Focus upgrade

[div0]

Looking to upgrade from a 58-plate Focus. Main reason being we need more boot space for all the **** that accompanies taking a toddler anywhere!

Looking for the following:

- Budget roughly £6k-£9k, will depend a bit on what we get for ours.
- Need lots of boot space, but would like some options which aren't just Estates (see below)
- Has to meet irrational 'fashion' views of the other half, which has already ruled out things like the Octavia/Superb
- Approx 20000 miles/year with roughly 50/50 split for town and motorway driving. Would ideally like something with decent economy (>50 MPG combined real world). Diesel and petrol are both options.
- No real essentials on the toys front, but would be nice to have something better than halogen bulbs for headlights and have a half decent audio system for bluetooth connection to a phone (calls/music/satnav). I also quite like the QuickClear windscreen on the Focus in winter, but not a deal breaker.


I am guessing that the 'default' answer here is something like the Octavia/Superb or Mondeo, which are already on my list and to some extent have been knocked back by the Mrs.

So I'd appreciate a variety of alternatives if at all possible and I can then look at them in more detail.

Ideally if anyone could point me to a site with a decent way to filter used cars, with boot size being one of the filter criteria - that would be ideal. At the moment the best I've found is - http://www.autotrader.co.uk/used-cars?discoverySearchForm=true. But for some reason it doesn't hook into the actual search for available cars. So is currently a bit of a two-step process.

Motors, give me your suggestions.

 

[cheesyboy]

What's the issue with estates? Or is that the not-Skoda bit?

We've got a Passat estate - it's been great for the money (ours was <£6k @ 5 years old, been running it for 5 years/60k now, fits all the kids' gear, great for holidays, decent economy (newer ones are better) bit crap to drive).

 

[Dav4]

Anything sensible with large boot space your wife is probably not going to like as women only seem to like crappy little cars that are cute lol.
What Mondeos have u looked at as they look crap apart from the Titanium X Sport which is a cracking looking motor compared to the old man Superb and Octavia.
Here's one
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201605244271717/sort/atcustom/radius/1500/make/ford/model/mondeo/price-from/500/page/1/adPos/6/postcode/ll302lp/usedcars

 

[Maundie]

If she likes a Focus why not just upgrade to a Focus estate, has everything your current Focus has but with a 'backpack' on.

Other hatches are an option but if she's kicked back on Octavia/Superb do you have a clue what she does actually like?

 

[chaparral]

I am guessing that the 'default' answer here is something like the Octavia/Superb or Mondeo, which are already on my list and to some extent have been knocked back by the Mrs.

How about a mini estate as women normally love mini's..
No idea how much they sell for or how big the mini estate boot space is..

 

[andicole0]

Galaxy or S-Max, you'll never have to worry about space again.
Andi.

 

[kefkef]

VW Golf 2.0 TDI Estate. Should be plenty big enough and ticks the VAG box for the missus. For that budget you should be able to get a 12/13/14 plate with average mileage.

To be honest though, maybe pack the boot a it better on the current car. I've done Leeds>Cornwall and Leeds>Glasgow/Edinburgh on a number of occasions in an old style Clio with 3 adults and a toddler and enough junk for a week (Pram, cases, mobile cot, food, beer etc). Only thing I have ever struggled with was getting the toddlers bike in for Cornwall, but a few spanners and dismantling it proved easy enough.

 

[Dis86]

um...I'm confused how you can't manage? My closest friend has 2 toddlers, one aged 3 and one aged 1 and manages just fine with a Focus.

My sister manages just fine with my 3 year old nephew and a Clio!

 

[MikeTheNative]

I have a focus and the boot is huge for a hatchback. Easily get two full suitcases in there.

 

[chaparral]

I have a focus and the boot is huge for a hatchback. Easily get two full suitcases in there.

I see reviews of the focus normally saying totally different

Luggage capacity

In terms of capacity with the seats up, the Focus’ boot is poor for the class. At 316 litres, it’s no match for the Volkswagen Golf (380 litres) the Vauxhall Astra (351 litres) and way behind the cathedral-like Honda Civic (477 litres).
- See more at: https://www.carwow.co.uk/blog/Ford-Focus-Dimensions-949#sthash.oVrU3BfT.dpuf

Bootspace is also disappointing and hatchback versions offer a meagre 316 litres.

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/ford/focus-st-2015/

Boot space

A seats-up capacity of 316 litres is only 17 litres more than what you get in the smaller Ford Fiesta and the Focus trails its main rivals, the VW Golf and Vauxhall Astra, by 64 and 54 litres respectively

http://www.carbuyer.co.uk/reviews/ford/focus/hatchback/practicality

 

[Skyboat]

Get a Civic, should be loads around for that price.

 

[div0]

To be honest though, maybe pack the boot a it better on the current car. I've done Leeds>Cornwall and Leeds>Glasgow/Edinburgh on a number of occasions in an old style Clio with 3 adults and a toddler and enough junk for a week (Pram, cases, mobile cot, food, beer etc). Only thing I have ever struggled with was getting the toddlers bike in for Cornwall, but a few spanners and dismantling it proved easy enough.

um...I'm confused how you can't manage? My closest friend has 2 toddlers, one aged 3 and one aged 1 and manages just fine with a Focus.

My sister manages just fine with my 3 year old nephew and a Clio!

I have a focus and the boot is huge for a hatchback. Easily get two full suitcases in there.

I appreciate that the Focus isn't the smallest boot in the world, but I do need something bigger. We've already had several trips where I've had to pack with care - the boot has been full and all remaining space in the footwells, spare seats etc has been fully utilised. I appreciate that there may be other solutions (buying a smaller travel buggy, taking less stuff), but given that I'm ready for a change anyway I'd rather buy something which is suited to my immediate needs.

I also do a lot of other things which require carrying a lot of people and their kit (sport, hillwalking weekends) and it'd be nice not to have to rely on other people always driving.

 

[div0]

I see reviews of the focus normally saying totally different

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/ford/focus-st-2015/

http://www.carbuyer.co.uk/reviews/ford/focus/hatchback/practicality

I'd agree with this. It's a decent sized boot, but not large.

 

[div0]

We've got a Passat estate - it's been great for the money (ours was <£6k @ 5 years old, been running it for 5 years/60k now, fits all the kids' gear, great for holidays, decent economy (newer ones are better) bit crap to drive).

Thanks, I'll look into the Passat. It was already on my radar, but appreciate the extra input given you've got one.

What Mondeos have u looked at as they look crap apart from the Titanium X Sport which is a cracking looking motor compared to the old man Superb and Octavia.
Here's one
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201605244271717/sort/atcustom/radius/1500/make/ford/model/mondeo/price-from/500/page/1/adPos/6/postcode/ll302lp/usedcars

Thanks. I wouldn't say that a Mondeo is completely out - I think the main objection to Octavia/Superb is the 'old man' factor as you say and also 'it's Skoda'.

If she likes a Focus why not just upgrade to a Focus estate, has everything your current Focus has but with a 'backpack' on.
Other hatches are an option but if she's kicked back on Octavia/Superb do you have a clue what she does actually like?

Estates are definitely not a no go. I just knew they'd be the default answer for 'spec me a large boot' and I wanted to try and generate a list of options to look at. Focus Estate might be a possible option.

How about a mini estate as women normally love mini's..
No idea how much they sell for or how big the mini estate boot space is..
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That fails against my personal 'do not like' criteria, sorry

Galaxy or S-Max, you'll never have to worry about space again.
Andi.

Might be verging on the 'too big' side of things, but will look into them.

VW Golf 2.0 TDI Estate. Should be plenty big enough and ticks the VAG box for the missus. For that budget you should be able to get a 12/13/14 plate with average mileage.

One for the list.

My girl likes the look of all those SUVs. I think they're hateful little things but if you're set on getting something she likes as well maybe worth a shot? I'm sure some of them have decent boots? She also seemed to quite like the Volvo V40, maybe worth a shot?
In any case I'd recommend an estate simply for the flat loading bay (not all of them are flat mind you) but that's worth it's weight in gold if you're carrying a lot/often.

Everyone we know seems to have a Qashquai these days, so they're definitely on her radar. My concern is that generally the boot space is actually pretty poor in most SUV's.

Will add the V40.

Get a Civic, should be loads around for that price.

Hadn't expected the Civic boot to be much different to a Focus, but will look into it. Thanks.

 

[Demon]

You could look at small cross overs
Mini Countryman
Renault Captur
Skoda Yeti

That kind of thing, all within budget, wife friendly and the countryman even comes in Cooper S form if you want a bit of performance.

 

[Relentless81]

Civic boot is over 100 litres more than a focus iirc and the seats fold completely flat turning it into pretty much a van when needed

Only hatch with a bigger boot is I think the Octavia

 

[robj20]

Civic boot is massive, nice cars. We were looking at the new one, but are going for a new Mondeo now for even more space and comfort.