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I'm going to write off the Passat as ive now also heard too many negative comments.
Look at the sheer number of Passat taxis - if they were hideously unreliable and expensive to run, you'd not see that. Mondeos do, from my personal expereince, start to look tatty quite quickly, but like most cars, will go forever if well maintained.
Does anyone have good reasons as to not consider an L200? Asides from losing around 10mpg (which may well be a dealbreaker) they look to cover all bases and then some.
They're remarkably unrefined to drive, at least compared to any of the others on your list. The fact that they look awful may be the least of your concerns, but Mrs Slim may see it differently. They're also less safe (fewer airbags etc), make you look like a builder (not a problem for you, perhaps, but again, does Mrs Slim like the look) and are a pain to park. Uncomfortable seats on a long run and lots of noise, plus limited rear legroom (you're going for the crewcab version, I assume) make it a non-starter for most people.
[i]Anyone here use a Mitsubishi L200?.. [/i]
I also looked at a double-cab a few years ago, no good - due to:
- drives like a commercial
- little space inside, especially that is secure
- bikes on the outside, just like having them on a rack as I do now
- poor economy vs performance
- look like a chav
etc, etc
If I was after a vehicle where I wanted to put the bikes inside (which tbh I wouldn't as I use a tow-bar rack), and move the family around it'd be a smaller MPV - Zafira, S-Max etc.
If I was looking for something reliable and spacious I'd get a Honda Accord estate.
Why not a Toyota Previa though?
slimjim78 - Member
http://www2.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201151436705605/sort/locasc/usedcars/price-to/8000/maximum-mileage/up_to_20000_miles/model/berlingo_multispace/make/citroen/page/1/postcode/gu27xh/radius/1501?logcode=pThis Berlingo is almost... funky? I quite like.
I think they're pretty cool, especially the XTR model as in your link.
especially the [b]XTR[/b] model as in your link
but im more of a SRAM man.. 🙂
seriously though, it looks extremely practical. Just a shame they have such weedy BHP. A nice 120/130bhp diesel would be fun.
Off to look at Accord..
If my mighty Puma fails its MOT in a few weeks, on my shopping list for a new family/biking car is:
Subaru Impreza sportswagon
Volvo V70
slimjim78 - Memberespecially the XTR model as in your link
but im more of a SRAM man..
seriously though, it looks extremely practical. Just a shame they have such weedy BHP. A nice 120/130bhp diesel would be fun.
Off to look at Accord..
They do make a 110 XTR, but they seem to be rare.
110XTR sounds good. I love the 'modutop' option, loads of extra cubby holes in the roof and panoramic glass.
I'm going to view one of these.
Imprezza Wagon? Seriously nice, I would love one. Need my own personal oil reserves to fund the petrol costs though.
slimjim78 - Member
110XTR sounds good. I love the 'modutop' option, loads of extra cubby holes in the roof and panoramic glass.
I'm going to view one of these.Imprezza Wagon? Seriously nice, I would love one. Need my own personal oil reserves to fund the petrol costs though.
If you go for the modutop, you lose a lot of the load height. I looked at a modutop and a standard version and reckon the standard would be better for carrying bikes etc.
The chap at Citroen I spoke to said that the 110 had a lot more poke than the 90. The 110 is also the most economical model with a combined mpg of 53.3
Have had my Accord Tourer since new in Jan 05 and it has been a cracker. Go for a later model (your budget will allow it) and get the 6 speed box with loads of extras.
Ford S-Max?
Is the Accord as luxurious as it looks? ie, comfort and ride?
Ford S-Max will be investigated, colleague is insisting that a Galaxy would be better in terms of the extra space on occasion
I'd go for an Accord. You just can't go wrong with a Honda or even a CRV if you can stand something a little more thirsty.
We use taxi's a lot at work and it's a real mix of motors. Of all the ones you've mentioned so far the car I rate the most (albeit only as a back seat passenger) is the Accord. Really well screwed together, still feels tight even on an '04 plate. OK, any car can turn out to be a pup but Honda's reputation for reliability is legendary. Obviously not as outright practical as a Touran or Berlingo but certainly more comfortable and they just seem to age really well, just need to see if that boot'll swallow up your pride and joy... 😉
What about getting a Jap import? Something like a Toyota Previa/Estima, Nissan El Grand etc. A friend is importing one himself (saving a lot over buying one pre-imported apparently). You get all sorts of toys you don't get on Euro cars (remote control doors for example) you can get them in 4wd and hybrid too.
Personally I'd much rather get an MPV type thing rather than an estate, you may lose a bit on drive-ability but you get a lot more space, practicality and higher driving position.
I looked at (new shape) Berlingo when we recently changed cars, really great cars, may have bought one but the 110 XTR model which we saw smelled like an ashtray, we came back looked at it again, it had sold in the interim at a big discount and now smelled as fresh as any nearly new car full of chemicals could.
Does driving pleasure come into the equation? I seem to be forever 'bigging up' Mondeos, but they really do drive much better than any of the aforementioned cars. I've had two previous shaped 130BHP ones and I've currently got an '11 163BHP one. the previous ones never missed a beat over big mileages, this one has done 38,000 in 10 months and has had a small issue with warning lights. That's it. I test drove all sorts when I got this one and the only one that was better to drive (IMHO) was a 3 series touring. My previous two company cars were tourings and they do drive beautifully and are very economical. However, the Ford is vast inside whereas the BMWs are quite small.
Zafire, great for bike duty.
Also had 3 adults, 2 kids, 3 snowboards, and 3 pairs of skis + luggage in it last ski trip (we do have a roofbox, but still)......
Jap imports do interest me, particularly the daft looking ones, but the one time I searched for insurance quotes for one I was stunned to see how high the premiums were. I just cant be arsed to search around for specialists etc, it seems to me that costs go up across the board, registering, insuring, parts etc.
Quality of drive is important for me but TBH, ive had some fun cars in the past and now tend to get used to whatever im driving so as long as it pulls well enough at low speed, im happy.
The Mondeo certainly appeals to me for space/drive/economy reasons, but the electrical gremlins I keep reading of are a little concerning.
did the picture of mine sway you renton? 🙂
just received Mrs Slim's verdict on the Berlingo ''it’s U. G. L. Y and has no alibi''
although she didnt say No...
we're going through the same decision as you at the moment
me and mrs lanky are looking at quashqai (slow, bad reliability in theory- but good space, nice drive), astra estate (had one before as a work car and loved it), some sort of jap 4x4 and all the usual you listed
I really like the position, space etc of the berlingo type but they really aren't cool are they!? We're just about to turn 30, no kids, both get well paid, etc and all our mates are getting nice sporty cars (TT, MX5, Carrera, Z5 etc) before they get to the kids stage and have to give them up. We seem to be skipping this and just getting a family car to cart bikes in!
we just got a s-max. it's amazing. and not much different to a galaxy space-wise, while being better at being a "car" not a "taxi".
Lanky - your friends are pi$$ing money up the wall whilst you are making informed decisions, good on you! Besides, nearly every car gets boring after the 6 month newbie novelty factor wears off. Thats when economy/reliability/depreciation really comes to the fore.
Flatboy - tell me more about your s-max, im tempted to take a look at one as im starting to think that the more room I can get, the better.
We have one two year old child now and are planning another within the next 24 months, plus a possible dog - so I car we can grow into other than grow out of is possibly the most sensible thing I could buy.
5 Series estate?
Have a VERY good look at the Caddy Maxi-life - up to 7 seats, VW engine, 50+mpg and a huge load space!
Of the cars - Touran DSG or Corrola Verso with the glass roof.
Berlingo
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🙂
well we only got it on friday eve so not a longterm report as yet, but it's ace so far. got the 2.0TDI 165 horsepower. averaging 35mpg so far and only used it in London city driving. really nice to drive, definitely feels bigger than the focus we had, as it would, but handles really well, tons of space throughout for passengers and huge amount of boot space.
lots of nice features, love it so far!
Remember a L200 is a pick up truck, tax and fuel not great and general driving a chore, I've used a friends and as an everyday car appeal wears thin pretty quickly.
Passat very disappointing to own with lots of electrical niggles on the 2 diesels I've had.
More recently I've had an S Max Diesel from new and done 80k miles in it in 18 months. THE best family and biking car for me no question.
40mpg, seats 7,handy when grandparents come to visit, 5 up and loads of boot space. 4 up we took 3 bikes and camping gear and did Glastonbury and the car revelled in it.Quickclear screen is a joy on a cold day and real world comforts,great visibility and toys pretty unbeatable for money.Car drives like a car, handles well and is pretty quick on b roads in the lakes & n wales- visibility helps.
Drove it too Zermatt last March and we did the journey almost non stop,14 hours, 4 up with skis and all luggage, averaged 48mpg and arrived fresh and ready to ski!
Rear trim in boot needs care but the rest of car is very tough and has survived lots of youngsters and all of their crap.
Budget wise I'd have thought a 1.8 or 2.0 diesel zetec should drop into your price range by now with realistic mileages.
Come from a Mondeo st which I piled 160k miles on and loved it apart from several EGR valves it was fine. Gone to Accord tourer having problems with brakes and speakers. Nicely put together but no where near as load accommodating as the Mondeo. May well go for the 2.2 Mondy soon.
Mondeo was our winner on this debate 4 years ago. 65k later and I can't conceive of changing it even though we could afford something newer and german. Just had a bill for dmf and clutch at 103k and i didnt even mindthat much!
As for L200 i would avoid. Ultimately its a commercial vehicle and not a car.
Oh and if you don't do 15000+ miles a year consider a petrol one. Our petrol mondeo hatch is much lighter and nicer to drive than the diesel estate although it lacks the mid range shove. Better round town too, clutch is lighter and our petrol hatch averages 33mpg on mostly urban and sub 20 mile trips and 35 on a run. 04 diesel est gets about 45 on 40mile round trip commute plus longervruns
your mondeo's a lot better than our focus was, then - we had a 2.0 petrol and were doing well to get more than about 23 round town and 30 on motorway driving!
Seat Altea XL..lots of room and comes with the standard 1.9TD engine that works.
Basically just a facelifted B6 Audi A4. No complaints from here, the A4 is nice and grippy, decent engine, well built and solid on the road.
well, despite my best efforts to convince Mrs Slim that material desires are shallow and functionality should win over all, the Berlingo is a certain no go im afraid.
02 Rav4 192000 miles from new. Legen-wait for it-dairy! Can't beat Japanese reliability can you?
Never needed nuffink doing. Won't die no matter how bored of looking at it's dashboard I get.
Remove 1 seat and it takes 3 riders and their bikes on the inside. The newer ones seem less agricultural and I'm not so sure they are as versatile though.
T5 Kombi.
Debate ends.
Now go have a cuppa!
Double post
Volvo V70 -massive boot,loads of toys, reliable, good VFM , not very engaging to drive but excellent mile muncher. Wife went from Mx5 to it and loves it.
Defender Td5 110 CSW - once you get used to it- the best all round car you'll ever own, forget the L200 they're crap
Honda CRV diesel would be a very good call.
I should be a fan of the S-Max as I'm turning in a Fordophile however its the constant little niggles on Fords that annoy me. Things that need attention at somepoint etc etc.
In your budget you'll be looking at the slightly older models that will start to fall into the above ^^^
a mate has a honda accord estate it is bl**dy massive you could drive a mondeo up into the boot its soo big.
in ford's little niggly defence, in 3 years our focus didn't need a single thing doing to it other than consumables.
Drove a zafira today, it was a surprisingly decent drive, prefered it to my mates Octavia estate, just felt more comfy, and was massive inside.
Latecomer to this thread but saw this right at the beginning.
Now I normally have Vauxhalls (owned a couple and didn't enjoy them) but the Zafira's boot is great - someone came to pick up something I was Freecycling and he was on crutches but he still managed to slide the back seats forward with one hand whilst balancing on the crutches and it gave him a boot big enough to fit the drop-leaf table and four chairs I was giving away whilst still having the rear seats usable (he had his kids in car seats in the back).
For that alone they must be worth considering if the OP just wants a good lugging car.
Ohh and if you go for a Mazda 5 or 6 (or 3 but that isn't on the list) watch out for any fitted with DSC (dynamic stability control) as they are prone to fail and cost around £1200 to replace (it *may* fail an MOT with it showing as faulty).
So if you go for one ask if it has been replaced (and ask to see the receipt) otherwise you will have an expensive bill at some point.
The Mazda forums are awash with this problem and something like 48% of all Mazda 3s with warranty issues were for that problem yet Mazda won't accept it is a manufacturing fault and replace for free. We ended up contributing £300 towards the total cost when ours failed (managed to get Mazda to pay a bit after some extended haggling) 🙁
I have a previous shape Mondeo petrol on a 54 plate - cheap as chips and pound for pound the best car i've owned. Now done 142k and pretty reliable with bullet proof engine - no turbo diesel or cambelt to worry about.
Some of the interior plastics are iffy, but some very good, with still no squeaks or rattles or seat fabric rubbing up. The steering feel and handling are top draw if you are into that sought of thing which makes up for the slow and rather non inspiring 1.8 engine.
EDIT: Someone mentioned problems start with Mondeo's around 60k. To be fair mine had the usual Mondeo problems around 80k - wheel bearings/brake cable/compressor. However, been faultless for 60k and the cost is eased as its a cheap car.
Scamper - what cc engine is yours?