AIBU to ask you to help me choose a car?

[CornedBeef451]

I am driving myself mad with indecision, please help!

I need a new car, I have a 15 yo Citroen Picasso which is on its last legs, MOT due late July so I want/need to change it before then.

I love it because of the upright seating position and I can reach everything and see over the front (I am very short).

Budget is 10k, I need a bit more oomph for motorway driving, petrol, manual, front and rear parking sensors (for DH) and a reasonable boot although it doesn't have to be quite as big as the Picasso.

I think I like a Vauxhall Mokka X but it doesn't have great reviews on Autotrader so now I'm doubting myself. Test drive was good but the salesman came with me which was unnerving and he never stopped talking about himself so I couldn't concentrate!

I've tried a Hyundai Tucson because my friend has one but it felt massive.

Suzuki Vitari was a nice size but the seat was too long and cut into the back of my knees.

Citroen cactus/ C3 I found the roof height a bit oppressive and I don't think it's big enough for family holidays.

Any other suggestions or experience of a Mokka?

*Sorry, my post should read, quality of the Mokks drive was awful. Just to add the Skoda's are practical, good spec for your money and reliable.

@CornedBeef451

I am enjoying the Yeti love! The other Skodas seem to be out of my price range though.

Just going to check out the Honda CRV, Kia Venga and Ford Kuga.

Why the Vauxhall hate? I know nothing about cars so have no idea.

We have a yeti and a Kia Venga that my partner drives - the venga is absolutely no comparison to the yeti, it feels very cheap and flimsy - noisy on the motorway. Small. We only have it as we inherited it and I wouldn’t choose it again.

I will also add - yeti has great fuel consumption 50 mpg on my 1200 auto yeti - amazing for a big car. I fitted a six foot long cabinet in the back of the yeti once! It’s like a van.

So, I have looked at all the recommendations and found this Yeti, what do you think?

It doesn't have parking sensors but someone upthread said you can have them fitted which would be very useful.

www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106113738294?advertising-location=at_cars&exclude-writeoff-categories=on&price-to=12000&postcode=DY90YL&model=YETI&seller-type=trade&sort=distance&page=1&make=SKODA&fuel-type=Petrol&include-delivery-option=on

I have a mokka and absolutely love it, I have a motorway commute and it’s just fine. Never felt any issues with suspension although I have just had a suspension spring replaced as it snapped, possibly when I hit a particularly vicious pothole a few weeks ago.

Where on earth are people finding Volvo XC40s for £10k? I agree they are nice cars but I can't seem to find them anywhere at that price.

Just reading along as we're also really struggling to buy a new car. Thinking about getting a Skoda Superb estate as we need the leg room.

@letsallbemermaids
My last car was a Skoda Superb - absolutely loved it and the boot was cavernous. I miss that boot so much…

Also wondering about those £10k XC40s…not in Edinburgh they’re not!

I'd ask for a new MOT for the price (due November and I'd want the tyre changed if it hadn't been done already. )
They say that it has a 3 month warranty but be aware that it's nearly impossible for a garage to refuse a repair in the first six months. The extra warranty maybe worth it depending on who it is with.
I also don't understand the lack of parking sensors, the holes appear to be there, can't see if there are sensors.

I would say from the advert it looks like a very sensible choice especially as new cambelt.

Aside I can't believe some garages clean them so badly.

I love my madam cx3 but its not a family car. The cx5 might be worth a look.

Budget friendly would be the kia ceed sport wagon. 7 year warranty

My madam, bloody hell autocorrect I am not a whore.

and agree the volvos are double that price surely. We are car hunting at the moment

I had a test drive of a Renault Captur and that had a very uptight seat position. It stuck in my mind because that was why I didn't like it.

Another idea is a Peugeot 2008. It's a small SUV but has a decent size boot. The interior is lovely and ours has been a fab car. I shyed away from peugeot's for years because the build quality wasn't great, but they've really upped their game recently.

I’d say CX5 is equivalent to the Picasso. Not sure if you can get one for £10k?

The Peugeot 2008 is minging .Get a Skoda Yeti higher spec and better build quality.

I’ve just bought myself a gorgeous Vauxhall Grandland X, it’s lush 🚙

It might be lush but you ain't getting one for 10k

Berlingo? Depends how cavernous you need but they’re big and reliable. The newer ones have a small engine but it performs well on the motorway.

I love Vauxhalls, all mine have lasted forever (Nova, Corsa, Adam). I've not tried the Mokka, and don't really like the look of it. I had an Astra as a courtesy car the other week, and wow, I loved it. Really smooth drive, and I was able to position myself as I like, which sounds very like your requirements. The boot seemed massive to me too - but that might be because the Adam boot is teensy.

@DynamoKev

Does it have to be new? Budget? Why not a newer Picasso? Vauxhall Zafira would be the Vauxhall equivalent. VW Touran Old model Mokka doesn't have a great reputation for reliability.

Wouldn't have another Zafira myself. Unreliable and expensive to run.

Another Vauxhall Grandland X driver here - can't fault it!

What about something a bit dated like a Toyota Verso or VW Touran.

I'm curious how you can go smaller as the DC get bigger and heavier. I'd have though 1.6/1.8 was the minimum engine size. I replaced a Citroën Picasso with an SMax and the SMax with a CRV. Both had very high mileage and served us very well.

@Essentialgarage thanks for the advice. Do you mean a replacement spare wheel or one of the tyres? And where did you see the MOT date, that's a useful thing to know!

We got our 2017 Auto 1.2 Yeti last year and we love it, it's a big car but feels powerful, smooth and very comfortable - between that and our Vitara SX5 we're really pleased.

It's a good idea to look up the history of any used car - you can do it here...www.gov.uk/check-mot-history

www.gov.uk/check-mot-history

@ChocolateDeficitDisorder that's really useful, thanks.