Oh wise MNetters, what car should we buy?

[LittleMyDancing]

So our last car has just gone to the great scrapyard in the sky (sniff) and we have been trying to do without but it's just not quite possible. Car Club is fine for weekends away etc, but there's the odd trip to out of town shopping etc that just can't be done with Car Club (can't walk fifteen minutes to Car Club car with a toddler and large heavy toddler seat in tow, can't leave toddler at home while I go and get the car, iyswim).

So we want to buy something cheap to run, low emissions, to fit in a toddler seat and baby seats and us two, and decent boot space. Not keen on this 'we have a family - must buy a people carrier/estate car/4x4' idea either, happy with something large hatch/small saloon size.

Have had Ford Focus suggested, but DP won't hear of it (too boring and commonplace, I think ) also Peugeot 307 HDI, but we had a Peugeot once before and swore never to have one again.

Any other ideas?

bumpity bump bump

The Vauxhall Vectra is pretty good, great boot space and I managed to squish 3 car seats in the back of mine! I prefer the saloon but the hatch is decent too if you want something that looks a little smaller.

I also love the Volkswagen Golf, the boot is good although not huge and there is a lot of legroom in the back (more in fact than the Vectra), 2 seats will easily fit in.

HTH!

thank you! was starting to wonder if I was invisible...

i hate choosing cars. i have this lovely vision of us doing all our shopping at the local market with wicker baskets. Sadly, this doesn't seem to work.

dh insists on Toyota

no idea on which model as it is his department, but it must be a TOyota

something to do with build quality.....

Yes, we have always had Mazdas, something to do with quality/Japanese technology/import/export zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz but they're not very family shaped....

any other ideas out there?

Astra? Decent MPG and low insurance group. Vectras are nice but higher insurance group.

I love my vauxhall meriva based on Chassis of corsa so fairly samll footprint but nice and high for strapping in and out of car seats and plenty of space and easy to park. NEarly new bargains to be had. Bought mine 6 months old with 5000 miles onm teh clock for £7000. Had it over a year and I still think its fab.

I think meriva won which best used car award last year

We went for Skoda - were looking at Ford/Vauxhall/Skoda and Skoda won on price and size. Very economical too.

Have you had a look at the car-by-car on Honest John

Actually my sister has a Skoda and loves it, that's not a bad idea.

will also look at merivas, have no idea what they even look like.

last car was ten years old, i'm just not a car person!

ooh thank you LazyLinePainterJane - that's a great site!

It is very useful. I like to look at all the old models as well