Family car help - low annual mileage with 3 seats across

Ferris

Hi folks, hope you can help. I am looking to find a family car:

- That can seat 3 kids (5yrs/2yrs/baby) in the back.
- That can handle low annual mileage (approx. 15k km p.a.) without reliability issues (DPF issues etc.)
- Budget is 15k

Haven't looked around really so I'd appreciate suggestions. Herself doesn't like the look of Fords so S-Max is ruled out unfortunately. She has expressed interest in the C4 Picasso (Grand) but there seems to be no petrol versions, all diesel and I question the reliability of the 1.6 PSA engine for short trips. Am I correct in this assertion? Are there any other options that I am missing? Wouldn't rule out moderately high tax (<750) for the right car. Thanks!

tnegun

Honda F-RV maybe? I had a C4 Grand and it was fine but very cheap inside also did short runs but had the motorway every couple of weeks and no DPF issues

NIMAN

If you aren't fussed about age, I too would second a petrol FR-V.

Owned one for several years, great machines. Ultra reliable if boring, but when you have 3 young kids that's irrelevant.

Loads of space inside and the boot, not massive on the outside so drives like a normal car.

Only made them to 2010, so you'll get one for under 5k, which leaves plenty from your budget for the hefty tax.

tnegun

Wow didn't realize they stopped making them so long ago!

Ferris

Thanks for the replies. I'll run an FRV past her but I can guess the response. To be fair we usually keep our cars for a while so a 2010 car might be a bit too old.

Shefwedfan

You could look and get a Outlander PHEV, probably highish mileage but it will even out as you are doing so little. Bit car, big boot but not a full 3 seats across the back so might have to buy the slimline booster etc....

might be an option

roguey

What about something like a Ford S-Max?

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/ford-s-max-1-0-petrol-titanium-x-sliding-doors/20665983

That seems like a good deal. 3 seats in the middle, 2 in the rear, which you can remove for a bigger boot if not needed. Small but capable petrol engine, cheap tax, 2013 with low miles and it's the Titanium X model, which I believe is the top of the line. Most of these cars from that era are diesel, so you'll have to look to find a petrol one.

Shefwedfan

What about the Toyota Prius +. It is 7 seater hybrid. Very good on fuel and perfect for low mileage. They are rare but I see a few on carzone.

might be the ideal option. Automatic as well and they come with a decent spec

https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/toyota/priusplus/used-2012-toyota-priusplus-1-8-hybri-dublin-fpa-201904036584635

Ferris

Thanks all for your suggestions. Outlander looks okay but the rear bench just looks like that in a large estate, not sure that it'd accommodate 3 child seats unfortunately.

I like the S-max (although the one linked is a B-Max I think) but my wife is refusing to even look at them and its going to be her that's driving it.

I was in a Prius+ as a Taxi and asked the driver what he thought of it. He hated it (he was on a cosy) and floored it to demonstrate how slow it was and it just didn't go, just rev'ed. Not that a car like this should be fast but she's used to a 2.2 petrol saloon car - I think she'd hate it.

Being picky, sorry! Keep on coming back to the C4 Grand Picasso and go to the UK for a 1.2 petrol one.

Shefwedfan

Ferris wrote: »

Thanks all for your suggestions. Outlander looks okay but the rear bench just looks like that in a large estate, not sure that it'd accommodate 3 child seats unfortunately.

I like the S-max (although the one linked is a B-Max I think) but my wife is refusing to even look at them and its going to be her that's driving it.

I was in a Prius+ as a Taxi and asked the driver what he thought of it. He hated it (he was on a cosy) and floored it to demonstrate how slow it was and it just didn't go, just rev'ed. Not that a car like this should be fast but she's used to a 2.2 petrol saloon car - I think she'd hate it.

Being picky, sorry! Keep on coming back to the C4 Grand Picasso and go to the UK for a 1.2 petrol one.

The taxi driver is an idiot....:P

That is the gearbox in the Prius. The Outlander etc use it as well
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuously_variable_transmission

My mate had Lexus, Prius+ and now 2 x RAV and they all have the same Gearbox.

If you know how to use the gearbox and drive the car they are fast.

It won't be the fastest thing on the road, after all it is a 7 seater. None of them are. It will be very econimical. More or less suits your requirements perfectly. I would test it before writing it off.

Now the real outside the box idea, which I have done. Electric car with multimac. Now of course it can go into any car but I have in electric. It will give me 4 seats in eGolf for kids. Including a baby seat

roguey

What does your wife want? It seems she needs some sort of MPV but doesn't like them. Whats the compromise?

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/141-hyundai-ix35-se-low-miles-1-6-petrol/21071113

Is something like this ix35 big enough?

Ferris

I'll take another look at the Prius+, it ticks every other box as you say.

I'd like to try an electric car alright but the issue here is not only seating for 3 kids, its the space to take all the associated sh1te that goes with them. The current saloon is a pain with a single stroller and, say, a weeks shopping. The golf might be better with a hatchback but surely it'll be tight?

Ferris

roguey wrote: »

What does your wife want? It seems she needs some sort of MPV but doesn't like them. Whats the compromise?

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/141-hyundai-ix35-se-low-miles-1-6-petrol/21071113

Is something like this ix35 big enough?

That's pretty much the crux of it - she doesn't - she said that the C4 was the best looking she'd seen. Its just that they're all diesel unless I go to the UK.

Will an ix35 take 3 child seats across the back? Doesn't look wide enough to me.

colm_mcm

Some sort of Skoda Superb perhaps?

Ferris

colm_mcm wrote: »

Some sort of Skoda Superb perhaps?

presumably the estate version. She actually likes them, as do I. Just don't know if can you get 3 seats across.

Shefwedfan

Ferris wrote: »

I'll take another look at the Prius+, it ticks every other box as you say.

I'd like to try an electric car alright but the issue here is not only seating for 3 kids, its the space to take all the associated sh1te that goes with them. The current saloon is a pain with a single stroller and, say, a weeks shopping. The golf might be better with a hatchback but surely it'll be tight?

We have the eGolf and then Galaxy. Galaxy is for when we need to bring all the s**t with us


A proper electric 7 seater wont be out till 2022 so best alternative is Prius+


The Multimac will go in any car, so you could go with Skoda Estate and put in multimac. Personally I would go VW or Audi but that is personal choice

colm_mcm

Ferris wrote: »

presumably the estate version. She actually likes them, as do I. Just don't know if can you get 3 seats across.

Legend has it that you can.

Apache72

The Toyota Verso is very practical with 3 separate seats in the middle row. Seats in the 3rd row are small enough. Toyota stopped making it in 2018 so I guess this might be a downside but I love the practicality of the car.

2013Lara

Peugeot 5008!

Shefwedfan

2013Lara wrote: »

Peugeot 5008!

Diesel and is the exact same as the Citroen mentioned

cornflake1

Check out the Facebook group Ireland -rear facing car seats for toddlers and children. They can advise on what cars will fit three car seats

Ferris

Thanks for all the suggestions folks. I have looked for Versos etc. but they all seem to be Diesel, similarly 5008's bar this one which is a 1.6 petrol

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/peugeot-5008-1-6-petrol-automatic-7-seater-1-o/21224509

Might go and see it, seems pricey however.

I will look up the facebook page, thanks for the tip.

Speaking with the missus last night she more or less decided on the Grand Picasso however so it looks like we will either wait for a petrol one to come up or go to the UK. Incidentally we also looked at the BMW 218 Gran Tourer, out of budget here but similar money to the Citroen in the UK. Not as good inside as the Citroen but probably a better drive and engine. Will try to drive both and see whats what.

2013Lara

Ferris wrote: »

Thanks for all the suggestions folks. I have looked for Versos etc. but they all seem to be Diesel, similarly 5008's bar this one which is a 1.6 petrol

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/peugeot-5008-1-6-petrol-automatic-7-seater-1-o/21224509

Might go and see it, seems pricey however.

I will look up the facebook page, thanks for the tip.

Speaking with the missus last night she more or less decided on the Grand Picasso however so it looks like we will either wait for a petrol one to come up or go to the UK. Incidentally we also looked at the BMW 218 Gran Tourer, out of budget here but similar money to the Citroen in the UK. Not as good inside as the Citroen but probably a better drive and engine. Will try to drive both and see whats what.

Friend of mine has a VW touran in petrol. Think it's 1.2

Shefwedfan

Ferris wrote: »

Thanks for all the suggestions folks. I have looked for Versos etc. but they all seem to be Diesel, similarly 5008's bar this one which is a 1.6 petrol

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/peugeot-5008-1-6-petrol-automatic-7-seater-1-o/21224509

Might go and see it, seems pricey however.

I will look up the facebook page, thanks for the tip.

Speaking with the missus last night she more or less decided on the Grand Picasso however so it looks like we will either wait for a petrol one to come up or go to the UK. Incidentally we also looked at the BMW 218 Gran Tourer, out of budget here but similar money to the Citroen in the UK. Not as good inside as the Citroen but probably a better drive and engine. Will try to drive both and see whats what.

Anything that is petrol will be an import. Probably overpriced because the dealers know that people are looking to move away from diesel.


You could go to some of the import companys(mentioned on here flippingcars and ukcarimport) or you could go to a dealer who just bring in cars


Electric autos used to specialize in electric only cars but brings in everything now. They are in Naas if you are close to them, I have got 2 cars off them and excellent

Psygnosis

Anyone know what Citroen 1.2 puretech engine is like in the grand picasso. I read it's a 3 pot. But anyone know what reliability is like. There is also the zafira tourer 1.4 looks lovely but not sure about reliability

Ferris

As an update, we put a deposit on a 2014 C4 Grand Picasso in the North on Friday. Was looking for ages and the only petrol models that were in budget (actually over budget) were basic specs so we opted to look at older 2.0L hdi's over the 1.6's based on an un-scientific guess that the engine would be a bit more tolerant of low mileages etc. re. turbo. Not ideal I know but we are where we are.

In any case an Exclusive+ model with additional leather, elec/massage seats, pano roof and front parking sensors and 41k miles came up in Banbridge so we shot up and checked it out. Car was in excellent condition outside, good inside and the dealer was sound. The service history was all citroen and checked out. The only issue was the alloys but the dealer offered to refurb before we even talked about money so that'll be fine. The car will be serviced this week. All in all I think it'll cost 13k which compares okay with the south bar this one has a huge spec and low miles - the main thing is that the boss liked it.

Thanks for all the advice.