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!

No, we haven't decided because we haven't had time to go and test drive some. I was thinking Focus but actually, it looks a bit on the small side. I like the idea of a VW, it seems less boring than some 'family car' options and (god I'm shallow) I really like the blue light display on the speedo etc. Will update this thread when we decide, some fab advice here.

peugeot 806, basically same car as citroen c8. would not go back to a car without electronic slidey doors. not ever. they are the best invention for parent ever. so there sort of.

take out a couple of seat & you've got the biggest boot in the world. have visitors & you can fit everybody in. squabbling kids & you can easily separate them.
and the sat nav is fab.

i love my car

The focus has just been redesigned - new one comes out in Jan- what car say it looks v good.
If you like your 206, why not go up to the 307 (we've just bought one) or even the 307SW? You might get a better pex if going for another Peugeot.

Well WWW, like I say, I have a Focus and 3 kids (1 car seat, 1 buggy) and it's plenty spacious enough for us.

We have a BMW 318 at the moment but the boot space is crap so have just bought a new shape golf 1.9 tdi (nothing as flash as NDP ).
We struggled getting the frame of DD's buggy in the boot so then have to put the carry cot on the back seat - therefore can never fit anyone else in apart from me, DP and DD!

Whatcar recently compared the Gold, Audi A3 and several other cars and the Golf won hands down in all areas - they are aparently meant to be one of the safest cars on the road.

I would recommend definitely - just waiting for mine to be delivered but have test drove it and it is lush o)

LOL SC . I'm now thoroughly sensible 'Ford Focus Mummy'

I've got a 'sensible" Focus(dh gets the sexy sports-car ) and I love it. It's really great to drive, seats are nice and high so good visibility and have comfortably fitted in 4 adults and 1 child on a longish (3hr) journey. It also rates top marks in crash tests so is v. safe. I fact, despite my mock envy at dh's snazzy car, I actually prefer to drive mine and if I ever replace it would get the same again.

Just thought I'd update this thread. Both our cars were about to blow up (me, ratty old Peugeot, billowing black smoke every morning once it finally started; Dp, ratty old Citroen, head gasket about to go) so we've just part exchanged them for 2 Ford Focuses and we're really pleased with them. We've both got 1.6 5 door petrol Zetecs with aircon. They're not brand new (don't fancy that immediate depreciation apart from anything) but both still within manufacturers warranty. We're very pleased. I've been driving some company hire cars recently which was useful for test purposes: didn't like the Megane, liked the focus, loved the 2.0 Passat but it's over our budget. So Focus it was! Unicorn, have you decided yet?

Will you start wearing matching clothes now, www?

It's so nice to have a new reliable car that you enjoy driving, isn't it? I'm glad you have decided!

Ha ha Janh! Yes, it is. The relief of a car that just starts with no trouble will be huge!

Enjoy, WWW! I'm getting a new motor on Monday as well. We decided to sell our 14yo BMW and 10yo Citroen AX as although they both run okay they cost us 1,200gbp to get through the MOT. It'll be the same next year so we've decided to cut our losses and buy a new Polo. (Dh has a company car so this will be mine, mine, mine!) I intend to keep it 10yrs so the depreciation aspect didn't worry me to much. Happy Motoring!

I got my new jaguar estate diesel last week, and its lovely.

Old car was a citroen picasso which I loved for the space and height but the jaguar has a lot more power and is a much more comfortable drive

Hey Suedonim, dp's car was an old AX too - L reg. Purple. Most unsuitable! We got 250 quid trade in for it though, which was a miracle imo. Ooh, the Polo sounds lovely, you enjoy too!

We're twins, WWW! My AX is purple, too, though M reg. I love it to pieces, even without power steering etc and am to see it go. It's been a good car. 250 trade-in was pretty good - I'm trying to sell mine privately as dh has traded his bmw in for the Polo.