Reccomendations for sensible car required... :(

charlieannear · Post by **charlieannear** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 10:55 am

Mornin' all!

It seems to be quite the In Thing in the club at the moment to announce that you have succesfully reproduced, so never one to miss out I hereby announce that Di and I have succesfully reproduced.
Only one though!

Fear not, we have no intention to join the stream of members becoming ex-owners, being more of the school of thought that a baby-seat should securely affix to the boot rack that we haven't yet used.

But seriously, the front seat has fixing points for a baby-seat, and the passenger airbag can be disarmed, there's plenty of room in the boot for baby kit, or in summer what better use for the bootrack than clamping a pushchair to it!
So we're keeping the cc.
Definitely.

However, our other car is a MkII Golf, it's getting a bit long in the tooth (Its ready to pass on to someone who WANTS to replace bits of the engine :rolleyes: ) it ranks pretty low in the safety stakes by today's standards and the boot is nothing to shout about to the extent that I think we'd have the back seat folded down all the time.
So who's got a reccomendation for a sensible family car?

Julia · Post by **Julia** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 11:32 am

Congratulations!

Is this baby boom catching???

What kind of budget do you have?
I would say anything with 4 doors rather than 2 as you will be using the back seats a lot more.

charlieannear · Post by **charlieannear** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 11:49 am

Ta!

Yep, our Golf is a 5 door so no way we're going backwards from that.
Was thinking of 5 door hatch or even whatever they call an estate these days, as long as it doesn't look too bad. Is that possible?

Actual budget of about 4p, but amount to get in debt for depends on the discount I can get the car for (how much below list price via Forces Discount) and how much the car is likely to depreciate.
The logic being I might need to borrow more but will lose less, if that makes sense. i.e. buy a Vectra (heaven forbid) and lose Â£6K or buy a Golf and lose Â£4K.

Was thinking of an A3 but they only come in 3 doors?

paul_y3k · Post by **paul_y3k** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 12:13 pm

congratulations mate !

the golfs a classic !!!!! dont stick it in autotrader stick it on a vw owners club site you might get some more money for it .. how much you looking for ?

hmmm how about a pug 406 .. 4 doors, fairly cheap to run

charlieannear · Post by **charlieannear** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 12:56 pm

Cheers Paul!

Yep, it's a '91 (H) 1.6 Driver (twin headlamps) standard spec apart from VW roofrack, Cat 1 alarm/immobiliser, Sony head unit and 10 CD changer. It's black, good nick, 140K on the clock.
Prime Modding material or for owner who likes to keep things original very little needs doing.

Not looking at changing it until July really- it'll take us until then to sort ourselves out! But will def 'Target Sell' when the time comes.

Hmmm, not thought about 406 as it doesn't come in a hatch, but do the seats fold in saloons these days?

Esselle · Post by **Esselle** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 2:27 pm

Congratulations!

Is this baby boom catching???

As for family cars, how about the 307? Or the new Golf?

Nicck · Post by **Nicck** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 3:25 pm

Congratulations, and I hope the baby boom isn't catching

An Audi A3 would be my first choice but I'm fairly sure the new ones aren't 5 door, so no good for little uns in the back

How about a Toyota Corolla, mines been reliable and fun to drive even if it looks a bit dull!? Should hold its value better than a Focus or 307 too

charlieannear · Post by **charlieannear** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 4:18 pm

Cheers guys.

Been thinking about the Golf as we wanted an A3 but 3 doors is no good. Perhaps they'll do a 5 door later? Seems wierd.
But the Golf is a bit stuffy, and you don't get much kit. You don't lose much money on 'em either though...
But we're replacing a Golf (albeit an old *ahem* classic, one) and our neighbours have a Golf...
Passat is a saloon but do the rear seats fold in saloons these days?

I'm not a great fan of the 307. I'm not sold by their look and part of me doesn't want to be the 'Peugeot Man' in my road.

.

Focus & Mondeo are good cars but again suffer from depreciation.

Corolla is a poss- my friends have a T-Sport and although wouldn't be getting the hot hatch version it's a nice car. Like you say though, not really a looker. Nor is the Civic, although again a poss.

Been looking at the Mazda 3 today, now, IMO that IS a looker. :yes:

london-99 · Post by **london-99** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 4:41 pm

Congratulations!

Nicck · Post by **Nicck** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 6:26 pm

Been looking at the Mazda 3 today, now, IMO that IS a looker. :yes:

Oh yeah I'd forgotten about the Mazda 3. It's probably the best looking sensible/family car at the moment but the 'Sport' isn't sporty enough for my taste. Hold on, come to think of it why am I looking at sensible cars. No scrub that why do I own one!

Post by **Lyndon** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 6:48 pm

congrats to you both, charlieannear and di

Derek · Post by **Derek** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 8:08 pm

307 is ideal for a family due to size. if you want an older car then try auctions ...............

a guy who has just joined our company from the now defunct alldays had to buy a car as he previously had a company car .......

he has an R reg VX Vectra, good condition for year and only cost Â£1200 - i was amazed so there are some newish cars out there for little money.

charlieannear · Post by **charlieannear** » Thu Feb 05, 2004 10:46 am

Thanks again guys!

col · Post by **col** » Tue Feb 10, 2004 12:32 pm

Have you seen the mazda 3 4 door sports saloon? Thats a nice looking sensible car

charlieannear · Post by **charlieannear** » Tue Feb 10, 2004 1:33 pm

Yep, got that one on my shortlist.
I was considering a *cough* diesel, but the Mazda 3 diesel doesn't come in either TS2 or Sports spec with the diesel engine, which means I'd have to go without a lot of the gadgets that we've got used to on the cc.

A3 is out- only 3 doors until the Avant next Sept and then would be a LOT of moola.

Still to look at the Focus when the new spec is out.

Golf is main contender at the mo- as long as I can get a substantial discount!

Unless I change my mind about the diesel- and then I'd have to start all my research over again! :rolleyes: