What car have you got and why? Did you research safety etc?

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Sorry, this isn't very interesting! We need to change our car/s and have no idea what we want or need. Anyone have any ideas? The priorities are:

1. Safety
2. Space - although it doesn't need to be massive we don't want a small car anymore - 4 of us and all our stuff in a Peugeot 106 going on holiday wasn't funny and will be less amusing still in years to come
3. Reliability - I'm fed up of my car sounding like it's not going to start, though it usually does
4. Air con (not essential but highly desirable)
5. Ideally petrol not diesel and 5 doors, not 3

Haven't thought about budget yet but we have a car to trade in. I've been to theaa.com and which and they seem to be suggesting a Honda Civic, a Toyota Corolla or a Ford Focus. Any views? TIA to anyone who knows anything or can just tell me they love their car or not!

We have a 9 year-old volvo estate which fits all your criteria. It's an 850, 2.5 litre. I believe that the V70 is the current equivalent. We bought it because of volvo's reputation for safety and also because of the safety features (there is a cage protecting the passenger area). But the estate is large, and even larger when you put the back seat down. We have used it to take 2 teenagers plus gear down to SW France, in comfort. It feels powerful, and the acceleration is good. It's extremely comfortable and I love driving it. Our next car will certainly be the replacement model from volvo.

I meant that the luggage space is large.

For reliability, all the Japanese (and my very own super trendy Hyundai ;) ) came out top in a recent survey - no repairs in first 2 years. German cars did surprisingly badly in this.

My car (my model I mean) is meant to be rubbish safety wise so wouldn't suit you but Hyundais are cheap and fulfill all your other requirements - yes I do have AC but never use it if I can avoid it - uses up loads of fuel. Would swap for a sunroof any day - hot air rising etc

Am sure Hyundai have improved safety but otherwise, if money permits, I'd go for the Civic or Corolla meself

VOLVO XC70 ESTATE absolutely brill, it is our 5th VOLVO and wouldn't consider anything else.

Hi, www! From personal experience I would recommend something which is a bit higher than normal; I drive a Zafira which is, and DH drives a Peugeot 406 which isn't, and I always feel really squashed in his car. (I know you are littler than me but it is still a nicer feeling to have space around you, and much easier to buckle little ones into seats.)

Any of the smaller MPVs would be good for you - Picasso, Scenic, Corolla Verso etc. And you could think about one with an extra 2 seats but which stow away into the floor, I know with only 4 of you 5 seats is usually enough but it's always useful to have a couple of extra seats.

This is the What Car? help-you-choose page...

Why not diesel btw?

I wouldn't exactly dignify it with the name research, but we bought a Saab for most of the reasons you list. Although it has 4 doors, I'm pretty sure- that's about all I do know. And it's red.

Not telling !!! I got heckled off another thread

We bought a Golf this time round. We have had one before and really like them.

It is sporty and pretty nippy (would love the latest GTi comingout next year but we will have to see now as have to get two cars)

Has 4 doors, and hatchback. 5 seats with proper seat belts. Boot is decent size. Fue consumption not bad. Not had any bother with it, or the last one we had. Had climate control (not just air con), automatic window washers, automatic lights, has a good reputation for holiding its value compared to our makes of cars. Erm.... we like it!

The main thing for us (other than general safety) was that the car had an Isofix car seat system, that could be used with the Britax Duo.

Not really into cars but surfed the net about car safety and found some American websites (sorry, don't remember which). Honda civic and Golf scored very high (amongst some unknown American (?) cars).Soended up with honda
Enough space (can get ds bike and prame in at the same time.
Has air con/5doors/petrol. Had some problems with starting but got it fixed in the garage, no problems since

I can highly recommend a fiat Multipla - ugly as sin but 6 seats, bootspace, fab driving position and really good winows/mirrors. Can't speak highly enough of it!

We have 2 cars....

DH - 2003 Mercedes C-Class estate 2.2d Auto. Cost in 2003 (brand new) £33k.

1. SAFETY - This is an NCAP 5* car, which means that it is one of the safest cars to be in on the road.

2. SPACE - We've got 3 children (12, 10.5, 2) so we needed a car which was big enough to take 3 kids (including a big Britax carseat) in the back. It is an estate so there's tons of boot space.

3. RELAIBILITY - Mercedes are built very well, we've not had any reliability issues and the car feels lovely and solid but still nice and light to drive IYSWIM.

4. AIR-CON - Ours has climate control.

5. Ours is diesel, hugely economical and amazingly quiet with plenty of grunt. 5 doors is a must.

Me - 1999 Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec. Cost £4.5k back in June of this year.

1. 1. SAFETY - Not sure of the NCAP rating but this car always came top of the motoring journalists wish list in it's class. It offered the best all round package by far.

2. SPACE - Plenty of room in the back for all 3 kis, but TBH it is mainly just me and the kids in my car. Bags of leg room in the back too, boot is generous.

3. RELIABILITY - My car has got a good regular service historyand I'm yet to experience any reliability issues. It's good to know that if something does go wrong that Ford parts and labour are very reasonably priced. It also feels lovely to drive, not tinny at all. The handling is great and the gearbox is also a pleasure to use.

4. AIR-CON - I have it, it's a godsend. I spend to much time in stationary traffic not to have it !

5. Mine is a 1.8 zetec petrol engine, which gives me 115BHP. So plenty of mid-range pull, really nippy and quite a sporty drive. Good fun ! 5 doors again is essential.

I've got an S reg Astra Auto, which is great. But am about to be 'promoted' to Dh's 'old' car - a 2 year old Volvo S60 Auto, whilst he's just bought himself a new Audi A3 Auto.

As smallish cars go, I've found the Astra a good car. Perfectly ample for my needs (it is a second car, even though it would make an ideal main car)

Probably better to pop down and actually see some cars at your local garage and see whether, it's comfy and you and your luggage all fit in etc.

How exciting for you, let us know what you come up with.

Ford Focus for all the reasons NomDePlume said

I got a new shaped Renault Megane last year as a company car and it's great. I went for the top spec and it was about 14.5k but has eveything you mention and a very high safety rating. It has front airbags, keyless ignition, side airbags, climate control, elec rear windows, etc etc. It's the Priveledge model and although I went for the 2litre which is very speedy the 1.6 that I've had as a courtesy car was good and would have been fine for my needs. The boot space is OK but not HUGE but I get 2 DSs, a buggy and all their stuff in fine.

Hope that helps. I did look at the Focus but had had a megane and laguna previously and just really like Renaults!

I have a great Audi A4 2.8 quattro.

I got it coz it looks good and it is fast! It is fine for 2 kids. It has AC, leather seats, 4 doors, a good size boot. It is an automatic with tiptronic, 4 wheel drive, Full service history,alloy wheels, etc very reliable.....

Can you tell I'm trying to sell it????

Have just bought a 6-seater, to accomodate 4 kids, Honda Odessey, Jap import, with top spec etc. Not quite as fast as the Audi, but very comfortable, and so much room.

Nondeplume - I don't want to be rude, but how can you think that 115bhp is nippy????

LOL smellymelly!

smelly - how much?

Are you serious Jampot?

Smelly melly, because my car is light 115BHP feels nippy.

I used to have a 150BHP Golf GTI which was fab, then we got a Golf V6 4motion with 205 BHP, so ner [tongue sticking out emoticon]

LOL

Goodness you sound like a lot of silly boys!

How on earth do you know what horse power your car is? Mine doesn't have it written on the car

It's good to be into someting other than babies!! As that is all I do really

I've got a Mercedes CLK230 because it is very sleek sexy & fast (just like me - not . Not at all practical for the kids but I adore it - it is my baby and after years of practical boring cars I wanted something for me for a change!

I'm in the know....