Hi all,

I'm looking to get a larger family car as our current 2013 Ford Focus is getting on a bit but also is a bit too small for our needs - it was bought over a year before our (now) 10-month old baby was even planned! Therefore the Focus' boot space isn't sufficient for our Joie DLX pushchair and Britax car seat. The latter has meant the front passenger seat has had to go forward so much so that bascially no-one in the house can fit in the front seat anymore haha

I've had a look into Mondeos, Insignias, Octavias and Seat Leons - both hatchback and estate but I'm still undecided what to go for. My budget is £12,000 which is made up of both a loan and Part Exchange on the Focus (have been told that trade exchange is £4,350 but am going to try for at least £4,500 as it's in near-perfect condition with only 44,000 on the clock). The Focus has also just had a fresh MOT which it passed without any faults or even advisories, as well as a minor service.

Ideally I'm looking for a car that will last us 5-6 years at least until we decide to upgrade again - e.g. plenty of room for a pushchair and potentially of camping gear and/or holiday bags.

So far I haven't had much luck tracking down many of the examples I listed above without resorting to higher mileage examples (60,000+) or going somewhere further afield to look at them (1 hour+ drive).

The bottom line is I'm looking for something:

• Not too old
• Plenty of space for baby things (car seat, pushchair etc.)
• Under £12,000
• Under 50,000 mileage
• With Dual Climate Control would be a big plus but not essential, as would cruise control

Bear in mind that my average mileage is pretty low on a weekly basis (1 trip to the shops per week so 3-4 miles each way, plus a 25-50 mile trip at weekends) and a 300-mile round trip about twice a year) as I usually commute to work by train.

I tried out a 2016 1.6 CDTi Design Nav spec Insignia yesterday which drove really well but didn't quite have all the extras I wanted (ideally dual Climate Control would be useful to keep temperatures optimal for our baby in the back and me up-front). Also, I've read about DPFs which have problems with low mileage which makes me think I should opt for a petrol version instead.

Thanks in advance!

Octavia has my vote.

 

Cops like them and sometimes buy for their own use. 

 

Massive boot, basically Golf quality at lower prices.

 

I love the 1.4 tsi particularly in dsg form.

 

Done about half a million miles mainly in Octys.  Just a better value version and practical and mondeo sized for focus money IMO.

Edited 7 July, 20205 yr by lol-lol

If you want big leg room and a big boot then Superb estate is the answer. I am very biased though

 

In all honesty an Octavia estate would probably be sensible but I would try one with your baby seat just to be sure as some of the seats these days are huge. 

 

With low mileage and little opportunity for good runs to get the temperature in the DPF up, I would avoid a diesel and go for a modest petrol power plant like a 1.4tsi.

 

My dad has a Mondeo estate and its an alright car, he seems happy with it, it just seems a bit dull somehow but that might just be his one.  I'd avoid an Insignia, and that is speaking as someone who has owned 3 Vectra estates in the past. It was the Insigna's awfulness that made me keep my older (and better) Vectra for 14 years and then replace it with a Superb

Thank you both!

What would serving and parts costs be like for Octavias and Superbs? My Focus has been pretty cheap to keep running so I'm keen to keep that trait going if possible. For example a minor service on my Focus that I've just had done was only £90.

Also, when I see figures like 1.4 it seems pretty small to me (especially if I was to get a 1.4 estate) or do they have a lot more pulling power than they used to?

 

I've not driven an automatic before, mainly because years ago I always thought they took control from the driver...plus were expensive to repair if they went wrong. Is that the case nowadays?
For example I knew one guy who had a Honda Accord with an automatic transmission and it blew up costing him thousands to replace it.

 

Yes edwards, that was my concern as well with the DPF vs mileage. Also funnily enough my Dad has a Mondeo which is about 15 years old now - he's loathed to part with it because of the low value it has, but also as he has a decent-sized engine in it.

Good call about the Insignias - the one I test drove was ok but it wasn't exactly exciting to look at or drive...the rear's styling looks a bit too bulbous  - the facelift is somewhat better in my opinion...

ex insignia owner... bag of ****e that means i will never buy another Vx/opel vehicle. 

octavia swallows everything you can throw at it, but if you want a bit more leg room superb. 

 

10 hours ago, Shoxt3r said:

Thank you both!

What would serving and parts costs be like for Octavias and Superbs? My Focus has been pretty cheap to keep running so I'm keen to keep that trait going if possible. For example a minor service on my Focus that I've just had done was only £90.

Also, when I see figures like 1.4 it seems pretty small to me (especially if I was to get a 1.4 estate) or do they have a lot more pulling power than they used to?

 

I've not driven an automatic before, mainly because years ago I always thought they took control from the driver...plus were expensive to repair if they went wrong. Is that the case nowadays?
For example I knew one guy who had a Honda Accord with an automatic transmission and it blew up costing him thousands to replace it.

 

Yes edwards, that was my concern as well with the DPF vs mileage. Also funnily enough my Dad has a Mondeo which is about 15 years old now - he's loathed to part with it because of the low value it has, but also as he has a decent-sized engine in it.

Good call about the Insignias - the one I test drove was ok but it wasn't exactly exciting to look at or drive...the rear's styling looks a bit too bulbous  - the facelift is somewhat better in my opinion...

 

My 1.4 TSI is the 150 hp model, 0-60 in about 7.5 seconds so quite quick, quicker than the diesel VRSs for example.  Top speed over 140 mph on the speedometer.

 

Owners of these newer high tech cars should get an extended warranty as the auto gearbox and the turbo can cost heaps to fix so £20 a month or so is good piece of mind to cover those parts after the 3 year manufacturers guarantee runs out.

 

I tend to do longer trips and 55 mpg is obtainable even at the NSLs.  Only the fact that VW/Skoda reduced the fuel tank size from 55 to 50 litres in the Mk 3 Octy from the Mark 2, and it is very hard to squeeze more in to the expansion volume, is about the only thing that annoys me but 600 mile range is possible.

  

 I fitted the tail fiin on to mine and it looks good in black when clean I think.

 

Insignia is truly a lump of lard in standard trim, not driven a VXR version which might be fun but even the standard one seem to crap one fuel so a VXR would be bad I suspect, they seem to weigh about 200 kg more than they should. 

 

Superb is just too big for car parks etc and is slower with the same economic engines in and Octy has all the sapce I have every needed even in hatchback form but if had a dog again would go for the estate of course.

 

Edited 8 July, 20205 yr by lol-lol

You'd be happy with an Octavia. I got my Mk2 VRS just a little before the birth of my first and it swallowed everything we threw at it.

The volume of crap you will want to carry around will be staggering to start with and drop off fast after the first year. For a while you'll wish you drove a transit van, but not long.

 

I managed a large silver cross pram and a mass of other stuff in a VRS hatch I'm not sure it would have all gone in a smaller car even a Golf.

 

Longer term an estate would make more sense, if you can get something with fittings for roof boxes or bike racks you probably apreciate the option when you need it.

 

yeah, even with just 2 kids, i reckon my next change is going to be an estate... 

i remember going on honeymoon in 2013 though, and lying swmbo's and my suitcases and bags down in the boot of my mk1 octy. nothing else anywhere in the car. my sister dropped us to the airport so we could leave my car at hers. put the stuff into the boot of her ix35 - had to stand the cases up, and 1 carry on bag went in the back with me on the journey. 

her partner now husband was shocked when he saw the space difference was so obvious. 

they have a santa fe now and 2 kids. its wedged when they come down for a visit.

 

 

If you are looking at an Insignia you should definitely consider a Superb estate which is a few centimetres shorter but has way more room inside and the boot. I think Insignia estates have been discontinued and thus used ones are cheaper - not too sure, but could not find much recently on the Vauxhall website as I am looking to change cars.

We have had a Superb II L&K estate 2.0 TDI for 5 years. It has been very reliable. I did look at the Octavia which has got plenty of room and a good size boot but not all the nice kit the SII had.

Mondeo's reliable is worse, and so is the Insignia's. Opel / Vauxhall should improve now that GM is gone.

 

The 2.0TDI 150Bhp is VERY economical and has got decent acceleration.

A 2014 SII estate with fairly low mileage is in the price bracket you are looking at. If you go for the higher spec models you get more kit than is on your wish list.

 

DPF - We do quite a bit of short journeys and not massive amounts of motorway and the DPF has not been a problem at all.

Dual zone climate control - It is a dual zone between front left and front right, NOT front and back. That would be a 3-zone only available in newer and posher older ones.

If you get a higher spec it will come with park assist and will reverse park you anywhere.

You might want to look at a 320d Touring, not as expensive as you might think.

Also the Mini Clubman is quirky with a useful space. The newer ones are big cars, there is nothing mini about them.

 

We've be happy with the build and reliability of the BMW group cars we've had (on our 4th).