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Original poster

Ford C-Max or focus? And ideas?

27 replies

NommyChompers · 13/07/2021 20:32

My beloved fiesta got written off by someone driving into me on a roundabout so I am in need of some new wheels. As I am expecting my first baby in a few weeks I’ve decided to take the opportunity to slightly upsize to make things easier with prams and car seats. I’m a bit of a nervous driver and live in a city so want something similar and familiar so any advice or reviews from anyone with experience?

So for city driving with one child which is easier / more practical? Budget is up to 10k second hand but ideally lower so can’t really afford anything fancier and wouldn’t want to drive anything bigger than a c-max as my parking space is pretty tight!

Thanks mumsnet for your wisdom!

OP posts:

Original poster

NommyChompers · 13/07/2021 20:42

Hopeful bump? Third trimester hormones mean any decision at this time is overwhelming :(

OP posts:

GrrrlPwr · 13/07/2021 21:40

I'd say BMax actually. The slidy doors are great, big boot. They are great

Catnuzzle · 13/07/2021 21:45

We have a Grand CMax and a focus. Cmax all the way for me. I love it. And i can't afford an Audi Q8, so will have to stick with it!

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Cars & vehicles

Pinkywoo · 13/07/2021 21:46

I love my focus, it costs £29 a year to tax, hardly uses any petrol and is nice to drive. It also fits our fairly huge joolz pushchair in the boot and a Joie 360 spin rear facing in the back.

Original poster

NommyChompers · 13/07/2021 21:55

Thanks for the feedback guys - seems like both great cars! Usually the car will be for DHs 40 min commute to work but good to know both are fine for car seats and prams!

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clouds87 · 13/07/2021 22:19

HI I have a c max, needed a practical car for work 5 years ago for transporting kids and two large dogs it’s been brilliant and recently taken one back seat out to get my bike in, no need to take front wheel off I love it!

Original poster

NommyChompers · 13/07/2021 22:34

Is the c-max still okay to park?

OP posts:

Yamashita40 · 13/07/2021 22:44

I have a 9yr old cmax. Had it a good few years now and it's been no bother whatsoever. The rear parking sensors make it easy to park, the boot is huge, cheap to run and insure.

Our pushchair days are over so we are trading it in soon but I definitely loved it during the baby days.

Pacer111 · 13/07/2021 22:55

We have a C Max and a Focus, they're both the same to park, I don't really think of the C Max as being much bigger tbh. Both have nice big boots and are spacious inside especially the C Max

SCMocha · 13/07/2021 23:06

I'd look at B-Max too - it's the same size as Fiesta, feels similar to drive, but the sliding doors are really good for access, and the seats fold flat, even the passenger seat folds forward if you ever need anything really large (ikea visits?!). The pillar from the sliding doors can make it a little harder to check over your shoulder, but the mirrors cover it all even the usual blind spot, and mine also has a reversing camera and parking sensors. But it is small enough for city driving in narrow old streets, small parking spaces, etc. - I wouldn't really want the bigger size. It is also low emissions so only £30 tax a year.

shakeitoffshakeacocktail · 13/07/2021 23:10

My c max has reversing sensors, cruise control loads of space it's 10 years old but only 50,000 miles

Diesel 1.6 for me, like all my cars before!

This has been my favourite, 6 gears too 😄

Boopeedoop · 14/07/2021 00:34

Bmax is a taller fiesta, CMax is a taller focus.

I have a CMax and love it so much.

TeenMinusTests · 14/07/2021 06:34

I love my focus and it was fine for pushchairs etc.

However DH had a slidey doors car (Kia Sedona) and those doors were so useful with the DC as it took away the stress of them banging into other cars/objects.

clouds87 · 14/07/2021 06:55

This ... parking sensors are great - this is my first car with them

MrsDThomas · 14/07/2021 07:03

I love my focus. Ecoboost and nippy, parking sensors, £30 annual tax. Looking to change to a newer model in a few months

Original poster

NommyChompers · 14/07/2021 07:03

Ooh I didn’t even know a b-max existed!

OP posts:

timtam23 · 14/07/2021 08:17

I have a C-max, 6 years old, absolutely love it. As others have said it has parking sensors, cruise control, A/C, my model has sat Nov and all sorts of voice control bits and pieces which I have never got round to investigating. I like the seats being higher than in my previous hatchback, the driver's seat and steering wheel are height adjustable and I have a good view of the road ahead. I have quite tight on-road parking and the rear sensors are a godsend. The boot is really spacious. Car seats I would imagine would fit well (mine were at the age for just a booster seat when we got the car) . However the back seats don't flip forward as far as I can see, they have to be actually removed from the car to make a larger boot space so it requires some advance planning. Also it took me a while to get used to the visibility from the driver's seat as e.g. the front of the bonnet isn't visible.
I think the B-Max looks really good, still a spacious car and the sliding doors would be useful. I would have been really interested in getting a Ford Focus estate as these look really spacious too but as we were buying 2nd hand we had to take what was available and there were no estates...
My C-max was ex-motability so was 3 years old at purchase, full service history and was fairly close to your price range

daisybrown37 · 14/07/2021 08:24

We had a focus with one child and it was fine, upgraded to a C-Max when pregnant with number 2 and that was good.

Now gone for a Grand C-Max and love the sliding doors, they would have been helpful when getting car seats in and out.

All lovely cars to drive and very few maintenance issues. Grand C-Max is a bit big though, which makes me more nervous parking, but it has sensors.

pointythings · 14/07/2021 08:28

I have a Focus Estate and it is awesome - fun to drive, good suspension for carsick teenagers, massive boot and very reliable. Can't see myself ever moving away from the Fords if they stay this good.

timtam23 · 14/07/2021 08:31

We looked at reviews on the Honest John website before buying, the main reviews were very helpful and there were also lists of what people had reported as faults - especially if lots had reported the same thing. From that website we decided to avoid completely any Ford with an Ecoboost engine and we also went for the diesel c max rather than the petrol one

Original poster

NommyChompers · 14/07/2021 11:47

Thanks mumsnetters! Diesel engine seems like a good call!

OP posts:

SCMocha · 14/07/2021 12:21

I've been fine with the EcoBoost, and it is what makes it very low tax too, I think. I expect the Diesel would be higher tax/emissions. The B-Max was available with lots of secondhand ones when I was looking, most well under £10,000 for quite recent versions - they have stopped making it now, but only in the last year or two.

timtam23 · 14/07/2021 13:17

@SCMocha C max diesel tax is also very low, only £30
B max tax is a lot higher as we had to renew it recently for relatives' car

SCMocha · 14/07/2021 13:41

Oh I didn't know that about diesel - I assumed it made emissions higher.

B Max tax can certainly be low if you have the right engine - mine is only £30, with the ecoboost 1.0, but I'm sure there are other variations that might be higher.

Original poster

NommyChompers · 14/07/2021 21:07

Thanks guys! Really helpful advice - I’m a proud owner of a lovely Ford Focus with 1.5 diesel!

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