Seatkid Seeks Advice

[seatkid]

Need your views please....

 

Told my son to buy a replacement for his 7 year old 115,000 mile Skoda Fabia which has been a smashing little car although some expense was needed recently to get it through an MOT.

 

He has 2 kids (6 and 2) and the Fabia is just too small now, plan is retire the daughter in law's ancient Punto and she gets the Fabia.

 

Given him a budget of £15,000 - looking for low running costs and minimum nasty surpises. He wants a large family friendly car (hope he's not planning a 3rd child!!)

 

He's torn between a new Skoda Octavia SE Estate (probably 1.2Tsi - the diesel is too expensive) and a 3 month old demonstrator Citroen C4 Grand Picasso 1.6Hdi VTR+ EGS (semi automatic box)with 4000 miles.

 

Quick impression after test drives:

 

Citroen:

 

Plus: A very refined quiet experience although slightly wallowy not conducive to anything but relaxed driving. Surprisingly good 60mpg easily achieved and auto was pleasant and paddle response again surprisingly good. Lots of bells and whistles - CC/limiter, bluetooth, parking sensors etc etc. Adult can sit comfotably between 2 child seats in middle row. Servicing intervals at 12,500 miles

 

Minus: Back row of seats useless except for small kids but no way to easily strap in child seats. Plastics and interior rather flimsy/low quality and positively low rent in the back of the car. Lots of holes around the fold down rear row of seats that just fill up with rubbish. The demonstrator was in a disgusting state with crisps, raisins etc everywhere and one door covered in dried out Cola. Middle row of seats knee room limited - with the 2 year old's child seat fitted, barely enough room for kids legs. Expensive servicing at £850 for 1st 3 services. Semi auto an unknown quantity, clutch cost £850 to replace. No spare wheel.....Unpleasant dealer.

 

 

Skoda

Plus: Reputation for longevity. Safe bet? 1.2 Tsi a pleasant quiet smooth engine. Large boot.

 

Minus: a Bit boring. Hardly any bells and whistles, no CC or parking sensors for example. 1.2 Tsi more thirsty than a diesel. We tried the 1.6 Tdi CR diesel but that was quite noisy and gutless at low speed. Not enough room for an adult to sit between 2 child seats in the back. Windows high up restricts view for the kids. Service intervals at 10,000 miles though a little cheaper than Citroen.

 

 

Plan is to run the cars to 7 years / 120,000 miles.

 

Very nervous that the Citroen will turn out to be very expensive, but I must admit it has a lot of kit and is very quiet.

 

Which car should he go for?

 

Has any one had experience of Citroens and in partiucular the EGS gearbox?

Edited August 27, 2011 by seatkid

[gregers]

seat kid,why not ask for a working opinion by posting on the citreon part of the forums,that way no doubt you should get the answer your looking for?

[seatkid]

seat kid,why not ask for a working opinion by posting on the citreon part of the forums,that way no doubt you should get the answer your looking for?

From what I see gregers, the citroen forums are dead. Nobody ever posts there.

[gregers]

im a member on the picasso forum but must admit dont go in there much,but thought out of all of them they seemed at least to be fairly active?

[seatkid]

Decision made - son not risking Citroen - sticking with a boring Skoda Octavia with a 1.2tsi petrol engine - hopefully the relatively new engine will be as reliable as Octavias generally tend to be.