Recommend a family diesel €20-25k

ZV Yoda

Looking to change our 1.6 petrol '06 Grand Scenic. Really practical car, but not exactly fun to drive - esp on summer motorway drives on the continent.

3 kids are now a bit older (so no buggies). As such, not essential to go for another mini MPV. My wife does 22k Km/yr in this, so diesel seems preferable. She'd prefer something "a bit nicer to drive" than another Scenic. A mid-large size estate seems to be the obvious choice.

Budget is €15-20k (plus trade in on the Scenic). No real preference on new vs. a 1-3 year old car. We'll prob keep the car for 5 years. We've tested a few already.

We don't like:
New Qash'qai - underpowered, small boot, not much rear legroom
New Kia Sportage - looks great, but tiny boot, cramped in the back. Brutal visibility. OK engine
New Scenic & Megan Estate - both have decent interiors. Megan has very underpowered engines. New Scenic drives exactly like the old one

We like:
New Kia Ceed SW - great value, great engine (140bhp 1.6 diesel), but quite bland. Prob smaller than we'd like
'10 Citroen C5 estate - a dark horse, well equipped, nice to drive, great space. Prob the front runner at the minute.

Others we've yet to test:
520D touring (prob an '09 model)
Mondeo Estate (prob '09-10).
Mazda 6 estate (prob '09-10)
Alfa 159 Sportwagon (prob '09)
Citroen 3008 & 5008

Any thoughts on others we might want to consider?

Any C5 owners care to comment on the practicalities of owning one?

-Corkie-

Skoda Superb Combi in Elegance spec is well kitted out..

gyppo

Hoping to purchase a C5 tourer myself. Anyone I've questioned so far thinks they're pretty good.
What engine size were you looking at OP? 1.6 or 2.0?

166man

Best of luck finding a 2009 Alfa 159 Sportwagon in Ireland anyway! They are a great car but even I can concede that they aren't the best for a family with three kids. Boot isn't the biggest.

As such I'd second Corkies suggestion on a Superb estate.. Should have everything you need and more.

Matthewjohn

Skoda yeti 2.0 tdi elegance more spacious and better to drive than the qashqai

ZV Yoda

Yep, the Superb is another one to consider. Was in a taxi one a few weeks back & was very impressed with the interior.

On the C5, we tested the 1.6HDi. Only 110bhp, but didn't feel underpowered (unlike the Renaults)

ZV Yoda

166man wrote: »

Best of luck finding a 2009 Alfa 159 Sportwagon in Ireland anyway! They are a great car but even I can concede that they aren't the best for a family with three kids. Boot isn't the biggest.

As such I'd second Corkies suggestion on a Superb estate.. Should have everything you need and more.

Yeah, not too many 159 estates around. I usually do the week-end driving in the family car, so I snuck the 159 onto the list (I drive a 166 myself).

coolbeans

Check out the new Kia Optima. They were on the market in Australia when I was there and they certainly do look well.

EPM

i40 estate for something different? Warranty should last your entire ownership period too.

166man

ZV Yoda wrote: »

Yeah, not too many 159 estates around. I usually do the week-end driving in the family car, so I snuck the 159 onto the list (I drive a 166 myself).

You would get a very nice 159 Sportwagon in the UK with your budget though. Just another one to consider. Have you test driven one yet, that isn't paddy spec?

Just seen Hyundai i40 suggestion, now that would be a good option with the 1.7CRDI engine.

walus

What about Volvo V70?

ZV Yoda

walus wrote: »

What about Volvo V70?

Nice car, will add that to the list

ZV Yoda

166man wrote: »

You would get a very nice 159 Sportwagon in the UK with your budget though. Just another one to consider. Have you test driven one yet, that isn't paddy spec?

Just seen Hyundai i40 suggestion, now that would be a good option with the 1.7CRDI engine.

Heard good things about these. A colleague has one. Not keen on the styling myself, but does seem to tick the boxes.

ZV Yoda

coolbeans wrote: »

Check out the new Kia Optima. They were on the market in Australia when I was there and they certainly do look well.

Nice... any idea when they're due here?

coolbeans

Not exactly but any day now. They're a Hyundai i40 underneath except better looking if that means anything to you.

ZV Yoda

coolbeans wrote: »

Not exactly but any day now. They're a Hyundai i40 underneath except better looking if that means anything to you.

Much prefer the Kia's styling to Hyundai's - same with their SUVs... the Sportage is (IMO) a far batter looking car than the ix35. I prefer Kia's simpler lines.

spank_inferno

Matthewjohn wrote: »

Skoda yeti 2.0 tdi elegance more spacious and better to drive than the qashqai

Nah, I wouldnt go for the Yeti, their boot is quite small and only seat 4 with any comfort, they are Golfs with ground clearence.

I'd recommend a +1 for the i40, its an impressive car.

vectra

Best of every world :cool:

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Skoda/Octavia/2.0-TDi-/201202206584436/advert?channel=CARS

Tea 1000

I'd go for an Accord estate for that kind of money. Excellent car and one of the best looking estates around. Very reliable too. Mazda 6 2.2 diesel estate is the best to drive in that class too, worth looking at.

Tea 1000

One of these would save you 10 grand...
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Subaru/Legacy/2.0-TD-0/2713286210073590/advert?channel=CARS

walus

+1 for the Legacy, great car!

tfitzgerald

I would go for the Hyundai i40. lovely car It has plenty of room a very high spec and looks good . I have to say that legacy looks like a nice car

Matthewjohn

Bmw 320d estate great to drive good boot very comfortable and economical.
http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/320D--ES/2413286326032840/advert?channel=CARS

ZV Yoda

Matthewjohn wrote: »

Bmw 320d estate great to drive good boot very comfortable and economical.
http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/320D--ES/2413286326032840/advert?channel=CARS

Size-wise, would prefer the 520D. Been in a few 3 series & they feel quite small for the money.

Matthewjohn

You should also consider the a6 estate

Marcin_diy

I'll be getting mazda cx5 later this year. check www.mazda.ie. Car is not available yet, it will be on the market shortly. i have an accord at the moment.

Yakuza

OP, I know you've said you don't like the Qashqai, but the +2 has a bigger boot (and extra seating should the need arise). There's a 1.6 diesel 4*4 out this year, meant to be a decent drive. I've a petrol one myself as its better suited to my needs (the vast major of my journeys are 6k commutes, but for your stated mileage, diesel is the way to go.

bbsrs

I'm surprised nobody suggested an A4 or A6 Avant Sline TDI , are they not good?
Something like this
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2934085

bbsrs

I'm surprised nobody suggested an A4 or A6 Avant Sline TDI , are they not good?
Something like this
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2934085

or this

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2720262

ZV Yoda

bbsrs wrote: »

I'm surprised nobody suggested an A4 or A6 Avant Sline TDI , are they not good?
Something like this
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2934085

or this

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2720262

Thx... the A6 is on the list alright. Prefer this size-wise to the A4.

ZV Yoda

Yakuza wrote: »

OP, I know you've said you don't like the Qashqai, but the +2 has a bigger boot (and extra seating should the need arise). There's a 1.6 diesel 4*4 out this year, meant to be a decent drive. I've a petrol one myself as its better suited to my needs (the vast major of my journeys are 6k commutes, but for your stated mileage, diesel is the way to go.

We did have a look around the Qash'qai +2. The boot is bigger (as you'd expect for an extra 2 grand) but rear legroom in the main cabin still wasn't great. The extra 2 seats are a bonus alright, but we have them in the Scenic already & rarely use them.

bodonnell

Subaru Forester, diesel available since '08, think one '08 on carzone around 20k.

Tea 1000

bbsrs wrote: »

I'm surprised nobody suggested an A4 or A6 Avant Sline TDI , are they not good?
Something like this
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2934085

Most things recommended here are better. A4 is poor value, nothing special.