Please help - big car advice.

huggermugger

10 days ago my solid dependable Golf blew up (seized camshaft) and two days later my 6ft son broke his leg in three places. Conservative estimate is that he will be in a full leg cast for 12 weeks. I need a car at least 140cm wide to take him weekly to the fracture clinic 20 miles down the motorway. I have a max of £2200 to spend. I would like an estate as I have 2 dogs and tend to heft furniture etc around. I really, really don't want a people carrier. It needs to be sturdy and reliable. I have a good local garage and am used to looking after an old car. I have been trawling autotrader and ebay for days and just getting more and more boggled. Any advice/suggestions gratefully received.

Rolandtheroadie

Just buy any car and remove the front passenger seat to get the 140 cm required.

Tilt

Maybe one of these?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201311129851113/sort/priceasc/usedcars/postcode/wv46hb/page/1/body-type/estate/radius/1500/make/alfa_romeo/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/price-to/2500/price-from/2000?logcode=p

Weird_Nev

I'll second the advice about temporarily removing the front passenger seat for the space if you need to. The transportation of your son is a temporary thing, and any car could be modified to do that for a couple of months. Front seats come out on 4 easy to find bolts, and disconnecting a single electrical connector on them. Five minutes work.

How about a Volvo V50 1.8 Petrol Manual, 2004 car with 100k miles (Honestly nothing to worry about if the history checks out) for £2,155?

I've driven these pretty extensively, they're a good drive, comfortable and well kitted out. Room for 2 medium sized dogs.

If that's not big enough, (and they're not massive) then consider a Volvo V70.

There are also Ford FOcus C-Maxes and Mondeo Estates in Budget.

huggermugger

I have thought about the passenger seat option but it is a very severe break - which is why we have to have it x-rayed every week. In general it needs to be kept level and still. I had already decided my next car would be an estate tbh. Have been looking at V70s, just not sure which one - there are so many!

Slowly_does_it..

I found walking around car showrooms helped me - even if the car is beyond your price bracket, you can see what model etc you are looking for and what you want to avoid. (Like my head not being able to fit into a fiat 500). Then take that knowledge and throw that at autotrader / ebay.

colino

I'd guess a high percentage of 4/5 doors around have a passenger seat that both pulls forward pretty far and the backrest that can be wound back to almost lay flat. Sitting in the back seat with leg outstretched could be useful transport until the thing knits back together and no real need for a one-job car.

tanith

Speak to your GP and ask for hospital transport to be provided to the appointments. I did this kind of work for 20yrs and we often transported younger people in full casts as they cannot get in a normal car.. its worth asking.

colino

Hospital transport should (rightly) only be the very last resort for those with no other reasonable means of transport. Try an 8am pick up (anytime between 8-11am in reality) for a 2pm weekly hospital appointment.

Walter_White_2

Just get an old Volvo 940 Estate. A decent example can he had for under £1k, they are comfortable, reliable and the turbo versions are tepid enough to be entertaining. They are spacious and DIY friendly.

Chrishazle

Mercedes E class estate, particularly the diesels. Massive load luggers, at that price you're looking at probably pre 1999 so solidly built and little or no rust problem, bullet proof engines - have a look on the MBOA and MBClub forums (mbclub.co.uk and mercedesclub.org.uk).