Which people carrier to buy/avoid for around £4-5k

bigjl

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

Ok, here's a plan...

Cargiant fans: Pick me out an automatic 7 seater, with room for a buggy in the boot, from cargiant, ideally under £5k.
Cargiant haters: It's your turn next - what's wrong (or might be wrong) with the car(s) they pick out.

I'll tell you what i have my eye on.

A Zafira 2.2 SRi auto, 63k miles, 58plate. One owner. I a nice met black colour.

Only issue is it is £6299+91 fees.

Now i may have shot myself in the foot as you may be able to get hold of the extra.

But i looked round it quickly last week and it looked clean an tidy.

Would have had a test drive but i am still waiting for my Ill Health Retirement to be processed and waiting for the cheque from apersonal accident claim that just settled to arrive so i don't want to look at it too closely incase it sells.

If it does then i will be up the auction.

But after having a little run in the BiL's 2.2 Vectra it is a nice powerful engine.

I have driven Zafiras long enough to know they are fine for family use and will be reliable if not fitted with the cdti engine and the DPF.

If you can afford the extra give that one a look.

With any luck they will get some more Grand Scenic autos in, they have had loads lately.

JimmyTheWig

bigjl wrote: »

A Zafira 2.2 SRi auto, 63k miles, 58plate. One owner. I a nice met black colour.

Only issue is it is £6299+91 fees.

If it makes the difference between something good and something naff then we might be able to push to £6k. But another £400 on top of that is just pushing it too far.
Though saying that, it's a 58 plate, so wouldn't be too averse to paying for it over 3 years rather than 2. So the money is just about possible.

But about the one thing that I know about all of this is that the Zafira is too small. The boot space in the Sharan with all 7 seats in is on the small side, but it's possible to get our buggy in if we take a wheel off. The Zafira boot is smaller, so that one's definitely ruled out.

I think that the Zafira is ideal for a 3 child family where you'd often need the extra seat(s) for friends, etc, but don't need them on a daily basis. I think it's too small for the 6 of us.


Any others you'd suggest?

JimmyTheWig

Have they reduced the Zafira to £5999, or is that a different one?

JimmyTheWig

I guess the only one they've got (unless there's some hidden not in the "MPV" category, which happens on autotrader) is the Grand Scenic.
http://www.cargiant.co.uk/MPV/details-512937-MPV.asp?viewtype=0
What do people think?
What warranty do you get with Cargiant? Can you extend the warranty with them? Or elsewhere?

Or given that it's only 3 years old and done 30k, do we take the chance and not get a warranty?

bigjl

That will almost certainly be an ex motability car. Very popular with the autobox from i have seen at both BCA, Chelmsford and CG.

That one will not be in the main compound yet. But if you go down there, maybe phone beforehand, then i think they will find it for you.

You need to remember that tgey sell lots and stock lots.

The buying experience is more Lidl than Harrods.

I would take the chance and not have a warranty, but i know a autobox place in Hornchurch that can redo the autobox fron aeound a grand.

Not everybody will be happy with that.

You can buy a warranty when you buy the car. We didn't buy a warranty when we got the wifes dci Clio and my BiL didn't bother with his Vectra.

I don't think it is a waste of time having a look, it is onky three years old and if clean and tidy would probably have cost you £4/4500 plus fees at auction. The really cheap one i saw recently needed a little bit of bodywork repair.

I think you can buy warranties from 1 to 3 yrs and they will try to sell you Supaguard aswell no doubt, i never have that as i can't see the value myself. Cheaper to put on some seat covers from Halfords.

If you go there you will need to show your licence to get a test drive and they may try to stop.you going too far, just say you need to check the autobox goea in all gears and they will probably let you go down Scrubbs Lane.

Don't let people put you off going there.

And i am not saying definately buy from.there. But i would if they had the car i wanted.

Not sure if the one at £6299 has been dropped in price, i will check later.

bigjl

Yes the one i fancy has been dropped in price. Not much chance it will be there when my money turns up.

Just so you know a Grand Scenic at a garage in Hornchurch has one in the same colour as that Grand you have seen, with roughly the same miles, same colour, same year and it is £6999, though i don't think he will get that for it. The price of the one you have spotted is the thick end of two grand cheaper, very MSE i would have thought.

Former_MSE_Andrea

Can we get this thread back on topic please? If you don't like what someone else says please put them on your ignore list.

Thank you!

Andrea

JimmyTheWig

Many thanks for all everyone's help on this.

Having been to look at a few over the weekend, we've come back to the fact that nothing is worth getting within our budget. The Grand Scenic, for example, was too small - and the seats in the back were too "temporary" looking. The C8, for example, was too expensive.

Have since contacted the AA and, assuming the paperwork looks ok when it comes through, we're going to keep our existing car and get AA Breakdown Repair Cover.

bigjl

Can't fault your logic to be honest.

Don't forget that Addison Lee sell ex minicabs at three years old for decent prices and will continue to do so via their website for many years to come.

A good source of fulll size mpv's at reasonable prices.

Even CC free if they are still registered as a minicab!

There are very good reasons why the Sharon and Galaxy are popular with Private Hire fleets, they are reliable and cost effective to run.

All Addison Lee vehicles are now automatic and have been since about 2006/7.

I wouldn't buy a C8 or a Grand Voyager, they may be fine in private use, but I know of nobody that would have another for Private Hire work, PH work sorts the good from the bad very rapidly.

Out of interest how much are you paying for your AA Breakdown Repair cover if you don't mind me asking?

scheming_gypsy

I'd go for something like a Delica, no idea why because i prefer Toyota's.. but they look like they'd be happy chasing goats through mountains.