Find me a new dive vehicle - Please

[Fiona]

OK I started looking for a new car last weekend and I am struggling to find one which ticks all my boxes. I thought I had found it until I asked Howard our very own dodgy car salesman what he thought and he put me off

So requirements are:

• Automatic
• Flat load space I can sit on and kit up
• Fuel economy - possibly a diesel
• Mid range omissions for road tax

It isn't much on paper but I don't seem to be able to combine automatic with turbo diesel.

So are you guys driving something which fits the bill and you can recommend it -please do.


So far I have looked at:

Hyundai - Tucson, didn't like the dealerships and it was a little big

Honda Accord - doesn't do item 1 & 3 together
Honda CSV - as Accord
Honda FVR - don't like the front seat layout

Toyota Rav4 - Need to go back with twinset but was an inch or two high on the back and I was sitting on the bumper more than the back
Toyota Verso - Not made my mind up about it yet

Nissan's - Can't remember the reasons

Saab 9-3 Sportwaggon - ticks the boxes but slightly more than budget

Mazda 5 - As Accord

Mercedes B Class - the one Howard put me off

[Secondopsman]

Landrover freelander has the bomb proof bmw diesel engine along with a superb aut0 gearbox fuel compsumtion is good and the boot area is flat and large also the rear door swings out fully like a door so gives good area for seating to kit up
Pete

[finbar.taylor]

Renault UK - Renault Cars - Kangoo
Fits your bill I think

good low and flat boot floor (often converted to carry wheel chairs because of the design of the boot floor)

Low emmissions, good desil engine (will run on veg oil) and automatic

And I may know of a 4000 mile second hand desil automatic with lift on back to get wheel chair in goin for reasonable money.

[Gareth Burrows]

I have to say I'm loving my freelander at the moment, superb dive vehicle, and the turbo diesel is a great engine.

[g4ssg]

hi
have you had a look at the mitsubishi rvr sportsgear
it seems to fit most things you need..
its a budget freelander
i have one these ..

[Lou]

Freelander fuel consumption is a bit high though, isn't it? Compared to the more "carlike" options Fiona has looked at anyway.

Did you look at the Peugot 307 Sports Wagon. Looked at mum's and it *is* a totlattly flat back and the rear seats do fancy things to tip forwards or come out if you want more flat bed room.

Don't know if it comes in automatic and diesel combined though. (oops. just checked and it doesn't....sounds like a compromise of deisel OR automatic may be on the books for a car-style?)

[Fiona]

Originally Posted by finbar.taylor

Renault UK - Renault Cars - Kangoo
Fits your bill I think

I hope you are joking Fin

I think the Freelanders are a bit over budget.

The Mitsubishi is obviously not a current model

[Sparky750]

Obviously don't know your budget but i guy who works for me has got a skoda octavia estate diesel auto it drive pretty well and has plenty of room and most importantly seems well built not sure of the price i think around the 18k mark and it has all the toys on it so if you found a year old one maybe around 14k ish. I'm terrible for taking the mickey out of people and did a little when he bought it but after a little drive in it it's far from the skodas of old more like a golf in fact i reckon if you covered the badge and sat in it you'd think it was a golf

[Fiona]

I dived with Jason yesterday and he had one, didn't have too many good things to say about it, in fact the words "you have to plan overtaking the day before" comes to mind.

[Sparky750]

Originally Posted by Fiona

I dived with Jason yesterday and he had one, didn't have too many good things to say about it, in fact the words "you have to plan overtaking the day before" comes to mind.

Not sure which model he's got but the one i drove is the 2ltr 140bhp model whilst it didn't set my hair alight it was no slouch take one for a test drive and see how you find it he loves it and gets over 40mpg even with ladders strapped to the roof.