family estate car - what should we buy???

[lesleyella]

We need a family car that is cheap to run, reliable and has enough space for baby clobber etc. Planning to get new rather than second hand.

We are thinking Ford Focus Estate but other options inlcude Golf, Astra, Peugeot 308 ... any advice on which is the best option.

What's your budget?

We have a new Subaru Legacy estate (diesel)and are really happy with it so far. Good acceleration and handling. 45mpg (although we don't do much urban driving).

I've got a 307 estate and if I could afford a 308 I'd have one tomorrow! The doors open much wider on this than the Focus that my Ma has and I can fit all the clobber in easily - I would recommend getting a dog guard though to keep it all in the boot.

Can second Muffin's Subaru Legacy estate - DH has had one since May - it's really good.

We have a Mazda 6 estate. Very economical, hasn't broken once in the 4 years we have owned it.

We have Renault Laguna estate diesel and are very happy with it - get 600 miles to a tank of fuel.

VW Passat estate. Loads of room, diesel relatively economic to run, holds value very well, very reliable.

We are looking at skoda octavia estate. Cheap to buy and run and loads of space for all the children's paraphernalia.

Third the Subaru

Also I read the other day that there is a new citreon coming out that is brilliant (i know it sounds unlikely)

I second the Mazda 6. we haven't got the estate version as the hatchback's boot is only 5 litres less than the estate. I can fit shedloads in there, including a weeks holiday stuff including a large 3 wheeler buggy without resorting to roof top boxes.
About 600 miles to a full tank. Beautiful to drive. Feels very safe.

we bought ours just a few months old, saved ourselves about £5000 and haven't had a moment's trouble.

The octavia is very reliable, cheap to run BUT it does not have a lot of leg room in the back as the boot is huge.We are finding this a problem now our son is getting older and longer!

The new ford focus econetic diesel does 62mpg, estate version included.

Love our Skoda Octavia, but DS only 2.6, so not struggled with leg room yet!

Have a llok at honest john at the telegraph motoring section he is brilliant.
honest john

We're very pleased with our Ford Focus Estate. Excellent fuel economy and unusually it is narrow enough to fit into a standard garage (most family cars don't). Lots more boot space than the Golf which was another option for us. Doesn't feel overly big to drive either.

The newer Octavias (mark 2 from around 2004 IIRC) are supposed to have more leg room in the back.

Thank you all. Will check out the Subaru option. HAd not thought of that. Our budget is as little as possible without ending up paying a high price later on, if you see what I mean. At the moment we have an Alfa 147 that is very cute but completely inpractical and costs a fortune to run.

Have a look at the Seat Altea XL. Basically a Golf but taller and much longer (gives plenty of boot room and lots of legroom) - and without the VW price premium. Diesels give 45-50mpg.

Whatever you get, don't buy brand new unless you've money to burn: buy from a car supermarket and save yourself a few thousand quid.