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Childcare
OK, found a lovely new nanny now need to buy her a car. What should I get?
PrincessPeaHead · 18/04/2007 13:43
My list of absolutes -
needs to fit four children (one in baby seat, two in boosters) so ideally roomy in the back with an air bag switch off for the front passenger seat. or 7 seats but would prefer not to go so big.
five doors
needs to be really safe because she has to drive on the motorway
needs to be really reliable
needs to have not terrible depreciation
not more than 2 years old
budget flexible but if I can do it for £10k that would be marvellous.
have found a Renault Scenic that meets the bill - anyone have one? What do you think?
PrincessPeaHead · 18/04/2007 13:55
god I've just looked at the reader comments on What Car about the scenic. Everyone hates their car and has had to take it into the shop 100 times with electrical issues.
Scrap the scenic!
Zafira - yawn - I don't really need a 7 seater. She'll usually only have 2 children at once, but occasionally all 4 - I'd rather a really roomy 5 seater that can take a child (9yo) in the front seat.
What about Japanese options? Honda, Toyota? Anyone have any ideas?
geekgrrl · 18/04/2007 14:05
I've said it before, I'll say it again - you can't beat the Toyota Corolla verso. It's a 7-seater with the rear two seats completely hidden in the floor of the boot, and like a Tardis inside. you should be able to get a nice 2 year old one for 10K or even under.
It drives beautifully and is v. reliable.
DrMarthaMcMoo · 18/04/2007 14:25
We've just bought a Citroen Xsara Picasso (pick it up on Friday) which gets 4 out of 5 for safety from NCAP. Renault Megane gets 5 out of 5 but I didn't like its bum.
The Picasso is the most popular MPV in Britain, apparently (they're 10 a penny, has to be said - I'll never find it in the car park) and all the people we know who've got one seem to like theirs.
The Picasso has 5 seats (the middle back seat has a proper diagonal belt as well), massive boot space er...and ours is blue and I really like it. Oh and ours is 2005, has less than 5000 miles on the clock (ex Motability) and was just under £10K.
PrincessPeaHead · 18/04/2007 14:38
new honda civics are a little cramped in the back I think
trouble with toyota is they have only JUST started putting airbag switch off things in the passenger seats - basically if you get almost any of their cars which are more than a year old they don't have them. which is a pain. will look at avensis but suspect that might be the problem with them (eg old RAV4s don't have them)
Eleusis · 18/04/2007 15:27
You could buy an SUV and drive it over and park it outside CD's house -- just for fun
Sorry, no car recommendations from me. Have you tried looking at that car arehouse (carland or something) in Chertsey. I know it isn't exactly in your neighborhood, but it isn't THAT far. And you could check the website first.
FioFio · 18/04/2007 17:36
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jura · 18/04/2007 17:59
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SofiaAmes · 18/04/2007 18:13
Have to put in a big vote for Toyotas. I have owned different ones over the years and they are all super super reliable. They never break down, cost little to maintain and are just practical and more practical. Here in the usa I have an older Rav4 which I adore (I don't think there is a switch for the airbag in the front, but I would never put a child in the front, so not an issue). My dh has a new 4Runner (with 7 seats) which we love and we have a '96 Landcruiser in the uk (with 8 seats) which is perfect for lots of kids. And I used to have an '85 landcruiser than just ran and ran and I sold it for almost as much as I paid for it 10 years earlier. (They keep their value really well here in the usa) The seats fold down totally flat in most of the new ones and totally come out too if you need it for anything.
ipodtherforipoor · 18/04/2007 18:18
seat altea are brilliant - i've got the smaller one, but the Seat altea XL would be great for your bunch. lots of room, easy to drive. have a good look though and be sure what things come with the model you want to buy - i lost my rear electric windows when I changed from my seat ibiza and i really miss them!
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