To ask about your newish big cars?

[Spareincoming]

I’m looking for real world recommendations really of a large family vehicle. But I have some quite specific requirements:

• manual transmission (winter rural roads, auto hasn’t done me well)
• minimum 2 litre diesel (big car doing big miles)
• No Skodas - our other car is a 7 seater Skoda and it’s been an awful experience from new.

We need to replace my aging Ford Mondeo estate in the next 6 months or so. It has been excellent but is developing a lot of gremlins.

I prefer to buy used/used approved, usually a maximum of 4 years old.

I need a large car with good boot space and decent towing capacity; we often have 3 adults and 2 children in car seats to transport or 2 adults and 3 children with car seats in the back, plus luggage. I tow a caravan or horse box occasionally. i would consider a second 7 seater.

I like the 7 seater Tiguan; DP likes the Ford transit connect!

Thanks

i have a seat tarraco which is 7 seater. It’s been great.

Not a manual, but Discoveries or Range Rovers are excellent tow cars, plenty of boot space and excellent in the winter. I had a RR, lived rural and never got stuck. Also towed a caravan.

I have a q7. Very comfortable to drive and lots of room.
ours is an automatic tho- not sure if you can get a manual

We have a new hybrid CX80. It is huge, can come as 6 or 7 seats.

I think you can still find a newish Subaru Forester with a manual box. Not 7 seaters, but big enough for 3 in the back row and Subarus are pretty bulletproof.

I have a 2 year old VW caddy maxi light. It has 7 seats, but the back two can come out easily to give you a massive boot. It’s diesel, mines an automatic but you can have a manual. We’ve used it to tow a caravan just fine. I love it. I had a VW Caravelle before this that I loved even more, but it was old and we couldn’t afford a newer one. So we got the caddy through motability (need the big boot to carry my wheelchair)

BMW X5 ticks all your boxes.
I personally wouldn't touch fords anymore due to previous issues with reliability.
What is your budget?

Many of the cars listed above are auto-only. Most big cars nowadays are.

BMW isn't

I have a tiguan. We live in a rural hilly area and its fine in all weather. (Automatic)

No to Skoda but yes to VW? They're the same company!

What is the incompatibility with automatic and winter rural roads?

Other than the super sporty M-cars, all currently available new BMWs are auto only. OP may find a few more at the 4 y.o. mark. But big manuals are dieing out pretty quickly at all manufacturers.

@Imlyingandthatsthetruth its been the dealership that’s been the issue mainly; we’ve got a good VW dealership closer than the Skoda dealership now too.
@Notmyreality Me really, I feel I have more control when towing in ice and snow with a manual.

I have a land rover discovery 5. It's auto but I don't know why that would be an issue. 7 seats, HUGE boot (bigger than my RR) I wouldn't be towing in snow or ice anyway. Especially my horses.

Exactly, and that's what she asked for. She doesn't want a new car, she wants one a few years old.
I have a 2020 model and it's very reliable, tows horsebox with no trouble.

I had a 21 plate 5 seat VW Tiguan Elegance. It was an automatic but they do come in a manual, and they do an all space (7 seat) one. It was a beautiful car to drive and never missed a beat. Ours was a diesel so was very economical, too.

@Dwellernf do you find the Discovery is quite a thirsty vehicle? We’ve had older discovery’s before and a few people have said we should have another - the manual thing is me, I prefer towing with a manual as that’s where I have more experience.
@TheFairyCaravan that seems to the Tiguan experience for everyone, solid, reliable, all round good vehicle.

Have a look at the Mazda range. Great cars.