What to do, buy or wait

LFC Murphy

Hi folks,

Long story short. Wife's car broke down for the last time last week, something on timing belt wheels broke causing belt to slip and break the cam or crank shaft. Valves etc damaged. Car is 10 years old so not worth fixing (couple of other issues also needed to be fixed to get it to pass NCT)

We have a teenager, 1 year old and baby due in 3 months.

So just wondering what car would be best. My focus will struggle to cater for the three in the back (two baby seats) as the middle is not a full seat.

So just wondering what my options are.

1. Is there a "green" 5 seater with 3 full seats in the back
2. Or is it the 7 seater.

Would like to keep it to 10k euro with diesel engine and low tax. So either 2008 or small engine.

Brother has old car (94 Ford) that we can use. So its possible to hold off for up to a year.

Thanks

guil

the mk2 focus has 3 full seats in the back, by that i mean 3 seatbelts and not a lap belt

LFC Murphy

Hi, I have the focus mk2. And what I mean by full seat is wide enough for small adult when the 2 car seats are in place.

Leonard Hofstadter

LFC Murphy wrote: »

Would like to keep it to 10k euro with diesel engine and low tax. So either 2008 or small engine.

Don't buy a diesel unless you're going to use it mainly out of town - the modern versions do not like being driven around town and/or slowly for extended periods of time.

LFC Murphy

Diesel is required due to 40km drive to work daily

DaveJac

the 5 and 7 seaters are grand for carring people if you have 5 in the family you will need a 7 seater cause you wont fit 5 people and all there stuff into the 5 seater, your going to have 2 buggies and lots of stuff your 2 younger ones so id say look at estates always over looked you will fit everone in and have way more room in the boot than a 5 or 7 seater mpv

DaveJac

and id buy now its a buyers market something like this?
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1924121

LFC Murphy

Still would struggle to get the two car seats and a 15 year old in the back. But estate could be useful.

andyseadog

Focus C-Max.

still looks like a decent car, not a shonky family wagon, 1.6 TDCi, in the new tax band, decent spec list including 3 independently moving full sized rear seats.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2085655

this one's a grand over your budget but i didn't really search, i'm sure its possible to get one around or under 10k. its possible to get similar cars for 5k or less if your willing to pay the extra 300 a year in tax if you go older than a 07. which still makes sense, spending euros to save cents and all that

LFC Murphy

Never been in a C-Max so may pop in and have a look at one. Back seats may still be an issue if based on focus. But your spending euros to save cents makes huge cents...
Will be looking at older cars so thanks.

Anyway I either need a standard car or estate with 3 large seats in the back or a 7 seater....

Does anyone know of any such vehicle.

Thanks

TestTransmission

I keep reading the start of this thread as

Hi folks,

Long story short. Wife died last week

useless

I have the same requirements as the OP- two child seats and the need to carry an adult. Granny is getting really miffed at being left behind so often so I think I'll need to bite the bullet soon...
I'd prefer an estate to an MPV but if I have to go down that road I will...

C-Max doesn't sound like an option. It has only "two and a half" rear seats- see the Honest John review for a photo
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/ford/c-max-2003/
Might suit the OP for short trips, but I'd imagine the middle seat in the CMax would turn even the saintliest teenager sulky on a long journey.

I looked at the v70 with the 7 seats- the 2 rear facing in the boot are strictly for kids, it robs all your bootspace and I dont think you can attach a child seat to the rear seats (open to correction on this though)

Peugeot 307SW (or 308SW) 7 seater perhaps? Although I looked at the 308 and it just had no bootspace at all with the 2 seats in the boot. There was the option to have 2 seats in row 2 and 1 in row 3, but the adult would have to sit in row 2. I cant imagine the 307SW would be a whole lot different.

FWIW, at the moment Im thinking of either a C4 Grand Picasso or an SMax.
Would be really interested to hear of any other options!

LFC Murphy

S-Max looks the biz but a lot if money. And a regarding the Citroën, well my neighbour who is also my mechanic said not great but it gets a good review. His comment was it French and to much electronics.

LFC Murphy

So what the options out there regarding 3 full rear seats with isofix. Or am I looking at 7 seaters