www.boxertrix.com

Mercedes A class. Had my 1.9 petrol for 6 years and never missed a beat. Leather seats still firm and look great. Loads of usable room as two family camping holidays with SWMBO and two kids (with the use of roof box) will testify and mine is the short wheel base version!
The new versions are based on the lwb chassis and have masses of rear legroom. Boot isn't massive but it is deep and rear seats move forward if you can spare the legroom in the back.

Looks are not to everyones taste but I love mine. High driving position also a real benifit.

Try one. You never know

PS: and no, the kids did not go in the roof box!

go for the Outback - a Legacy on steroids, especially with the 3.0 flat 6. You might get 10 miles to the gallon in London!

Gromit, my sister with the two nippers has an octavia. it isn't a diesel, but on the "thump it twat it bang test", it has passed the test very well (they've had it since just before the first one was born). it did let them down last summer when a rubber pipe split somewhere (that's as technical as I get ), but that has been the only thing. it's a car i've been looking at two - though obviously a lot older than the ones you're looking at. tamsin and ian recommend them.

Wow. Joined this forum 'cause I had an R1100S, this is turning into a Scooby owning, Skoda admiring club.

One wee thing, dont know what kind of pushchair you own, but our Bugaboo goes lengthways into my '97 Golf Estate and an Octavia (any). The only downer on the Forester is it doesnt quite fit, so has to go in sideways, and that makes a lot of difference in terms of usability.

Its always the little things.

The stuff about the Audi/BMW choices, it was what I meant to say about having all the hire cars, never felt the Aui/BMW felt any more special than the Seats/Skodas/Toyotas etc. And the Almera is the car I have just recommended to my father - not a 'great' car, not the most special, but a serious, and I mean serious bargain second hand. But smaller than the other stuff you are looking at.

Final thing is what are the dealers/specialists like locally? A good one means a lot to me. I certainly would not have bought another BMW bike had I not had BGM on my doorstep.

I rented a Seat Altea and it was great, basically a VW diesel in a very appealing package.

Alternatively take a VW Golf TDi - you can chip the engine for great performance, and depreciation is the lowest you'll find. Everyone wants a used one.

Failing that you can put together a 500hp Hayabusa for about 12k- hows that? (I've just found space in the garage for another bike )

No one mentioned the ubiquitous focus? My folks have a yucky green one and it works a treat.

For me modern mid priced family cars have all the allure of kitchen appliances (having just bought several [appliances not cars] from a marathon 4 hour trip to Ikea - really not as good an idea as it initially seemed...)

I recently went through a similar thought process albeit with less money and simpler requirements and couldn't bring myself to buy a used 'new' car, mainly because of depreciation, servicing costs (to maintain warranties) and the general lack of any desire to own one... instead I foolishly bought an immaculate, low mileage old W124 Coupe and I rather like it (town fuel consumption aside) - range topping spec, superb build quality and comfort, surprising performance and loads of life left in it.

If you like Citroens, you could get a nice SM for about £15k
Or you could buy a 1098 and a very nice late W124 diesel estate for the same money.

Ade (in denial regarding old MB running costs)

Gromit, some may say (and have said already) you pay for the name with BMW. That may be the case to some extend, but really the beemer is on a different level compared to the others. I won't say the others suck, but they just do not compare to the BMW. It is a totally different class car. The only problem I say with that, is once you are used to that level of class and sophistication, it is very hard to go back as cheaper cars will just seem, well, cheap.

Another you may want to look at is the Volvo S40/V50 series. They are right up there with the 3-series, but a little cheaper. I run the S40 2.0D myself, with its 135hp engine, finish and comfort it is a really great car and plenty fast (0-60mph in 9s).

Gromit

With regard to the Octavia I would say go for it. We have a number of Octavia's at work from 4x4 Diesel estates though to VRs Hatchback and estates - 200bhp!!! The diesels are very good, some have the 130bhp motor some have 150 bhp. Most of the time they return 45-50 mpg and they do not get driven sympathetically. They are rarely off the road apart from routine servicing. They are essentially a rebadged Passat or A4 - depending on your viewpoint. The only thing is from a private buyers point of view is that due to the name badge the residual value in a few years time may not be as good as a VW or Audi. But then that all depends on how long you keep it. If you keep it for 5+ years then is it really an issue anyway as you would have had your fair share of use from it. Just as an example a local Skoda dealer to me has an Octavia Estate 4x4 130bhp for under £16k on an 06 plate with just about 3k on the clock. Hope my 2p's worth helps!!

Richard,

as you know I have a bit of experience driving different cars.In fact I probably have as many demo cars as you do bikes. My experience is mainly with large chauffeur type cars ,but the same things apply throughout the range. Most of the Japanese cars are very mechanically reliable but may not suit you style wise. If you are having to pay garage charges you may wish to avoid BMW & Mercedes because of their high prices and poor reliability. The VW group of companies are normally very reliable and garage rates are more reasonable. In my opinion the Audi is the overall best car maker of the last few years.I have just handed back my 22month old A6 with 76,000 miles on. It has had 1 replacement bulb,only 2 normal services,1 set of tyres,and never missed a beat. The 2.7 TDI averaged 46 mpg,and would exceed 50mpg on long runs. An A4 with the 1.9TDI would suit your needs perfectly.
If you need any help on prices etc,let me know ,as I have lots of contacts who will give me honest information.

Funny,when Richard put his posting up,my only thoughts were about the dog,he was nice.

Gromit wrote:Thanks Lloyd - seems you've come from somewhat similar ground to us ie French stuff.

The Touran does appeal but it is somewhat pricey, like you say. We've limit of 15k - 15.5k at an absolute push which doesn't quite stretch to a good TD140 Touran with the sort of age/mileage we'd consider. We do like the car though. We'd be keeping this car for at least 8 years (we tend to do 5 years at least) probably more.

We've just paid £16.5k for a new one on the road (SE spec) because nearly new ones were about the same sort of price What's that all about
Tried the Zafira (dull) and the S-max (too bling) but they both had a power band which was odd for a diesel and something my wife was nervous about.
If you are keeping the car for a long time then some of the electrikery is bound to go wrong at some point so keep things as basic as possible I'd say. For instance - stay away from the Renault electric handbrake WTF
The Focus/C-max may do for you but too small for us.
I personally couldn't do business with BMW (cars) or Merc coz I'm not that sort

winger wrote:Funny,when Richard put his posting up,my only thoughts were about the dog,he was nice.

You hairdresser

m25jambuster wrote: They are essentially a rebadged Passat or A4 - depending on your viewpoint.

Just to do a bit of nitpicking - the Octavia (Saloon and Estate) is built on the Bora Estate floorpan. Yes - there is such a thing as a Bora Estate- apparently it is not the same as a Golf Estate

IMHO - either the VW/Audi TDi 4-cyl or the Peugeot/Citroen HDI engines are the ones to have.

sandbar

Lloyd - 16.5k for a new SE Touran is a good price, & certainly a fair wack below list from what I've seen. Was that from a VAG dealer?

Chris - our Jack. Still very sadly missed.

Gromit wrote:Lloyd - 16.5k for a new SE Touran is a good price, & certainly a fair wack below list from what I've seen. Was that from a VAG dealer?

Wayside in Towcester - t'was the last of the pre-facelift type so a good deal was had, doubt if there are any left tho
Drive the deal did have some at a good price but I've not looked recently