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Finally convinced the wife that the Scenic has to go. 4th Breakdown in 4 months.
So we've been car shopping. Needs to be big enough to take twins and associated twin transportation items, plus the entire stock of mothercare that we seem to take everywhere with us. Has to be Petrol as it will be mainly used for short trips of less than 5 miles.
Choices are:
New - Skoda Yeti 1.4 TSI SE
New - Skoda Octavia Hatch 1.4 TSI SE+
New - C-Max Titanium
Used - 2009 Toyota Corolla Verso
Used - 2008 Mazda 5 TS2
We've got a great deal on the Skodas, not so hot on the C-Max. Verso has done 12k and is £8800 with the trade in and the Mazda is £6500 with a trade in and it's done 24k. Am I mad to consider the 3 year old Mazda over the Skodas?
I have never bought a new car so can't really help.
However, my in-laws have had two Versos in recent years and love them to bits. They have been very pleased with the reliability, customer service and dimensions of the car itself.
If they were STWers then they would recommend the Verso!
I have a 2005 Verso (diesel) - has been good for shifting bikes, and 'stuff'.
Will you be trying to shift a double buggy? I'd try and fit the buggy in the boot of whichever car you choose and see what space is left - i'm guessing the answer will be 'not much'.
It might be worth thinking about boot-lip height for ease of loading said 'stuff' too.
Can't comment on the cars themselves, but we've had an Audi A3 and an A1 with the 1.4TSi engine.
It's nice enough to drive and pulled OK in the A3 - enough oomph to be comfortable on the motorway, or for overtaking etc. The one downside was that the real-world economy with it wasn't great - in the A3 we averaged only slightly better (i.e. 1mpg) than a 1.8T over a similar period and mix of driving. I think this is a classic case of the smaller engine needing to be worked that bit harder compared to the 1.8T.
We have a mk1 C-max and its very comfortable and roomy, without looking too boxy.
A mate has one too, and he has twins and they cope. I'll ask him for thoughts...
Mazda 5s look good though with slidey-door usefulness.
I'd love a Mazda5 but look at the woes of reader reviews on whatcar
Verso is a piece of p*ss to get a double in the boot, even with the rear seats shifted back - we get a Phil'n'Teds in there AND a Zapp and still have a fair bit of room for sandwiches and buns.
We have an old one as 3 children = 0 resale value after about 10 minutes ownership - it's been perfect. Get a diesel though, I have the 1.8 VVTi as it was cheap and I was offered more on trade in than I expected to get for my car on a private sale, and it's a bit thirsty. Tax is a fair bit more too.
I really wanted to like the 5, but the seating only works if you only fill two of the rear seats and can fold the other row flat - else you have less boot than the Verso. But that age and mileage is fine, it's just about run in. If you can live with the space it'd be my choice, and pocket the change.
Are we talking the new C-Max? I LIKE that but it looks abit of reverse-tardis.
If it was my money; Yeti.
We recently bought a skoda octavia 1.4tsi estate. Looked at the Yeti, but the boot is too small to cope with 2 dogs and baby/toddler equipment.
Octavia is a nice car. it's not amazing, but it's solid and comfortable. A bit of road noise, but been in worse. Good kit. feels well put together.
1.4 engine is ok. as has been said before, can't get anywhere near economy figures stated by skoda. even when driving really gently and keeping revs below turbo. For it's size it pulls ok when you plant it for overtaking. At 6k less than equivalent diesel we are still saving dosh.
Quite happy with it despite the father in law laughing cos "it's a skoda". He's got a disco 3 and makes regular trips back to the dealers to get things fixed......
Has to be Petrol as it will be mainly used for short trips of less than 5 miles.
Car not needed for that. Try a bicycle. 8)
We have a Mk1 C-max with the twins, they are 15 months old and in the Tobi chairs now. Not sure about the new C-max but be careful about putting chairs in it, especially baby seats, between the moving rear seats and the false floor in the rear the only baby/base combo that worked was the most expensive thing on the market, the cabrio-fix maxi cozy thing. which we have a pair of for sale btw if anyone is interested.
We can get the easywalker duo pushchair in the boot, but then not much else. We have a topbox for big trips. It has been OK but personally in hindsight I would have gone for something bigger. Especially with the dogs, bike, bike gear etc.
The integraged blinds in the rear are good though, as is the mirror above the rearview that looks at the rear seats. also being able to completely remove the middle seat means we can actually get the pushchair in that space if you need the boot.
skoda all the way. quality vehicles, and they always come out top in customer satisfaction questionaires. the Yeti is supposed to be very good
Mazdas around that age have regular problems with the DSC so if it has that fitted ask whether it has been repaired with the updated unit. Otherwise it is a £800 repair.
Can't comment on the engine, but have 2 skodas including an octavia estate and been very happy with both of them.
Can't comment on the other cars or the 1.4 in particular but I've been very happy with my Octavia in 6 months of ownership. I'd guess the Yeti is more expensive than the Octy, though it's certainly the more interesting option. Octy boot huge (same size as the estate) - fits all our 1 year old's gear no bother.
Depreciation on a brand new car...
Whats the price difference between the new Skoda's and new versions of the Mazda?
Its done 24k in 3 years, hardly a lot. Worth checking out the tax though as the 1.4 TSI may be cheap tax.
Had a T-Spirit D4D Verso. Loved it. Only got rid because needed bigger car to tow our caravan. Would buy another without hesitation.
i had a 307, which is the same car as the scenic. It was awfully unreliable too 🙂
My pa has a Yeti, and loves it. not very big though. two kiddies and its going to be cosy in there. remember its based on a fabia, and the fabia is basically a polo.... (i think thats right!)
Has to be Petrol as it will be mainly used for short trips of less than 5 miles.
Why does that mean it has to be petrol??
That said, i'd recommend the 1.4 tsi. I have it in my golf and it's a great mix of performance and economy, and very smooth and quiet too.
Can't comment on the petrol Skodas, but we've had two diesels: Fabia and Octavia. Only have the Fabia now, both very good. Back-up is great at our local dealer. And I hate to say it, but my Octavia had less niggles than my current Merc!
Test drove the 1.4 yeti and was a bit dissapointed, it felt a bit weak, went with a 2.0 tdi Touran instead. Had considered the Mazda 5 and verse but the vw won out.
Looks like it's going to be the Yeti. Buggy fits in the boot no problem, We'll use a top box for long journeys.
Short journeys mean the particulate filters get blocked quickly as the engine will never reach anywhere near normal temperature. Both the Skoda & Ford dealers recommended Petrol, both from experience (we're in Guernsey so there's an awful lot of short Journeys!). The 1.4 has enough power for Guernsey driving and the trips to France.
I like the Mazda but the Salesman wouldn't budge on the ludicrously low price he was giving us for Scenic and it was an ex smokers car, the interior smelt like a pub.
Test drove the Verso after the Yeti and it just didn't feel that great to drive, bit flat. The extra seats would only be useful for kids when we had the child seats in the 2nd row, so consequently just felt like extra weight.
The Skodas both seemed incredibly good value for the spec, I'm a VAG fan and have a Seat Leon which is great. We're planning on keeping it for 5 years so the depreciation isn't really an issue.