New car advice

Foxtrot Tango

My company car is due a change and I can't decide what to do.

Currently I have an SMax 2lt diesel - it's a great car with plenty of poke and loads of room ( although the lack of a spare or even a jack is a huge negative).

With the kids getting bigger ( 15,12,9) I'm tempted to go back to a regular saloon or estate as the need for 7 seats reduces (although still very useful at times). With my budget - € 40k - I could get something nice ( Audi, BMW etc) but anything I've looked at are really only 4.5 seaters (imo) - the middle seat in the back does not look like a place to be for more than the shortest of journeys and this was confirmed by my 9 yr old.

I'd really like something different - nice to drive and nice to spend time inside - but I'm running out of ideas and seem to be drifting back to the idea of another Smax. Whatever I get I'll be stuck with for the next 4 years.

Key criteria for me are:
Decent room in the back for 3.
Plenty of poke and good to drive (so 1.6lt mpvs don't qualify)
Decent boot.
Nice interior, as upmarket as possible for the money
Spare tyre !

All ideas welcome !

Gophur

Foxtrot Tango wrote: »

My company car is due a change and I can't decide what to do.

Currently I have an SMax 2lt diesel - it's a great car with plenty of poke and loads of room ( although the lack of a spare or even a jack is a huge negative).

With the kids getting bigger ( 15,12,9) I'm tempted to go back to a regular saloon or estate as the need for 7 seats reduces (although still very useful at times). With my budget - € 40k - I could get something nice ( Audi, BMW etc) but anything I've looked at are really only 4.5 seaters (imo) - the middle seat in the back does not look like a place to be for more than the shortest of journeys and this was confirmed by my 9 yr old.

I'd really like something different - nice to drive and nice to spend time inside - but I'm running out of ideas and seem to be drifting back to the idea of another Smax. Whatever I get I'll be stuck with for the next 4 years.

Key criteria for me are:
Decent room in the back for 3.
Plenty of poke and good to drive (so 1.6lt mpvs don't qualify)
Decent boot.
Nice interior, as upmarket as possible for the money
Spare tyre !

All ideas welcome !

Skoda Superb, either saloon or estate (Combi) in Elegance spec.

Go look at one and try it. With three children growing by the day, you'd have a car that will comfortably accommodate them for three years.

Foxtrot Tango

Thanks personally I've no problems with the Skoda but the missus refuses point blank !

Shane Fitz

Foxtrot Tango wrote: »

Thanks personally I've no problems with the Skoda but the missus refuses point blank !

Why?

Anan1

Shane Fitz wrote: »

Why?

Why do you think?:)

MidlandsM

Foxtrot Tango wrote: »

Thanks personally I've no problems with the Skoda but the missus refuses point blank !

fcuk the missus..........roger that, over and out :D

Drummerboy08

If your wife doesn't want a Skoda, take a look at the Insignia Tourer. Slightly smaller than the Superb, but should take 3 across the back seat comfortably.

With your budget you should get a 2.0CDTi 160bhp Elite, in Auto. Probably as a 4x4 too.

Leather, Sat Nav, Xenons, 18 Alloys, and all the other usual bits. The only option you really need is Bluetooth, but you'd probably squeeze in a few more too if you wanted.

If that doesn't float, a Passat estate could be got within budget too, but with less toys.

Lastly, if you really want you'll probably get a an A4 estate, but it will be fairly basic for that budget.

Personally I'd be going for the Insignia.

Anan1

MidlandsM wrote: »

fcuk the missus..........roger that, over and out :D

Do keep us posted on how that's working out for you.

Gophur

Foxtrot Tango wrote: »

Thanks personally I've no problems with the Skoda but the missus refuses point blank !

Don't give her the choice!

My better half was less than enthusiastic about getting a Superb but she was more than won over.

Anyone putting a Superb down because of the Skoda badge should have his/her opinion ignored.

Bring her to see the Superb and see what the lie of the land is afterwards.

Check out this review?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8DoZ27NqEU&feature=youtube_gdata_player

(how anyone could place an Opel ahead of a Skoda, on badge alone is beyond me)

lafors

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

If your wife doesn't want a Skoda, take a look at the Insignia Tourer. Slightly smaller than the Superb, but should take 3 across the back seat comfortably.

With your budget you should get a 2.0CDTi 160bhp Elite, in Auto. Probably as a 4x4 too.

Leather, Sat Nav, Xenons, 18 Alloys, and all the other usual bits. The only option you really need is Bluetooth, but you'd probably squeeze in a few more too if you wanted.

If that doesn't float, a Passat estate could be got within budget too, but with less toys.

Lastly, if you really want you'll probably get a an A4 estate, but it will be fairly basic for that budget.

Personally I'd be going for the Insignia.

We've 3 of the 160 insignias in our company car pool.
I like the external look of the tourer, inside isn't that nice...each to their own but that engine is awful. They're terrible, they feel nothing like 160, the gear change is horrible. I actually found it nearly impossible to tell the difference between the 160 and the 130.

I think you should seriously take the missus to see the superb.
My missus was not having a superb, point blank refused to even consider it. I was also looking at the Yeti so I made her come to the garage to look at the "Yeti" when we got there I told her to get into the back of the superb. She was amazed, she changed her mind there and then....then I went and got the Yeti

Idbatterim

E156 tax, 184 bhp, great economy, fantastic spec...

below is cheapest F10 on carzone and a 2011 msport. Youd get it for 40k...

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/5-Series/520-d-SE/201151206184644/advert?channel=CARS

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/5-Series/520D-M-S/713261253591470/advert?channel=CARS

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/5-Series/520d-M-S/2313281943958760/advert?channel=CARS

go out and test drive a few different cars, but id say if you drive the beemer, the others wont even come close... you could also easily get it remapped and well over 200bhp. see below link.

http://www.dmsautomotive.com/models.asp?upid=1

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-reviews/bmw/5_series/46169

TheBazman

Idbatterim wrote: »

go out and test drive a few different cars, but id say if you drive the beemer, the others wont even come close... you could also easily get it remapped and well over 200bhp. see below link.

http://www.dmsautomotive.com/models.asp?upid=1

The nearest place to get DMS remapping is up North. There are a few places around Dublin much cheaper

Seweryn

Foxtrot Tango wrote: »

All ideas welcome !

A nice, clean BMW E38 would fit the bill. Enough space for 5, fine to drive and to spend time in.

Matthewjohn

If your wife won't go for the Superb then you should have a look at the Mondeo estate or the Passat estate

Foxtrot Tango

Thanks for the ideas. Car has to be new since it's a company car. Will be checking out the Superb for sure. Any 7 seater ideas other than the usual lot ?

vectra

Foxtrot Tango wrote: »

Thanks for the ideas. Car has to be new since it's a company car. Will be checking out the Superb for sure. Any 7 seater ideas other than the usual lot ?

This is exactly what you need > Not this demo one but new.

Superb 170 elegance Combi.
Bang on budget.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Skoda/Superb/2.0TDI-1/2413281965118540/advert?channel=CARS

mickdw

If I had to buy a superb, it would be a combi as it doesnt have the hideous rear end of the saloon.

R.O.R

You are in the best of the 5+2 seaters at the moment (IMHO), and with the yo-yo pricing of the S-Max being back down again, the 160 Titanium (€38,140) would fall in to budget. I'd probably go for the 140 and stick a bit more kit in to it though (€36,760).

Can't think of any other 7 seater's that suit your requirements as most of the other options are only coming in 1.6 models. Had a Mazda 5 Sport in the other day - lovely car, but only a 1.6 diesel.

Haven't seen any of the new models (not even sure if they are actually available yet), but the New Zafira Tourer 2.0CDTi 165ps Elite is listed at €38,995 (for both manual and auto so that sounds like an error). Decent spec, and apparently the engine changes for 2012 (start/stop) have sorted out the power delivery issues that blighted the Opel Diesels for past couple of years.

For Estate's, if you don't go for a Superb 170 4x4 Elegance, you are mad. Insignia Elite or Mondeo Titanium 160 are also in budget, but don't give as much space or kit as the Superb.

Volvo V60 D3 SE would just about make it in to budget, and is cracking to drive, but doesn't have the internal space of the Superb.

Santa Fe 2.0 2wd is in budget, if that sort of thing floats your boat, or the Passat Estate (170 Highline is in budget) if you want to pay for the VW badge on the front and get less car for the money than the Skoda.

Mitsubishi Outlander might be an option too. Now coming with a 2.2d engine and €38,623 for the 4wd Intense model. Usually well specced, but a little "plasticky" on the inside, but 7 seats and the models I've driven have been fairly decent to drive.

aston

Superb Superb Superb..Christ this site is like a bloody Skoda advertising forum..do you guys think of anything else bar skodas...how f@cking sad

Gophur

aston wrote: »

Superb Superb Superb..Christ this site is like a bloody Skoda advertising forum..do you guys think of anything else bar skodas...how f@cking sad

If you look through the thread you will see many other cars suggested.

That said, the best bang-for-buck, given the OP's limitations, is the Superb.

It does seem you are one of those poor unfortunates afflicted by badge-blindness. :rolleyes:

R.O.R

aston wrote: »

Superb Superb Superb..Christ this site is like a bloody Skoda advertising forum..do you guys think of anything else bar skodas...how f@cking sad

And your suggestion is?

If you've nothing to add, maybe don't comment eh?

aston

Gopher..not a badge snob one bit..just seems everybody here jumps on the Skoda bandwagon..my opinion anyway
ROR..it's my opinion..cop on..maybe you don't comment
Anyway I've a good car brand to sell..happy Skodaing!!

vectra

aston wrote: »

Gopher..not a badge snob one bit..just seems everybody here jumps on the Skoda bandwagon..my opinion anyway
ROR..it's my opinion..cop on..maybe you don't comment
Anyway I've a good car brand to sell..happy Skodaing!!

Still waiting to hear your suggestion.
My suggestion to you is to calm down,:D