show the the parents see what they make of it...