Family car on a £9000 budget?

[Lowdarkgreen]

Hello,
I'm just wondering if anyone could advise from a parent's point of view. I need a new car, currently own a 2007 Ford c-max which is on it's last legs. I only have £9000 to spend maximum and don't want to get something on finance. I have a toddler & am pregnant, husband also has an older child who stays with us every other weekend/ holidays etc so there has to be enough room for 3 kids. The c-max has been great, owned for ten years, lot's of room, boot is big, I particularly like the fact I can fold the seats down and fit large things in the back (recently got an actual small sofa in there) and like the driving position/ not having to bend down too much to strap children in. Husband has a Ford focus which I find too cramped and a bit of a nightmare with car seats. Does anyone have anything or can recommend something within budget? I would like to get something that preferably isn't too old so I can keep it for ten years again! I have had a look in local 2nd garages but cars within budget all looked too small. Thanks!

Skoda Octavia or Yeti. Probably about seven years old.
Kia Sportage- the same age
Another C Max?

Just an aside, used cars are at their most expensive right now due to issues with stock levels. Can you hold out for another 6-12 months?

I’d get another cmax. For 9k, you can greatly improve on the one you have.

@SunnySideDownBriefly

Just an aside, used cars are at their most expensive right now due to issues with stock levels. Can you hold out for another 6-12 months?

This Hang on TIL spring if you can

Oh really, that's a bit of a bugger for me. The problem I have is that on the last mot my car had some fault developing, the mechanic said it didn't need rectifying straight away but probably would need to be fixed by the next one (which is due feb) and the cost of that was quite high so not worth it 😫

I didn't even consider looking at a newer cmax, that's a good idea thank you. My neighbour has a skoda actually that always seems quite user friendly. Is it a good idea to buy something from that autotrader site?

They made a Grand C-Max for a while, which has more room inside plus seven seats I think and sliding rear doors. If you got on with the C-Max you could just upgrade to a newer and bigger one?

Or you could look at an S-Max, which is the next size up.

@Lowdarkgreen

I didn't even consider looking at a newer cmax, that's a good idea thank you. My neighbour has a skoda actually that always seems quite user friendly. Is it a good idea to buy something from that autotrader site?

Skoda Octavia is a good shout if you can't find a CMax.

'That autotrader site' is an advertising portal, nothing more. You'll find cars for sale from main dealers, other reputable dealers, back street Harrys, car supermarkets, driveway dealers, private individuals, even auctions.

I recently bought a car from a local car supermarket and really rated the experience. No hard sell on extras and fixed prices so what you see is what you pay. I initially saw it on ebay, which led me to the company website. There were quite a few other car supermarkets advertising on both autotrader and ebay, but this one was a couple of miles from my house, so easiest to look and collect.

Brill thank you, I'll look at bigger/ newer c-max's and skodas. @BarbaraofSeville 🤣 reading that back I sound like my mum 🙈. Thanks for the suggestion, I'll look at car supermarkets too.