Cheapest large/family diesel car to run

ClaireLR

Any advice re the above?
We're currently running a 1.6 Renault Grand Scenic. Looking for something of a similar size (doesn't have to be 7 seats) with cheap tax, good MPG, large boot and cheap(ish!) to fix when things go wrong!
Thanks 😀

Herzlos

What's your budget and mileage? What's up with the scenic?

Large and cheap rarely go hand in hand.

You can get a 2018/2019 Vauxhall Combo Life 7 seater for under about £15k now, pretty van like but should be cheap to run.

If you don't do high mileage it might be worth looking at an imported Nissan Elgrand. Huge car with massive spec for not much money, but they will have pretty horrible running costs (2.4l automatics).

ClaireLR

Herzlos said:

What's your budget and mileage? What's up with the scenic?

Large and cheap rarely go hand in hand.

You can get a 2018/2019 Vauxhall Combo Life 7 seater for under about £15k now, pretty van like but should be cheap to run.

If you don't do high mileage it might be worth looking at an imported Nissan Elgrand. Huge car with massive spec for not much money, but they will have pretty horrible running costs (2.4l automatics).

Nothing massively wrong with the Scenic, it's 9 years old now so looking to part ex it for something before anything major goes wrong with it and its worth nowt!

We're currently getting around 50mpg combined with a fully loaded car. Have seen some cars getting up to 74mpg (vauxhall astra estate 1.6, also £20 road tax) but wondered how realistic this was. Budget around £8k, not looking for anything to new or expensive as the kids will probably end up breaking something in it as they usually do 🙄

Ibrahim5

If you've got a good un, just keep it.

Grumpy_chap

Nothing wrong with the Scenic.
9 years old.
£8k budget for a replacement MPV / SUV.
You could well end up with something no better, or even worse, than the Scenic especially given the crazy used market at present.  At least the Scenic is a known entity.

Herzlos

Car prices are mental at the moment so I'd be inclined to keep the money for repairs/upgrading later.

Car tax went up from April 2017 so if you go later than a 66 plate you'll pay more in tax so it's likely not worth it. 

forgotmyname

Cheaper tax is most likely dwarfed by depreciation of the newer vehicle.

Cheap to fix when something goes wrong, probably your current vehicle or something fairly old with the
least amount of gadgets possible.

Reliability surveys usually had the sportiest or highest spec models lowest in the list of reliability, more to go wrong.
Never had to replace a wind up window mechanism but replaced many electric ones.

ClaireLR

Thanks all. Thinking I'll just keep the Scenic for the time being!