Best car for under £7k?

[Janchee]

All, the family is growing from 2 to 3... in June.

The better half has got a Mini Cooper D however, we need something a bit bigger to put pram and stuff in!!

Looking for recommendations on good cars to get. It has to have 5 doors, be quite safe and have cruise control. This misses works from home FT so she doesn’t use it all that much however, there may be cases where I have to use it for long journeys when she takes the Merc.

Hopefully something reliable and nothing smaller than a golf ... all opinions welcome

 

[js190d]

How about saving yourself 5 grand and searching for the best s210 you can find. Great cars if you can get an unrusty one.

Petrol or diesel options from 2 litre up to 5 litre, 7 seats and great value. None of the brake issues of 211's. Diesels have no dpf so none of those issues.

 

[AMGeed]

I'd look at a W204 C class for 2 adults and an infant with that budget.
Lots to choose from too.

If another MB is out, a Focus Estate would be my pick unless you want the reliability of a Japanese brand like Toyota or Honda?

 

[Janchee]

I'd look at a W204 C class for 2 adults and an infant with that budget.
Lots to choose from too.

If another MB is out, a Focus Estate would be my pick unless you want the reliability of a Japanese brand like Toyota or Honda?

Probably looking for reliability tbh. We’ve already got an S213 which is the major family car. Just wanted something golf shape so she can pop to the mother in laws. She doesn’t want a saloon of estate because she wants it to be easy parking in city

 

[LostKiwi]

I'd look for a petrol S203 estate. Smaller than a 210 and at least for the moment compatible with ULEZ and other emissions zones. Be mindful of early cars (rust) and m271 issues.

Outside Mercedes the Volvo V40 in petrol form is a decent drive, reliable and fairly well equipped especially in T5 trim....

 

[Janchee]

Thanks for the initial responses! Also car to avoid would be helpful

 

[sonic]

Probably looking for reliability tbh. We’ve already got an S213 which is the major family car. Just wanted something golf shape so she can pop to the mother in laws. She doesn’t want a saloon of estate because she wants it to be easy parking in city

Small Toyota Yaris, Ford Fiesta, Honda Jazz, Audi A1, Suzuki Swift.
Medium Toyota Auris, Honda Civic, Nissan Leaf, MB A class, Ford Focus.
Recommendations from Which used cars.

 

[KennyN]

Congrats on the addition to the family.

We had a Renault Scenic when the kids were younger , great car and never put a foot wrong in our four years of ownership.

Plenty big enough for all baby / family requirements , safe (5 *) , reliable ^ , well spec`d if you get the right model.

The ML63 can wait for a few years.

Not knocking small cars but I remember sitting at a set of lights in our Ignis when both our kids were young (3 + 5) , an X5 pulled up next to us and I couldn't help think that if one of them hit our Ignis at any speed we would have been in bother.

We have had two Jukes , zero issues , highish driving position , good spec if you get the Techna but a small boot for prams etc.

K

 

[John Laidlaw]

You keep mentioning Golf.....can’t go far wrong there

 

[bembo449]

think id look at a Kia or Hyundai , they have a good choice of small SUV that tick all those boxes and will probably still be under warranty , id also look at the ford kuga and thinking about it , why not lease summat , new focus is a cracking car , 200 a month , new doesn't come much cheaper Jan and I'm sure there are other deals to be had pal

 

[Wighty]

There are going to be some good car deals in the next couple of months as virus lockdown begins and no one is going into dealerships

 

[onefortheroad]

Ford kuga.

 

[JBell]

Gold if ideal as is the Audi A3, BMW 1 series, the polo is also a great car

How about a B class (inappropriately badged)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202003158463966?onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=Used&advertising-location=at_cars&price-to=7500&sort=price-desc&model=B CLASS&postcode=tq95ew&radius=1500&fuel-type=Petrol&make=MERCEDES-BENZ&page=1

 

[d215yq]

Kia Ceed? probably get a 3 yr old one for that money? 4 yr warranty, reliable, proper custoemr care that proactively fixes things under warranty than tries to wiggle out of it. No less bland/worse built than anything else mentioned.

Failing that Toyota Auris

 

[davemercedes]

If you look around, you could stay with MB and accommodate all of you with plenty of comfort and room for a pram and kiddies stuff.

EBay has a nice looking, very clean Mercedes E Class E350 estate NO RESERVE 7 seater 12 months MOT Sport 2010. Because it had a Z number plate I thought it might have come from abroad but the seller says his "personal" number has been changed to a normal UK. Currently at £5995 start with no bids. Strangely, the title included "NO RESERVE" but as it's not yet been bid on it's showing "Reserve not met"

 

[Chrishazle]

Daughter has/had a Nissan Qashqai diesel until recently, has had it since before birth of first child (now almost 3) and second child (now almost 1), isofix on both outer rear seats, plenty of room in boot for buggy etc.
https://www.pistonheads.com/classif...1-dci-acenta-premium------------2014/10431617

It's about to get traded in in Aylesbury because she needs an automatic, pretty certain price is negotiable down a bit. Don't know if she's open to an offer for the roof rails for a roof box (which I think they're keeping for her new car).

 

[John Laidlaw]

Boot in the 212 saloon is huge ...
Think of this https://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/...265bhp-a-garde-blue-efficiency-saloon.180716/

 

[Chrishazle]

slight update - daughter's Qashqai has gone as PX but she's incredibly happy with the auto Citroen C4 grand picasso that's replaced it.

 

[LostKiwi]

Gold if ideal as is the Audi A3, BMW 1 series, the polo is also a great car

How about a B class (inappropriately badged)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202003158463966?onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=Used&advertising-location=at_cars&price-to=7500&sort=price-desc&model=B CLASS&postcode=tq95ew&radius=1500&fuel-type=Petrol&make=MERCEDES-BENZ&page=1

If thinking Golf or A3 also think Seat or Skoda.
Identical mechanicals in a cheaper frock.

 

[bembo449]

If you look around, you could stay with MB and accommodate all of you with plenty of comfort and room for a pram and kiddies stuff.

EBay has a nice looking, very clean Mercedes E Class E350 estate NO RESERVE 7 seater 12 months MOT Sport 2010. Because it had a Z number plate I thought it might have come from abroad but the seller says his "personal" number has been changed to a normal UK. Currently at £5995 start with no bids. Strangely, the title included "NO RESERVE" but as it's not yet been bid on it's showing "Reserve not met"

then he would have 2 e-class estates pal , that's not the idea here but I agree there are plenty of MB around within his budget