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Suggestions for a new car please - for someone with mobility issues

Hello,

I know there have been a few threads recently with people asking for help to find a new car so I hope no one minds if I add another one.

My current car, 1.2 Fiesta Zetec Climate is rubbish. It is getting very old and it really needs replacing. I have listed my car needs below (sorry for the long list).

Budget
6 - 8 thousand. I know this is quite a lot, but I need a reliable car. Although the less I can spend the better. This car will have to last me for about 6 - 7 years too.

Mileage
I do about 120 miles a week mostly on rural roads so less than 7000 a year. There is no public transport where I live so the car is my only means of getting around.

Reliability
As I have mobility issues I need something really reliable. If I break down in winter I cannot walk easily in the snow and if I am in an area with no mobile signal to call for help I am pretty scuppered.

Boot
I need something with a nice, large boot for taking things to the tip, filling with lots of garden rubbish. Something the size of the Fiesta boot (the seats can also fold down in the Fiesta).

Car bling
I don't care if the car has GPS, mp3 player, reversing sensors etc. I don't even care what the car looks like (as long as it is not white).

Driving Conditions
The car has to cope with rural roads, including having to drive up grass verges with two wheels to get past tractors, combine harvesters etc. Oh, and BAD potholes in winter. It also needs to have enough grunt to be able to overtake tractors, horse boxes etc on short stretches of road between bends (i.e. better than the Fiesta). Alloy wheels are not great for where I live either.

Internal spec.
I need something that has a supportive seating position (but not bucket seats). I also need something that has a higher driving position (more like a van seat) so I don't have to fold myself in and out so much. Also, the cab part needs to be roomy so I do not have to squash myself in. I would be prepared to change the driving seat if need be, or buy a supporting cushion or seat back.

As you can see as there are so many factors that I need in the car due to where I live and mobility issues I am struggling to find something. I don't even mind a small van (something like the old style Escort vans would be OK).

Again, sorry for the long list and many thanks for your help.
spider
«1

Comments

  • force_ten
    force_ten Posts: 1,931 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Skoda roomster for sale

    have you looked at something like the skoda roomster?

    you can get a nice 2013 car with under 13k miles towards the top of your of your budget with the 1.2 petrol engine.

    the roomster is not really my type of car but looks a nice roomy fairly practical motor that may be suited to your needs

    Youtube Skoda roomster review
  • Hintza
    Hintza Posts: 19,420 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Here I go again.

    Have a look at the pre facelift Fiat Panda. The only thing it might fall down on for your needs is the driving seat. But it might be OK. The 1.2 is better.
  • forgotmyname
    forgotmyname Posts: 32,820 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    You dont need to spend £6k - £8k to get a reliable car. Cars tend to be unreliable because they are not serviced properly.

    My car was 5 years old and cost just over £2000 in 2009 and its still going strong. Despite me putting on double the mileage i normally do some years.

    Seating will be unique to you. I find my Mondeo ideal. I cannot sit in any of the other family members cars for more than 20 minutes without being in pain.
    You maybe the opposite and find my car worse.

    Reliability = Proper servicing and getting work done before its an issue. If it doesnt feel or sound right get it checked rather than leave it until the MOT fails it or its annual 5 year oil check.
    Censorship Reigns Supreme in Troll City...

  • sound like you need something with ground clearance for mounting grass verges to allow for passing machinery, like a skoda yeti like a roomster but higher in stance. also has decent boot space.


    for winter I would buy a set of winter tires so you limit your chance of getting stuck, but also buy a set of snow chains to put on the drive axel wheels, if the tires fail to grip.
  • Hintza
    Hintza Posts: 19,420 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    My car was 5 years old and cost just over £2000 in 2009 and its still going strong.


    This is all very well and your car was probably well looked after before you bought it but that is not always the case. For someone in the OPs shoes probably worth buying something that still has some remaining manufacturers warranty.
  • force_ten
    force_ten Posts: 1,931 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    sound like you need something with ground clearance for mounting grass verges to allow for passing machinery, like a skoda yeti like a roomster but higher in stance. also has decent boot space.

    The reason I didn't mention the Yeti is there doesn't seem to be much about sub 8 grand.

    Most of the yetis in the OP,s price range are getting on for 100K, so they are getting on in the miles and might not give the years of service that the OP was looking for.
  • force_ten wrote: »
    The reason I didn't mention the Yeti is there doesn't seem to be much about sub 8 grand.

    Most of the yetis in the OP,s price range are getting on for 100K, so they are getting on in the miles and might not give the years of service that the OP was looking for.
    plenty on autotrader and ebay for less than 8k. 100k is nothing to a vag group car with proper history and maintenance.


    theres one on autotrader with less than 80k £7295 with dealer SH.
  • force_ten
    force_ten Posts: 1,931 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    plenty on autotrader and ebay for less than 8k. 100k is nothing to a vag group car with proper history and maintenance.


    theres one on autotrader with less than 80k £7295 with dealer SH.

    the original poster is looking for a car that was going to last be six or seven years, to meet that criteria i wouldn't be recommending a car with 80K-100k at time of purchase

    surely if you want a car to last that length of time then a near new car witch is low in the miles and has some dealer warranty still in place giving you a chance to sort any issues before the warranty expires

    That would be my choice over a highley miler
  • force_ten wrote: »
    the original poster is looking for a car that was going to last be six or seven years, to meet that criteria i wouldn't be recommending a car with 80K-100k at time of purchase

    surely if you want a car to last that length of time then a near new car witch is low in the miles and has some dealer warranty still in place giving you a chance to sort any issues before the warranty expires

    That would be my choice over a highley miler
    seems logical to me and fair opinion, Ive bought low milers in the past, needed more TLC than a looked after higher miler due to it sitting around and the bare minimum service given to them because it hasn't hit its service milestones or the year milestones.


    not to argue with you, the yeti is within range although not in the year class, as is the roomster, although I thought the yeti would give the ground clearance over the roomster ticking another of the box's for the OP's requirements.
  • forgotmyname
    forgotmyname Posts: 32,820 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Hintza wrote: »
    This is all very well and your car was probably well looked after before you bought it but that is not always the case. For someone in the OPs shoes probably worth buying something that still has some remaining manufacturers warranty.


    Well looked after as in serviced properly with a print out of all the work done. Yes. Thats what i look for. Why would you choose a car thats serviced well past its due date or rarely?

    If they go theres a little scuff here and a scratch there im not worried as long as its tidy overall. But the service history must be spot on. If its run to within a mile or a day of the max service interval then i keep looking.

    I wouldnt touch anything neglected by the previous owner, Plenty of other cars out there.
    Censorship Reigns Supreme in Troll City...

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