Small school runner - recommendations?

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
View Threaded
Sun 23 Feb 2003 09:49
Small school runner - recommendations? - Round The Bend
My wife's Meagane Scenic 1.6 RT Alize has reached 72,000 miles since we purchased new Aug 98 (S reg). Its just had its cambelt change and new discs/pads. It has FSH and has been properly valeted to eradicate the biscuit dust of 3 children. Just a few scuffs may drop the p/ex by perhaps £600.

My wife wants something smaller (Fiesta?)and we only want to handover £1000 in addition to the Scenic, so we are looking at £4,000 to £4,500 I reckon. Priorities, space for 3 children (oldest in the front), reliability, PAS, economy (incl servicing).

Rcommendations please......
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 23 Feb 2003 15:36
Small school runner - recommendations? - blowpipe
Save yourself a bit of cash and go for a base 1.0l VW Polo. We've three kids as well, it's a school run/railway station car par excellance.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 23 Feb 2003 16:18
Small school runner - recommendations? - NWS
If you're near Manchester I'm selling a T reg Fiesta LX with 1.25 Zetec. 5 doors PAS, Aircon etc 32,000 miles. One prev owner. done mix of commuting and longer runs. £4k and it's yours.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 23 Feb 2003 17:12
Small school runner - recommendations? - Tony44
How about a Clio? With three children I would go for a four door though.

Tony
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 23 Feb 2003 17:55
Small school runner - recommendations? - Round The Bend
Tempting but Manchester is further than I want to go (I'm in Norwich).
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 25 Feb 2003 15:50
Small school runner - recommendations? - Mark (RLBS)
behave.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 25 Feb 2003 18:31
Small school runner - recommendations? - SteveH42
Yaris? Needs little looking after, more then enough space for adults in the back let alone kids, plenty of cubby holes for sweets and half-eaten biscuits and the 1.0 is a dream around town and even on longer runs are long as you aren't in the middle of the peak district.

I've seen 51 reg S models for around £4500, and this at a dealer, although I'd aim for a GS at least.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 26 Feb 2003 19:28
Small school runner - recommendations? - Round The Bend
Just done the deal on a Nissan Micra 1.0 Inspiration.
Actually not that much of an inspiration but the Mrs preferred the drive to a decent Fiesta (and a not so decent Almera) that she got to test.
Thanks for your thoughts/ideas.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Looking for a garage you can trust? Honest John's Good Garage Guide has thousands of reader recommended garages, plus how-to guides and tips on servicing.

The Good Garage Guide

Cold-snap snow-how: Advice on coping with the freezing weather, including videos, facts and winter driving advice.

Honest John's Guide To Winter Tyres