Totally different cars, cannot decide!

[ChoccyJules]

We are looking to replace our rusty Estate car.

We have narrowed it down to two automatics, both MPVs, the Ford CMax and the Citroen C4 grand Picasso. Both would be abt 3 years old so the version before the current ones.

CMax has the headroom and bootspace and drives perkily (DH likes this). But realistically only fits one extra body next to a car seat.

C4Picasso has three full seats across the back (and the grand is only a few cm longer for two spare seats) and seems to have lots of fun spec but semi-automatic gearbox.

Note we only have DD but feel it would be useful to have the option of transorting other people if necessary. DH also likes the space an estate gives him for going to the tip etc.

Today we test drove the Picasso and last weekend the CMax. CMax 2L auto had lots of nippiness but boring inside. Picasso today 1.6L auto I felt struggled a bit to pull away (though DH the person who loves driving didnt mind it) but has so many zippy gadgets!

Really stuck....and of course money-wise it's a BIG decision.

Any reviews from your own experiences very welcome. We are looking at 2009 models.

Ours is an estate but you can get it in saloon form too. The estate boot is HUGE, don't know how big the saloon boot is or if it's flat.

I've got a new shape Renault Scenic, think they came out about 2009/10. Mine is a 1.5DCi dynamique Tom Tom. It has cruise control, built in Sat nav, blue tooth, can connect your iPod/iPad to the stereo, partial leather seats, 3 full seats across the back, a large boot, lots of cubby holes to store things. DH is 6ft 4 and the DSes can sit behind him quite comfortably at 6ft3, but I can sit very comfortably behind him.

Both of us like driving it, it is not too big, very easy to park and has a 5* Ncap rating.

We have an Octavian estate, the kids are 170 & 150 and have no issues with legroom, huge boot and leather seats, but easier to drive and manoeuvre than my x type jag.

VBisme' that's interesting, how old is your Octavia? I realised today that I should have said that our Octavia was a 2001 model and maybe the newer model that came has since then has more space in the back?

Piffpaff, I think you might be right about the older model Octavia being smaller. A colleague has a 51 plate Octavia estate, and I don't think it's as roomy as our 60 plate (2010). I take some very tall teenagers on our school run, and there's legroom to spare. I think the Skoda Superb estate has even more room in the back. Some of the Superbs also have a self-parking feature, which has to be seen!

I realise I sound like a Skoda salesman- it's just that we've been really impressed with ours; we've had much more expensive cars in the past which haven't been a patch on it.

Yes, we really liked our Skoda, such amazing good value for money. DH really begrudged paying VW prices and getting LESS gizmos for MORE money. He's eyeing up a Superb for next time I think.

If anyone hasn't expired from boredom, the current debate is S-Max vs Zafira.

S-Max gets so many great reviews and can have some groovy spec But is big. Is it too big for a family of three plus the occasional MIL?!

Zafira we can afford the top spec But is boring and the back seat is all one piece.