Help buying a new SUV!

JamoLew

MX5huggy said:

Tell me why you don’t want an electric car? 

Cost and/or limited choice would be my guess 

There might be other considerations such as lack of off road parking which can make the whole charging overnight thing a bit tricky

MX5huggy

JamoLew said:

MX5huggy said:

Tell me why you don’t want an electric car? 

Cost and/or limited choice would be my guess 

There might be other considerations such as lack of off road parking which can make the whole charging overnight thing a bit tricky

Indeed, but they should be considered, 15 miles per day and space for a pram. Doesn’t exclude an EV. If they visit the in laws 500 miles away every weekend towing a caravan as they live in an 18th floor flat, maybe not.

Navigator123

If it does not have to be a new car I would look at the BMW X3.  The boot is half as big again as the X1 and the ride height is the same.  A lot more space and a 3 year old petrol X3 will cost about the same as a 1 year old X1.  Our last X3 petrol gave us over 130000 miles of trouble free motoring.

jimbo6977

How about a Fiat Tipo "Wagon" (estate)?
Make sure you get the more modern Multiair engine though.

JamoLew

MX5huggy said:

JamoLew said:

MX5huggy said:

Tell me why you don’t want an electric car? 

Cost and/or limited choice would be my guess 

There might be other considerations such as lack of off road parking which can make the whole charging overnight thing a bit tricky

Indeed, but they should be considered, 15 miles per day and space for a pram. Doesn’t exclude an EV. If they visit the in laws 500 miles away every weekend towing a caravan as they live in an 18th floor flat, maybe not.

Absolutely - I think sometimes its easy to get a picture in your head of what you want/need and be blinkered to other more sensible and practical suggestions/solutions

neilmcl

MX5huggy said:

JamoLew said:

MX5huggy said:

Tell me why you don’t want an electric car? 

Cost and/or limited choice would be my guess 

There might be other considerations such as lack of off road parking which can make the whole charging overnight thing a bit tricky

Indeed, but they should be considered, 15 miles per day and space for a pram. Doesn’t exclude an EV. If they visit the in laws 500 miles away every weekend towing a caravan as they live in an 18th floor flat, maybe not.

It's possible that they don't have anywhere to charge it at home, like a lot of us don't. Not everyone has off-road parking and the ability to install a charging point, in fact I'd guess a sizeable majority don't. The lack of local infrastructure is still a big stumbling block for those who want to make that consideration.

Goudy

If you're considering stumping up for an X1 or GLA, have a look at the Volvo XC40 as well.

Mercedes have had a few few niggles with the GLA, the GLA owners forum is a sea of disappointment.

The BMW X1 have tended to be more reliable then the GLA, particularly the petrol versions, though there are a few known faults with the suspension.

The XC40 has had a couple of recalls, but they are generally far more reliable.

BOWFER

neilmcl said:

MX5huggy said:

JamoLew said:

MX5huggy said:

Tell me why you don’t want an electric car? 

Cost and/or limited choice would be my guess 

There might be other considerations such as lack of off road parking which can make the whole charging overnight thing a bit tricky

Indeed, but they should be considered, 15 miles per day and space for a pram. Doesn’t exclude an EV. If they visit the in laws 500 miles away every weekend towing a caravan as they live in an 18th floor flat, maybe not.

It's possible that they don't have anywhere to charge it at home, like a lot of us don't. Not everyone has off-road parking and the ability to install a charging point, in fact I'd guess a sizeable majority don't. The lack of local infrastructure is still a big stumbling block for those who want to make that consideration.

Do you have a petrol pump at home?
Plenty of EV owners already manage without home charging.
They charge elsewhere, either on trickle chargers while they go shopping etc.
Or they sit in their cars and look at their phones for 1/2 an hour on a rapid charger (parking is often free if you're sitting in the car whilst charging)
It might not suit you, the anti-EB brigade will always find something to gripe about, but it's do-able.

BOWFER

marlot said:

SUVs are not as big inside as you might think - and there are plenty of cars bigger than a polo.

With a 15-minute drive, I'd recommend a petrol (or hybrid).
Perhaps a Suzuki Vitara?

I can't fathom for the life of me why people still bother with Suzuki.
The Vitara, especially, has to be one of the most 'unstyled' car on the road, it literally looks like a kid has made a car out of wooden blocks.
I can only imagine it's blind customer loyalty that keeps them going, it cannot be new buyers when all their cars (all of them...) are easily bettered by the competition.
Purely in terms of styling alone the latest Vauxhall Mokka blows the Vitara into pensioner land.

BOWFER

To the OP, I wouldn't stress about pram space.
I've always been of the opinion kids should fit around the car you want to drive, not the other way.
You can make it work, and you have to remember the pram stage is very quickly past,
Then you're into a very easily stored buggy, then that's past before you know it and they're walking.
No point you driving around in a car you might hate just to suit stages that are past very quickly.
I had a Mini Cooper for ages when our kids were young, we managed just fine because I loved the car and wasn't letting kids force me into a family-mobile.