I need a new car due to growing family

happydayz8

Hi All,

Let me tell you first that my knowledge of cars is pretty non-existent and this is why I need your help. Please go easy!
We're expecting twins and therefore need a new second hand car. Currently driving a Toyota Yaris and extremely happy so wouldn't mind sticking to a Toyota but so far can't make heads nor tails as to which model would fit 3 car seats. My thoughts in bullet:
- needs to fit 2 infant carries and 1 booster in the back
- Decent sized boot (that fits a double buggy - umbrella fold)
- I would like to avoid a people carrier
- Low tax would be great as we do not drive very far and don't use the car daily
- We’re looking at maybe a year 2005 for approx EUR 5'000 minus a little trade in for the Yaris.
So far I've come up with:

- Ford Mondeo
- Citroen Picasso (would like to avoid due to previous bad experience with Citroen)
- Nissan Almera Tino

So dear Car experts, please knock me out with some recommendations in particular Toyotas before I go pester the dealers.

colm_mcm

Honda frv

happydayz8

thanks colm_mcm. Quick look on carzone and I think that one is more then we wanted to spend. My partner had a Honda and they seem to be great cars. Shame bout the price tag.

colm_mcm

What year is the yaris?


06 frv for €5700
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4533400

happydayz8

it's a 2000. 3 users and not sure about the milage but its low. I was told to not buy private but through a dealer. What are the views on that?

colm_mcm

I'd sell the yaris privately, if its in good nick and has a good bit of nct you can expect to get €1700-2000 for it.

Not sold on the dealer thing for older cars, there are a lot of scumbags who will just tell you what you want to hear without actually knowing anything about the cars past. When something goes wrong you can be on your own.
With Main dealer you have a better chance, but you'll pay for the privilege. Paying €1000 extra on a €15000 car isn't abig deal but €1000 extra on a€5000 car is a big chunk.

Personal ly I'd find someone who knows their stuff to look at the car with you, and use your gut. If the person has a nice tidy house, the service history is complete, they're not afraid to answer any questions you have, then chances are its a good car.

You can also use the likes of cartell.ie, motorcheck.ie etc to see if the car has had a coloured past

colm_mcm

Handy guide to buying used cars here

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056198864

happydayz8

Thanks so much colm_mcm.
The NCT is up for renewal and the tires need replacing so I was hoping I'd get a good deal with a 1000 trade in.
I will check out that guide.

colm_mcm

Do the nct as is and see what it throws up, tyres are really cheap for the yaris. Even get a set of part worn tyres to get it through the nct (can't see it being more than €100)
We just bought a 00 yaris for €2000 and the guy got 3 calls in the time we were test driving it.

Yariss go for big money privately if they have nct. If you can say get 1700 for the car privately, you can go look for your new car with cash in hand, no trade in and negotiate a discount off whatever you buy. You could reduce your cost to change by around €1000 this way.

professore

I have an 05 Ford Focus Estate 1.6 diesel for the past 2 years, has been bulletproof reliable, except an ABS warning light coming on that was some sort of sensor issue. Other than the normal tyres etc no other issues. It has 180K klms on it and drives like a new car, brilliant fuel economy - as good as your Yaris. The later diesels are a no-no as they have a DPF that clogs if you do short runs and costs €800 or something to replace. This one doesn't have it

The boot is massive. In fact I have 2 older kids, I reckon just a standard Ford Focus would have done the job. Not sure about child/booster seats, I think they would fit though. It has 3 full seat belts in the back.

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/ford/focus/estate-2005/gallery/

I'd imagine you'd pick one up well within your budget, but if you go diesel, make sure it doesn't have a DPF !!!!

colm_mcm

The problem with normal cars is that they have bolstering on the edge of the seat so a child seat won't sit out on the edge, it goes towards the centre.

There aren't that many 'normal' cars that can do the job

Zubeneschamali

happydayz8 wrote: »

So dear Car experts, please knock me out with some recommendations in particular Toyotas before I go pester the dealers.

Toyota Verso.

happydayz8

that's exactly the problem colm_mcm that you need a flat bench or 3 individual seats. I was really interested in a Skoda (my dad is a big fan) but all of them will push the carrier to the middle. Good tip on the NCT. I never expected to get that much for my lovely Yaris.
Thanks Professore, that looks like a car that could also be interesting.
Zubeneschamali, the Toyota Verso seems too pricey. What's the difference of say the Toyota Verso vs Toyota Corolla Verso vs Toyota Yaris Verso.

Zubeneschamali

happydayz8 wrote: »

What's the difference of say the Toyota Verso vs Toyota Corolla Verso vs Toyota Yaris Verso.

I think there was an Avensis Verso too, but the one I mean is called the Verso now, or Corolla Verso up to 2009.

[Edit, quick look in Donedeal: Like this one.]

colm_mcm

Yaris verso is just a big yaris, no use

Pre 2004 corolla verso is just a tall corolla, no use

Post 2004 corolla verso is a small 7 seater, it will take 3 child seats no problem, or one child can go in the rearmost seats. Middle child may not be too happy but you can at least slide the seats individually so that everyone's not on top of each other.

Post 2009 verso is the replacement for the corolla verso.


One thing with the corolla verso is that it is a good bit longer than your yaris.

happydayz8

I like that Verso. Maybe I should buy my car seats and drag them to a couple of garages and see what fits and look at the cars recommended here already. Great advise so far I have to say! Thanks

Zubeneschamali

happydayz8 wrote: »

Maybe I should buy my car seats and drag them to a couple of garages and see what fits and look at the cars recommended here already.

Definitely don't buy anything without trying the seats in it first.

I found that the best thing with child-seats is to have 3 seperate, movable and equal sized seats in the back, which usually means at least a small MPV (although there is the Peugeot 307/308 estate).

Most saloons are designed for transporting two adults in the back, not 3 kids seats.

justsomebloke

what about a Peugeot 307 station wagon (obvioulsy like citreon you may want to avoid)

has 3 individual back seats with a big boot and you can get additional seats to make it a 7 seater at the sacrifice of boot space if required

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4446287

happydayz8

I heard Peugeot are expensive to fix as parts are expensive here in Ireland. I'm happy to stand corrected. Looks like we may have to consider a small people carrier.
Mind you I'm getting more interested by that Honda FR and will defo go look at one.