We need a large seven seater with boot space.
We are looking for a seven or eight seater MPV for a family with four small kids so we will be using four rear seats daily and often five. Worried that the standard seven seaters don't have enough boot space with all seats in use. Driving in the city mostly so wary of large minibus type vehicles. Also safety and reliability are priorities.
Our budget is about €25K (less if possible!). We are changing from a large estate so are used to a large boot, hence most of the seven seaters I've looked at just don't measure up in terms of boot space.
What would you recommend? Thanks
Patricia McGuire (Dublin)Jun 2010 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Patricia,
You're right, most seven-seat MPVs have tiny boots when all seven seats are in use. One car that springs to mind straightaway is the Renault Grand Espace. This has a little more luggage space than the regular Espace. We found one on beepbeep.ie for well under your budget: click here to have a look.
You mentioned that you don't like the idea of a minibus style car, but it's worth checking a few out. The Mercedes-Benz Viano can be had for your budget for instance.
Safety and reliability are your priorities. The Espace scored well in the Euro NCAP safety ratings when it was launched and though there were reliability issues early in its life, these seem to have been ironed out by now.
I realise that's a very limited response. It might be worth considering using a roof box. That would widen your choice a little.
Let me know if we can help any further and what you decide upon. You can reply by logging in and putting a comment in the box below.
Which diesel automatic compact SUV to buy?
What do you think of the new Toyota RAV4 4x4 2.2 D automatic compared to BMW X1 D auto, Hyundai ix35 4X4 D auto, Kia Sportage 4X4 D auto or the Nissan Qashqai 4x4 D Auto?
Eamon Horan (Cork)May 2010 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Eamon,
That's quite a wide selection! Let's go through each model first of all:
Toyota RAV4:
Going by your shortlist you obviously need four-wheel drive and an automatic transmission. There's only a single Toyota RAV4 on sale fitting that, the RAV4 Sol in 4wd powered by the 'D-Cat 150 (2.2)' engine. That's a 2.2-litre turbodiesel. Choice stats:
- Price: €39,465
- CO2 emissions: 189g/km
- Tax band: E
- Annual road tax: €630
- Combined cycle fuel consumption: 7.2 litres per 100 kilometres
- Maximum power: 150hp
- Maximum torque: 340Nm
- Towing ability: Up to 1,800kg
BMW X1:
The cheaper xDrive18d model doesn't seem to have an automatic option so you'd have to go for the xDrive20d SE at least. The stats:
- Price: €43,091
- CO2 emissions: 155g/km
- Tax band: C
- Annual road tax: €302
- Combined cycle fuel consumption: 5.9 litres per 100 kilometres
- Maximum power: 180hp
- Maximum torque: 350Nm
- Towing ability: Up to 1,800kg
Hyundai ix35:
This is one of the newest SUVs on the market, but it's more of a crossover than an SUV really. That's emphasised by Hyundai only listing the two-wheel drive model with a manual gearbox on its website. It does say that "Automatic subject to availability. Please contact your local Hyundai Dealer", but we're not sure there is an automatic option available for this car as yet. We've asked Hyundai for clarification.
Kia Sportage:
There's an all-new Sportage launching later this year, so we assume you're thinking about that. Full details have yet to be released, though Kia tells us that, along with a new 1.7-litre turbodiesel engine a 2.0-litre turbodiesel 4x4 model will be offered on special order with an automatic gearbox. Tax will be band D, costing €447 per year. I'm afraid that's all we know at this stage. We're driving it next month for the first time.
Nissan Qashqai:
Nissan gave the Qashqai a facelift this year and it looks better than ever. For some reason the new look has not been applied to the seven-seat '+2' version on Nissan Ireland's website. However, the figures below refer to the regular five-seat version. The cheapest available with a diesel engine, four-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox is the Qashqai 2.0d A/T 4x4 SV. The stats:
- Price: €37,995
- CO2 emissions: 191g/km
- Tax band: F
- Annual road tax: €1,050
- Combined cycle fuel consumption: 7.2 litres per 100 kilometres
- Maximum power: 150hp
- Maximum torque: 320Nm
- Towing ability: Up to 1,400kg
Summary:
So, let's leave the Kia and Hyundai out of the equation for the moment, as we don't have enough information to make an informed decision.
The Toyota and Nissan compare well to each other. Like the Qashqai, the RAV4 was given a makeover for 2010 so it's fresher than ever. In diesel, automatic, four-wheel drive guise, the Toyota appears to win that battle, as the Qashqai is very expensive to tax. The Toyota is the better tow car too.
It looks like the Toyota probably wins outright on paper. The BMW X1 xDrive 20d is more powerful, significantly better on fuel and a newer design than the RAV4, but it's also a lot more to buy to begin with. Even paying less tax and fuel costs, it'd take a long time to claw that price difference back. Pity the xDrive18d doesn't come with an automatic transmission, as that could be a better choice, but in this list, the Toyota wins the logical argument.
Make sure you test drive examples of both before you decide and please do let us know in the comment box below what you end up doing.
How do I tell if a car is clocked?
Hi,
If I am buying a second-hand car, is it possible to tell if the clock has been tampered with and if the mileage is genuine? I know the best way to go is to buy from a reputable dealer, but can they guarantee the mileage on the clock is genuine?
Thanks
Mark Mc Dermott (Dublin)May 2010 Filed under: service history
Expert answer
Hi Mark,
It's not always easy to tell if a car's clock has been tampered with, even for an expert. Reputable dealers can just as easily get caught out as the rest of us so they cannot guarantee the mileage for you.
However, there are plenty of things you can do to reduce the chances of getting caught out.
1 - If a car has been clocked by a real amateur they may leave some telltale signs behind, such as scratched trim around the fixings of the dashboard or misaligned numbers on the clock itself. Bear in mind of course that there may be a genuine reason for these things too.
2 - Don't just skim through the service history. Check it in detail and note the dates of any service stamps and the corresponding mileages. If a pattern is strangely broken it may suggest something awry. Obviously not all cars will have a full service history, but the more documentation available the better. That includes things like old NCTs.
3 - Double check the mileage when you actually come to collect the car. A sneaky trick is to wind back to clock for initial viewings and then, just before the buyer collects the car, wind it forward again.
4 - Look for wear and tear on the seats, steering wheel, carpets and pedals. If any of these are badly worn it means that many kilometres have passed under the wheels. It's a good idea to look at as many examples of the same car as possible so you get a feel for the average condition.
5 - If you're serious about a specific model it could pay dividends to do a full history check. On the left-hand side of this page is a link to MotorCheck.ie, which provides a comprehensive check for a modest fee.
6 - Never be afraid to walk away. If something doesn't feel right, then look elsewhere.
Hope that helps.
What seven-seater for our new arrival?
We need to get a seven-seater when our fourth child arrives soon, so we're looking at a SEAT Alhambra, VW Sharan or Ford Galaxy.
We have a 2003 Focus Ghia saloon plus a budget of around €10,000 to add to it. Do you have any other similarly-sized car suggestions that we've missed and is it a concern if a second-hand car that is five or six years old has three or more owners if the mileage is less than 60,000?
Tonya Kirwan (Wicklow)
May 2010 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Well firstly, congratulations on your impending arrival. I am going to be conservative and say that you might get around €4,000 for your Focus, but let's say that you have a budget of around €14,000.
You could indeed have a Ford Galaxy for this price, with a 2005 model with 79,000 miles (1.9 110hp diesel) costing you €12,950.
It seems to be hard enough to find examples of the Alhambra around that are on sale from official SIMI dealers, which is something we would recommend, but you would pay very similar money for an equivalent Alhambra.
The Sharan is pretty much identical to the Alhambra, but they tend to end up a little bit more expensive because of the VW badge on the front, so I think these should probably be avoided, as there is no major benefit for quite a lot of extra money.
In terms of alternatives, there are a few you could look at. Have you considered the Opel Zafira? The rear seats might not be as big as you would like, but they are fine for small ones and it is a nicer car to drive than the ones you have mentioned.
If you wanted something a lot newer, you could have a petrol Renault Grand Scenic. We found a 2008 example with low mileage for under €14,000. I know you might prefer a diesel, but if your mileage is low then this could be a good buy.
In terms of your query on mileage on older cars, it isn't unusual for cars like this to have low mileage, because they tend to do things like short school runs and are often second cars in families. However, you can always be as sure as possible by buying from an SIMI dealer.
How does the Toyota Verso stack up?
Hi,
In relation to a family car, I see you have high praise for the Qashqai+2. How would a 2009 Toyota Verso compare in terms of space, safety, price, etc? Many thanks and good luck with the site.
Brian Keane (Dublin 16)
May 2010 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
The reason we have talked about the Qashqai+2 a lot of late is that there seems to be quite a few people asking us about seven seats, but not really wanting an MPV. The Verso is an MPV, so as such is usually compared to its main rivals such as the Ford C-MAX and Renault Scenic.
Compared to the Qashqai+2, the Verso comes with a 2.0-litre diesel engine and the Qashqai+2 usually comes with a 1.5-litre diesel engine. The Verso has more power with 125hp against 104hp in the Qashqai+2. The Verso has faster acceleration (about two seconds faster to 100km/h from rest) and in terms of fuel economy the Verso again is slightly more frugal. The CO2 emissions in are both Band C, with road tax of €302. However the new Qashqai+2 does drop a tax band to Band B.
Both cars have five-star Euro NCAP safety ratings and come with multiple airbags. ESP (electronic stability control) is standard fit on both cars too. The rear-most row of seats would be more generous in the Verso compared to the Qashqai+2 even though they share an almost identical wheelbase. There is also more shoulder room in the second and third row of seats.
In terms of price, a 2009 Verso will cost you about €25,000 - €27,000, while a new Qashqai+2 will cost you from €30,450 for a new one and about €26,000 - €27,000 for a 2009 model.
Both have pretty poor luggage space with the rear-most seats in place, but loads with the third row folded, so it depends how often you intend using the seats.
I hope this helps.
Volkswagen Golf or SEAT Leon?
I am replacing a 2005 Ford Focus. In all that I have driven I find the Volkswagen Golf comes closest.
I have yet to try the SEAT Leon. How do you compare them? There are so many different styles and prices in both that it is confusing.
I want a post-2008 diesel, and a comfortable seat is a must! There is a new SEAT Leon 1.9-litre Sport Limited Edition 105hp diesel, Tax Band B, reduced by €2,000 to €19,900 or a new Golf 1.6 TDI diesel 105hp for €21,200. Is there much difference in running costs between a 1.6-litre and 1.9-litre?
Angela Osullivan (Wicklow)May 2010 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hello again Angela,
I know Shane answered your last question, but I think I can answer your follow up question. The Golf and Leon are quite similar; the Leon is definitely the prettier car and the Golf the more sensible. I know what you mean about the Leon range, as there are 17 different versions, which seems excessive.
The thing is with SEAT is that it tends to get the older technology from Volkswagen, so the Leon still has an older engine range, namely the 1.9-litre TDI, which is quite a noisy old engine. The 2.0-litre TDI is also available in the Leon, but at a higher cost.
The 1.6-litre 105hp engine in the Golf is a newer and cleaner engine, with better fuel economy. It hasn't made it to the Leon just yet, so the better engine is in the Golf right now.
In terms of running costs, the road tax is slightly less on the Golf, at €104 against the €156 in the Leon. The Golf has slightly better fuel economy (62.8mpg v 56.5mpg) but that is a relatively small difference.
That Leon is great value, but in terms of an investment I would be inclined to go with the Golf, as I would think the residual value will be better with the newer Golf with the newer engine.
Hope that helps
I want to change my Rav4 for a seven-seater, just not a boring one!
Hi, congrats on new website, hope it works well. I'm looking to change an '05 Toyota Rav 4 for a 7 seater, but don't want a boring looking rectangle type car! Any ideas for a decent 7 seater that looks good as well, maybe '07/'08, max spend €15k. Thanks.
Emer Kennedy (Dublin)May 2010 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Emer
As you know Toyota don't offer the Rav4 with seven seats in Ireland (but they do in the USA) so that is off the list.
We have spoken since and I now know you have a 2005 Toyota Rav4, petrol with 40,000 km on the clock, which is very low mileage. I would hope you would get about €6,500 - €7,000 for your Rav (perhaps even a bit more) as a trade-in against a new model and with the €15,000 on top of that to play with you have quite a few options.
The most obvious option for me, is the Nissan Qashqai+2. The Qashqai has been immensely popular and the +2 model adds extra seats to make it a seven seater. That only came on the market in 2009, so it might just not make your budget, but then again this depends on what you are offered for your Rav4. The cheapest of these is likely to cost around €25,000, so this might not be an option.
Never fear though, there are other good options. The Chevrolet Captiva was a lesser-known SUV that sold in small numbers but really was quite good and crucially, for you, came with seven seats. You should expect to pay about €17,000 for a 2007 one and you might even sneak into a 2008 for about €23,000.
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Chevrolet/Captiva/LT-VCDI-/201019198001210/advert?channel=CARS
Another good option would be the Mitsubishi Outlander. You could have a 7-seater one of those, with a 2.0-litre 140hp diesel engine and a 2007 one would cost you about €19,000, and a 2008 one would cost about €23,000.
This could be quite a nice solution actually
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mitsubishi/Outlander/2.0-DI-D/201013197400203/advert?channel=CARS
The other thing you could do, is totally lord it up and get a Land Rover Discovery which has one of the most generous rear row of seats around. This 2006 model is under €20,000. Yes it will cost you an arm and a leg to run and service, but at least we are giving you your options.
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Land-Rover/Discovery/3-TDV6-S/201015197653184/advert?channel=CARS
I do hate to use the 'S' word, but if you did think of something more sensible, then you couldn't really pass the Ford S-Max. Of the MPVs of that type, this is the best of them and it looks good too. Here is a 2007 diesel with low mileage for €19,300, leaving you plenty of change.
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/S-Max/1.8TDCI-/200928194542104/advert?channel=CARS
Anyway, I hope some of this helps, but feel free to come back to us with your thoughts.
A new MPV for a new arrival
I am thinking of buying a 2005 Renault Grand Scenic Diesel, would you recommend it? Are there problems with electrics or the engine or any other problems I should know about?
Should I go for a Citroen Xsara Picasso 1.6 diesel instead? I need room for 3 baby seats. Money is tight so cannot go above 2005.
May 2010 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Ray
I understand that your Corolla saloon has 68,000 km (42,000 miles) on it. Prices seem to be fairly consistent for them and you should probably expect about €8,000 - €9,000 as a trade-in, which isn't bad because your mileage is quite low.
Your budget is €4,000 and you need a seven-seater and you want something that is going to be reliable, comfortable and safe. I understand that you are being asked to spend €3,000 with your own car for a 2005 model and €4,500 for a 2006 model Scenic. This seems a little steep to me and steep to our Renault advisor. Also the Scenic, as it ages doesn't always stand up in terms of reliability.
However, if money is an issue, I would be inclined to go for a petrol version of the Scenic, which can be picked up for half the price of the petrol models.
However if you want something reliable I would think you might stick with Toyota and get a Verso.
Something like this 1.6-litre petrol model would be a super buy and it is from an SIMI dealer.
Replacement seats for an E39 BMW 5-Series
I have a E39 BMW 5-Series. The car seat is basic and quite uncomfortable for me. I am quite heavy. Is there any budget options out there for seat replacement?
May 2010 Filed under:
Expert answer
Hello Al
That is a tricky one, but I will do my best to find out for you and come back to you ASAP.
Fiat Stilo airbag warning light
Hi,
I just bought a Fiat Stilo 1.6 three-door hatchback. The airbag failure/stop engine light appears when I start the engine.
I am told it is most likely to be a loose plug underneath the driver's seat. Can I disconnect, clean and reconnect this without setting off the airbags?
Mark Fowler (Cork)May 2010 Filed under: safety
Expert answer
Hello Mark,
We checked in with the technical department of Fiat Auto Ireland and they told us the following:
"First have the air bag system checked with a Fiat Dealer to see what errors are present and they will advise on the repair. The problem could be with any part on the system so this check at the Dealer will save you time and money."
Hope this answers your question Mark.