What car to replace a Citroen Nemo Multispace?!
Discussion
Sorry, not a very PH what car thread but it's for my dad! He also has a mk3.5 MX5 which is pretty awesome but has a strange taste in "practical" cars. He curently has a 2010 Citroen Nemo Multispace 1.4 HDI with only 43k (probably worth around 3000?)
He bought it not long before retiring hence the relatively low mileage and it replaced a string of diesel estates/hatchbacks and MPVs (latterly a 2006 Golf that he ran up to 90k with no issues). My mum and dad like it because there's a lot of space in it when they fold all the seats down for trips away and they can load it easily through the sliding side doors even in narrow parking spaces, which is useful as they often take their bikes with them, which are mounted on a tow bar mounted rack. They also use it to tow a small trailer.
Due to his mileage being considerably lower, he wants petrol this time, as fuel is mostly cheaper and less potential issues with DPFs, DMFs etc. Having said that the Nemo has been reliable apart from requiring some front suspension work costing around 300 pounds per time twice in the last 6 years (a known issue with these vans).
He would happily buy another, as he has a good relationship with the dealer/salesperson having bought 4 cars there over the years (ZX Estate, Xsara, Xsara Picasso, Nemo) but Citroen/Peugeot no longer make a Nemo Multispace/Bipper Tippee and the Berlingo/Partner is too big/expensive.
His go to choice is the Fiat Qubo then and at 13000 pounds for a new 1.4 petrol Mylife (which has everything on it you really need), it's certainly cheap but I'm not really convinced. Service-wise, the local Fiat dealer aren't that great and the 1.4 8v petrol is pretty gutless I would imagine, not that economical and high RFL (Band G?). I've driven the Nemo and it's surprisingly decent to drive but I think the appeal is that despite not being quick or having much power, the 1.4 HDI is quite punchy for its size. Also, the low RFL and good mpg make the package. The design is also basically unchanged from my dad's car, so not a very cutting-edge design. I wouldn't advise him to get the 1.3 Multijet, as I have heard that these engines can have quite a lot of issues.
My mum finds the Nemo a bit noisy and bouncy though and I think would like something a bit more car-like, so despite the lack of sliding doors, quite likes the look of the C3 Picasso. The 1.2 PureTech has 110bhp (so I'm guessing is turbocharged) and sounds like more the ticket to me but it is about 16k.
So any more suggestions that meet these criteria.
Petrol
Manual transmission (dad hates automatics)
Small but practical
Cheap (around 13k or less would be the target)
New but I might be able to convince him to go ex-demo or up to 1 year old if low miles
Sliding doors desirable!
I have suggested the Ford B-Max with the economical and low CO2 1.0 Ecoboost but it is more expensive and I'm not sure if it's as big. Dad's not sure about Fords but mum had a mk1 Ka for 10 years and loved it!
I quite like the Fiat Panda and it looks a lot bigger than the old one but haven't seen one up close. I think a top-spec Twinair would still be less than 13k?
I'm a big advocate of Japanese cars for reliability and engineering and originally suggested a Honda CRV/Mazda CX5 but far too pricey, although the Jazz/Civic seem super practical for "ordinary" hatches.
New Nissan Note looks tonnes better but mixed reviews.
I would personally get a Skoda Yeti (especially the now discontinued? 1.8 TSI), as I think they're great but again more expensive (start around 17k for the 1.2 TSI).
Any thoughts on any of the cars above or anything else that we have overlooked? Other than a 3 year warranty, I can't personally see any sense in replacing the Nemo with a petrol Qubo.
He bought it not long before retiring hence the relatively low mileage and it replaced a string of diesel estates/hatchbacks and MPVs (latterly a 2006 Golf that he ran up to 90k with no issues). My mum and dad like it because there's a lot of space in it when they fold all the seats down for trips away and they can load it easily through the sliding side doors even in narrow parking spaces, which is useful as they often take their bikes with them, which are mounted on a tow bar mounted rack. They also use it to tow a small trailer.
Due to his mileage being considerably lower, he wants petrol this time, as fuel is mostly cheaper and less potential issues with DPFs, DMFs etc. Having said that the Nemo has been reliable apart from requiring some front suspension work costing around 300 pounds per time twice in the last 6 years (a known issue with these vans).
He would happily buy another, as he has a good relationship with the dealer/salesperson having bought 4 cars there over the years (ZX Estate, Xsara, Xsara Picasso, Nemo) but Citroen/Peugeot no longer make a Nemo Multispace/Bipper Tippee and the Berlingo/Partner is too big/expensive.
His go to choice is the Fiat Qubo then and at 13000 pounds for a new 1.4 petrol Mylife (which has everything on it you really need), it's certainly cheap but I'm not really convinced. Service-wise, the local Fiat dealer aren't that great and the 1.4 8v petrol is pretty gutless I would imagine, not that economical and high RFL (Band G?). I've driven the Nemo and it's surprisingly decent to drive but I think the appeal is that despite not being quick or having much power, the 1.4 HDI is quite punchy for its size. Also, the low RFL and good mpg make the package. The design is also basically unchanged from my dad's car, so not a very cutting-edge design. I wouldn't advise him to get the 1.3 Multijet, as I have heard that these engines can have quite a lot of issues.
My mum finds the Nemo a bit noisy and bouncy though and I think would like something a bit more car-like, so despite the lack of sliding doors, quite likes the look of the C3 Picasso. The 1.2 PureTech has 110bhp (so I'm guessing is turbocharged) and sounds like more the ticket to me but it is about 16k.
So any more suggestions that meet these criteria.
Petrol
Manual transmission (dad hates automatics)
Small but practical
Cheap (around 13k or less would be the target)
New but I might be able to convince him to go ex-demo or up to 1 year old if low miles
Sliding doors desirable!
I have suggested the Ford B-Max with the economical and low CO2 1.0 Ecoboost but it is more expensive and I'm not sure if it's as big. Dad's not sure about Fords but mum had a mk1 Ka for 10 years and loved it!
I quite like the Fiat Panda and it looks a lot bigger than the old one but haven't seen one up close. I think a top-spec Twinair would still be less than 13k?
I'm a big advocate of Japanese cars for reliability and engineering and originally suggested a Honda CRV/Mazda CX5 but far too pricey, although the Jazz/Civic seem super practical for "ordinary" hatches.
New Nissan Note looks tonnes better but mixed reviews.
I would personally get a Skoda Yeti (especially the now discontinued? 1.8 TSI), as I think they're great but again more expensive (start around 17k for the 1.2 TSI).
Any thoughts on any of the cars above or anything else that we have overlooked? Other than a 3 year warranty, I can't personally see any sense in replacing the Nemo with a petrol Qubo.
Edited by white_goodman on Tuesday 29th December 16:35
bungz said:
Sounds like the Nemo does everything your parents want already?
Yes, I kind of agree with you. I think as he used to be a high mileage driver that he just got into the habit of changing regularly but I see more drawbacks than benefits with him changing it for a petrol Qubo. Other than the suspension issue and the exterior temperature sensor which is broken and my dad is unwilling to pay 300 pound to fix, the Nemo has been totally reliable, very practical and very cheap to run. I would understand if he wanted something different i.e. a bit more refined and comfortable and I think the C3 Picasso or B-Max if sliding doors are essential with their turbocharged petrol engines would do this but not a petrol Qubo! 
clockworks said:
I owned a Qubo Multijet for nearly 3 years, and thought it was a great car for local journeys. Even better after I had it remapped.
Interesting. Did you use it mainly for short journeys? No DPF/DMF issues? I had read only negative things about the 1.3 Multijet, so assumed that it was best avoided!white_goodman said:
He would happily buy another, as he has a good relationship with the dealer/salesperson having bought 4 cars there over the years (ZX Estate, Xsara, Xsara Picasso, Nemo) but Citroen/Peugeot no longer make a Nemo Multispace/Bipper Tippee and the Berlingo/Partner is too big/expensive.
Citroen C4 Cactus. Naturally aspirated 1.2 developes 80 odd BHP but only weighs 965kgs so doesn't feel underpowered and according to the figures is fairly economical. I drove a courtesy base model and found it to be refined, roomy and it rode well. It's built on the C3 platform so smaller and more narrow than it looks.Edited by white_goodman on Tuesday 29th December 16:35
That said if the car suits your dad why change it? My dad bought a new Vauxhall Zafira back in 2004. Like your dad's car it wont set the PH world on fire but the combination of a compact size (for a full 7 seater), practicality, ease of access and the fact it's not that bad to drive combined with the old bugger (the car not my dad) just keeping on going from MOT to MOT without presenting with any bank breaking repairs has meant he has never changed the old bus.
Tannedbaldhead said:
Citroen C4 Cactus. Naturally aspirated 1.2 developes 80 odd BHP but only weighs 965kgs so doesn't feel underpowered and according to the figures is fairly economical. I drove a courtesy base model and found it to be refined, roomy and it rode well. It's built on the C3 platform so smaller and more narrow than it looks.
That said if the car suits your dad why change it? My dad bought a new Vauxhall Zafira back in 2004. Like your dad's car it wont set the PH world on fire but the combination of a compact size (for a full 7 seater), practicality, ease of access and the fact it's not that bad to drive combined with the old bugger (the car not my dad) just keeping on going from MOT to MOT without presenting with any bank breaking repairs has meant he has never changed the old bus.
Thanks for that suggestion. Will pass it on! That said if the car suits your dad why change it? My dad bought a new Vauxhall Zafira back in 2004. Like your dad's car it wont set the PH world on fire but the combination of a compact size (for a full 7 seater), practicality, ease of access and the fact it's not that bad to drive combined with the old bugger (the car not my dad) just keeping on going from MOT to MOT without presenting with any bank breaking repairs has meant he has never changed the old bus.
white_goodman said:
Yes, I kind of agree with you. I think as he used to be a high mileage driver that he just got into the habit of changing regularly but I see more drawbacks than benefits with him changing it for a petrol Qubo. Other than the suspension issue and the exterior temperature sensor which is broken and my dad is unwilling to pay 300 pound to fix, the Nemo has been totally reliable, very practical and very cheap to run. I would understand if he wanted something different i.e. a bit more refined and comfortable and I think the C3 Picasso or B-Max if sliding doors are essential with their turbocharged petrol engines would do this but not a petrol Qubo!
External temperature sensors on most cars cost about £10 and are reasonably easy to change (although they can be in awkward places behind front bumpers) - £300 is ridiculous!!Toaster Pilot said:
External temperature sensors on most cars cost about £10 and are reasonably easy to change (although they can be in awkward places behind front bumpers) - £300 is ridiculous!!
Yeah, it's in the door mirror or something like that. He's not really that bothered enough to do anything about it. It just thinks that it's 35 degrees all the time!white_goodman said:
Yeah, it's in the door mirror or something like that. He's not really that bothered enough to do anything about it. It just thinks that it's 35 degrees all the time!
Can rely on the French to make something reliable and proven stupidly complicated that's for sureI'm another in the "stick with what he's got" camp
Quick update. They went to look at the Qubo, B-Max and C3 Picasso yesterday.
The salesperson at the Fiat dealership didn't even realise that they still made the Qubo and needless to say, they didn't have any in stock. The B-Max was nice but expensive and my mum thought the driving position was a bit low.
In the end, they bought a purple Citroen C3 Picasso Puretech.
The RRP was 16000 but they got it for 11500, which seems like a pretty good deal, even if it is purple! The other choice was white though, which they both hate. On balance, I think it was a good choice for them, as they have had a lot of Citroens and have had few problems and good service from the dealership service and sales department. I know that my dad would have been reluctant to cough up the extra money for the Ecoboost engine on the B-Max, which I think would have been the one to have but the 1.2 Puretech sounds like it should be pretty good. I would consider one as a family vehicle if it was cheap enough but maybe not in purple!
The offer on the Nemo was a bit lowball though I feel (2700 pounds). My dad got a quote on WBAC of 3100 pounds, so I think that I might have pushed them for that but my dad isn't a great negotiator. I guess they still got a pretty good deal on the new car and the dealer has the opportunity to make a decent profit on the PX, so win-win?
I used to sell cars myself and I know that it would be bad form to try and negotiate a better PX price once the order form has been signed but I know a local independent dealer whom I think would probably give them more. Would it be bad form to sell it to them instead? 9 times out of 10, I didn't care whether I got the PX or the money (in fact no PX was often less hassle) but on a retail car, I suppose I might see differently.
The salesperson at the Fiat dealership didn't even realise that they still made the Qubo and needless to say, they didn't have any in stock. The B-Max was nice but expensive and my mum thought the driving position was a bit low.
In the end, they bought a purple Citroen C3 Picasso Puretech.
The RRP was 16000 but they got it for 11500, which seems like a pretty good deal, even if it is purple! The other choice was white though, which they both hate. On balance, I think it was a good choice for them, as they have had a lot of Citroens and have had few problems and good service from the dealership service and sales department. I know that my dad would have been reluctant to cough up the extra money for the Ecoboost engine on the B-Max, which I think would have been the one to have but the 1.2 Puretech sounds like it should be pretty good. I would consider one as a family vehicle if it was cheap enough but maybe not in purple!
The offer on the Nemo was a bit lowball though I feel (2700 pounds). My dad got a quote on WBAC of 3100 pounds, so I think that I might have pushed them for that but my dad isn't a great negotiator. I guess they still got a pretty good deal on the new car and the dealer has the opportunity to make a decent profit on the PX, so win-win?
I used to sell cars myself and I know that it would be bad form to try and negotiate a better PX price once the order form has been signed but I know a local independent dealer whom I think would probably give them more. Would it be bad form to sell it to them instead? 9 times out of 10, I didn't care whether I got the PX or the money (in fact no PX was often less hassle) but on a retail car, I suppose I might see differently.
Neither Citroen/Renault have overcome the mistake they made when thy upscaled the earlier Kangoo and Berlingo models. Aside from a near 40% increase in price they turned useful practical vehicles into ersatz SUVs - poor value, clumsy and awkward to drive. In the same way that housesat smaller and furniture gets bigger, French manufacturers have lost touch with practique - every range needs a KISS (Keep It Small and Simple utility design).
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