Estate/MPV/SUV upgrade from Volvo V50 - budget up to £5,500.00.

elsmandino

Hello,

I have had my 2009 Volvo V50 for a year now and we have concluded that it was not the great purchase we first thought - my wife and I have a 2 1/2 year old son and the car just is not big enough (the interior is deceptively small). We would like to have another little one, in the not too distant future, and need to get something with a bigger boot for shopping, prams, toys etc.

Rather than a bigger estate, we like the idea of an MPV or perhaps even a crossover.

We also like the idea of having more than 5 standard seats (not an absolute deal breaker but definitely desirable for us) - both for flexibility in seating arrangements but also for occasionally carrying a few other family members on long trips.

What do you recommend for up to £5,500.00?

My preference would definitely be petrol over diesel.

Thanks

Herzlos

Crossovers will probably give you even less space - only look at if you need the ride height. MPVs or standard estates will be much better for storing stuff.

Also forget about anything with a pop up 3rd row - you can barely use them for humans, and using them usually leaves you with no boot space.

motorguy

elsmandino wrote: »

Hello,

I have had my 2009 Volvo V50 for a year now and we have concluded that it was not the great purchase we first thought - my wife and I have a 2 1/2 year old son and the car just is not big enough (the interior is deceptively small). We would like to have another little one, in the not too distant future, and need to get something with a bigger boot for shopping, prams, toys etc.

Rather than a bigger estate, we like the idea of an MPV or perhaps even a crossover.

We also like the idea of having more than 5 standard seats (not an absolute deal breaker but definitely desirable for us) - both for flexibility in seating arrangements but also for occasionally carrying a few other family members on long trips.

What do you recommend for up to £5,500.00?

My preference would definitely be petrol over diesel.

Thanks

A petrol Zafira will be as cheap as chips, and offers great flexibility. Cheap to work on too.

The 1.8i is robust and reasonably frugal and gives a useful amount of power.

Your £5.5k budget (or a fraction more) could potentially get you in to a 2014 car.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201706146447174?transmission=Manual&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&make=VAUXHALL&maximum-mileage=70000&year-from=2014&sort=sponsored&price-to=6000&fuel-type=Petrol&postcode=m308bq&advertising-location=at_cars&model=ZAFIRA&radius=1500&page=1

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201706036099807?model=ZAFIRA&sort=sponsored&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&maximum-mileage=70000&postcode=m308bq&radius=1500&make=VAUXHALL&year-from=2014&transmission=Manual&price-to=6000&fuel-type=Petrol&advertising-location=at_cars&page=1

elsmandino

Herzlos wrote: »

Crossovers will probably give you even less space - only look at if you need the ride height. MPVs or standard estates will be much better for storing stuff.

Also forget about anything with a pop up 3rd row - you can barely use them for humans, and using them usually leaves you with no boot space.

Thanks for that - I shall stick with MPVs for the time-being.

Are there any 3rd row models that have half usable seats? Most of the time the 3rd row will be put away and just used as boot space - they will only be used on occasional trips, when I need to get a few extra family members in for shorter trips.

The Zafira does look rather good - you get a lot of car for your money. The only thing that slightly worries me is that both of the linked cars seem to be the Zafira B - I seem to recall that they were subject to unexpected fires.

I have also been looking at the Ford S-Max, Grand C-Max, Mazda 5 and VW Touran.

Herzlos

elsmandino wrote: »

Are there any 3rd row models that have half usable seats?

You'd need to try and sit in them and check out the boot with the seats up, to determine if you can live with them.

motorguy

elsmandino wrote: »

Thanks for that - I shall stick with MPVs for the time-being.

Are there any 3rd row models that have half usable seats? Most of the time the 3rd row will be put away and just used as boot space - they will only be used on occasional trips, when I need to get a few extra family members in for shorter trips.

The Zafira does look rather good - you get a lot of car for your money. The only thing that slightly worries me is that both of the linked cars seem to be the Zafira B - I seem to recall that they were subject to unexpected fires.

I have also been looking at the Ford S-Max, Grand C-Max, Mazda 5 and VW Touran.

All of those other options (a) tend to be available only in diesel form, (b) where there is a petrol option it will be very hard on fuel and (c) will tend to buy a much older car for your money - meaning potential bills looming, etc.

The Zafiras seating is surprisingly flexible and usable, with the rearmost seats dropping in to the floor when not in use and the middle row able to slide forward easily.

bengalknights

Id recommend a Touran or a Seat Alhambra if you can find one within budget

BeenThroughItAll

It's a shame your budget is only £5000.00. Could probably have got a nice Range Rover for £5000.01

motorguy

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

It's a shame your budget is only £5000.00. Could probably have got a nice Range Rover for £5000.01

The O/P could replicate the ownership experience though by periodically flushing £,£££s down the toilet?

BeenThroughItAll

motorguy wrote: »

The O/P could replicate the ownership experience though by periodically flushing £,£££s down the toilet?

Oh, you know I think that's a little unfair. We've had four through the family at various times and done tens of thousands of miles in them without any significant problems, and not one breakdown.

wba31

I have an S-Max, boot is enormous with back 2 seats folded down. Have had 7 in it a few times, the shortest have to go in the very back, but the middle row of seats move forward to allow more leg room.
Don't expect a great MPG, I have a 2 litre diesel that does 45mpg overall, cant imagine how great the petrol is. When buying I half considered getting the 2.5 petrol and I'm glad I didn't now.
A friend of mine has recently got a Corolla Verso, and with back seats folded down it's a surprisingly spacious car. It feels well put together, gripes I have with my Ford is that it's a bit rattley, I only had Honda's before and I've certainly noticed the difference in build quality.
Mazda 5 if worth a look too, think it comes with sliding rear doors which is very useful with a little one to get in and out of a car seat...