£50k to spend on a family car. Go!

[themainline]

Anyone know anything about cars? We live in central(ish) London and have never needed one until now with the arrival of our second child.

Car needs to be big enough for 2 car seats to fit comfortably at the back plus a big boot for the double buggy and Ddog. Will probably only use it to do the weekly shop plus day trips out of London from time to time.

We are paying cash (as opposed to getting it on finance) does that give us any bargaining power when buying a car?

I have a secondhand VW Touareg. Loads of room, comfy and nice to drive.

Ffs don't spend £50k on a car you'll use occasionally. That seems a bit mental.

With two children I'd go for a XC60, an Outlander or a Tucson. I've had all three and I did love the Outlander PHEV but for safety rating and comfort I'd go for the Volvo (we upsized to an XC90 with the third child!)

Other posters have made excellent points about parking - space is at a premium in underground car parks for apartments, so unless you live in one of the relatively new 'luxe' blocks, you may struggle to get a 4x4 car into your space as they worked on maximising the number of spaces they could offer in the early 2000s when the property market was booming. Have a look at what your neighbours are driving! And yes, the ULEZ will affect you soon - so I'd strongly suggest getting a hybrid, although you might struggle to charge it as you'll have to have a new supply and meter run to your parking space (unless your block is really new and has designated electric car charging points).

We're a bit further out in London (Richmond), but we've also got 2 DC's and a Dog. I'd recommend the Porsche Cayenne - we love ours, it hold loads of stuff, and you can get the e-hybrid version if you want. The smaller Porsche Macan would also fit within your budget (Cayenne you'd have to buy approved used), but wouldn't have as much space. We did additionally buy a smaller, less attention grabbing eco-car, but you might find it difficult to park 2 cars. Actually, I tend to cycle everywhere nowadays!

look at me, look at me! I’ve got loads of money to waste....yawn.

Get a grip.

I think some of the contributors on this thread need to get a grip actually

Something like this: rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F153618667264

Fuck me MN is not a nice place anymore is it?
OP has just been called an idiot because she has money and wants to spend it on a specific thing. Heaven forbid.

How sad people are.

If I had that kind of money I’d consider a Tesla. Although if I had £50k spare I’d probably spend £20k on the car and the rest on an amazing holiday - assuming with that level of income lifestyle is already pretty nice and the extra won’t go amiss! Otherwise the reality would be £8k on a car and the rest on clearing debt and house improvements...

Not rtft

Electric or whatever else gets you around congestion charge and is less polluting at point of use

We've got an outlander phev can do 20 miles on electric which gets us around most of what we do here in outer London (school, shopping centre). When in queues it's not using any power no exhaust fumes.
We got power thing on the drive. Don't get chargemaster they're shit.

Jaguar F-Pace R-Sport, good size, easy to drive, very comfortable.

MN hasn't been nice in years if people allude to the fact they have a reasonable budget.

Actually I don't think there is a massive difference between the nicer car manufacturers so I went with the dealership I liked best. Was not Mercedes where the sales guy was very sexist.

We have a VW Toureg....loads of room and tons of safety features. We did have a BMW X5 but I actually prefer the VW - much nicer to drive

We had a Volvo and hated it - so boring!

Cars we've loved include Audis, VWs, and as a PP has mentioned, the KIa Sorento, tho that's a bit big for just two children.

If it's to use around town don't get a big one whatever you do. We have one big car and one small one and use the big one for long trips and the small one for London.

Also don't buy diesel because of the charges that will hit.

I would buy a porsche cayenne if I has your budget but agree parking in London would be a nightmare with something that bit so perhaps a mini countryman or something?

@NeverGotMyPuppy Fuck me MN is not a nice place anymore is it?

I agree, Mumsnet is really not a nice place at times. Goady Fuckers at war with each other, virtue signallers and class resentment all round. However, I think it mirrors society very accurately in that regard. Sadly.

Volvo as already suggested.

Check out Peugeot also, they come with good features, similar to Range Rover but cheaper.

Btw Porsche Cayenne surely cost more than £50k??

I don't live in London, but close by, and I don't think I know anyone driving 10 year old Ford estates. 🤔

It really isn’t a nice place. I know people are struggling but there’s no excuse to be so unpleasant.

@Leafyhouse perhaps you're right - that's very sad .

I do think MN is particularly concentrated though. especially as about 75% of posters are either emotionally vacant and spoiling for a fight or simply hairy handed

I have a BMW X5 and love it. The seats are leather which makes keeping it clean a doddle especially with rugby/cricket/football mad DC, the boot is huge for the DC's crap, the steering wheel is heated for winter and it's just a lovely car to drive. Good in snow and ice, good for lugging horse boxes about, pretty much everything you can throw at it, it deals with.

@FudgeBrownie2019 I assume you are taking it back? You know, now random people on the internet have told you that you could have spent less and don't actually need the car you have and you are clearly wrong for wanting it?

I bet you're glad that people who have never met you are here to tell you where you are going wrong!

OP I have recently test driven the honda crv hydbrid and the volvo xc60 hybrid. I am struggling to justify the volvo. We lived in London for a long long time and has osp and didn't feel we could justify v expensive cars because of all the London parking/supermarket scratches. Neither did we have company cars so were spending our own money.

I am wondering why you need such a big car with just two children and such occasional use.

100% recommend a bmw x5, you’l never have to worry about space, plenty of room for dog and buggy, and excellent to drive

Oh yes good point re leather seats and grubby children with their crumbs and muddy boots