£20k max SUV: BMW X5, Audi Q5, Touareg, ...

neocon

neocon

neocon

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I'm going to be selling my Fabia vrs and buying a family SUV, but I want some decent power in my SUV.

If you were buying a used SUV for under £20k second hand that needed to be automatic, what would you chose?

Skoda Kodiaq might fit in this budget and in considering one.

I like the look of the X5 , but I'm kind of weary about the running costs and reliability. Anyone got X5 30d or 40d?

CX5 sport nav seems good value, but a bit under powered.
 
No

I'm not sure of the point... estate/saloon cars usually have better crash ratings and more storage space, so kids is not a reason to buy an SUV. Dumb wives who don't know any better is the usual reason.

"It looks bigger so it must be better"... hahahahahahahahahaaa
 
crinkleshoes said:
No

I'm not sure of the point... estate/saloon cars usually have better crash ratings and more storage space, so kids is not a reason to buy an SUV. Dumb wives who don't know any better is the usual reason.

"It looks bigger so it must be better"... hahahahahahahahahaaa
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It depends on the kind of accident. If an SUV hits a car, the bumpers don't meet and the car is usually more badly damaged. SUVs can role over more easily true.

E.g. corolla driver is dead, RX driver lives
http://www.wbaltv.com/article/driver-dies-after-suv-car-collide-in-cockeysville/7095802

Thing is I'm 6'2" and I don't like a low driving position or being cramped. I'll need to carry up to 3 adults and a child. I don't want to be squeezed in hatch back. An estate is a possibility I guess.
 
The Seat Ateca handles really well. But they have only been out for a year now. So pricing might still be on the high side.

 
crinkleshoes said:
No

I'm not sure of the point... estate/saloon cars usually have better crash ratings and more storage space, so kids is not a reason to buy an SUV. Dumb wives who don't know any better is the usual reason.

"It looks bigger so it must be better"... hahahahahahahahahaaa
Click to expand...
Getting in and out without stooping down is the big advantage of these sort of cars.
 
neocon said:
You got kids?
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I've got 3.

Ok, it was a bit of a squeeze getting them and the Mrs, clothes for a week long caravan holiday, travel cot and buggy into my Impreza, but fitting the same into my MG ZT was a breeze.

What's your point?

I'm not anti SUV, and I'm not about to start derailing the thread... But having kids doesn't automatically mean you have to resort to buying an SUV.
 
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crinkleshoes said:
No

I'm not sure of the point... estate/saloon cars usually have better crash ratings and more storage space, so kids is not a reason to buy an SUV. Dumb wives who don't know any better is the usual reason.

"It looks bigger so it must be better"... hahahahahahahahahaaa
Click to expand...

For the same wheel base you get more cabin space. The posture means you get more leg and foot room and door cards are generally deeper for storage/or the lower belt line relative to the driver affords better visibility whilst kids tend to suffer less motion sickness when they can see more

The wheels are also dropped away from the occupant hip point aslong with the hip point further from the ground - both makes getting in and out easier. The wheel arches affect the door opening line and you principly see the problem on saloons with big bolsters on the second row seats. This means you can generally space the occupants in row 2 better across the seats rather than being squeeze together as they sit between the wheel housing.

Crash performance for side impact is much better as the floor and sill can manage the load and intrusion rather than relying on the just the door. There’s a reason the new Audi A8 with 48V active roll suspension lifts one side of the car 80mm in 0.5 sec if it predicts an impending side impact.

Long boots can be a bit of a pain for women to reach into and the rear glass gives a better idea where the back of the car is. Another reason for the soccer Mum preference.
 
I do like the driving position of SUVs but I can't get over how lumpy and crap all of them under £30k seem to be.
 
Also, the transmission tunnel is generally not as intrusive in the cabin on a SUV (and some MPV's like my Alhambra), so there is MUCH better legroom in the back too.
 
Simon said:
Getting in and out without stooping down is the big advantage of these sort of cars.
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Better driving position (higher), more comfortable ride (suspension) and more room generally are also reasons they are a better option. Many will have less road noise as well. Some have more boot space for their size (shorter wheelbase)*.

No, you can’t fling them around corners like a saloon, but that’s not everything.

*as an example IIRC the CRV is a foot shorter than the Mondeo estate, but has more boot space. Many SUVs are smaller than the average saloon.
 
Op - I know it depends how you define decent power, but none the engines in the skodiaq are powerful really.

I personally have gone with an estate for my next car, because although I'm bought into the image and benefits of an SUV, the premium SUVs are just too much cash and too expensive to run compared to what you can get in the estate market. Was my perception.

The Kodiaq seemed like a really good car though, so if you can put up with 190bhp max and slightly sub-premium feel, then I'd definitely recommend it.
 
crinkleshoes said:
So get a 5 GT... at least that's what this kinda wish is designed for... whereas SUVs are abhorrent
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Christ. Hyperbole much?
I'm not a big fan of SUVs but I can recognise why they appeal to some. We have a Sorento primarily because we wanted something that could tow that wasnt a pickup. Driving dynamics aren't a concern when you're towing a horsebox across a muddy field or lugging a fridge to the tip... not things I'd be doing in a 5GT.

They make excellent workhorses. Just because you don't like them doesn't mean they shouldn't exist, so why not actually contribute to the thread specifically asking about them rather than just insulting the OP?
 
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