Car suggestions please

TechnoFreek

Hey guys, looking for suggestions on cars please. Here are the details along with a few questions.

Budget is 22,000 max. Probably closer to 20k.

Currently have a 1.4 2004 petrol golf so due to commuting need to upgrade to diesel. Needs to be an efficient diesel as I'll be clocking about 100 miles plus per day. Tax band A or B ideally.

Also need to consider family. One baby as it is but could well be more in time. Don't really want an MPV but is it the only solution when it comes to more than two children?

I have test driven a Qashqais, they're nice but can they really accommodate three children in the back plus at 50 mpg for the 1.5 diesel is that the best I could expect?

All car options (excluding estates and MPVs for the moment!) considered

Matthewjohn

You could get something like a 2011 mondeo it's efficient and defiantly has room for 3 kids in the back this one looks great...
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Mondeo/MCA-TITA/713267230754620/advert?channel=CARS
Or you could get a 2012 yeti
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Skoda/Yeti/AMBITION/8613394320396440/advert?channel=CARS

TechnoFreek

What sort of mpg will a 1.6 and 2 litre diesel mondeo get?

Anan1

Just a general point - a lot of people post here asking what car to get within a certain budget. I think a more sensible approach would be to start off by looking at what one wants/needs, and then, if necessary, modify to fit the budget.

TechnoFreek

Anan1 wrote: »

Just a general point - a lot of people post here asking what car to get within a certain budget. I think a more sensible approach would be to start off by looking at what one wants/needs, and then, if necessary, modify to fit the budget.

Thanks Anan. I think I kind of have that covered above in original post stating family, engine size, efficiency etc ??

Anan1

TechnoFreek wrote: »

Thanks Anan. I think I kind of have that covered above in original post stating family, engine size, efficiency etc ??

What I meant is that there's a tendency to spend all one can afford, rather than spending what the job requires. For example, a car for €10k might do everything you want and leave you €12k in your pocket. Re accommodating children, if you have one baby now then you could buy a car that could comfortably accommodate two and change it if/when the need arises? If you do want space for three now then I think a large estate or an MPV are your only real options. MPVs are built around those requirements, and they're very good these days.

TechnoFreek

Thanks Anan. I see what you mean.

So if I wanted to accommodate 3 young kids in the back can something like the qashqai or ix35 physically fit that number of baby seats in the back. Do they have the appropriate middle seat belt and space?

Anan1

TechnoFreek wrote: »

Thanks Anan. I see what you mean.

So if I wanted to accommodate 3 young kids in the back can something like the qashqai or ix35 physically fit that number of baby seats in the back. Do they have the appropriate middle seat belt and space?

You'd have to try, but I doubt it. I'd say for three full-on child seats you'd need either something very big or a third row of seats. My sister in law has a Passat estate, and that wouldn't take three child seats in the back. It'd be easier if the eldest was old enough for a booster seat by the time the youngest arrived.

Yakuza

TechnoFreek wrote: »

I have test driven a Qashqai, they're nice but can they really accommodate three children in the back plus at 50 mpg for the 1.5 diesel is that the best I could expect?

I have the Qashqai+2 variant, but the seats behind the front row are the same size as the 5-seater. When I bought my first one (the 1.5 dci, I now have a petrol facelifted version) my kids were 8, 3 and newborn, it just about fit a booster cushion, a rock-a-tot (in the middle) and a full booster seat. It was a tight fit but doable.

Nowadays, the kids are older so I now have the 10-year old in the middle with the 3-point belt, the 5-year old in a booster cushion and the 2-year old in a full booster seat. Note that it is perfectly legal to have a child in the middle seat using an adult belt *if* the outer two seats are occupied with booster seats / cushions. I confirmed this personally with the RSA.

In terms of MPG, the 1.5 dci gave me 4.8l/100km (58MPG) on a long motorway trip in the UK (driving at 110km/h), but around 7.4l/100km (36MPG) around town in short trips. My current petrol one gives me about 8.5l/100km (32MPG) around town and 6.0l/100km (47MPG) on the motorways here (I've yet to take it to a proper 3-lane motorway in the UK).