£16k family car

[ThisInJapanese]

Here's the rules!

1. SUV or MPV style body (elevated driving position is important)
2. No diesel, too many short journeys and not enough in the way of motorway miles for it to make sense
3. Has to swallow 2 adults, 2 kids, 1 dog and have roof bars for a roof box, so space is a must
4. In direct contracdiction of point 3 the car must be able drag the above family down to Pembrokeshire (4 hours away) on holidays a few times a year. So not really interested in a lot of 1.0 / 1.2 engines that dominate this price point, 150bhp would be the break even point I'd think with that sort of weight on the motorway

Toys are good, nothing else really matters. We were just about to buy brand new 3008 Hybrid GT, but for reasons I can't be arsed explaining it's not happening.

Have removed the diesel spec, as this seems to open up a few new options, which might be more interesting, the BMW X1 being one of them.

Edited by ThisInJapanese on Sunday 27th June 19:49

[ZX10R NIN]

The answer is the Ford Kuga 1.5T 180 in ST Line X:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106264...

Top spec Titanuim X Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105032...

Or Titanium X spec:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106023...

RX450h although these are older you'll still get a years Warranty:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106204...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105182...

Touareg Hybrid

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105072...

C5 Aircross 1.6T 180

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105263...

[Mo28]

Does the Lexus NX hybrid not fall into budget?

[ThisInJapanese]

ZX10R NIN said:

The answer is the Ford Kuga 1.5T 180 in ST Line X:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106264...

Top spec Titanuim X Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105032...

Or Titanium X spec:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106023...

RX450h although these are older you'll still get a years Warranty:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106204...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105182...

Touareg Hybrid

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105072...

C5 Aircross 1.6T 180

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105263...

The Kuga is certainly a car of interest, was there a facelift between 2015 & 2018? The red one looks to have a far more modern dash (is there anything that ages a car quicker than sat nav etc)

The 10 year old Lexus and VW are too old, we're coming from an 08 CMax, so that would be a hard sell.

Is the C5 based on the same chassis as the 3008? It looks similar and that could be a good shout...

[ZX10R NIN]

ThisInJapanese said:

The Kuga is certainly a car of interest, was there a facelift between 2015 & 2018? The red one looks to have a far more modern dash (is there anything that ages a car quicker than sat nav etc)

The 10 year old Lexus and VW are too old, we're coming from an 08 CMax, so that would be a hard sell.

Is the C5 based on the same chassis as the 3008? It looks similar and that could be a good shout...

Yes there was a a facelift & you got the later & better Sync 3 as well as a bigger screen.

Yes the 3008 & C5 are the same car underneath,

[ThisInJapanese]

Mo28 said:

Does the Lexus NX hybrid not fall into budget?

Not that I can see

[ChocolateFrog]

Sounds like you need a Transporter/Transit.

No car is big enough really to fit everything in for a family holiday, particularly when you've got a dog.

Unfortunately you don't get much for your money at the moment.

[ThisInJapanese]

ChocolateFrog said:

Sounds like you need a Transporter/Transit.

No car is big enough really to fit everything in for a family holiday, particularly when you've got a dog.

Unfortunately you don't get much for your money at the moment.

Roof bars with a box helps out.

However, your last sentence I think is the most telling, it's slim pickings in this sector at the moment.

[Evanivitch]

How big is the dog?

[Welshbeef]

S Max.

Try to find a Vignale (you can have petrol or diesel up to you).
We went for the 2.0 ltr bi turbo diesel 210bhp 6 speed auto.

We had the original S Max before this one which again was great - but now it’s old tech.

Look at my garage you’ll see all the spec - we’ve only had is a month hence costs are not really reflective of its normal run rate of pcm costs.

[ThisInJapanese]

Evanivitch said:

How big is the dog?

She's Cocker spaniel size (a mutt though) and we have a solution with the CMax that splits the boot in half, so would do the same thing:




Before we found the boot splitter. We can get about 6 soft bags in the half she doesn't use.

[DodgyGeezer]

sad that an SUV/MPV is a prerequisite - were it not for that I'd heartily recommend a Skoda Superb (as it really is aptly named: amazingly spacious; good mpg; extremely comfortable; good toy count)

[ThisInJapanese]

DodgyGeezer said:

sad that an SUV/MPV is a prerequisite - were it not for that I'd heartily recommend a Skoda Superb (as it really is aptly named: amazingly spacious; good mpg; extremely comfortable; good toy count)

This is going to be the next step of discussion, there is so much more choice with estate cars.

[ThisInJapanese]

Welshbeef said:

S Max.

Try to find a Vignale (you can have petrol or diesel up to you).
We went for the 2.0 ltr bi turbo diesel 210bhp 6 speed auto.

We had the original S Max before this one which again was great - but now it’s old tech.

Look at my garage you’ll see all the spec - we’ve only had is a month hence costs are not really reflective of its normal run rate of pcm costs.

Quick search shows the Vignale to be out of reach, but plenty of others. I hadn't thought of the S Max as an option, could be a great shout.

[Johnny Longstaff]

This may be a random first post on PistonHeads so apologies for not doing any formal introductions. First a question, where did you get the boot splitter as something similar would be very useful for this family? We have made a Skoda Roomster with roof box and bikes on a tow bar mounted rack do a similar job for the last 10 years as the kids have grown. We've managed camping holidays (just!) with the dog and I am starting to think about what to do next. I don't have an answer for us but have you considered a Touran? They feel a bit pricey to me but I think you would get a decent one for your budget. I just wish the VAG group had let the Touran spread around the other companies as I could see a low rent version with a Skoda or Seat badge on being our next vehicle.

[ZX10R NIN]

S Max Titanium X Sport 240

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106234...

Facelift Titanium Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106183...

[covmutley]

Xc60. Ours has been great.

[GreatGranny]

ThisInJapanese said:

...... the BMW X1 being one of them.

Edited by ThisInJapanese on Sunday 27th June 19:49

My wife has just bought an X1, picking it up Tuesday hopefully.

Went to view an XC60 initially but weren't impressed by the condition. The garage also had a white X1 18d Sport which my wife hadn't even thought about but on having a look around it decided it was the car for her.
It's a 65 reg but with your budget you'd get a newer one depending on engine and spec but I was surprised how big it is.
We have a Sprocker so need some boot space and the X1's boot is plenty big enough.
£20 tax and reported 60 mpg makes it cheap to run as well.

Slightly O/T Owner of the garage said he was having a bumper year and had bought a 3rd transporter for delivering cars that customers bought online without viewing. When we were there a guy arrived to pick up an A5. He had travelled from Manchester to just outside Peterborough for an A5!

Edited by GreatGranny on Monday 28th June 09:21

[Welshbeef]

ThisInJapanese said:

Welshbeef said:

S Max.

Try to find a Vignale (you can have petrol or diesel up to you).
We went for the 2.0 ltr bi turbo diesel 210bhp 6 speed auto.

We had the original S Max before this one which again was great - but now it’s old tech.

Look at my garage you’ll see all the spec - we’ve only had is a month hence costs are not really reflective of its normal run rate of pcm costs.

Quick search shows the Vignale to be out of reach, but plenty of others. I hadn't thought of the S Max as an option, could be a great shout.

We got ours 17 reg for low £17ks - you can see the options/ spec and mileage.

The S Max linked is the old model - I’d say given your budget is £16k I’d not be then wanting to buy a first generation. Basically if your budget was £8k that would be mark 1 SMax.

[ThisInJapanese]

Johnny Longstaff said:

This may be a random first post on PistonHeads so apologies for not doing any formal introductions. First a question, where did you get the boot splitter as something similar would be very useful for this family? We have made a Skoda Roomster with roof box and bikes on a tow bar mounted rack do a similar job for the last 10 years as the kids have grown. We've managed camping holidays (just!) with the dog and I am starting to think about what to do next. I don't have an answer for us but have you considered a Touran? They feel a bit pricey to me but I think you would get a decent one for your budget. I just wish the VAG group had let the Touran spread around the other companies as I could see a low rent version with a Skoda or Seat badge on being our next vehicle.

It's from these guys: https://www.travall.co.uk/dog-guard You might get lucky and find one on eBay, which we did, as they aren't the cheapest. However, it works a treat and we still have a decent chunk of space for both luggage and dog.