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Original poster

What is the smallest reasonable family car?

13 replies

blithedance · 21/01/2010 21:32

We want to get a smaller car now we are out of the era of buggies, travel cots etc and also to save money/be more eco. Currently driving a big estate diesel.

Our 2nd vehicle is DH's work van which is going to have an extra row of seats put in for holidays, days out with bikes, etc. So we just need something small and economical but big enough for 2 adults (one very tall) and 2 children who might be 9 & 10 by the time we get rid.

Ideally we'd buy moderately-used and need to go and traipse around some dealers, but any recommendations?

Would something the size of a Fiesta or Polo ever be big enough to have legroom in the back behind a tall driver, or would Golf/Focus/Megane be more realistic?

OP posts:

liamsdaddy · 22/01/2010 08:03

I think with the new Fiesta you could run out of headroom before legroom. I'm always dodging the sun visor and I'm not that tall (5' 6''). Probably not helped that the seat is fairly upright because we have a RF child seat behind the driver.

Something a similar size to the Focus might be a better option.

Ivykaty44 · 22/01/2010 08:05

I have an astra 1.6 - a little one, my dad drives it and he's 6f7

i can get a lot in the boot and it has a hatch back so seats go down and I have got a small sofa home in it.

have had it 7 years and am really pleased with it, good on long journeys and good around town.

deff get a pram in and buggies etc. I have taken it to france onholiday with all camping stuff

Lizzzombie · 22/01/2010 08:07

We've just brough a '52 Astra, and the boot is miles bigger than I was expecting.
Wrote off a Nissan Almeria Tino (smallish people carrier) at Xmas and the boot is not much difference compared to that really.

Lizzylou · 22/01/2010 08:11

Ford Focus's are good, was our main family car for a while, now just mine. Boot space good, used to fit in huge Phil and Teds etc and room for shopping.
No problems with it so far (touches wood).
I know the Astra is similar size as well.

sarah293 · 22/01/2010 08:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

herbietea · 22/01/2010 08:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 22/01/2010 11:34

Sorry to butt in but herbietea, did you get our email to you, by any chance?

Original poster

blithedance · 22/01/2010 12:13

We can't have an Astra Estate Diesel! Both the parents AND the IL's have them - I'm not ready to turn into my mother quite yet.

We don't really need space for stuff, we have the van for that. Basically a hatchback is what we are looking for. I really don't want a people carrier/Zafira type thing either, we don't do shared school runs or need lots of seats. 90% of the time it will be used for my solo commuting, plus a few school runs, maybe a trip to town or an afternoon at the grandparents. But if we are all in it, DH needs to fit.

herbie you are right, legroom is the No. 1 issue really.

OP posts:

Ivykaty44 · 22/01/2010 12:40

I will add - my astra, when my dad drives it is ok for short journeys - but dd (17 years) can not sit behind him as he has the seat back as far as it will go and then there is no room for her legs, dd2 has to squeeze in with her shorter legs... So check if you have dc taken them with you?

camflower · 25/01/2010 05:32

Ever considered a skoda fabia estate? We just goth one and we're really pleased with it. Basically it's a small car with a big boot but there is plenty ofroom inside. We were originally thinking of getting the octavia estate but decided a full size estate was too big but the fabia was the perfect compromise cos of its great boot.

pogleswife · 02/02/2010 10:36

Hi. I have a hyundai Getz and i love it. Dh has an astra and i swear there's more leg room in the back in the Getz. We are a family of 5- dh 6ft 1, I'm short but built for comfort, ds 13, dd 11, ds 9. And 2 dogs. If we all go out together we always opt for the Getz. And the back seats flip really easily to turn it into a van ( useful for going to the tip etc!)

gin4me · 04/03/2010 19:45

I love our little Clio which is much roomier than it seems from the outside and we all (four + babyseats) fit into it quite comfortably, it is nippy and economical and we bought it second hand from Renault London West with a ridiculous 34 miles on the clock at a ridiculous price!! We rang them and a guy called Adam helped us. He was really helpful, very straight forward and found us a car somewhere from up North just on the basis of me talking to him on the phone. When we finally went to look at it he was about 6.3 ft and quite easy on the eye as well!!!(It all helps!)and seemed not to mind our kids!!

swanriver · 04/03/2010 23:59

gin - what ARE you up to
recommendations....

see you around later

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