Changing from a Fluence to a....

Craazysteve

My Dad is looking to change his car in the new year for a 151...something!
I'm going to help him look at some cars over Xmas, so just looking for some ideas/inspiration from the experts around here!

Budget is 27/28k including trading in his current 2011 diesel Renault Fluence.

Requirements:
Diesel
Manual
Decent sized Saloon (most likely, may be open to crossovers)
Large boot that's good for multiple sets of golf clubs
Well specced, at least matching current spec of: Cruise, Sat-Nav, Dual Zone Climate, Metallic, Alloys, Fogs, rear parking sensors, keyless entry

The Fluence has barely changed so no point in getting a new one of those just for the Reg.
Topping my list for him so far is a facelifted Peugeot 508 Active 1.6
I reckon an Elegance-spec Octavia would be a good option, but I don't think I'll be able to convince him to sit in a Skoda! I'll try though!
Mazda 6 is out of budget, maybe a well specced Mazda 3 saloon if he doesn't think it's too small...
Nissan Qashqai? The new one looks quite nice when specced up, not sure if the boot would handle all the golf paraphernalia though?

So, tell me good people of boards, what would YOU choose?

MuppetCheck

Mazda 3 would be a good call but the saloons boot opening is tight.

For the golf clubs the Octavia is a hard one to beat. If he sat in one he'd soon realise it's superior in almost every way to a Fluence which is really a Samsung.

Another option might be going for an estate - would he be open to that?

Dr.Rieux

Would he look at an i40 or an Optima?

Craazysteve

Yeah, the Octavia is a nice machine alright, he's just a bit old school about the Skoda name I'd say!
Don't think he'd go for an estate, though I'll run it past him. It was a string of Avensis saloons before the fluence, but the current Avensis is very un-inspiring and badly specced for the money.

Craazysteve

Dr.Rieux wrote: »

Would he look at an i40 or an Optima?

I don't think so, he had a C'eed as a replacement car for a week earlier in the year and didn't like it at all. The Optima is a fine looking car but is well over budget. The i40 may fit the bill, pretty dated looking on the inside already though!

Breffnigolfer

Highly amusing to think a Renault driver is looking down on any other marque!

Bigus

A Seat might sit better than a Skoda and some good deals on with sales push in Ireland at the moment.

ofcork

What about the avensis the boot is huge and they can be well specced,I know the design is a couple of years old now.

noelf

Bigus wrote: »

A Seat might sit better than a Skoda and some good deals on with sales push in Ireland at the moment.

This what you have in mind Bigus I clicked on 10 extras .. not a saloon though ..

noelf

noelf wrote: »

This what you have in mind Bigus I clicked on 10 extras .. not a saloon though ..

^^ seat Leon st se

Craazysteve

If he's open to the idea of an estate, then a specced up Leon St se is a good call.
I'm sure he'll look at the Avensis, but would need to cut a very good deal to get all the toys in budget.

bazz26

Avensis is old hat now and being replaced later in 2015, the interior also feels cheap for the class it's in.

noelf

bazz26 wrote: »

Avensis is old hat now and being replaced later in 2015, the interior also feels cheap for the class it's in.

And It's only a face lift ..

finalfurlong

I have a 132 octavia elegance and it is a excellent car.Cabin is vw quality and boot is a liftback with huge 590 l capacity and shape means it swallows everything.Your best bet is to get him to test drive one-get him to see the vw logo on parts in engine if he is worried about quality.I would put it way ahead of fluence in every way.

braddun

sports car

Craazysteve

finalfurlong wrote: »

I have a 132 octavia elegance and it is a excellent car.Cabin is vw quality and boot is a liftback with huge 590 l capacity and shape means it swallows everything.Your best bet is to get him to test drive one-get him to see the vw logo on parts in engine if he is worried about quality.I would put it way ahead of fluence in every way.

That's the plan! Thanks!