Which car is best?

Yolina

Since you have another car, would it be worth waiting to see if things are manageable with the KA? And if not, then go and get something else.
I know things are very different nowadays with seats and stuff, particularly with twins, but my parents had not particularly large or practical cars when I was a kid and it was fine. Until I was 8, mum had a 2CV and my dad had a Matra 530. The 530 is what was used to go on holiday :rotfl: We then acquired a large dog so my mum got a bigger car, because there's no way we would fit 3 of us, luggage, a small dog and a large dog in the 530 or 2CV (and my dad then replaced the 530 with a Bagheera...)

Strider590

first78 wrote: »

Skoda Fabia as we've heard that they handle well in snowy conditions and are reliable cars in general. We were also wondering how they'd compare with something like a VW Polo or Vauxhaull Meriva?

Seriously, forget what you've "heard", gossip isn't what it's cracked up to be, for example I wonder how many people spend a fortune on unreliable VW Golfs because the "heard" they were most reliable car.

Winter conditions are all about your tyre's, nothing else matters.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/motoringvideo/9715518/Winter-tyres-put-to-the-test.html



Fair play though, you've come to the right place to ask questions. Some people get stuck in the limited knowledge of their social circle and end up making big mistakes.

rxbren

get a zafira plenty of space not any bigger than an astra estate - which their based on!
dont waste your money on anything smaller you will find you will be in desperate need of space they can be picked up pretty cheap in the top of the range design or elites even with the top 150bhp diesel engine

cootuk

If your Jazz is 5dr then can't she have this, and you buy a larger family estate?
If you do get a large boot, then she will be forever dragging you down Ikea and buying stuff for the kids' rooms.

OddballJamie

rxbren wrote: »

get a zafira plenty of space not any bigger than an astra estate - which their based on!
dont waste your money on anything smaller you will find you will be in desperate need of space they can be picked up pretty cheap in the top of the range design or elites even with the top 150bhp diesel engine

Hmm... 1.9 cdti 150/120 can be problematic. If you don't need seven seats, then why pay a premium for them?

rxbren

your not really paying a premimun for them prices arent far off of astra estate prices leave it as five seats and have plenty of space in the boot the diesels arent problematic its the dpfs (as any diesel doing low miles) which can be removed for less than £300

NickD76

If you want something compact(ish) and easy to handle and park etc, but big enough for a double buggy your choices are pretty limited. I think you will either have to go for a small car in estate model (eg Ford Focus estate) or something a bit bigger like an Octavia. The Toyota Avensis might not be a bad choice either, they are really good cars.

OddballJamie

rxbren wrote: »

your not really paying a premimun for them prices arent far off of astra estate prices leave it as five seats and have plenty of space in the boot the diesels arent problematic its the dpfs (as any diesel doing low miles) which can be removed for less than £300

From Honest John

"1.9 diesels can be delightful to drive, but give a lot of problems:

Failed inlet manifold swirl flaps (and the flaps can break and be ingested by the engine).

Failed EGRs.

Choked DPFs.

Failed timing belts, often because the waterpump seized. Belt, tensioner, pulleys and waterpump need replacing every 40,000 miles.

Failed oil pumps.

Failed dual mass flywheels.

Failed turbos."

I'm a member of quite a few Vauxhall/Opel/Astra forums and know people with the 1.9cdti, I nearly bought one myself until I researched it. This Fiat engine is best avoided.

The Zafira is more expensive than an equivalent Astra estate or Vectra, so you are paying more for two seats that you will need to find a place to store.

kimandju

A Jazz is like a Tardis- maybe consider swapping over?!
However if I were to buy a family car for twins, I would go for a Picasso, they are not attractive but they have three separate seats and a good size boot.
At least until you are buggy free you are going to need a big boot.

rxbren

it must be true then as it was written on the internet