Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Shopping

From everyday essentials to big purchases, swap tips and recommendations. For the best deals without the hassle, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Cars - does anyone have either a Verso, Scenic, Touran, Mazda 5 or Focus C Max?

92 replies

WigWamBam · 08/01/2006 18:30

And what do you think of them?

Dh is due a new company car soon and is looking (probably) at either the VW Touran or a Scenic - he would prefer the Grand Scenic but with the emissions policy he might have to stick with the standard one. He's also been musing over the Verso, Mazda 5 or Focus C Max.

He's got to try and narrow his choice down before we think about getting some test drives, so would be interested to hear your thoughts on recent models of these cars. We had a look at the Verso today and it seems really claustrophobic inside - is it really as bad as it seemed in the showroom? And what about the spare wheel problem on the Touran?

Any thoughts would be most appreciated.

OP posts:
Original poster
WigWamBam · 09/01/2006 11:18

I hate BMWs - every BMW I've ever been in has made me car sick, particularly in the back. I think you ought to dig your heels in a bit!

OP posts:
BearintheBigBlueHouse · 09/01/2006 11:23

Verso gets two big car seats (Britax Isofix Duos) in the back and Mummy in between (with 3 point belt) so assume could fit three car seats easily.

Original poster
WigWamBam · 09/01/2006 11:27

Mmm, that would rather depend on the size of the Mummy, I suspect ... this Mummy has a rather wider base than most.

OP posts:
BearintheBigBlueHouse · 09/01/2006 11:32

I'm pleading the fifth

Original poster
WigWamBam · 09/01/2006 11:32

That would probably be a very wise move

OP posts:
Enid · 09/01/2006 15:22

we have a bmw saloon atm which has been great. but now need three car seats in back.

dh refuses to drive a people carrier

FrumpyGrumpy · 09/01/2006 15:24

Have a Verso and find it really great, bags of space and not too big to park. Also I love the built in boosters.

wordgirl · 09/01/2006 15:51

We have had our VW Touran (1.9 diesel) for three months now and I love it. It was a toss-up between Touran and Verso but we were swayed by the fact that the Touran came with a free in-car DVD player. Oh, and we stormed out of the Toyota showroom after we booked a time for a test drive and then waited over an hour because there was nobody available to take us
Anyway, the Touran is a lovely car to drive and on the rare occasions when we have needed to use the back seats there seems to be enough room.
Oh and I think from a safety point of view it scores pretty highly, although I should imagine the other cars in your list don't do too badly either.

Mumfun · 09/01/2006 22:09

Very happy with our Ford C Max bought in September. Drives really well - stores loads of stuff like recently took cot bed. changing station and still had DS in his car seat and 2 adults in front.. Nothing ever gone wrong and very comfy.
Dont know what more to say. Think it was much cheaper than other options when we bought it but probably less concern to company car people.

HTH

Original poster
WigWamBam · 09/01/2006 23:04

The cost is still an issue even though it's a company car because of what it will cost us in tax based on the PD11 value of the car - so cost definitely still matters (one of the sticking points with the Touran).

OP posts:
meggmoo · 09/01/2006 23:15

WWB, I'm test driving a Verso (Corolla) this weekend, all the reviews say it's fabulous and it knocks spots off the Touran and Mazda 7 seater (can't remember what it's called) Did you change the seating in the Verso -I read there are many different variations.

Scenics are dreadfully unreliable IMO.

leggymamba · 09/01/2006 23:44

Just to add another option - I've just had a Honda stream (looks like a civic estate but has 2 seats in the back). I love it to drive and Honda have scored really high in the top gear reliablity survey. We went to a car supermarket to sit in all the types of car let dd climb all over them and compare the cars next to each other. It really helped rather than looking one at a time.

spub · 10/01/2006 09:01

Leggy,
I'm test driving a honda stream at the weekend though also considering the Corolla Verso.
Any other points of note re the Stream that would be good to know?
Cheers!

unicorn · 10/01/2006 09:09

did a test drive of the Mazda5 and loved it... alas couldn't afford it, but I would go for that one myself.

Very comfy for driver, and loads of space.

titchy · 10/01/2006 11:01

We've got the Grand Scenic as a company car - it is fantastic! the 1.9 Diesel has low emissions so not as expensive tax wise as others, and cheaper than the Touran. The AA website has a good page that works out the tax you will pay if you type in the model and engine of the car you are intersted in.

Original poster
WigWamBam · 10/01/2006 11:19

Titchy, that's interesting about the low emissions on the 1.9 diesel - I may have misheard what he said but I was pretty sure that dh said all of the Grand Scenics had high emissions. His concern was that the tax difference between the high and low emissions is likely to increase over the next couple of years.

Perhaps he needs to go back and re-read the brochure! I think he quite fancies the Grand Scenic.

Leggy, my dad drives Hondas and has always been pretty impressed with them; we'll have to have a look at the Stream (yet another one to add to the pot!!)

Thanks all.

OP posts:
titchy · 11/01/2006 09:59

WWB m- the AA gives emissions for the 1.9Dci Grand Scenic as 159 here:

AA

The list price is around £18k, which is what you'd pay tax on, but we managed to get ours for 3 grand less, so could afford some nice extras, like heated front seats and a glass roof!

7 seater Touran's emissions come out higher at 165.

HTH!

throckenholt · 11/01/2006 10:04

we have a mazda mpv - which is like the 5 but a bit bigger I think (not sure they make them now) - it has the same sliding doors at the back which are great with kids and car seats.

Mazda are very reliable and come out much higher in the satisfaction and reliability stakes than Renault.

(haven't read the whole thread - so in answer to the initial question only).

allyco · 11/01/2006 10:14

and this is a R E A L L Y embarrassing stupid question but when you go for a test drive do you actually do the driving or does the salesman drive and you sit alongside?

I have never had a new car before so am new to all this and me and DH are having disagreements about who will do the actual test bit.

AND

do you haggle over the price if it's for cash??

throckenholt · 11/01/2006 10:25

you drive - often you get to take it out on your own without a salesman - bit like having a courtesy car - you will have to sign an insurance thing and probably show your driving license.

And yes - haggle - always worth a try.

throckenholt · 11/01/2006 10:26

if you are both going to drive the car when you own it then both test drive it.

Bozza · 11/01/2006 10:26

Think it varies a bit. Quite often they will drive the first bit and then let you take over. If you want, insist you both have a turn. We test drove a Seat Ibiza and they let just DH and I take it out. But when we drove the Fiesta the salesman came with us.

But when DH has been swapping company cars sometimes they have let him have a car for a day or even a weekend.

allyco · 11/01/2006 13:56

ooh, quite fancy driving it meself.

Would rather take it out on my/our own TBH if I'm honest, so salesman doesn't get the benefit of kangaroo clutch etc....

Original poster
WigWamBam · 11/01/2006 14:01

We have always taken cars out on our own, we usually try to get a 24 or 48 hour test drive so we can try it out well. I don't really drive ... I can, but lost my nerve and haven't driven for about 6 years (I know, wimp).

OP posts:
Original poster
WigWamBam · 12/01/2006 12:50

Dh has now joined a Touran website, full of geeks who have pictures of their Touran splashed all over their posts like BabyWorld members have pictures of their kids, and who rejoice in names like Touranasaurus and TouranTouran.

Aaaargh!!

OP posts: