Family Car Advice

[ED_Dave]

We're in the process of buying a second hand family car, and were looking for some advice about the best models, and the best way of purchasing one.

We're currently looking at purchasing a Mini - has anyone else had a positive experience with a second hand mini, with young children?

[theboycj]

Rubbish to get kids in and out of, especially with baby seats etc. Ford Focus

[Jeremy]

I do know that every time a mini drives along our road, they scrape the underside on the speed bump! Also a bit small if you're using it a lot with a couple of kids in the back.

Would second the Ford Focus suggestion... they're a bit uncool but they're good cars, solid, spacious. Estate version would make an excellent family car. Also Skoda Octavia.

[Huggers]

i have recenty bought a second hand Skoda Fabia and love it. Mine is an estate version, jaunty,economical and roomy. i knew what i wanted, went on auto trader and found one that same morning in a garage in Hounslow. bought my previous car, a seven year old polo estate in ebay and was lucky-it lasted 10

years!!

[kford]

Ford C-Max/S-Max/Galaxy depending on the size/age of your family. Minis are impractical and expensive.

[Seabag]

I love our mini, but it's bloody silly too. We've a 2 dr Cooper petrol, not the big Clubman style mini. Ours is a soft-top which might make the back more of a squeeze. However, it runs like clockwork and is built very well, it goes like a rocket and round corners like its on rails

But it is mini-diddy small inside, and 2+2 is very tight. We took our 11 year old and his freind to the beach last week.

And with a couple of bags we were maxed out, knees up against the back seats.

However, for zipping around town with 2 of you in, it's great (bumpy) fun. But as the only family car, I'd be very challenged

For safe-bet family motoring I'd buy a golf, if I was looking for a neater size car. Maybe a Polo, but avoid anything French built, they're cheaper for a reason. And remember, little ones soon become big ones. I've also ended up with a 6 seater VW, which is a bit overkill, but it stops teenagers whacking each other at close quarters

[tomskip]

The Family Room is made for this sort of thread.

[Pocket]

Have had a Mini Clubman as family car for a few years now - much better than the standard 2dr. Can really recommend. Lots of boot room. Also incredibly cheap to run, and if you buy via Mini Cherished (i.e. second hand through Mini dealership) you get all servicing thrown in for a given time.