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Hi Dave,

Generally speaking it is, but much will depend on who you go to for a disabled access conversion. Worth remembering that the new Toyota Proace Verso is mechanically identical to the Citroen SpaceTourer and the Peugeot Expert,  so it might be worth having a shop around to see if there are any sharper deals going on those.

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Hi Rowland,

Sadly no, the two offers are generally mutually exclusive. On top of which, the zero per cent finance offers are generally only on PCP (or Personal Contract Purchase) plans. Being as those run on a three-year replacement cycle and you’ve kept your Peugeot for 14 years, I’d suggest that they may not be the ideal way to buy a car for you. I reckon you’d be better off with either a Hire Purchase plan or a bank loan and taking full advantage of the ‘scrappage’ discount.

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Hi Dan,

I think you’ll probably need to upgrade to an MPV with all those kids and all the kit you’ll need to carry around with you. If you don’t fancy a seven-seater then there’s always five-seat versions such as the Volkswagen Golf SV or Citroen C4 Picasso. Have a look at the likes of a Volkswagen Touran, Kia Carens or Toyota Verso too.

Our reviews to help you decide:

Volkswagen Golf SV review

Citroen C4 Picasso review

Volkswagen Touran review

Kia Carens review

Toyota Verso review

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Hi Troy,

The 508 RXH is a really likeable car, with tremendous comfort and very good quality. It’s a bit pricey, but a surprisingly good choice. We would avoid the Mondeo Vignale with all our might – the depreciation on a Ford that costs that much is going to be catastrophic so instead just go for a well-equipped Mondeo Titanium or Titanium Plus. The best of the three is the Skoda, though. It’s the biggest inside and will have the best resale value.

Here are some of our reviews to help you decide:

Ford Mondeo Vignale review

Skoda Superb Combi review

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Hi Des,

It depends on just how big a car you need, and if you need a full seven-seater. The Volkswagen Golf SV, for instance, has the space for three seats across the back, but doesn't have the folding seats in the boot of the bigger Touran. Both are excellent cars, but you'll save a considerable amount of money by going for the SV. Others worth considering are the Toyota Verso (available in both five- and seven-seat forms), Citroen C4 Picasso (ditto) and the Kia Carens (only a seven-seater).

Peugeot's 5008 and Ford's C-Max are also worth a look, but if you need something bigger, if basically boils down to two choices - Ford S-Max or SEAT Alhambra. 

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Hi Asier,

It would of course depend on the year, which you haven’t given us I’m afraid, but the ballpark runs from €1,400 for a 2004 model to around €6,000 for a 2008 model. 

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Hi Valerie,

The problem is that you’re going to struggle in a premium-brand car to find the sort of rear-seat width that you need. The sad fact is that most sporty, expensive estates are designed around four passengers and the middle rear seat is usually an uncomfortable perch that’s often too narrow to comfortabley fit a car seat into.

So, I’d suggest you broaden your remit a little. Of the premium cars, realistically only the Volvo V70 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class are going to offer the kind of cabin space you need. If those are too expensive, look instead to the more workaday brands – Ford  Mondeo, Volkswagen Passat, Toyota Avensis, Mazda6 and Peugeot 508. You may not get the premium badge you crave, but you’ll get the interior room you need and at a much lower cost.

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Hi Rob,

They're a pretty solid car actually. Check the service history carefully and make sure that the 1.6 HDi engine has had regular oil changes with high grade oil. Black smoke means either a blown turbo or at least turbo seals and check the air conditioning to make sure it's chilling the air properly. 

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Hi Ben,

That sounds like a pretty decent deal, and the 3008 – although it’s due for replacement later this year by an all-new model – is still a better than decent car.

As for the timing belt change, officially Peugeot says that the belt should last 10 years, or almost 250,000km, but to be honest we’ve always felt that that sounds way too long. I’d insist on a belt change every 100,000km at the most. Your car should be fine for now, but start thinking about it well ahead of the official schedule and beware – if the oil pump leaks on that engine it leaks onto the belt, potentially damaging it or causing it to slip.

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Hi John,

Should be somewhere around the €28k mark as a trade in.