Choosing used car advice. Help!

kimeister

Hello car experts. I’m very overwhelmed and way you could help me choose what make/model/year of used car I should be looking at for my circumstances.

We are two parents with a toddler, a preschool aged kid and a dog.

Car is not for daily long commuting. Mainly for messages/activities/weekends, but will be visiting relatives a few times a month (45mins on the M50).

We live in built up urban area with tight roads (but do have own driveway for parking) so don’t want anything too massive.

But do want as much space inside as possible, preferably be able to put the dog and folded buggy in the boot, plus all of us, plus 1 or 2 other passengers (ie kids’ friend or a grandparent). Our last car (a few years back when there was only one baby and a dog!) was a 2008 Kia Picanto but we obviously need something bigger now!

If we have €12-17k to spend what make/model/years of used cars do you think would be a good choice for our circumstances?

Thanks a million in advance for any advice!

colm_mcm

Petrol Octavia Estate, Toyota Auris Hybrid Estate if you can do with 5 seats.

A small 7 seater or crossover won’t actually tick all the boxes you listed there (cargo, loads of passengers, dog etc). So question should be asked. Will you buy some lumbering monstrosity especially for the few occasions where you might being grandparents/friends around.

The compromise might be something like a Citroen Picasso 7 seater, but it doesn’t have 7 seats AND a big boot

kimeister

colm_mcm wrote: »

A small 7 seater or crossover won’t actually tick all the boxes you listed there (cargo, loads of passengers, dog etc). So question should be asked. Will you buy some lumbering monstrosity especially for the few occasions where you might being grandparents/friends around.

That makes a lot of sense! Thanks. I think I’m attracted to the idea of having the option of different uses rather than any one actual need.

I definitely don’t want to get “too much car” that’s just sitting wasted in the driveway all week but at the same time it would be nice when visiting the grandparents to be as comfy as possible for the 45mins there and back and bring the dog with us. Would also be nice not have to play boot jenga every time we go somewhere. Maybe boot jenga is just part of life with small kids though.

colm_mcm

The boot Jenga can be cut down drastically by your choice of equipment. Buy a cheap small stroller (if toddler is still at that stage) like a Joie Brisk which is tiny when it folds up, or by just leaving basic gear like travel cot and pram at grandparents house so you’re not carrying it over and back.

The kids grow out of this stuff surprisingly quickly, so again I wouldn’t immediately recommend getting a really big car unless you really need one. Unless you really see yourself going on lots of road trips by car with the grandparents I’d reevaluate the need for a 7 seater.

I just don’t like MPVs!