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

[WigWamBam]

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.

that is soooo sad
yours ever
ViceVerso

do they have tickers too:
"6 months, 3 weeks, 4 days, seven hours, eight minutes and 34 seconds until the next oil change"

we used to have an Alhambra and went for the Focus C-Max. We also test drove the Touran and the Scenic. What swayed it for us was that the C-Max did as much as the others but the price was much more competitive.

We have 2 children but we can just about manage 3 car seats in the back if we have to (although it is better with 2). The boot is fantastic and you can move the seats around in the back if you have something very long that you need to fit down the middle (for example).

The C-Max is an absolute pleasure to drive - I have always had VWs and had a rather snobbish view of Fords, I always imagined they were absolute crap until I actually drove one. Funnily enough, I happened to catch an old Top Gear on TV the other day when they were saying no matter how much you want to diss Ford, the Focus has always been a brilliant drive and I have to agree.

We also chose Ford because there are a number of garages close by which makes it much easier for services or any parts we need.

It is hard down grading from a car the size of the Alhambra because everything suddenly seems so small so I think you'll need to have a good look at everything before you make your mind up!

I did wonder about the tickers ...

Foxinsocks, that's interesting, thank you. I'm a bit sniffy about Fords as well, I have to admit ... dh had some Mondeos as hire cars a few years back and they weren't exactly the most exciting car we'd ever driven!

does anyone know if you can get 3 carseats in the back of a bmw estate?
I have sinking feeling you cant
dh told me yes and so did dealer
only have 2 children so not problem now but would like 3
oh no

Friends had 3 across back of a 5 series estate - they had 3 kids under 4 and then had 4 under 5 !!

Check your car seats in the diff cars & how easy it is to get all kids clipped in.

I have a scenic - great car.

hana we looked at the bmw estates on Saturday - I think there is no way you could get three car seats in ESPECIALLY if one is a booster that needs the seatbelt clipping and unclipping a lot. But dh is adamant which is a bit stupid as we are about to have three kids. I keep meaning to ring my sis in law and ask her as she has 3 kids and a 5 series - i seem to remember her saying that it was small with three car seats, but will chekc.

but I am buying a fiat multipla just to spite hiim

Another vote for a Touran- Excellent car all round. Doesn't drive or feel like a big car. The kids adore the DVD player. We've had the first for a year and have just got another one.
The seats are fantastic and you can take them out if you want more boot space. Havn't had a problem with either.

yes I like the touran but cant afford a new one and dh refuses to buy an MPV as his company car

no way you'd get three car seats in the back of a three-series beemer I meant to say in earlier post

WWB, I'm doing vaguely similar decisions, and just looked at the Mazda site. I am reassured by their promo text on the 5. They say it has 'the deep-down soul of a sports car'.

That's persuaded me.

BTW, can you post the name of the geeky Touran site ? Ta

very deep-down though hub

"The deep down soul of a sports car" ... don't tell dh, he's almost discounted the Mazda and if I tell him that he'll get all confused again

The geeky website is clubtouran .

Oh, just found that sports car spirit, it was trapped under the left rear wheel. It was revealed when I pushed the car forward a bit. I am currently soaking it in water, I think it may yet expand to its original size.

BTW, WWB, did you see the video on the Mazda site with the mannequins going for a ride ? You might want to take out some extra 3rd party insurance. pmsl.

"Modded or tweaked your 'ran" with posts by Quentin Tourantino and Tourantula...and I thought I was sad and obsessed

I haven't looked at the Mazda site ... I'm leaving all the geeky stuff to dh, I'm a girlie, just interested in the colour and whether there's mirror on the sun shield

The site's brilliantly sad, isn't it ...

Listen, wwb, any site that includes erect nipples (I kid you not) is bold. LOL

I am trying to love the look of the 'Ran. But it is sooooooo slab like I am finding it hard. Maybe if I soften it with purple neons under sills, Bear ?

The Touran is lovely inside; haven't test driven it yet but it felt spacious and airy - plenty of head room as well, which is important for someone as tall as my dh. Being a bit boxy wouldn't bother me, and it didn't bother dh when we had the Alhambra either.

Although at the moment the Grand Scenic is looking like the best bet.

And I couldn't stand for dh to own a Touran and be posting on that flipping site as something silly like Touranosaurus ... that on it's own is almost enough to make me say we won't have one!

that's a safe workaround fella, like your style.

My fave thread is the one about "should my rear door puddle lamps work or not?". Guys, park up, go to the pub, kick a ball, pleasure your woman, whatever floats your boat, but shut the hell up about your 'rans.

LOL, Bear. You are on top form today.

I read a review on the 'ran, wwb, and they said the plastics were crappy and it felt dark on the inside. Would you say that was baloney ? Or maybe you like that, LOL ?

Even better than that thread are the sign-offs the posters use at the end of their posts:

2004 Vanilla 2.0 TDI Sport
7 seater
Reflex Silver
2 curry hooks and Argos fold out boot liner

Touran 1.9 TDI 'S' , Winter pack, Factory tints.
18" RS6's with Goodyear Eagle F1's, Sebring rear exhaust box with twin oval chrome pipes.

Silver Ran Sport 140, Lastest Five spoke Wheels , DSG, Leather, sunroof, parking sensors 2x Curry hooks, all singing all dancing and Rear Club Touran Owners Community.net sticker
[email protected]

2.0TDI sport, black, phone prep, ice link, boot lid spoiler, scratched alloys.(thanks love)

Couldn't we have that on here? Especially like that unreconstructed "(thanks love)." I've got it on the Apple Discussions website (where BTW if you ask a question some spod thinks is dumb, you get told so in no uncertain terms, and I thought the Mac community stuck together).

Whatever, Bear
_
Phil & Teds E3 with panniers and low-profile whitewalls, stripped down Maclaren Volo, Disney Princess 15" bike with hanlebar tassells and Pooh Bear bell, Berchet trike

piss off!

they don't do that - or call them RAn's!

vile I dont want one anymore