Looking for my mum's next motor...

[danzooo]

Since my mum's 2007 '57 Vauxhall Zafira CDTi 150 SRI has had its annoying engine fault again (clogged up with soot/carbon etc due to short journeys), my dad and I have taken it upon ourselves to find her a new car seeing as this one's warranty will run out in September this year.

She definitely wants something of the 7-seat "small MPV" market (i.e. Ford S-Max as opposed to Galaxy) because she likes the space, the practicality and the fact that she has 3 wee kiddies (including me :P), she also likes the high up driving postion. It also must be petrol to alleviate this engine fault. She is leaning towards another Zafira SRI because she likes the sporty looks and the TCS for the snow with the 1.8 petrol, and we found a 59 plate one in bright red with the optional VXR Styling Pack that looks the boobies, which we'll probably end up going for, but we're looking at alternatives; including the "Elite" model of Zafira, but that doesn't come with traction control unless you get the 2.2 or the 2.0 turbo which my mum doesn't want because the fuel economy will be rubbish (:rolleyes:) neither does it look "sporty" (although it does have full leather, heated seats, cruise control, auto wipers/lights, mp3 cd...)

She originally wanted a Ford Kuga, but they don't have 7 seats and they're in the £20k region even for used ones. We even considered the new Renault Grand Scenic with the 1.4 turbo but she didn't like that either once she seen it in the flesh :@. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x82/Mixman36/DSC03682.jpg

[Vtec,]

VW Touran sport

[syko2006]

That's a very nice Zafira there! If she doesn't think of anything else, she should definitely get that! :D

How about a Toyota Rav4? I'm not sure if it has 7 seats, but you said she likes the space and being high up, and that generally is spacious and high up. They're nice looking cars too! :)

http://images.passionperformance.ca/photos/0/2/02280_2008_Toyota_RAV4.jpg

Or maybe a Mercedes ML350/320? I'm not sure how much you've got to spend but you might be able to pick up one cheapish. Not only that, if you do have a large budget you could even get an ML63 AMG which is pretttttty sporty and beautiful! :D

ML350:

http://teachmefinance.com/Statistics/Fuel_Mileage/2006/2006%20MERCEDES-BENZ%20ML350%20MPV.JPG

ML63 AMG:

http://media2.worldcarfans.com/2008/11/medium/mercedes-ml-63-amg-performance-studio-edition_3.jpg

Good luck finding the right thing! :D

[tdi]

touran, do it

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2518/3903825811_452decafa0.jpg

[Gibs960]

What about a Renault Scenic?
http://www.cargurus.com/images/2009/01/30/05/48/pic-51047.jpeg

Might not be seven seats but its a good car :)

[kuzkasate]

What about a Toyota Verso MPV?

http://www.carbuyersnotebook.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/toyota_verso.jpg

[danzooo]

What about a Toyota Verso MPV?

http://www.carbuyersnotebook.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/toyota_verso.jpg


We actually looked into one of these aswell, however they're quite bland. And damn expensive too! They are just out so I suppose that's why.

I've also mentioned the Touran and I was met with a host of screwed up faces. There's just no pleasing some people.
By the way, the budget is about £14k, i.e. we're looking for a cost to change of about £4k as we're expecting about 8 for the Zafira we have the now.

[kuzkasate]

We actually looked into one of these aswell, however they're quite bland. And damn expensive too! They are just out so I suppose that's why.

I've also mentioned the Touran and I was met with a host of screwed up faces. There's just no pleasing some people.
By the way, the budget is about £14k, i.e. we're looking for a cost to change of about £4k as we're expecting about 8 for the Zafira we have the now.

Verso is amazing tho :( suites your description too! Looks lush for a 7 seater :P

[Metric1]

I don't live in the UK but somebody suggested a Rav4. I have driven a Rav4 before and I enjoyed it. You can get it with a 3rd row and an optional V6 over here. We have a Toyota Highlander and the office and a new Sienna on the way, I can't wait!

We ordered a 2011 Sienna XLE Limited AWD V6 to replace our 2005 Honda Odyssey Touring.

http://www.thetorquereport.com/2011_toyota_sienna.jpg

[Starburst..x]

You also have the Chrysler Grand Voyager
Not sure what they are like generally, but they seem to be quite popular and Chrysler/Jeep are pretty reliable :)

[Metric1]

NOT OURS. OUR TOWN&COUNTRY SUCKED :(

[danzooo]

Wee update.

Got my mum's car back from the garage and it's good as new (quick look under the hood and there's some yummy new shiny bits). The decision for now is to leave things how they are (although my dad keeps contemplating a Clio 200, don't you dare!) and wait. The Zaf's warranty runs out around September time as well as it be needing it's first MOT this year so my dad definitely wants to replace it before this forthcoming financially heavy hoo-ha comes about.

[tdi]

is it just the cat that was clogged up? usually a bit of spirited driving will shift the dirty diesel reap from the system, as i'm presuming your mum won't take it over 1.5k rpm :)

[danzooo]

Another wee update.

So my mum picked the car up on Saturday and it was good as gold. It is now Tuesday and the dreaded engine management light is back, along with its ridiculous throttle problem. My mum's had it with the stupid thing and definitely wants a new car right this second.




is it just the cat that was clogged up? usually a bit of spirited driving will shift the dirty diesel reap from the system, as i'm presuming your mum won't take it over 1.5k rpm :)


Your totally right here - she only travels a few miles a day up to her work and back dropping off/picking up the kids from school on the way there/back. And that's exactly what it needs - the arse booted off it and that's what my dad has been doing recently by taking it to his work and doing ridiculous stuff like revving it to about 4-5k rpm before shifting up. But to be honest, can you really expect my middle-aged mother with two daughters aged 8 and 9 to be crucifying a car like that every day? A seven seat MPV like the Zafira is surely aimed at a typical school run mum who does the minimum of miles a day, and a high powered diesel engine like that is surely fit for high-miling sales exec Ken from Romford's diesel Laguna? It's a bit of an unfitting engine for the car's purpose, it's like putting the 0.8 litre engine from the Chevrolet Matiz into a Porsche GT3 racecar - completely unsuitable.

So the search continues... for a petrol.

[tdi]

if it's just your mum driving it and you want something economical rather than performance based, you could get a smaller engine derv, 1.4 or 1.5, i've no idea who makes them because i've never wanted one.. but i'm sure it's worth looking, although a petrol won't be TOO uneconomical if it's not being driven hard..

[danzooo]

if it's just your mum driving it and you want something economical rather than performance based, you could get a smaller engine derv, 1.4 or 1.5, i've no idea who makes them because i've never wanted one.. but i'm sure it's worth looking, although a petrol won't be TOO uneconomical if it's not being driven hard..


Yeah we're definitely leaning towards a petrol now. My mum still wants another Zafira though so we're looking out one with the 1.8 that my dad has in his Vectra. He wants a Toyota Auris SR180 now!!