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!

Ds2 calls them banana cars

what about a subaru legacy - we have one - 4 wheel drive so very good in wet/ice/snow/mud etc, bit pricy on fuel, but very comfortable, lovely to drive, very reliable and tons of room.

See, that's my husband's point. People notice them and they are, therefore, safer.

(Not sure if that stands up to scrutiny, but I don't really care about the colour anymore, so it's fine by me.)

sounds like what my DM says about red cars....

Ds2 thinks they are funny though.

2 x German cars here - Audi A4 and VW Passat estate - not going into age or bhp here.

DH has this idea that German cars are well made and safe - pah

My Nissan Primera gave me 3.5 yrs of solid reliability until I sold it, VW broke down as I was collecting ds2 from nursery when it was a year old.

www, I haven't read all fo the replies so please forgive me if someone has already mentioned this. In Saturday's Telegraph motoring section they have a great article about replacing cars/buying new ones and you can e mail the guy concerned, give him all you criteria, be as specific as youc an, tell him what you drive now and like/cont like about it, tell him your budget, what your priorities are for the new vehicle etc, size of family and he will come up with some suggestions. Ifyou've looked at some cars already and like them or dont like them then tell him that as it gives him a clearer picture.
We e mailed him a while ago re DH's grandads car and he was very helpful and i know friends who have used him for advice say the same.
Only trouble is, I cant remember the e mail address so either get the Telegraph tomorrow or remind me tomorrow and i'll look it up in my copy of the paper. I think it's '[email protected]' but could well be wrong.

just checked old copy. It is
[email protected].

Cor, I am impressed! Thanks everyone, will come back to this over the weekend and reply in more detail but thanks so much so far

I would go for a Subaru Legacy too - subarus are superbly made, never break down and drive really well. V safe too cos of AWD.

I will never buy a non-japanese car again unless I win the lottery or the rest of the world decides to build cars as well as them

hulababy...DO NOT get a GTi. We had one and my dh was incapable of driving slowly in it and at every intersection there was some hot head revving his engine and challenging dh to a race. Ds gets car sick easily and used to throw up everytime he got into it (even with me driving). Dh now has a Toyota Landcruiser which we love. It has 8 seats (which we used relatively frequently as he has lots of kids) and is comfortable and high up and dh doesn't feel the need to race people in it. I drive a Hyundai Amica for around town. It's supersmall outside, but amazingly spacious inside and I adore it. I agree with whomever said that you should go for a car that's slightly higher. The amica is like that and it really saves my back lifting kids in and out.

But we loved our last GTi turbo. It was fab. TBH DH is a slower driver than me I agree though that you do get idiots trying to race you and people don't let you vut in as much. Mind you our other car at the time was a Smart, when they were first asround and more unusual. People used to just smile at me int hat and wave me in front of them all the time

Not sure we will get the new GTi so soon anyway. TTC #2 has kind of put those plans on hold a bit, as we are having to move to a bigger place and, as we won't be in town, we have to get a second car.

Going to stick with the Golf we have ( a 2 litre GTFSI apparantly), and maybe go for a funky new Smart for four as the seond car.

WWW - think I'll join (hijack!) your thread... as we're in the early days of looking for a new car..(previously had a Citroen zx 1.9 turbod.. nice engine, nippy etc.but very old,(the car!!) and we want more room and comfort)
now I have looked around a bit I'm just getting more and more confused.
Have you decided on anything yet?

Also questions- for those in the know...
(Hulab)
Are there estate versions of Golf gti (or is it just a boy racer thing) and can you get turbo diesel.. are they very expensive? why aren't they practical for kids?

Pamina3 Ford focus.. what's so good about them?

HELP!!!

Golf GTI is only a hatch, a new one is around £17-£18k. At least, mine was in '99. Used you can pick them up for about £8.5 - £10k. They haven't brought out the latest GTI yet. You can get a nippy diesel GTI, but again I think it's only a hatch. VW do make Golf estates, not sure what the most powerful diesel engine is though. They are certainly very nice inside.

I also have a Focus and it's great, for all the reasons I've listed further down this thread...

Only thing I will say about the Golfs is that they are crap for leg room in the back, so if you a) have older kids or b) plan to have it for many years, it's unlikely to suit your needs.

Skoda. The best car we've ever had by miles and miles. Doesn't break down constantly like the Citroen Xantia used to, much lighter to handle than the volvo or Renault Laguna were. Also starts and doesn't cut out on corners which makes it infinitely better than the old Seat!

But the best thing is that everytime you overtake a VW Passat you think "I have exactly the same car as you but I paid 6 grand less." Not only that, but we were looking for a basic car (looked at Ford Focus, Seat Ibiza & Mini) and ended up with aircon, 6 CD changer & 2 litre engine cos Skoda are so cheap. Biggest boot I've ever seen too.

I love my Skoda!

Renault Laguna (2001) First car with 5* safety, credit card key to satisfy Gadget Boy. Big book spae, 5 doors, reliable, 5 seats, all proper seatbelts, cliate control etc etc.

Best to buy second hand as they don't hold their monetary value but are therefore great value as a second hand car. Key is a b*gger to keep track of though.

Fsil god, I'd never even considered a Skoda...(all those jokes...)... but hey 6 grand less... well who's the laugh on etc?!
which particular Skoda have you got? (or is there only one?!!!)
Can you tell I know NOTHING about cars!!?

We have a new style Renault Megane too and I think it is fantastic. Gets 5 stars in the ncap thing, which beat the Ford Focus. I test drove the Focus too as it seemed to be getting excellent reviews but to me it didn't feel as sturdy and well-made and also felt slightly boring. I took my tape measure along (!!!) when we test drove the VW Golf, Ford Focus and Renault Megane and the Megane was the only one that would accomodate my Graco Stadium Duo tandem pushchair - that takes some doing, I've ditched this since getting the Megane, but nice to know it would fit if it needed to.

Skoda website for you, unicorn.

They seem to only do 2 models now but have read often that they are excellent value for money (and excellent quality too.)

janh- you star thanks!! (what car have you got?)

Really like our 306 - has lasted really well, and done HUGE mileage with very few problems. And still feels quite new. Also has air conditioning, and is really cheap insurance for some reason.

Oh, I have a Zafira, unicorn - Skoda don't seem to do a 7-seater or I would have seriously considered it!

Ellaroo
when I see a Megane I always think of ME!(a rather noticeable large bottom)

You know how they say dogs look like their owners... well same could be said about in relation to cars and I really don't want to draw attention to my rump more than is necessary!!!

So ( maybe another thread?) if you were a car which one would you be? (in truth!!!)