Good Family Car suitable for camping trips?

Deborah1970

Hi all, just wondering what you would recommend as a good family car suitable for going camping with 2 children.

Ideally up to £4K price perhaps at a push up to £5k. Hubby favours diesels but is not fussed if manual or automatic as has driven both. Also would like a low Insurance group, reliable & not costing a fortune in parts & servicing!

Have noted that Citroens have problems with the electrics so they would probably be out. Not going to get another Peugeuot as although we loved both Peugeots we have had (a Partner Combi & a 407 Estate the parts were horrendously expensive when anything went wrong! Not that it did often.

Hubby was wondering whether a Ford Focus Estate would be a good idea or poss a VW Passat? A 2005/2006 is the oldest we would ideally want to go to.

Anyway over to you lot with any recommendations please? Thank you

leftinamess

Audi A6 1.9tdi avant great car or a VW passat should serve you well! Citroens get a lot of faults fords usually tend to also be reliable and cheap to run.

Deborah1970

Thanks leftinamess :-)

getmore4less

Skoda Ocatvia 1.9TDI estate

Go Mondeo rather than Fucus

Deborah1970

Thanks getmore4less. I wondered about a Mondeo as see a lot of them about. What are Skoda's like for cost of parts/servicing?

Skoda have come a long way. I am of an age when years ago Skoda were considered the pits, lol! Do like the look of their more recent cars though.

getmore4less

Skoda made from the same bits as Audi VW Seat.

If carrying a load of kit, you want a car with a big boot, no point in not having enough space so you have to have stuff in the cabin, the alternative is roof rack/box.

for cheap motoring just look at what taxis/private hire use.

skoda fixed price servicng
http://www.skoda.co.uk/gbr/owners/national-pricing/Pages/National-pricing.aspx

fluffysox

getmore4less wrote: »

Skoda Ocatvia 1.9TDI estate

Go Mondeo rather than Fucus

We have a Skoda Octavia 1.9 TDI not the estate but the boot is huge. Great car.

thegirlintheattic

Another vote for the Octavia or Passat (diesels but not estates). We're regular campers and have used both of the years. Plenty of room for gear (lots and lots of gear) and four adults.

forgotmyname

I would say Mondeo because i own one and its great. This is my 3rd...

spacey2012

Mondeo's are great until the suspension needs attention, the rear shock absorbers can be a £1500 job to replace.
To be honest, Look at what taxi drivers drive, they can not afford repairs or down time and the Skoda diesel is the choice With passats close behind

Tigerprint

Skoda Superb, VW Passat, Audi A6, later Mondeo, all diesel.......