New Family Car - Spec Me

£275 tax on a Mazda 3 2.0.

I had a 2008 one a couple of years ago, concluded I should have bought a Focus instead. The primary reason I didn't is because they were so hard to find with climate and cruise.

The 3 is better as a 1.6 if you must because the 2.0 shreds engine and gearbox mounts. They chew suspension components as well - droplinks, arms ARB bushes, top mounts at the front, shocks and mounts at the back. Mine needed most of them < 50K. They can rust as well.
 
Dav4 said:
I know the mk3 Focus ecoboost models tend to be silly money compared to the standard. I've been looking at the 180bhp 1.6 Turbo Zetec S Focus's but they are very rare and demand a premium. 2012 models tend to go for 7.5-8k but a normal 100bhp 1.6 will be priced nearly 1k less. :(
Also Op if you can stretch to 5.5-6k that will get you a 2011 mk3 Focus which is the better newer looking car in your price range.
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Thats exactly what i did, saw that the late 2011/2012 mk3's are around that price...were due in 3 months, around the time the new reg's come out...im hoping by then the budget may improve and the price drops a bit....hey presto. Thanks
 
blueboy2001 said:
£275 tax on a Mazda 3 2.0.

I had a 2008 one a couple of years ago, concluded I should have bought a Focus instead. The primary reason I didn't is because they were so hard to find with climate and cruise.

The 3 is better as a 1.6 if you must because the 2.0 shreds engine and gearbox mounts. They chew suspension components as well - droplinks, arms ARB bushes, top mounts at the front, shocks and mounts at the back. Mine needed most of them < 50K. They can rust as well.
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Agreed. Nice cars, very well-specced compared to the competition for the same money (HIDs, cruise, auto wipers/lights, climate control, rear LEDs etc) but a bit pricey to tax and the part about suspension was true of mine too. That said, mine was very reliable and had enough power there for when you wanted it.
 
Octavia isnt as big as the shape makes a lot of people think. It is not a mondeo sized car! It's actually built on the same platform as the Golf, so has the same width and wheelbase (give or take). It just has a more sloping rear hatch, which does make it a bit longer than a golf/focus but not by that much.
 
iaind said:
Octavia isnt as big as the shape makes a lot of people think. It is not a mondeo sized car! It's actually built on the same platform as the Golf, so has the same width and wheelbase (give or take). It just has a more sloping rear hatch, which does make it a bit longer than a golf/focus but not by that much.
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Hmm still not sold, well she wont be sold by it for sure. But thank you
 
Specifically since you mention having a child, I've just bought a Nissan Note for my wife which I'm impressed with so far. There's plenty of choice. Try and get a facelift 11 plate or later ntec model. It's really good for getting our two children in and you get plenty of kit including sat nav.

I also liked the Vauxhall Meriva. They aren't well received by the press but I had a good look at one and it seemed fine to me. Again they depreciate fast so you can get a relatively new one for 5k ish. These are also very flexible for children. The SE model has the kit, so look for this trim level.
 
mulpsmebeauty said:
Specifically since you mention having a child, I've just bought a Nissan Note for my wife which I'm impressed with so far. There's plenty of choice. Try and get a facelift 11 plate or later ntec model. It's really good for getting our two children in and you get plenty of kit including sat nav.

I also liked the Vauxhall Meriva. They aren't well received by the press but I had a good look at one and it seemed fine to me. Again they depreciate fast so you can get a relatively new one for 5k ish. These are also very flexible for children. The SE model has the kit, so look for this trim level.
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Asked....shes not too keen on either.
 
Just revisiting this thread now...with the little one only weeks away...were 2 weeks and 3 days until due date...im thinking we need to extend the budget...Perhaps to the £7-8k range...which has got me thinking..

Could we possibly afford an SUV, albeit probably a Nissan Quashqai...but im looking at these options now:

2010-2013/2014 (depending on model) - Seat Leon, Ceed, Focus (Mk3)...Petrol or Diesel - undecided but want around 40mpg for those family days out and holidays (as i think we will stay in the UK for the first 5 years)..

Or an SUV but a bit older probably 2008-2010 - Quashqai...

The list of importance is comfort, economy, driving experience and boot space, must be around 330L upwards...more with the SUV

A tad torn as we plan on having another little nipper within a few years.
 
In my experience a Qashqai isn't any larger than the class of car you're looking at (Focus/Leon etc), it is just higher up so easier to access, which could be a benefit with young children for sure. However I'm unsure I'd want to be sacrificing a much newer car with a likely more enjoyable driving experience for a crossover.
 
I do not see the craze of buying huge SUV vehicles. When I was brought up the family car was a MK1 Escort Mexico which had two doors and a half roll cage. Once big enough static four point seat belts were fitted for myself and my brother and it was AWESOME!

I can see at some point they may be more practical but for me just no, horrid things. An Avant, Touring, Station Wagon, Estate etc will be the biggest vehicle type I ever own but more than likely I'll stick with no bigger than the saloon A4 I have now. I can't see how a SUV can give an enjoyable driving experience but that is subjectual as to what you class as enjoyable. Therefore the cash-and-carry (Quashqai) is out for me.

My brother has a Ford C-Max thing. I say thing as I don't particularly like it but it seems pretty roomy and he gets OK MPG in it too, it's the 1.8. I think the Focus would give the better driving experience, but then will you be hurling it around with kids on board?

I'd still stick with petrol. With the size engine you'd be looking at if you drive it normally 40mpg should be returned easily without the potential costly repair bills and the fact you're not killing everyone pumping NOx into the atmosphere :D
 
Kingdom34 said:
boot space, must be around 330L upwards..
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330L boot space is an odd requirement - as space isn't normally an issue, but actual shape and aperture size is. (e.g. a MK7 Fiesta has nearly the same capacity boot as a MK3 Focus, but the Fiesta's capacity is made up mainly of it's height which is rarely useful, vs the Focus' which has more depth.)
 
It gives a benchmark to work with at least, i.e. typically the larger the capacity the more space you have to put things although as you point out cannot be relied on entirely. Kingdom34, don't underestimate how much kit you 'need' to cart around for a baby. My wife swapped her Corsa for a Leon a few months before our son was born and in hindsight I wish we'd gone for something in the 500L+ range. I would aim for something a lot bigger in terms of boot, maybe an Octavia.
 
I bought a 335d Touring for our first one, and found it adequate. Just. With ~460L. You could easily fill it on a day out with all the crap she wanted to bring with. Note that the saloon has the same boot capacity as the estate in the e91, but with all the added hassle of a tiny opening to put stuff in, and unless you luck out finding one where the original owner specced otherwise, you will likely not be able to fold the rear seats down.

When the second was born, I swapped it for a 530d Touring. With 560L it was MUCH better. We went camping with it once, albeit for only a couple days, and we did manage to get everything in there. Just. Same with a 10 day trip daan saaf to London town. Obviously swapping the tenting stuff for extra clothes, but we did manage to squeeze everything in there.

Now have a Seat Alhambra (same as Ford Galaxy / VW Sharan), and it is easily the best family motor we have had. Ample room, spare seats when we need them, but the real bonus is with the width. The middle row is 3 full size seats, which means, even flanked by the kids high-backed boosters, fat knots like me can still sit in between them (climbing over them to get there is a different matter mind).

Of course, people hate them. And I kind of get that. But on the flip side, it is the most useful motor I have ever had, having once just thrown a double sofa-bed in the back (with the seats out of course), or a big sheet of MDF from B&Q, or even just throwing the pram in, fully assembled, because it was raining. And all at an average of just over 40 mpg (post remap, and while that might not sound overly impressive, remember it has the aerodynamics of a block of flats, and ~165 BHP).

Another plus is when you go shopping, if it's raining, when you open the boot, it basically covers you from getting wet when stacking all the rusks and kids magazines into the back of the motor.

Plus the wife likes the taller ride height. The kids / old folks are easier to get in and out as a result too.

Personally, when it comes time to move this one on, I'll be looking for a newer model. Not something different.

If you want more of a "car" than a "van", then the Merc E-Class has the biggest boot though. By a mile. It's around 100L more than the 5 series. Other than that, the Superb would be a good shout too.
 
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Armageus said:
330L boot space is an odd requirement - as space isn't normally an issue, but actual shape and aperture size is. (e.g. a MK7 Fiesta has nearly the same capacity boot as a MK3 Focus, but the Fiesta's capacity is made up mainly of it's height which is rarely useful, vs the Focus' which has more depth.)
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Ball park figure...but i see your point on how the litreage is made up..i think being new parents we would want a large width and depth than actual height...pram etc in mind
 
xs2man said:
I bought a 335d Touring for our first one, and found it adequate. Just. With ~460L. You could easily fill it on a day out with all the crap she wanted to bring with. Note that the saloon has the same boot capacity as the estate in the e91, but with all the added hassle of a tiny opening to put stuff in, and unless you luck out finding one where the original owner specced otherwise, you will likely not be able to fold the rear seats down.

When the second was born, I swapped it for a 530d Touring. With 560L it was MUCH better. We went camping with it once, albeit for only a couple days, and we did manage to get everything in there. Just. Same with a 10 day trip daan saaf to London town. Obviously swapping the tenting stuff for extra clothes, but we did manage to squeeze everything in there.

Now have a Seat Alhambra (same as Ford Galaxy / VW Sharan), and it is easily the best family motor we have had. Ample room, spare seats when we need them, but the real bonus is with the width. The middle row is 3 full size seats, which means, even flanked by the kids high-backed boosters, fat knots like me can still sit in between them (climbing over them to get there is a different matter mind).

Of course, people hate them. And I kind of get that. But on the flip side, it is the most useful motor I have ever had, having once just thrown a double sofa-bed in the back (with the seats out of course), or a big sheet of MDF from B&Q, or even just throwing the pram in, fully assembled, because it was raining. And all at an average of just over 40 mpg (post remap, and while that might not sound overly impressive, remember it has the aerodynamics of a block of flats, and ~165 BHP).

Another plus is when you go shopping, if it's raining, when you open the boot, it basically covers you from getting wet when stacking all the rusks and kids magazines into the back of the motor.

Plus the wife likes the taller ride height. The kids / old folks are easier to get in and out as a result too.

Personally, when it comes time to move this one on, I'll be looking for a newer model. Not something different.

If you want more of a "car" than a "van", then the Merc E-Class has the biggest boot though. By a mile. It's around 100L more than the 5 series. Other than that, the Superb would be a good shout too.
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Interesting this as i was thinking of a 3 series Tourer but the missus doesnt like the look of Estates....i basially said you dont need to. Its what benefits us and works....we shall see...hoping once he/she comes along and all the stuff she will realise that its more to our needs :-)
 
I dunno, with a lot of these modern motors I prefer the look of the estate to the saloon (3 & 5 series included). But maybe I'm too old now or something (hope not at 37). Older motors, yes, the saloon looks better. But not so much nowadays. Like you say though, it's the practical aspect of the estate that is the biggest pull though.

Yeah, take her along. Much better if you can look at them side by side (estate and saloon). And also if you can see the different sizes (so 3 series and 5 series for example).

What we found was that the pram had to go into the boot width way in the 3 series, but could go length ways in the 5 series. The difference here is that width way it takes up most of the boot, and length way it only takes up half the boot. So if you are right on the ball and already have your pram (or could borrow one similar to what your getting), you should really take it with you when car shopping, because how easy it fits in the boot, and how much room it takes once in, are the biggest factors at this stage (or it was for us). Obviously prams are all different sizes, and fold down in different ways, so taking a random one might not be as useful as taking one the same or very similar to the one you might end up with.

It may also be worth having a look at the likes of the Ford S-Max or VW Touran too. They are obviously smaller than my Alhambra (or Ford Galaxy), but being 7 seats means they will have bigger boots (with the seats down), but are more "car-like" in appearance and drive. Of course, there is no getting away from looking more like estates, but they might be big enough, certainly with only 1 child.
 
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