Family's growing need a new car

[HooT]

Right chaps - after the excellent feedback on the camera front, I thought I'd pool your thoughts on some cars too.

Mrs is having a baby in November so I need to turn in the Mrs' 206 (2dr) and replace with a bigger 4dr.

I don't need a big saloon or anything. But something bigger than a Yaris would be useful as the Mrs seems to have plans on more kids in the future.

Please also note that I'm living in Poland and am not on UK money (unfortunately).

I went to the Toyota garage today and saw the Auris. The next size up from the Yaris and size-wise it'll probably do.

I need your thoughts though on quality and what to look out for as I am a complete novice when it comes to cars (only got my licence 9 months ago).

All thoughts and feedback welcomed!

Thanks lads.

[HooT]

Looking at the Kia Ceed and the Ford Focus at the moment.

Any reviews appreciated.

Thanks

[Dave]

Focus arnt that big tbh m8. Boot is a decent size, but little room in the back seats.

Drive wise very nice cars, my ST is a great car to drive. My brother has got the tdci and that is a nice car to drive also.
My missus 306 is alot bigger than my focus inside, decent car aswell.

[BBW]

My Focus is superb. I keep looking at other cars but nothing compares to the ride and the equipment. Forget the rest, get a Focus.

[stepper]

For what you need now a Focus would do fine, ignore Dave's comment on not much room in the back as he's a massive fucker!

[HooT]

lol. That's why I like the forum aspect. Several points of view!

I've also looked at the Kia Ceed and the Astra 4. Both seem pretty tidy too.

I was reading up on a few sites as well and they both compare well to the Focus and others.

Time to go visit some garages I suppose!

[stepper]

Just go out and test drive a few. I had a focus and I recommend them highly.

[Lima Whisky]

I have a focus + 2 brats of 10 and 12 years old. I haven't found the back seats to be small. Neither have they, they'd fucking moan about it if they had. Moan about everything else.

Had a 306 too, got rid of it because parts were too damned expensive when it went wrong.

[stepper]

And as it was a Peugeot, I bet it went wrong alot..

[BBW]

I had an Astra (07, 1.8 petrol) and it drove like a tank compared to the Ford (08, 2.0 Diesel) Some people love them, I don't like them.

[Chef_uk]

Ford but then I love the drive on my Mondeo so would say them Gives everything i ask when cornering.

[CaptainTrips]

The trouble with Fords is them quick clear windscreens and shit gearboxes. The gearboxes just don't feel precise in my opinion but that could just be me, I don't mean shit as in they break or anything. If you're considering a Focus and it's got one of them quick clear screens, make sure you drive one at night first. Some people don't like them, others don't care about the extra glare.

[DizMatt]

mother in law has an Auris
seems okay, she's got the 2.2 180bhp version
the focus is good I've heard but mate drove one and hated it, opted for the mazda6 instead.
same chassis tbh, more room and mazdas have low insurance groups I think
nice mix of petrols and diesels.
never driven a vauxhall I actually liked
quite liked the new mondeo's though, but they're huge
quite like my leon, decent boot, fun to drive, hard as balls suspension on mine though tbh,

[HooT]

Thanks for the feedback lads - I'm gonna go do some test driving as I need to test the cars on Polish roads - which is like testing them on a building site.

Super stiff suspension might not be what I'm after!

[DizMatt]

my leon TDI sport was designed for lovely spanish roads, on british roads it's a ball ache
if the roads are horrible, don't go for looks, go for comfort and big fat tyres with some shock absorbing properties.