Family car - up to €15,000

SEORG

Hi all,

We are looking at upgrading the main family car in the near future and was hoping for some educated opinions/recommendations as my knowledge of cars is limited to say the least.

Two kids(under 5), 300km/week motorway work commute. The types of car I have been looking at so farare Avensis, Mondeo, Accord, Passat, Mazda 6, i40, Optima....etc

Also been considering estates for the extra space. I don't mind reasonably high mileage on the car but would be hoping to have the new one for 5 years minimum.

Is it worth looking across the pond? Getting a lot more spec for close to €11,000 + €2,500 VRT. I'd like a few extras in it

Thanks in advance.

colm_mcm

whst are you driving at the moment and what do you think of it?

SEORG

colm_mcm wrote: »

whst are you driving at the moment and what do you think of it?

We have 03 4dr Corolla 1.4 petrol, it's a great car, which we are going to hold on to but we need a second car. So the plan down the line is to upgrade that in a couple of years.

I had a 02 5dr Mondeo 1.8 petrol previously, so that's why I am looking at something along the same lines....it was the basic LX but I loved it, piston failure got it though.

colm_mcm

Try and make a list of the stuff you'd like to have on the car.
You can take it that all will have the likes of aircon, alloys etc.
Would you like satnav, leather, sunroof, cruise control - anything unusual?
Size wise, are you happy enough for it to be bigger than the old mondeo?
Do you like having a bit of power, or is that a factor?
Are you looking for something that's fun to drive, or more comfort?

SEORG

colm_mcm wrote: »

Try and make a list of the stuff you'd like to have on the car.
You can take it that all will have the likes of aircon, alloys etc.
Would you like satnav, leather, sunroof, cruise control - anything unusual?
Size wise, are you happy enough for it to be bigger than the old mondeo?
Do you like having a bit of power, or is that a factor?
Are you looking for something that's fun to drive, or more comfort?

Thanks for the quick replies...

I'd like to have a few extra's, dual climate control, bluetooth, decent stereo with usb connection, cruise control, heated seats, full electrics. If it was a bigger car, parking sensors. I could live without the satnav & sun roof..

I have no problem with it being bigger than the mondeo.

I'd like a bit of power in it, I enjoy driving so I don't want something that is under powered. Was looking at the T-Spirit Avensis for example...looks to be a decent car on paper but I really don't know enough about them.

MuppetCheck

A 2 litre superb would tick all the boxes.

DubDani

I don't think many Irish Family Cars will have heated seats. If that's really something you are looking for it might make the pool of options quite small.

Superb or Volvo would then probably be the most realistic options in your Price Bracket (unless you wanted to go into Luxobarge territory).

Casm85

Hi we have a 2012 Mondeo Estate and could definitely recommend it. Loads of room but doesn't feel huge when your driving it. Its really nice to drive too. The big advantage for me is the boot, even with the pushchair and the shopping there is still lots of room. We have a 2lt and find it really good on diesel epically when we are doing motorway miles.

SEORG

DubDani wrote: »

I don't think many Irish Family Cars will have heated seats. If that's really something you are looking for it might make the pool of options quite small.

Superb or Volvo would then probably be the most realistic options in your Price Bracket (unless you wanted to go into Luxobarge territory).

The heated seats is more of a nice to have than a must have tbh, could certainly live without them.

kindalen

the superb elegance spec has front and rear heated seats.

AMKC

SEORG wrote: »

We have 03 4dr Corolla 1.4 petrol, it's a great car, which we are going to hold on to but we need a second car. So the plan down the line is to upgrade that in a couple of years.

I had a 02 5dr Mondeo 1.8 petrol previously, so that's why I am looking at something along the same lines....it was the basic LX but I loved it, piston failure got it though.

Really why besides from them being a nice car to drive the rest of it was terrible. The dash felt so nasty and cheap. the plastics used on the doors was horrible there was no alloys no fogs no electric wing mirrors or rear windows and that was on a 04 lx Mondeo. I think the only thing good about it besides the fact it drove good was that it had good air con. Really did not like it myself and it really was not Ford at its best. What Ford have made after is much better still a little cheap in parts but they have style now and are equipped much better too. The Octavia before it was much better equipped and had a better quality interior.

SEORG

AMKC wrote: »

Really why besides from them being a nice car to drive the rest of it was terrible. The dash felt so nasty and cheap. the plastics used on the doors was horrible there was no alloys no fogs no electric wing mirrors or rear windows and that was on a 04 lx Mondeo. I think the only thing good about it besides the fact it drove good was that it had good air con. Really did not like it myself and it really was not Ford at its best. What Ford have made after is much better still a little cheap in parts but they have style now and are equipped much better too. The Octavia before it was much better equipped and had a better quality interior.

You said it yourself, it was good to drive!

Mine had 7 spoke alloys which actually made the car look quite nice in my opinion. It had loads of room and a huge boot space. Agreed it had its faults but it was relatively cheap to run & maintain.

Personal preference I suppose, maybe my taste it cars is s***, but it was made 14 yrs ago.

AMKC

SEORG wrote: »

You said it yourself, it was good to drive!

Mine had 7 spoke alloys which actually made the car look quite nice in my opinion. It had loads of room and a huge boot space. Agreed it had its faults but it was relatively cheap to run & maintain.

Personal preference I suppose, maybe my taste it cars is s***, but it was made 14 yrs ago.

Not at all. They have aged quite well just it was a bit boring if you were not the driver. They did have loads of room and a big boot I just thought for a family car it seemed to favor the driver more. I preferred the Octavia as it was a higher spec car and had a lot more kit.