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?

Think you may be limited by your budget . We paid just under that for a 3yr old Scenic for example and think Zafira's etc would be similar. Unfortunately the Corolla Verso is still quite new.

hmc, you need to remember my attitudes are coloured by the fact that I can't afford an XC90. Nor could I drive a car that size through London chicanes...

But I do love my V70, although it's not fashionable.

I know liz - that's the ideal car but tbh I've seen a diff car for £7K a 03 plate which was good I thought?

Sounds good, have you checked out Parker's Price guide ?

Of course frogs - forgive my being defensive. Have felt a little beleaguered lately. As a Londoner in particular, I expect any large urban vehicle is a total pain in the proverbials

Was following an XC90 down the backroads to the motorway this morning and thought about you hmc. I had to slow down on a muddy bit (tractor coming out of field left mud on road) and he didn't. I knew I had to because I didn't yesterday and skidded but I soon caught him up.

Was following an XC90 down the backroads to the motorway this morning and thought about you hmc. I had to slow down on a muddy bit (tractor coming out of field left mud on road) and he didn't. I knew I had to because I didn't yesterday and skidded but I soon caught him up.

And did you notice Bozza that the driver of the XC90 looked quite sane and normal and was not frothing at the mouth? - not that you personally ever implied anything like this about 4x4 drivers I hasten to add (albeit some folk did!)

Get a subaru legacy or outback

You don't want anything with a high back if you have a GSD as you have to be careful with their hips.

we're lookin at a zafira tonight, it's £6500 so not too bad 01' (v plate thou) the boot's lower than our current one - the GSD will put his front paws in but wait's for DH to lift his bum in! lol. (he's only 2 and has always been the same!)

Couldn't see that much of him actually. It was a particularly dirty XC90 - I hope you keep yours in a better condition when you get it. And throwing up mud at the particularly dirty Fiesta behind it. So you see I can blame the XC90 driver for getting mud (off the car) on my work trousers.

If you go for a 4x4, please look at the Honda CR-V - it's the safest 4x4 for any pedestrians you run over. Scores better in crash tests than any other 4x4. Volvo Xc90 is behind it, but still scores two stars (out of possible 4), making it not as extraordinarily dangerous as most other 4x4s. Nissan x-trail also scores two stars. Other 4x4s are death traps for pedestrians.

MPVs also dangerous for pedestrians due to extra weight and poor driver visibility especially when reversing - don't have the info to hand on them but google Euro NCAP (think stands for European New Car Assessment Programme - basically crash tests).

this is what I got in reply to a query about our 4x4

"Unfortunately, the * has not been Euro NCAP tested and the US NCAP rating does not cover pedestrian safety. What I can say is that the * exceeds all legislative requirements. I apologise for the little amount of information
available on this topic. I have listed it to the ** Product Planning Department who hopefully will be able to address this in the future.

quick hijack - frogs - I'm seriously considering teh V70. Can you fit a proper kids car seat (stage 2) in the middle seat at the back and still have a booster seat either side? And how safe are those flip down seats in teh boot, and can you still have them if you also have the dog compartment?

I know you are not a volvo salesperson btw....

Another vote for the Honda CRV. We've had one for 2 years and I LOVE IT!!!!