What car??

carpool72

Thank you everyone. We're looking to spend about £6K plus trade-in so about £7.5 altogether. We're not in any great hurry but want to be able to look around at our leisure. This car has been a bit of a disappointment in terms of reliability tbh - lots of little niggles but the most frustrating thing has been over the last 2 winters when it has frquently refused to start, having a completely flat battery. We have a great (& cheap) mechanic who hopefully has found the problem will find out when it gets cold again:rolleyes:. But the next thing is that it has now sprung several leaks - yesterday in the heavy rain I found about a huge puddle of water in the passenger footwell and there are damp patches elsewhere too. We don't have a garage. It's a lovely car to drive but I don't really trust it & with 2 young children that's a big consideration.
The test drive idea would work for visiting friends, but we spend 2 separate weeks at my parents, about 5 hours away and we need the car while we're there as it's the middle of nowhere.
Am considering the Mondeo - hae never been a Ford fan but a friend recommended the new(ish) estate.
Anyway, lots of food for thought

AdrianHi

With your driving pattern I really wouldn't bother with a diesel which won't really like all that short trip town driving you do. You also don't do that many miles so I wouldn't be too sensitive about fuel consumption so long as you can get a mid 30's+ official combined MPG petrol car.
I will suggest a face lifted (2006 I think) Mazda 6 estate. Big load space, fun car to drive, easy fold down seats with servicing costs lower than VW and arguably better reliability.
You recognise the face lift model by changed headlight design and the interior trim is piano key black/ebony where the older cars were a slightly tacky silver coloured plastic trim. The face lifted model had suspension improvements which improved the ride. We found the ride too harsh on the pre-facelift estates and went for a hatchback, the estates do have different rear suspension.

Octavia a good option but smaller than the Passat.