Should we go the the new facelifted Ford C-Max or the old Ford C-Max? Diesel engine is preferred and either with a manual or automatic transmission. My dad knows how to drive with both transmissions even though most of the cars he has had were automatic except for one that was a manual. Plus my dad has owned a few Ford cars in the 60s and 80s and never had trouble with any of them.

I have heard the the C-max is based on the Fiesta hatchback and S-Max, Is this true? A few months ago my grandfather rented a Ford Fiesta hatchback and his nephew drove it. The ride was smooth and since it had a petrol engine it was quiet. Hopefullty the C-Max will feel just as good on the road as the Fiesta felt while riding in it. Hopefully it will fit in our garage.

Is the Ford C-Max a difficult car drive?

Yes a few of the cars mentioned can be specified with an eletric (opening) sunroof but i have to be honest i'm struggling a bit to work out your criteria.

A Nissan note, Renault Modus or Honda Jazz is a serious leap from a Citroen C5 estate.

You are talking about cars that are a good 3 feet+ different in length and probably a good 6 inches different in width.

Do you have an area that has a lot of dealers in it where you can go view some cars at the w/e? Even without driving them it might help you work out what is just too small or large to be suitable.

Old model but new C-maxs around £13/15K

HJ Best Deals has several brokers shifting the old iron

VOLVO.... I own a year 2000 v40 estate (92k)

my wife a v40 2004 estate...(31k)

we bought the second as the first has been amazing,,its now 92,000miles young, we are the third owners bought by us at 30,000 miles...servicing carried out by the local village dealer at £40/hr. the second car we drove 118 miles down to bournemouth to buy...nuts hu.....

costs spark plugs bought from the dealer £14 per set. windscreen wipers from the dealer £21 for a pair of fronts. Those prices are cheaper than Halfords. and the oil is also cheaper from the main dealer. biggest bill in our 7 years of ownership was under £300 for service/mot /cambelt. and its only been serviced once a year, no extra garage visits. tyres 16" dia. are between 50-120 each depending upon brand.

ok an XC60/70/90 will cost lots more, some being AWD and full of complicated toys and huge tyres but a normal volvo would be a lot less to run. But would still look seriously at a v70. there built to last, and will hold some value when they hit 100,000 most french and even fords will often be overlooked when they get to that milage..

.. yes I've owned more interesting cars from Fiesta RS turbo, to mk1 MR2. and 205/306/ golfs/polo, escorts/mondeos impreza etc etc etc...

but the volvo was the first time we've bought another car the same as the first as its been so good.....we only replaced the battery at 9 years old on mine because we thought it would be a good idea not because it had failed. the exhaust for the almost 11 year old car is the original and shows no sign of rust.....my mums low milage KA eats exhausts

have fun finding the right car Paul. ok volvos might still have a pipe and slipper imagine but since fords ownership there coming along, and you can always find photos of when they won the British Touring Car Championship in 1997.

a v50 might even be worth a look at. they started making those in 2004/05 when the v40 was phased out. brother in law has the 2 litre diesel v50 and had no issues in 65,000 hes owned his company car,,and hes drives his cars hard. his last seat leon go faster model used to eat tyres at 12,000miles per set...his volvo is taking his driving in its stride....imagine what it would be like if someone looked after it hahaahah

Edited by Paul G1pdc on 28/10/2010 at 17:32