'Family car' - which one?

[MrsMattie]

Our ancient VW Golf clapped out for good last week. We're looking at replacing it with more of a 'family car' (cringe - we're both still image-conscious snobs at heart, lol). So far we've looked at:

Honda CRV
VW Golf Estate
VW Passat Estate
Toyota Rav 4 (our least favourite as swore we weren't going down the 4x4 route)
Honda Accord
Skoda Ocatvia Estate

Anyone got any opinions? The Passat and the Honda CRV are coming out tops so far. Oh, and we are looking at secondhand - 2003, 04 and 05 models.

We rented a VW Passat Estate in France this year. It's a spacious comfortable car, but the model we got was very underpowered. I can't remember what engine size we had, but my dh kept stalling it - and getting soooo frustrated with it.

It also had a weird parking brake, operated by a button on the dashboard that took a lot of working out, as did starting the damn darned thing - something about having to have your foot on the clutch whilst turning the ignition - which took dh ages and ages to work out whilst we stood waiting at the end of a very hot carpark with all the luggage. Apparently his 'O'level french many years ago is not terribly helpful when trying to translate a car manual from French!!

We've currently got a volvo 850T5 estate - comfortable, spacious, big boot, side impact protection systems make it very very safe, and it's been a stalwart car for at least 6 years. It can take 2 adults, 3 children, all the luggage for a fortnight's holiday and four bikes on the roof, and still overtake other cars with ease (though not when I am driving).

We still have it as our second car, but have had to get a bigger car as ds1 is now taller than me and didn't have any legroom at all in the volvo. We've now got a Mercedes E240 Estate (I had to run out and check the back of the car - ) which is amazing - loads of legroom in the back, and more space across the backseat too, which has reduced the fighting amongst the ds's. The boot is enormous - dwarfs the volvo - and because the engine is a bit smaller, it's actually more economical! It's a big car, which did take some getting used to, but I love driving it now.

Surprisingly, it wasn't very expensive second-hand either - for some reason people don't want the model and engine size combo that we've got - they want the really powerful AMG engine - that's so thirsty that you basically end up driving from petrol station to petrol station - and it cost you more in the first place!

Reading this back, I sound like a bit of a petrol head - living with 4 males must be rubbing off on me!!

Chevrolet tacuma. V afforable and roomy.

We've got a Skoda Octavia Elegance model 02 and its been great. Easy to drive, reasonable economy, hardly ever needed anything fixed, lots of room inside. Plus it has a HUGE boot, currently have ds' LARGE 3 wheeler, several walking boots, car care kits, several bags of recycling, and a old suitcase in it and there's room for more!

The thing that sold us on the Skoda was that it was basically a VW under the hood with a cheaper badge but same build quality and they last forever - we noticed that loads of the taxi drivers round here have Skodas and they know a good car!
Good luck!

I use one really boring criterion when I choose a car - safety!

You can check your car's crash trst results at NCAP here

Mrs Mattie, i feel your pain!!!
On the same boat at the mo!!! GRRRR!

I guess at least it is a good time to negotiate great deals as car sales have fallen dramatically!

We have a 2nd hand Skoda Octavia estate. I would say about it:

1. It has a good amount of power for the engine size (1.9) and is a very nice car to drive.
2. People will still laugh at you for driving a Skoda so make sure this doesn't bother you!
3. The diesel engine is very fuel efficient.
4. I can't get 2 child seats and an adult in the back and find this VERY annoying. 3 child seats also would not go.
5. 2nd hand Skodas hold their value now so you might not get such a bargain. People do admit that they are very good cars.
6. I have done a lot of miles and it is still as it was when I bought it, even then 2nd hand.

If I had lots of money (dreams...) I would change it for some sort of people carrier I think. But I'll keep it until repair bills start biting me.

I've got a Renault Scenic and love it. It's just like driving a smaller car, so is easy to park etc (compared to an estate) but has so much room. I first had it when DS was about 8months and it fitted in all the buggies etc - now he is 7 and DD is 4 and it still meets our needs perfectly.

Message withdrawn

VOLVO XC70

Deffo brill in every way

We're on our 3rd Toyota Avensis and wouldn't go elsewhere for the world.
I know this isn't on your list but it's brilliant!
There's loads of space, it's really comfortable to drive, the fuel economy is fantastic (usually 48mpg easily - mixed driving) boot is cavernous ... no, I don't work for them

We did have a Rav 4 which was OK but, for the age you're looking at, you'd have the model we had and it simply didn't have a big enough boot once DD came along - also it was awkward lifting her in and out as it was that bit higher than a saloon.

My folks have a Skoda Octvia which they love. But, we found that there wasn't much leg-room in the back, especially when DD was in a reclining carseat.

get an estate - you won't regret it, and you'd be hard pushed to get as much space without buying a 7seater people carrier.

of your list
the Golf estate is too small, so is the CRV (when it comes to loading up for two weeks camping etc)

so that comes down to the Passat or the Octavia

both are well made, one is significantly more expensive

done

get the Octavia

(I am about to make the same kind of purchase but am lookign at a Vectra as they're even cheaper)

we've got a Passat. DH big car fanatic so was very fussy when choosing a car for me. It's fantastic. We have the V6 4Motion 2001 petrol 2771 cc. It is fab. Huge boot, good quality fittings without being ott. Powerful and comfortable

I think some clue about your budget, as well as running costs, might be useful as some of these cars mentioned are quite expensive and will have high running costs due to big engines.

TBH not sure what I would go for in your position. What is wrong with your golf beside it being clapped out? Too small in back? Luggage space? I have a very small car so not much use to you. DH has a new (new model so not available in your years) Audi A4 and it is very nice, despite having the switch handbrake and depressing the clutch before starting the engine that sunnygirl doesn't lie. Prior to that he had a Volvo S40 which was lovely also, but you may not like it as it is a saloon rather than a hatch.

toobusytothink it must also cost an absolute fortune in petrol.

bozza - tbh I don't do that many miles in it. We did look at diesels at the time but they were more expensive and to make it worthwhile would have to be averaging about 10,000 miles pa.

Reckon it averages about 30 miles to gallon. And that is honest not car advertising speak. Not sure how that compares

I really like the Volvo 4WD. Looks good (not too Mum-mobile) and is exrremely safe and drives brilliantly!

Dare I suggest..... the new ford mondeo estate? We are looking to get something bigger than our focus, and will be test driving both the mondeo and the skoda octavia estates. And the mazda 6 but this is probably not big enough.

MAzda is too small - we looked at it too

if lookign at 03-05 models the Mondeo is no better than the Vectra, though I agree the new one looks good

Not done masses of research, but I think the new mondeo does look one of the biggest in its class. Its rather difficult stepping up from the focus, because its actually a pretty big small car, particularly the interior.

I really dont want a 4x4 either.

What is the big Chrysler thats seems to have appeared? Not the really retro one, theres a bigger one?

My friend has a passat - says it drinks fuel!

We've got a Volvo V40 Estate - best car we've ever had. Looks good, spacious (3 dcs/ 2 in car seats), fairly economical given its size and is really reliable.

The Skodas are supposed to be good too - fuel efficient and need little maintenance.

I had the Octavia Estate recently as a hire car and LOVED LOVED LOVED it. It was the 4x4 version, um, Scout I think it is called.

DH had a BMW 3 series estate and I can honestly say that the Skoda was absolutely comparable in regards to handling and quality.

I had a Golf as a hire car a week before and was NOT impressed.

We almost bought one, but the Scouts are still pretty new and the used ones were slightly out of our price range.