Family car - any suggestions?

BlueEd

Hi all,

We’re car shopping at the moment and struggling with identifying our preferred car. Would really appreciate any suggestions/recommendations for a car that would suit our needs, key wishlist is:

- Safety - I know everyone wants a safe car, but we were in a crash before (not our fault!) so this is really the most important criteria. I think this probably means a bigger car (possibly SUV?).
- A bit green would be nice..hybrid maybe? We don't want a diesel.
- Budget ~ €25k
- 2 adults and a child, maybe more.
- Commute - city driving during the week to work (~ 8km each way), frequent long trecks down the country to Kerry at weekends. Need sufficient boot space and a bit of comfort for these trips!
- Prefer something only a few years old if possible - we currently drive a 2009 Honda Accord, which has a decent internal spec so ideally would maintain that element.(a/c, handsfree, Reversing camera, electric seats etc)

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Belfast

2018 (181) Skoda Superb AMBITION 1.4TSI 150BHP *Leather Int*
€25,950
https://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=2546190&r=s.php%3Fm%5B%5D%3D80%26o%5B%5D%3D683%26d%3D20000%26e%3D30000%26f%3D1%26t%3D1%26g%3D0

You can look up safty rating of most cars below
https://www.euroncap.com/en

you will find a btte range of cars in the Uk of that type in petrol
the below isa good guide as to what is out there and show price including vrt.
https://ukcarimports.ie/used-cars/
example
https://ukcarimports.ie/vehicle/d1f202e0-a8d1-44d7-9fd5-e5863325a858/

It would be cheaper to import directly.

PaulRyan97

Here's a 2018 Rav4 hybrid in your budget: https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/toyota/rav4/fpa/201911184475247?journey=Search

If you have to ability to charge your car at home/work the Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in hyrbid is also worth a look: https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/mitsubishi/outlander/fpa/202006160186469?journey=Search

AMKC

Volvo S60.

Belfast

AMKC wrote: »

Volvo S60.

Hard to find a petrol one in Ireland.

AMKC

Belfast wrote: »

Hard to find a petrol one in Ireland.

True. Terrible pity that. Could maybe get one up North or from the UK do.

AMKC

Belfast wrote: »

Hard to find a petrol one in Ireland.

True. Terrible pity that. Could maybe get one up North or from the UK do.

Belfast

A6 Audi could be considered.
My sister had a very bad crash in one a few years ago where her car was hit by a 18 wheel truck on the drivers side a at junction.
she survived against the odds. But has lasting brain injury. She was in a coma for 8 or 9 weeks.
She can walk and talk and do most things but probably not be able to work again or drive a car.
That should have killed her and in a less strongly built car she would not have got to the hospital alive.
Diffuse brain injury like hers is normally 90% fatal.
An accident that bad should not have been survivable
Big petrol cars like that are hard to find on the Irish market.

Littlehorny

Have a look at the Toyota CHR hybrid. Might be too small for you but you could get a newish one with that budget.
Or maybe look at Hyundai Kona in hybrid, you get a long warranty with Hyundai.

kirving

Would you go to the UK?


Mercedes E350 Plug In Hybrid

Premium interior, you could stay on electric power often, comfortable, in budget, safe, plenty of space for long trips.

dos30

I had similar criteria to you and opted for a Kia Niro PHEV, this one is within your budget https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/kia-niro-1-6l-phev-auto-full-leather/24524964

Hurrache

Boot space is quite small in the Kia and Toyota for a family with a potential second kid on the way who does a lot of travelling.

And these days you're not always saving by going the UK route, not much of a difference between the 2 Superbs mentioned, you'd get the Irish one for the same price after some negotiating. The UK one in those 2 links is better spec'd, but choices of petrol is limited in Ireland all the same.

Shefwedfan

Outlander PHEV. A proper SUV, 30km on battery. You will get a very high spec one for 20k from UK. Look for GX4hs. I have the GX4h. Has a huge boot. I drove from Dublin to Mayo and was getting 7ltr/100km standard driving, not been conservative.

With Covid I can go for weeks without ever touching any petrol, just running on battery.

The GX4h comes with all around camera so you see a bird eye view of car. With 20k you should be 2017.

It is the most popular car in UK as people buy as company car, get a low mileage one. Best to talk to the electric car dealers to get one imported if you want one. PM if you want more details

Shefwedfan

Belfast wrote: »

2018 (181) Skoda Superb AMBITION 1.4TSI 150BHP *Leather Int*

I guess you work for Skoda?

Belfast

Shefwedfan wrote: »

I guess you work for Skoda?

NO.

BlueEd

Thanks for all the suggestions which gave us some very nice new ideas - working through what’s available here vs UK now and hoping to drive some at the weekend.

On one other not mentioned, any views on the Toyota Prius? Always seem a bit smaller than some of the others - How are they for comfort and space?

Thanks

Shefwedfan

BlueEd wrote: »

Thanks for all the suggestions which gave us some very nice new ideas - working through what’s available here vs UK now and hoping to drive some at the weekend.

On one other not mentioned, any views on the Toyota Prius? Always seem a bit smaller than some of the others - How are they for comfort and space?

Thanks

Good technology but dated now.

Plus with a PHEV you get 500 euro worth of tolls free which can be useful. You need to install a home charger so if this not possible the hybrid is best alternative

They are standard size, not too big or small. Only test drove the new one and didn’t like interior so left it

Mate had the Prius+ and swore by it

BlueEd

Kevin Irving wrote: »

Would you go to the UK?


Mercedes E350 Plug In Hybrid

Premium interior, you could stay on electric power often, comfortable, in budget, safe, plenty of space for long trips.

Might be a basic question but how would the C class (c350e) compare? Something like https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/mercedes-benz/c-class/used-2017-171-mercedes-benz-c-class-c-dublin-fpa-202007091053293

Shefwedfan

Just beware on the E350

https://www.greencarguide.co.uk/car-reviews-and-road-tests/mercedes-benz-e-350-e-amg-line-saloon/
On that note… the official all-electric range of the E 350 e is 30km, or 18.6 miles. This is less than rivals, but there’s more news: we carried out three tests of the all-electric range in real life driving (in the environment in which electric propulsion should be used, ie. urban driving), and we managed 9, 11 and 12 miles of electric driving.

Lantus

For the money you have lots of options for a 2 to 3 year old petrol saloon or SUV. You get more bang for your buck for a saloon.

kanuseeme

My dad has a C350e he gets around 20 km from it, nice car suits him and he is very happy with it.

I have a outlander and I am able to get 40 km from it, 50/50 mix of back roads and national, interior looks dated but it suits me,

My mother just got a BMW 225xe, a small mpv, looks nice inside, I am not gone on the body, but its not outlander hideous she can get 40 km on back roads, she is delighted with it, 1.5 petrol engine seems very economical, we collected it in Dublin and drove 160 km home and it used only about 11 euro's worth of petrol.

I am planning to sell my outlander, I might just move up a year or 2, but I have put some thought into getting a BMW 330e or a 225xe. I really think there is some excellent value in those.

these should come in around 25k https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202007091035400?postcode=l201bg&model=2%20SERIES%20ACTIVE%20TOURER&fuel-type=Hybrid%20%E2%80%93%20Petrol%2FElectric%20Plug-in&maximum-mileage=45000&advertising-location=at_cars&radius=1500&year-from=2019&sort=price-asc&year-to=2020&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used&make=BMW&page=1

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202006120072379?postcode=l201bg&model=3%20SERIES&fuel-type=Hybrid%20%E2%80%93%20Petrol%2FElectric%20Plug-in&maximum-mileage=45000&advertising-location=at_cars&radius=1500&year-from=2018&sort=price-asc&year-to=2020&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used&make=BMW&page=1

bailey99

Outlander or superb would be my call..