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

[WideWebWitch]

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!

NDP - we had the self same model of Golf GTi - that was lovely. Got the Audi cabriolet after that which had bigger engine and higher BHP, but because of it's size and weight it wasn't half as nippy.

Funny you should start this www. I have a Renault Clio 3 door which I love but dh hates -calls it a go-kart
I need something more with a little more space, reliable and not too expensive, and 5 doors obviously! I don't really like the look of MPVs though

johnnydeppsmistress - How can you be miserable? I wouldn't be with a car like that

Sorry, should have said Golf GTI Turbo

Hula, I loved my GTI (it was a T-reg) but it was not practical from a kiddie pov, thankfully it was BC . I still miss it though...

I have a bright green citroen berlingo with an open top roof which I love. Loads of height and a huge boot. My ds's x 2 friends always want to ride in our car!

Ditto NDP - I'm in the know too

(197 bhp by the way)

Really NDP? Ours was only a couple of years ago, when DD was a baby. It was only a 3 door too, but found it great. Boot had lots of room, and plenty of room in back. Now the Audi wasn't necessarily as child friendy. Whenever we had the roof down DD either had to be covered up from the sun, or wrapped up from the wind! LOL!

LOL NDP - Ours was the turbo too!!!

lol @ sm

I found my Aston Martin a bit cramped in the back and had to bin it when dd was born. Used to cram the dog in but couldn't fit them both

Hula, I had the 3 door too. I also had £5k worth of sound system (nothing major flash but my DP at the time fitted these things) in the boot so there was less boot space. Plus the thought of chewed up banana etc being pummeled into my Recaro seats is too much to bear . When DH and I got the V6 one we found the boot was WAY too small for the buggy etc, the car was just far too impractical for a family of 5, IMO.

I remember you bemoaning the Audi on another thread.

mrsdoolittle, if only life were that simple - just me and my car against the world - make way for CLKWOMAN!!!!!

is this thread soeley to brag?

if you go on the auto trader website, there are all sorts of ratings
hth

Lol JDM

at the thought of putting a dog in an Aston....

Why of course, ladywallop !

leather seats, wipe clean, no probs

CD

Going back to WWW's original post. You make no mention of your budget really. I assume from 'trade in' that you will be buying a brand new car, in which case reliability isn't really that much of an issue as a) new cars tend not to go wrong often and b) they generally come with a good warranty period so any work should be done under warranty anyway.

Only thing I will say about my Focus is that I can have a bit of trouble getting it into reverse, now that could just be a) my crappy driving or b) just the gearbox on my particular car. Otherwise, it is great

I've got a Toyota Avensis Estate GS 1.8, petrol. Loads of room, we get 5 of us in there no problems.

On your points;

1. Euro NCAP 5 star
2. Estate with plenty of leg room especially in the back when the front seats are pushed back to their limits.
3. We had a couple of teething problems, but the car was still under warranty. Not so much as a squeak since.
4. Air con
5. petrol, 5 doors.

We looked at the hatchback and saloon versions and these also had loads of room.

Other points

Very economical on petrol
Power Steering
Driver and Passenger Air Bags
Elec windows (front only)
Alarm
Remote Central locking

We paid £4000 for a 1998 R reg with 43000 miles on the clock.

www - Read 'What Car' at the back where they give loads of advice about the makes and boring stuff like the depreciation %, mpg etc...The focus have a good write up and presumably are cheap on parts and servicing, although I have no experience of them sorry.
We've got two cars - an Audi A4 Avant 2.5 V6 Tdi (150bhp) and an A3 1.9tdi (130bhp). We have had loads of Audis as they are sleek without being flashy and give you an unbelievable feeling of safety when you close the door. It's like being in a fast tank!! (ps the A3 is quicker than the A4 as it's due to the power to weight ratio thing going on there....There again the power is delivered differently due to the V6 engine as it makes it very smooth...)
Both are great to drive with the windows down and the kids in the back going Weeeeeeeeeee!!)

If it's safety that you are after Renault are up there with the big marques on the 5* ncap safety thingy. Have you thought of these?

WWW, my husband keeps telling me a yellow car is safer. This is because he wants a yellow car. His own weird little mid-life crisis, I think.