3.5K to spend looking for reliability and a bit of room 3 young kids

Psygnosis

Looking for some advice guys after being badly burned.

We have 3 young kids a 4 year old and twins who are 2.5
Our main car is a 2008 Grand Picasso which has never let us down. But we need a second car, which the majortiy of its driving during the week would be up and down to the train station around 10 kilometers a day. At the weekend we may do a bit more.

I was thinking something along a Focus or Avensis.

From what I've looked at the following have caught my eye can you please critique them. I know the focus is a 1.4 but that isn't going to bother us much as you could imagine we wouldn't be fast drivers as long as the car can sustain 120km on a motorway its all good.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/ford-focus/12196186

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/honda-civic-06-new-nct-09-17-full-history/12252878

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2007-ford-mondeo-low-miles-nct-04-2017/11531403

pablo128

I'll just say one thing. The Mondeo has apparently only covered 3 thousand km in just over a year. I'd be asking why.

Psygnosis

pablo128 wrote: »

I'll just say one thing. The Mondeo has apparently only covered 3 thousand km in just over a year. I'd be asking why.

Pablo can I ask how you worked that out

pablo128

Psygnosis wrote: »

Pablo can I ask how you worked that out

It was nct'd just over a year ago with 157900kms. It's advertised now with 160000kms. Actually closer to 2000 kms but I'm in a generous mood.

bazz26

You have to laugh at the number plate on the photos of the Mondeo being covered yet it's visible on the photo of the NCT disc.

That model Focus is quite small in the rear and that model Mondeo is a bit old these days too.

I'd look at the newer Mondeo which is more modern, more spacious and a bit safer:

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/ford-mondeo-1-6i-zetec-110ps/12139550

colm_mcm

Will you be putting the 3 kids in the back, or 1 in the front?
If the former, then a mini mpv type thing is what you need.

The Sidewards Man

Where will the mother go?

Jimmy Garlic

pablo128 wrote: »

I'll just say one thing. The Mondeo has apparently only covered 3 thousand km in just over a year. I'd be asking why.

Me too, dodgy.

Psygnosis

Yeah the Mondeo looks like a good bet. 3 Seats in the car should be ok in the back. I've done a good bit of research on this and britax do a narrow seat that can fit in the centre. its a high back kids chair from 3 to 11 which should fit.

What would be better of this vintage a 2007 Mondeo 1.6 or an Avensis 1.6 I know they are both pretty pedestrian speed wise but thats not going to concern me. Its more reliability would be my worry.
Also I've been searching done deal and using the word "history" in all my searches to find car's with a service history do you think this is over cautious on my part.

bazz26

Your looking at 9 year old sub 4k cars so very few are going to have detailed service histories at this stage. You should have a mechanic inspect the car if your not mechanically savy yourself.

unklerosco

I've had a focus myself, two of them.. with two kids space is ok.. wouldn't fancy having three in the back. You'd get fairly pee'd off trying to get them in and out. I had a C-max which was slightly better but still tight enough squeeze with 3 seats in it.

Psygnosis

Hi Guys
Thanks for the advice,
I've followed up on the link to that Mondeo
https://www.donedeal.ie/adview/view/12139550
I inquired about the service history on it, the book is stamped by a Ford dealer, I asked about timing belt he said he would do it for 450 asked him could we come to a better deal than that he said 3800 all in. What do you think it has a 3 months warranty also. But I'm in Dublin so I guess it may be useless to me. Car is in Galway.

The other car's I've being looking at is the Mazda 6 1.8 engine apparently they are very good car according to boards users anyway. Have sent a couple questions on them to sellers I'll see what they come back with.

Avensis and the Civic are still an option but finding a decent one is difficult.

What would a saab 9-3 1.8 non turbo engine be like, seems to be a good few of these and they look really nice.

Psygnosis

Hi
Ok which would you go for.
https://www.donedeal.ie/adview/view/12325662
Mazda 6 1.8 petrol. Verifiable service history after chatting to the person today. It's a bit pricey but is a lovely car pitty its not a hatchback version. Low mileage also verifiable. Tax is a little higher.

Mondeo 1.6 Petrol
Haven't seen it yet will more than likely try and get down to see it this weekend. Mileage is higher than the mazda but a year newer. Slower car but not really bothered about that. More space than the mazda as well.
https://www.donedeal.ie/adview/view/12139550

colm_mcm

Of those two, given what you're looking for, id say the Ford, it's a newer design, better safety, more space, cheaper and more widely available parts