economical big(ish) car

bluesnake

having spend a day wandering around CarGiant freezing, looking at newer models, but wanting their older cheaper ones around 2k, but not more than 4K for something exceptional

For me the Suzuki Grand Vitara came first but this one had a sagging back door, some rust and was not that old.

Citroen c3 picasso should have come in second place, but wide size 12 feet and small peddles killed it dead.

Volvo xc60 needs tall people with legs like a giraffe just to get in but it is very comfortable and you do not feel cramped but was a £15000 car

Honda FRV was ok, but was a 6 seater - 3 front and 3 back, so the seats were very narrow and I claimed part of the small middle seat as well, so uncomfotable

Nissan Note was quite good, but too narrow, one shoulder touched the door and the other the passenger seat. Head room was a bit tight too.

Suzuki Agila - too narrow.

Ford fusion wing mirror that is auto closing sounded like it was under powered and about to give up. I have not been in a ford in 25 or more years, they are still using the same buttons and style - felt really dated. The killer was the foot console between the driver and passenger seat cramped peddle and leg access, making it uncomfortable.

One I did not see was there was Honda CRV. Tried a 2000 model elsewhere. Seating was more cramped than the Vitara, but could live with it. Now to get a good one at a decent price.

Others either not there or I did not try: Corola Verso, Yaris Verso (too old to be there), Avensis Verso, the Suzuki SX4 (apparently parts only available from the dealers and expensive)

Next step would be to try a yaris verso - about 1K

steve-L

TradePro wrote: »

Did you read a specially edited version of the survey printed to be placed in BMW/Audi showrooms?

Nope a specially edited version published in the Telegraph.

steve-L

vikingaero wrote: »

Cars such as the C-Max, Picasso, Zafira are popular with Motability users because of the space and the high seating which makes access much easier by having a seat near natural bum level.

All true however there are catches....
For anyone (not just someone with a disability) what feels comfortable on a 10 mile test run can turn out to be uncomfortable in a 6 hr journey and perhaps dis-abilitating the day after.
For anyone with an old injury or disability this is magnified.

Small things such as the angle of the seat/pedals seem comfy and can turn out not to be.....
What suits one person might not suit another..

There are some cars to avoid .... and some cars to test but I'd really say, try and do a longer than 10 min test....

forgotmyname

I have a mondeo and its comfy, But i tried a C-Max and after a few minutes i started to ache.

But this will vary for everyone. You need to try it. If your serious about buying something and not just messing them about.
Say you want it but need to test it properly. Take a paper and sit in the car for an hour reading the paper with everything adjusted and your foot on the throttle for that length of time.
Can you walk after? Or does it make you stiff?

andygb

forgotmyname wrote: »

I have a mondeo and its comfy, But i tried a C-Max and after a few minutes i started to ache.

We have had a Mondeo for about six years (now very much the second car), but it has been comfortable from the word go.
We got rid of a Mazda 3 last year, because neither of us could get comfortable in it (and it was unreliable and uneconomic), and a 4 hour drive would leave you with severe foot and leg cramps.
Our present Octavia is a very comfortable car.

forgotmyname

The older Octavia is a Focus sized car though not Mondeo sized and i tow a caravan so need the extra weight.

scaredofdebt

Mondeo has a low seating position but the OP should try one as it would tick the other boxes.

julie2710

Zafira is pretty good on fuel economy both the petro and diesel. lts of space.
Nissan quashqai or Hyundai 4x4 I think they do two one is cheaper than the other!

Good luck