Vauxhall Meriva vs Honda Jazz

pemalu

Hi

I'm single mom, 2 children (10+7), needing to replace our car. Kids are growing fast, so are their friends, so I'm looking for a car with good rear seat space. Having visited few garages, I narrowed it down to a 2005 Vauxhall Meriva Breeze 1.4, 42K mileage, GBP 5995 or 2007 Honda Jazz 1.2, 16K, GBP 6695. So the Jazz is GBP 500 higher.

I find both to be similar in space and lacks power on high speed. However, the Vauxhall's engine was quieter. The seat on Vauxhall Meriva seem more comfortable than Honda Jazz but probably the Jazz is more reliable due to the newer age. I've been told that Jazz can be unreliable after 5 yrs, and the parts are expensive.

The car will mostly be used to drive around town. I'm now confused, should I go for the older or newer car?

I would appreciate your experience/opinion as it is a big expense yet I don't feel experienced enough about it.

Thank you.

hewhoisnotintheknow

dunno how load the meriva is but the noise inside a jazz is really loud and annoying

marlot

Check out the reviews (including what goes wrong) here:

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm

oldagetraveller

I have a Meriva 1.7 Diesel and find it very quiet for both engine and road noise. So I would assume the petrol version is a bit quieter? I would personally opt for the bigger engine, 1.6 for the Meriva. The seating is very good with that Flexispace system for the rear seats. With the front seats right back as well as the rear seats the available legroom is fine even for me, an overweight 6 footer!
They do have their problems though (Merivas), I would check, as suggested for known issues, all electric power steering, gear linkage etc..
However, the Jazz is possibly more reliable. There is a thread somewhere on MSE where someone has had a Jazz gearbox failure at 27000 miles I think, that could be an unlucky one off? I wouldn't know about the long term durability though. If you're budget allows it I would go for the lower mileage Jazz. Do check the service history, servicing costs, insurance costs etc. before parting with your dosh whatever you buy.

emmell

Looking at your figures the jazz is £700 more but 2 years newer, I think there will be less Honda's on the 2nd hand market than Vauxhall's so they might hold there price better.
Though nothing I have ever bought (and I'm talking a lot of car's) ever seems to hold it's price. Have you seen the rear seat arrangement in the jazz where the seat squab lifts up and gives you through loading, very handy for big items and lots of shopping.
ML.

MX5huggy

Have to take these values with a pinch of salt, but the Vauxhall is over priced

http://www.whatcar.com/valuations/result?makeId=2080&modelId=3866&editionId=3895&yearId=28&mileage=45000

where as the Jazz is about right.

http://www.whatcar.com/valuations/result?makeId=10582&modelId=10887&editionId=10895&yearId=34&mileage=16000

So if you prefer the Vauxhall, and in the end you say it is more comfortable go and find a new or cheeper one somewhere else.

Having never driven either I would take the Jazz.

Sidmon

Both very capable vehicles, and as such both have their benefits.

I've sent a Private Message to you Pemalu.