Looking at changing Car - Help please?

tcfreer

tcfreer

tcfreer

Associate
Joined
2 May 2014
Posts
1,444
Location
Manchester
Ok so my little Meriva is coming to the end of its time :( Its got a small coolant leak some were, its got intermititant boost issues and the ECU light is flashing on and off aswell.

So it has some big bills heading its way unfortunalty :(

To be fair I've had it 2 years, it cost me £900 and its done everything thats been asked of it and more.

I'm moving in the next couple of weeks and shortly after that I'll be car hunting.

My only criteria car wise is that it is -
A Diesel (Sp sorry)
Has Air con
Is roomy inside
Isn't expensive on tax (£145-180 tops)
Isn't to expensive to insure/service etc
Cost no more then £5,500 - this isn't optional or flexiable I'm afriad
Update - should have added this aswell. Doesn't have a low driving postion - more step in to, then step down into it when getting in

My current thoughts are the following

1 - A newer Meriva
Its just a nerwer version of what I have now and I'm ok with that

2 - A Golf Plus
A bigger version of what I have now, Seem's to get good reviews and has reasonable kit - Plus DSG is avilable which wouldn't be a bad thing

3 - A Touran
Might be bigger then I need really?

Reason I'm looking at these is I am bigger guy and I want something I feel comfortable in and has room for my few friends to jump in aswell. I also want to do some driving around the UK, get to see the place etc hence the diesel.
 
Last edited:
Something like a Mondeo would be more comfortable, roomier, and allow you to get more car for your money than any of these.
 
Tried that before the Meriva - The stepping down into them just feels wrong now, and the lower driving position isn't as comfortable for me :(

Apologies should have added that in to the opening post
 
Well been and sat in a Mondeo last night to appease all - its not on the list for me.

As I said above, sitting down into it just felt uncomfortable after my current car and I didn't feel like I had more room in it.

I'm still looking about, but currently at abit of a blank here after the 3 above.
 
What about something like a crv then? Appreciate you have had the meriva for a while but they are pretty terrible cars. Don't really understand how you can feel more roomy in one but the likes of a CRV you will walk into plus its a much, much better car

Edit, or a c-max or s-max as below if you don't like 4*4 looks
 
Last edited:
If it's just the height that you prefer and/or because you have a back problem meaning you need to sit upright (a friend of mine does, and as a result he drives a C-Max) then just pick an MPV or SUV that you like. If by 'roomy' you mean leg room and luggage space though, a Meriva or similar won't have more room than a Mondeo.
 
Genuinely baffled how somebody can find a Mondeo more uncomfortable than a Meriva, probably the worst car Vauxhall have made for years!

Out of the list I'd have the Golf Plus. The Meriva is a terrible car and the Touran is a bit too much like a van.
 
I'd say go for the Golf. Even a nice polo can be had for that sort of money, I've got one as a hire car and it's nice enough, I seem to fit alright into it and I'm a 6'4" tall bugger.
 
Oddball, how about a Nissan Note? Purely a stab in the dark, but I got in one a while ago and it felt rather roomy inside for what it is.
 
@Howard, think it is the head room, and just how close the dash felt.

I know the meriva gets a bad rep but I really do find it very comfortable - strange yes I know.

CR-V I'm not sure if my budget stretches to a diesel one?

I also find the upright driving postion more comfortable - I don't know why I just do.

The Note I hadn't thought of cause I thought it looked abit small but I'll consider it.

The S-max / C-max I wasn't sure cause the ones I had seen for my my budget seemd to be very high mileage when I compared to the others above - possiable ex taxi etc.

I know its weird not finding it comfy in the Mondeo - don't get me wrong I like the look of the estate and the toys etc, but I just couldn't get comfortable sitting in it
 
The CRV has been out for years so I don't see any problem finding one for the budget.

What do you consider high mileage? I'd expect most of these cars to have 60-100k on the clock, assuming 5 years old+
 
Well my current car has just ticked over 105k

ideally I'd like sub 100k - 80-90k maybe?
My view of high mileage is 150k plus on sub 5 year old cars
 
Mazda 5 is out - while it looks nice and seem's decent, It seems they have issues with tyre wear and poor mpg

I like the new meriva, it was nice inside, it was good to drive and it had a decent ammount of kit.

Sat in a Gold Plus - felt very solid and seemed to be half decent kit wise.

Touran - definatly bigger then I need, so not looking at any more

Note - Surprised at the space it felt like inside. Was quite nice to me any way.
 
What about something like the Fiat Doblo or Citroen Berlingo? I've had one as a hire car abroad on more than one occasion and the space in them is fantastic. They will also have a far higher sat up driving position. 5.5k should get you a 2009 average mileage diesel.
 
Only because I'm rocking one, what about a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Love mine, hate the fuel bills. Maybe diesel is a lot better than my petrol though.
 
Bromhead said:
Only because I'm rocking one, what about a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Love mine, hate the fuel bills. Maybe diesel is a lot better than my petrol though.
Click to expand...

He wants to replace a Meriva with something thats cheap to insure, tax and run, perhaps another Meriva, and you suggest a Jeep Grand Cherokee purely on the basis that you have one?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom