Any advice on which new (to me) car?

nanaej I've had second thoughts about this - the first double buggy DD had was one from Mothercare which was HUGE and there's no way would I have got that into the Fiesta boot! (that was a three-wheeler) Later she bought a cheaper one which was more compact, and I think that's the one I could get in the car with ease - sorry for the misunderstanding.

kitty my Jazz has a panoramic roof, but for half the year I have to keep it's shade across because it makes the car too hot when the sun shines, so they look good but are not particularly practical.

I've been impressed with the Nissan Note which my sister and BiL have recently acquired. There's plenty of leg room in the back and the boot is surprisingly capacious.

We had a Honda Jazz until recently, and I was constantly surprised at how much stuff we could get in it - more capacious than any other small car we've had, even with a child seat permanently installed. They also have very good safety features and are quiet and nippy. DH has now changed it for a Honda Civic. Very good looking, but if anyone said "Arty, would you like your Jazz back?" I'd snap their hand off!

love both our cars, I have a Micra I use to visit clients normally and nipping in and out of town so easy to park and such brilliant visibility. I had a red micra for years before (this one is gorgeous blue) and how I loved that red Micra!!
it was my fave car of all time - OH TOOK advantage of the scrappage deal it was getting old but not worn out!! He bought a brand new Astra in 2009 and we still have that, is lovely to drive and more comfy for longer journeys.

interesting see post about Honda Jazz as my good friend as just bought one, 3 years old, but am being taken out in it next Friday!!

I have a lovely shiny new convertible mini. Can't fit a buggy in it, only amputees can sit in the back, but I love it! (Sorry, Cerasus, not much help from me!)

I am driving a Renault Scenic at the moment DD passed it onto me when she got a new car its a seven seater, but the two seats in the boot fold down unless needed. The boot is enormous when in 5 seat mode but tiny on full capacity. The fuel consumption is so so but its an automatic, not my choice but you dont look a gift horse in the mouth and its making me very lazy.

The Skoda Roomster is a great car - as small on the outside as a Golf but with excellent passenger and boot space. Our 6'4" nephew "test sat" it and unlike his mother's car. His head still didn't touch the roof in the front or the back and he had enough legroom. Ours has a glass roof and cream interior and was immediately christened the Popemobile by the DDs. The boot is huge and if you take the seats right out as we did when we had one for a test weekend you can accommodate ( and indeed take home) a huge corner desk from IKEA and save on the £30 delivery charge

Just seen your thread Cerasus,
We have just taken delivery this week, of our second Golf Plus and love it. First was diesel and we have now got a petrol one as DH says more economical for our mileage.
Had it a week and its great. We find with the slightly higher aspect its better for backs, comfort, older people to get in and out and putting kids in, same overall length as a standard Golf.
Our two dogs have enough room in the boot too! Happy hunting for your ideal car.

But shysal is your roof strong enough for a bear to sit on?

Seriously, I rarely closed the shade on my roof last summer - oh, forgot, we didn't have one.

Not many bears in my neck of the woods kitty.

Woods = bears shysal [sorry couldn't resist!]

Cerasus I have had a couple of Golf's over time and always found them so so reliable and roomy,I am not in the market for a new car as I love my Audi and I can only really take one passenger at a time (thats my excuss) and I'm sticking to it.

I have a Mercedes B class.
I got this one because I needed to install an electric hoist for my big scooter. It's ok but not as comfy as the C class I had before, unfortunately that wouldn't take a hoist. I only got £6000 for it as it was 7 years old but only had 11000 miles on the clock.
Youcan get some good bargains in 2nd hand mercs if you shop around.

I went to buy a second hand Mercedes jeni and found that the deals on new ones were so good, I ended up buying a new A class for about the same as a Golf. That was over 5 years ago, and it's been great value. I would change my car every 2 years before that, so have saved a substantial amount by buying this sturdy and comfortable car. I believe the engineering is good, but a car that goes consistently and never lets me down impresses me. Perfect for driving children and all their gear around, and my 6'5" son fits in the back seat between two child seats.

Just remembered something else I know about cars and this time it might be useful. Apparently you need to do an awful lot of miles, much, much more than the average in order to recoup the extra cost of diesel. This is because the UK only has a limited number of refineries for deisel and it is unlikely that there will be more any time soon. Therefore the more people who buy deisel cars the dearer diesel will become. I hope this helps someone.

I blame kitty and the bear for this, but I have just bought a used Qashqai and I was really on my way to swimming!.I've been looking at them for a while now as my lovely Audi A2, that I've had for 10 years, has been letting me down.I need something reliable and safe ( and what's safer than a car that can withstand a bear?) to drive to Manchester in case the new GC arrives any minute.Can't wait to get it on Saturday...or see the look on OH's face when I eventually tell him

Love DH's Qashgai! Bit big for me after my tiny Streetka, but very comfortable, and I think it has a little "edge" stylistically.

Just you watch out for all the bears in Manchester Grannylin - they're everywhere!

Good point re diesel., so true, plus if you don't do some long drives at motorway speed the particle filter (?) can clog up leading to expensive repairs. Have now signed for a new Skoda Roomster (petrol version) and am trading in 57 Fabia and 07 Roomster. Seduced by the extended warranty and 0% VATand free servicing. Now that DH has virtually given up driving it makes sense to have just one car but it has to do short distances as well as Birmingham and London - hence the decision for petrol Isn't it amazing how quickly you can spend an awful lot (seems it to me anyway) of money?

kitty I think it was you suggested a Qashqai plus 2? Just to let you know I've bought one and pick it up next week. Thanks for the tip.

Picked up mine todayKali and am thrilled with it. However, just driving home up our muddy, potholed lane and it's already totally splattered and filthy-ah well, it was nice to have a clean shiny car for one day in my life!

Enjoy. I'm really looking forward to being able to fit all the GKs in, safe from marauding bears

Took delivery of new car today - love the (entirely random) number plate- it's our intitals +62 then AOG which we will be able to remember as All Old Gits!

I fancy a Smart car, how cool for an old lady to uncurl herself out of the car, Believe they are cheap to run, and insurance and tax are cheap. Just think you can park any which way. One day, hopefully soon