Car with 5 seats - likely Citroen Xsara Picasso advice

1978

Morning all,

We're looking for a bigger car, ideally with 5 seats.
The search has lead us down the route of likely going for a Citroen Xsara Picasso.

We have the following criteria:

• Budget £2,500 tops, would like to be closer to £2k if possible
• Our annual mileage likely to be 7k-8k
• Petrol engine based on predicted annual mileage
• Lower mileage (c 60k) preferred
• Ideally with service history
• Ideally with some kind of warranty (so dealer purchase likely)

Is there anything obvious we should be watching out for?
Seems that every car has it's "quirks" but nothing is jumping out at me for the Picasso.

There seem to be plenty of these beasts on the road and we currently own two fairly reliable French cars as it is! It's simply down to size that we will be changing one.

At the budget we'd likely end up with a 2006-07 model.

FWIW we've ruled out the Zafira and C-Max as similar sized cars. Open to any kinds of advice, be it for similar sized cars or for the Picasso itself.

Thanks as ever.

forgotmyname

Ford Mondeo.

motorguy

1978 wrote: »

Morning all,

We're looking for a bigger car, ideally with 5 seats.
The search has lead us down the route of likely going for a Citroen Xsara Picasso.

We have the following criteria:

• Budget £2,500 tops, would like to be closer to £2k if possible
• Our annual mileage likely to be 7k-8k
• Petrol engine based on predicted annual mileage
• Lower mileage (c 60k) preferred
• Ideally with service history
• Ideally with some kind of warranty (so dealer purchase likely)

Is there anything obvious we should be watching out for?
Seems that every car has it's "quirks" but nothing is jumping out at me for the Picasso.

There seem to be plenty of these beasts on the road and we currently own two fairly reliable French cars as it is! It's simply down to size that we will be changing one.

At the budget we'd likely end up with a 2006-07 model.

FWIW we've ruled out the Zafira and C-Max as similar sized cars. Open to any kinds of advice, be it for similar sized cars or for the Picasso itself.

Thanks as ever.

Yes, great cars. You should be able to pick up a younger, lower miles car than the equivalent mondeo.

Cant really think of any "gotchas" - as with any car, check it has been well serviced and well maintained, and that the timing belt has been done, if due.

Ebe_Scrooge

When you say you need 5 seats - do you mean 7 ? Pretty much all cars have 5 seats ( there are exceptions, I know ).


The Kia Sedona may be worth a look ? Bigger than the Zafira, and it has 7 proper full-sized seats, rather than the little ones that are in the back of the Zafira.

1978

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

When you say you need 5 seats - do you mean 7 ? Pretty much all cars have 5 seats ( there are exceptions, I know ).


The Kia Sedona may be worth a look ? Bigger than the Zafira, and it has 7 proper full-sized seats, rather than the little ones that are in the back of the Zafira.

Oops, I meant 5 'proper' seats (I realise the Zafira has just one long seat in the rear, but we looked at one anyway).

We've got two kids still in full size seats (maxi cosi tobi's) and will be needing to transport at least the kids (and a driver!) and an additional 2 adult sized passengers around for a bit.

With a standard rear seat and two kids seats I think we'd be in for a squeeze, whilst the separate seats may alleviate that somewhat. They'll only be short journeys but want things to be as comfortable as possible given the budget.

Thanks

knightstyle

Have a look at Honda FRV, 6 seats and a decent boot, Honda reliability and saloon car comfort.

[Deleted User]

Fiat Multipla might be worth a look. That's a six seated. Pig ugly though this would help get a nicer one for the money.
We have a Zafira with 3 young kids and sometimes grandparents too and works well for us.

motorguy

knightstyle wrote: »

Have a look at Honda FRV, 6 seats and a decent boot, Honda reliability and saloon car comfort.

And Honda prices, meaning you're going to get an older car with higher miles for your money.

bigjl

Picasso is reliable if somewhat boring set of wheels.

The interior does show wear and dirt easily.

A friend has had one from new, 52plate, and it still runs well though the interior still has a grubby look about it even though it I slowish mileage and it has been well looked after.

Would likely respond to a proper valet.

But I have always felt the seat material is a little on the thin side.

Nothing a set of seat covers wouldn't fix.

motorguy

bigjl wrote: »

Picasso is reliable if somewhat boring set of wheels.

The interior does show wear and dirt easily.

A friend has had one from new, 52plate, and it still runs well though the interior still has a grubby look about it even though it I slowish mileage and it has been well looked after.

Would likely respond to a proper valet.

But I have always felt the seat material is a little on the thin side.

Nothing a set of seat covers wouldn't fix.

+1

I've only ever seen one with a torn seat though, and it was a 220,000 mile diesel.

A good valet generally sorts out seats that are just a bit dirty.

I've always liked them - i sold quite a few when i was trading and they were generally a good news story - easy to sell, simple mechanics and never had any warranty claims with any i had.

Funny - i was thinking of selling the Jag X Type i have as it just lies at the airport and takes the dogs about at the weekend so its really more money tied up in a runner than needs to be, and its amazing what even £1,000 would buy you in a Picasso.

1978

bigjl wrote: »

Picasso is reliable if somewhat boring set of wheels.

The interior does show wear and dirt easily.

A friend has had one from new, 52plate, and it still runs well though the interior still has a grubby look about it even though it I slowish mileage and it has been well looked after.

Would likely respond to a proper valet.

But I have always felt the seat material is a little on the thin side.

Nothing a set of seat covers wouldn't fix.

One of the cars that we currently have is an old Citroen C3 and your post pretty much sums up the interior of that too!