To ask about cars not on the car site?!

[Happydays21]

Got no replies on car site so thought would try here.

Need a new car that has to have a big boot. Got a 7 seater touran at moment. Looking at Dacia Dusters and VW passats but just dont know what would be good.

Anyone able to help? Thanks.

Yeah, I wouldn't rule out something like a focus. I've got a Freelander 2 which I love but I find the boot pretty small - my dms focus could fit more in it that in my car. Although I had a lwb shogun before the fl2 and any boot looks tiny in comparison to that. Or maybe I just need to learn to pack lighter, it's only me and a toddler in my car most of the time

Sorry for lack of info. I use the car mainly for city driving / inbetween work places so dont do a high mileage but when we go away we have loads of stuff as 5 adult size people (3 boys) and dog.

The boot size is really for holidays.

Dont really want to spend more than £12000. Would buy it outright unless there was a really cheap finance deal.

I am bad with cars - tend to scrape / bump them so will have it a long time and has no resale value.

Touran is going to die soon!

Had my hopes on a duster but sounds like they arent loved ❤️ . It suited my spec of being cheap and big and ok looking!

I would think about another Touran even though we dont really need the extra seats.

Also, prefer manual but not against automatic.

If you like the Duster and plan to keep it for a long time, it doesn't matter what other people think.

Resale value won't be much after many years whatever car you get and if they're cheap to buy and maintain (are they the one with the really long warranty?) you'll save loads over a more expensive car.

Ford S max/ Cmax
Citroen c4 Picasso
You could get a used Volvo XC60 xc90
BMW 3/5 series touring or an x3/5

Thanks Barbera! What is PCP? (For Skoda) Thanks

Ok. I definitely think an estate is a better option for you that an suv/4x4 type. They tend to have an awful lot more floor space in the boot for dogs etc. Skoda Oktavia or Honda Civic Tourer could be a good choice?

Thanks for the info - a diesel is a bad idea - not great for city driving. For £12000 id recommend a Hyundai Ix35 / Tuscon - we have one and its pretty good. Boot size it ls ok - might need a roof box for holidays though.

See link

www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201707217596921

And yes, stay away from diesels! With your needs and journeys, you'll have dpf issues constantly.

My folks have an Astra estate - think it's a tdi, so an upgrade. It drives beautifully, and easily gets three adults in the back - 2 of us around 6 feet.
There's room in the boot for a couple sets of golf clubs, and the dog travel cage.
Think it was about £14k at 2 years old.

Sorry but what are dpf issues? Our current car is a diesel and has been fine but everything i read says diesel is going to be extinct soon which is why i was avoiding it.

The Skodas are much better value than either Audi or VW for the equivalent size. The Octavia's much bigger than the Focus too.

I would recommend a big mercedes estate - very capacious boot, and enough legroom in the back for three teenagers to sit in comfort, without anyone having to kick me in the back.

Thanks for all the help from everyone. I will have a look at all the cars mentioned and websites.

Try this

Diesel won't be extinct for a while yet and modern diesels are much better than they used to be. Obviously we all need to be moving towards hybrid or electric, but more infrastructure will need to be put in place first.

Dacia cars have a very poor resale, so people shy away. Depends whether you want to keep something for a year or two then scrap it. Skoda and Kia used to have a poor reputation, but are much better now.

Skoda Octavia estates have been around at least 10 years!

Renault scenic or Vauxhall meriva are 2 my dad has had and are really spacious plus the newer scenic has a cigarette lighter thing you can plug things into for the kids so they can watch a film if on a long journey

Dpf is a Diesel Particulate Filter. Legal requirement on all diesels after 2008. It basically collects all the soot from the exhaust gas of diesels rather than letting it out into the open air. All good in itself but the filters can get blocked and need clearing or 'regenerating'. The regenerating can be done with a simple 70mph blast down the motorway for 15 mins or so once every 4/500 miles. This ensures enough heat for long enough to clear the filter. If you only do short/regular journeys this won't happen and then you're looking at £1k+ to get it fixed in a garage. But even once it's fixed, it'll happen again unless your drving/journey change. Hope that all makes sense?

Oh, I agree about Berlingo. We had a non turbo diesel for about three weeks. Everything was a fight: changing gear; getting up to 60mph; keeping it on the correct side of the road; even upright.

Sold it for a massive loss and got a Ford Focus Estate. It's the love of my life (but then my cars always are). It's been to the moon and is on its way back - not a hiccough. Have had three seater sofa and double bed in the the back as well as enough room to sleep on an airbed. Love it! Flat bed for loading and higher roof than the Mondeo. They're so ubiquitous - easy to find parts for too.

I'm not in your price league but, if I were, would still choose another Focus and spend the change on a boat.

How often do you have 3 boys in the back? I do 99% of my driving alone or ferrying 1/2 passengers, despite having similar on paper at least needs to you...
Def not diesel for city and I'd seriously consider something small and hiring for holidays/weekends away.

Also do you desperately need one now? Technology and therefore prices are changing rapidly. We're holding off a similar choice for as long as possible (electric/ hybrid/ automatic)

Skoda Octavia Estate petrol This gives you an idea what 8k - 12k would buy in terms of a Skoda Octavia. The problem is, that most of the estates are diesel rather than petrol. There's only a handful of petrol estates on the autotrader website.

If you are doing short runs within a city, I would avoid diesels like the plague, not only for environmental reasons, but because of the DPF (diesel particulate filters) needing replacing.

I would look at the Hyundai i40 tourer (five year warranties with unlimited mileage) or the Mazda 6

Mazda6 estates on autotrader

There's not many i40s on Autotrader, but you might have more luck at a Hyundai dealer.

Actually a Focus estate is not a bad idea at all!

My friend had a focus estate and raves about the boot and the space inside.