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Papas1982

Papas1982

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It's come to renewal time of our daughters motability car. We've decided that we need 7 seats now with the extra space for the kids as they grow.

We we think we've nailed it down the a BMW 2 series gran tourer or a Nissan X trial as we'd prefer one that looked less like a people carrier.

Just after any horror stories before we sign in the dotted line.
 
X-Trail is a very (very) nice car. No inherent problems with them but not masses of room in the very rear seats.
Middle row can be slid forward to give you a bit more room though.
I have driven one down to France on holiday for the past two years.
Very comfortable, economical and just generally very nice to drive.
 
Smiffy said:
X-Trail is a very (very) nice car. No inherent problems with them but not masses of room in the very rear seats.
Middle row can be slid forward to give you a bit more room though.
I have driven one down to France on holiday for the past two years.
Very comfortable, economical and just generally very nice to drive.
Click to expand...

fortunately I get the front seat :-)

We only have to kids so on long trips space isn't too much of an issue, but the wife is village "soccer mom" and regular has 4/5 kids in tow.
back seats can be removed though, which is what we'd do whenever taking Lucia's wheelchair with us.

I must confess to not being a car guy. Is there still the great fuel consumption benefit of diesels or have petrols improved? Likely to do 15k a year in it. I know they have predicted mpg stats, but those are hardly real life data.
 
Just in case you already haven't, have a read of the reviews on Honest John (unerringly good) - both look like very capable cars.

FWIW I had a 2 series GT for a couple of days and it was very good despite my muttering when I picked it up. Effortless but still involving to drive, well equipped and felt like a nice place to spend time. I hadn't seen the cost though. On the flip side a food friend tried the X-Trail and really liked it, only didn't go for it as he got a hefty company discount on a Honda CRV which his accountant 'encouraged' him to go for :)
 
Spear-Chucker said:
Just in case you already haven't, have a read of the reviews on Honest John (unerringly good) - both look like very capable cars.

FWIW I had a 2 series GT for a couple of days and it was very good despite my muttering when I picked it up. Effortless but still involving to drive, well equipped and felt like a nice place to spend time. I hadn't seen the cost though. On the flip side a food friend tried the X-Trail and really liked it, only didn't go for it as he got a hefty company discount on a Honda CRV which his accountant 'encouraged' him to go for :)
Click to expand...

The price difference for us is simply £400 so that won't really come into it for us.

I have my reservation of becoming a BMW driver lol
 
Papas1982 said:
I have my reservation of becoming a BMW driver lol
Click to expand...


You'll never get let out of a junction again. You will be despised by all other motorists. Oh yes, it is also likely to have run flat tyres which I personally find noisy and ruin the ride. Think carefully before you choose the dark side.
 
Papas1982 said:
It's come to renewal time of our daughters motability car. We've decided that we need 7 seats now with the extra space for the kids as they grow.

We we think we've nailed it down the a BMW 2 series gran tourer or a Nissan X trial as we'd prefer one that looked less like a people carrier.

Just after any horror stories before we sign in the dotted line.
Click to expand...

A girl at work has just done this and went for the X Trail. Its a good bit of kit with lots of room. She is happy.
 
Papas1982 said:
fortunately I get the front seat :-)

We only have to kids so on long trips space isn't too much of an issue, but the wife is village "soccer mom" and regular has 4/5 kids in tow.
back seats can be removed though, which is what we'd do whenever taking Lucia's wheelchair with us.

I must confess to not being a car guy. Is there still the great fuel consumption benefit of diesels or have petrols improved? Likely to do 15k a year in it. I know they have predicted mpg stats, but those are hardly real life data.
Click to expand...
Not being funny but if you were a retail customer I would suggest you considered the petrol version as there is quite a big price difference between the two. But being on motability the difference between the two advance payments is nowhere near as high so you would be better of getting the diesel. You can come and order it from me if you like... every little helps :-) :-) :-)
 
Smiffy said:
Not being funny but if you were a retail customer I would suggest you considered the petrol version as there is quite a big price difference between the two. But being on motability the difference between the two advance payments is nowhere near as high so you would be better of getting the diesel. You can come and order it from me if you like... every little helps :-) :-) :-)
Click to expand...

Can I order online from you?

bit of a commute around the school run.
 
Smiffy said:
A very blinkered attitude if you don't mind me saying. If the reliability and build quality was the same as Renault I certainly wouldn't be selling them.
Click to expand...


You have your opinion.....
My daughter had a Micra (bubble shape) with the Renault diesel engine. The engine was a nightmare. It has put me off both makes.
 
Mate of mine is on his second X-Trail. I've only been in it as a passenger on one short run and one mega long run. I'd certainly look at one if I was in the market for a car. Plenty of room for golf gear!
 
If you're mostly doing local runs of less than a 10 mile radius you might consider the Mitsubishi PHEV, about the same inside space as the Xtrail. We've added one to our family and we're getting over 90mpg in and out of town; we thought it would be the 'additional / occasional car but it get used as first pick.

When we put the grand kids in on trips of 30 0r 40 miles we get about 50mpg. On 100+mile long motorway runs at about 70 it settles around 38mpg because its using its petrol engine the majority of time. Charges on the normal mains - we usually do it overnight

Come with 5 year warranty and 8 years battery warranty. Try getting an 2016 ex-demo. No road tax (changes March 2017) and no congestion charges.
 
Bunkermagnet said:
You have your opinion.....
My daughter had a Micra (bubble shape) with the Renault diesel engine. The engine was a nightmare. It has put me off both makes.
Click to expand...

Just goes to show.
That same engine has been fitted to the Qashqai since launch in 2007. It has accounted for about 70% of Qashqai sales I would think (based on how many I have sold over the last 6 years).
It is also fitted to the Juke and the Note models.
It is the one that most (if not all) of the reviews say "buy".
If you speak to "most" Renault owners that have experienced faults, I would guess that the vast majority would put their problems down to electrics and/or build quality. That has certainly been my own personal experience of Renaults. I have owned two myself over the years, both gave problems. First one had alternator and water pump problems that we couldn't fix and I got fed up throwing money at it. Second was an electrical problem that not only affected the windows but the sunroof too. Was going to cost about £1,200.00 to rectify, so that car went to the breakers yard.
 
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