Recommend a car?

unkel

For my sister. Her requirements: low mileage city car, small, petrol, low maintenance, highly reliable, needs to seat 3 kids in the back. She's over 6 foot tall and her kids will be over 6 foot tall soon enough. High safety rating desirable. Budget €8k give or take a bit. She will keep the car for the guts of 10 years. She was thinking Nissan Note as you can move the back seats backwards. Boot space not important. 5 seats are all that are needed. My sister doesn't care a damn' about make, model, badge, etc.

WeightierDisc

Toyota Coroalla Avensis is the way to go!

Trust me if she ain't Jap she's scrap

colm_mcm

Honda frv

EPM

Something van derived like a Berlingo Multispace maybe?

no1beemerfan

What about a Fiat Panda? The father-in-law has one and can't rate it enough. He gets approx 60 mpg out of it too!


Here is a 2010 with warrenty until 2014 for €7,950 http://www.carzone.ie/search/Fiat/Panda/1.2-DYNA/201127203199420/advert?channel=CARS

Just been thinking....I'm not sure if these take three in the back though??

biko

Something something Volvo

colm_mcm

colm_mcm wrote: »

Honda frv

Excellent suggestion me thinks

unkel

Honda FRV and FIAT Multipla use the smart 3+3 seat concept. First one out of budget and last one is vetoed by her husband

And the Multispace and a couple of other van based cars I suggested were just too much.....van

We did some research today and it looks like the Note is out (too small in the back for what soon will be 3 tall teenagers) and so are most of the other very small car based mini-MPVs like the Panda, etc.

She loved the whole concept of the Yeti, but also out of budget. But it looks the Skoda Roomster looks like it ticks all the boxes. Loads of space, also in the back. 5 star safety rating. Easily within budget. She could skip the 3 pot and go for the 1.4l 16V petrol. Not the best engine in the world (:D) but it is better than any other modern small VAG engine in terms of how well it would work out reliability wise in the long term for a small mileage driver

Thanks everyone for your suggestions!

hoodrats

unkel wrote: »

Honda FRV and FIAT Multipla use the smart 3+3 seat concept. First one out of budget and last one is vetoed by her husband

And the Multispace and a couple of other van based cars I suggested were just too much.....van

We did some research today and it looks like the Note is out (too small in the back for what soon will be 3 tall teenagers) and so are most of the other very small car based mini-MPVs like the Panda, etc.

She loved the whole concept of the Yeti, but also out of budget. But it looks the Skoda Roomster looks like it ticks all the boxes. Loads of space, also in the back. 5 star safety rating. Easily within budget. She could skip the 3 pot and go for the 1.4l 16V petrol. Not the best engine in the world (:D) but it is better than any other modern small VAG engine in terms of how well it would work out reliability wise in the long term for a small mileage driver

Thanks everyone for your suggestions!

i take it you dont like the avensis or anything volvo unkel.:pac::pac::pac:

unkel

hoodrats wrote: »

i take it you dont like the avensis or anything volvo unkel.:pac::pac::pac:

My other sister has an Avensis Verso. Full size MPV with 7 seats. How does it comply with:

unkel wrote: »

city car, small

I quite like Volvos in fact and I've always had a think of a Volvo V70 (with the 2 extra rear facing optional seats in the back) as a proper family estate. That said, how does it comply with:

unkel wrote: »

city car, small

Is it my turn for my favourite emoticon now? :pac:

bazz26

Renault Grand Modus:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201117202158269

Seat Altea:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201113201850771

Opel Meriva:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201131203712714

unkel

Meriva is just too small. Altea (even the XL) has a middle seat that's too narrow. The Grand Modus is a real option though! I'll pass it on to my sister

Thanks!

commited

Have you considered the Honda Jazz? My mother has had 2 with absolutely no problems and it's surprisingly comfortable and spacious.

colm_mcm

Loads of fr-v's within budget


http://www.donedeal.ie/find/all/for-sale/Ireland/honda%20frv

Dilbert75

Where she's going to be caught is on width. Sounds like 3 fully grown teenagers, with effectively adult-width shoulders, so they'll need one full seat each, not 2 1/2 seats like you get in most cars. FRV is a good choice - you'll get a 05 or 06 for that money. I've driven one a few times and thought it was great - short but wide, fairly manoeuverable, decent boot.

Bear in mind though that looking to get 10 years out of a €8k car in this range is a big ask. You'd need one that was very well looked after and look after it very well.

Dilbert75

colm_mcm wrote: »

Loads of fr-v's within budget


http://www.donedeal.ie/find/all/for-sale/Ireland/honda%20frv

Just note that if you see one of these for sale with a tow bar, on a building site, it seems likely it will have been used for some heavy towing.

cjmcork

Dilbert75 wrote: »

Just note that if you see one of these for sale with a tow bar, on a building site, it seems likely it will have been used for some heavy towing.

I've a tow bar on my mondeo and I've never towed anything in my life (though I stay away from building sites!) - it's my parking sensor!

colm_mcm

Dilbert75 wrote: »

Just note that if you see one of these for sale with a tow bar, on a building site, it seems likely it will have been used for some heavy towing.

Probably one of the least likely cars to be used by a builder I would have thought?

Marcusm

I realise the VAG-haters will descend but how about a Golf Plus. Great driving position for 6' plus and rear seats can side back to give extra room as the kids grow older. Make sure not to get 75bhp one though. Probably get an 07 with moderate (50k miles) mileage for that price.