MPV's v 4X4's. any recommendations?

[munz]

OK, DH just had our car back form the garage (in for mega engine works) anyhow it's gonna be around £1000 + to get it fixed up - we can't afford that sort of money no way, (besides the car's not worht it) anyhow we have it on finance (in neg equity by about £1000).

can any one give us any help? - it's looking to be a toyota, ford or vauxhall. got a megane and def not having another renult, or citron.

I was looking at Vauxhall Meriva MPV but a) what's the insurance like and B) what's the fuel consumption like.

DH is after a 7 seater i'm only after a 5, but we have to transport 2 dogs (GSD and staff) normally go in the boot, a baby and also a pushchair. after this car we don't want to get another for around 6-7 years min and so would need to cater for at least one extra child.

preferably car would be as new as poss. important thing is good fuel consumption/low insurance.

any ideas?

oh munz - what have you started?

I'm parping right here and now!

oh no please, I don't want any heated debats or any 4x4 is better/worse just want to know what's best fuel consumption and cheap insurance, also maintenance as well.

no argueing girls!

(should also point out we live in a small village and I work on a farm up and down country lanes 4 times a day.)

How about harnessing the dogs up and getting hold of a wheeled sled..
No wheel drive, every one here will love you AND you will save £££

rofl!!! Anteater

lol - and where would DS go with his pram! lol - I suppose we could put him on a skateboard! lol. (in the car seat of course for safety!)

munz I would say that an MPV would probably be cheaper to buy/run/insure TBH. For fuel consumption you are better off with a diesel. 5 seater would obviously be cheaper than a 7 seater. I think something like a Picasso is fairly cheap with five proper seats and a decent boot.

Another possibly cheaper alternative might be an estate car.

Just don't, whatever you do, get a bull-bar ok?

How about a nice red van? It has 3 seats at the front, 2 in the rear with plenty of space still for your dogs!

Munz run for the hills now . Best getting a Hillman Imp.

bozza - did suggest picasso, but the garage he went to told him only good french cars are pegeot (sp) so he'd def against anything french! lol.

was thinking vauxhall as they're reliable arn't they. Galexy we looked at was too high on insurance - was £800 odd pound for me as i'm 24 with 1years no claims and 1 sp ticket lol, that's why I thought 5 seater. (and not much bigger to drive)

a what skip? DH is trying to get a pickup van but no way at all - def not!

rofl Peugeot were among the bottom cars in the latets Top gear survey, along with Renault and Citreon ! Not Peugeot dealer by any chance!

Toyota Corolla Verso might be worth considering or the Avensis Verso if you need it a bit bigger.

No, PG, no. DO NOT post here

Don your hard hat baby!

Volvo XC90 does an average of 31 miles to the gallon and has 7 seats. It scores 2 stars for pedestrian safety (in line with most family cars), and it looks good too

Honda CR-Vs are the cheapest 4x4s to run

but hmc she can't afford £1000 repairs for her current car - how is she going to afford an XC90?

skim read and didn't take in that part of the post....sorry (skitters off with red face)

liz that's also waht we saw, it got 5 stars apparently on the ncap test - what ever that is?? (DH knows) he's refusing to allow me and DS in any car which hasn't got 4/5 stars min.

(would love a freelander but they only got 2 apparently)

don't think dealer was from P.

we have a vauxhall garage at the end of our road so will have a quick look in there after work, althou driving past they look v expensive. we shall see thou.

(yes sorry we're not looking to spend more than £6500 £7000 absolute max.) and ins needs to stay around £40-£50 per month - basically I want it all! he he

the 5 stars was probably referring to occupant safety rather than pedestrian safety (in former category scores of 3-5 stars are the norm, in latter category scores of 1-3 stars are the norm)

5 stars for occupant safety is very good

I have Volvo V70 which is a 7-seater (two extra child seats flip up in the boot). For us this is a brilliant arrangment -- if you fold the seats away you have a boot the size of a studio flat, if you need to transport an extra child or two, you can put the seats up again.

Ours is petrol and automatic, hence not maximally fuel-efficient, but if you get a manual diesel they are v. cheap to run. And much less contentious than a 4x4. The XC90 is a great big bullying brute of a car, IMO.

would I be mean to say as long as the car had 5 stars don't mind if outside had 1 or 2

of course I do worry about padestrian safety but well u know - dig a whole! lol I tend to hit walls/bollards

I think that the Vauxhall Zafira scores 5 stars for occupant and pedestrian safety, at least the newer model does, think the Meriva is slightly less..

and bollocks to you too frogs !

Most of them have lower scores for pedestrians I think.