Off Topic Two out of three ain't bad

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Off Topic Two out of three ain't bad

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Well my commander in chief's Panda Lounge is coming up to three years old and she wants another car.

As we've three Pandas at the moment, it been decided that perhaps a slightly bigger car with a tiny bit more space and comfort might be better rather than a straight Panda to Panda swap.

Her must haves:
Bluetooth Hands free phone connection
A higher riding position.
Places to dump stuff she'll never ever use.
Places to hang annoying trinkets from.

Her must haves (that I think)
15 or 16" Steel or at least non diamond cut wheels for ease of repair.
Lots and lots of body cladding.
Parking sensors, maybe with camera.
Easy clean interior.
Easy clean exterior.

My hopefully haves (not important to anyone but me)
Smallish petrol engine, probably turbo charged.
Sat nav.
Cruise.
Low road fund and decentish mpg.
99 years warranty, but more would be better.
Small enough to park on our crowded street, but not flash or tempting to all the toe rags.

We've had a look at a few cars already and dismissed some others (Nissan Puke for one)

Fiat 500X.
Nice, but neither of us are sold on it's looks and seeing as they've priced it and aimed it at the "looks" market, it's a bit more expensive than we both think it should be.
The deals on them are quite poor, we managed a healthy discount, but still the PCP deal was coming out expensive, probably due to a much higher interest rate.
The three year depreciation doesn't look great either, which adds to the higher deal cost.

Skoda Yeti.
Quite the opposite of the 500X in looks, you only need to squint a little and it could be a small van. (not a bad thing in my book)
Again it's £20k ish for the right model, PCP deals are ok but discounts are hard to come by.
The depreciation rate looks better and that does help with the PCP deal.
Skoda/VW seem to have sorted their small petrol engine woes out.

Renault Captur.
All the kit is there or available on lower, cheaper models as cheap options (whether it will still work in a week in another matter)
Prices are very keen £3k lower than the above 500X and on top of that we've been offered £3200 discount at the dealer or 19% off through NHS-Blue light card.
This all makes the PCP nearly half the price of the 500X even factoring in their depreciation and apart from the odd reliability niggle in the back of my mind, they look rather good.

While we were in the Renault dealer, we had a look at the Dacia Sandero Stepway, it wasn't on the look at list, but when in Rome!

While it's easy to dig a bit and see some of the cheaper trim and paint, it isn't really that bad.
I saw them advertised and due to my age, immediately though 1980's Skodas, Yugos and Ladas, cheap and nasty cars with expensive never never repayments, but the Dacia doesn't come across like that at all, just a tidy cheap car that looks fairly good.

It's the same engine and gearbox as the Captur, in top trim it has all the kit (probably the same parts fitted to the Renault) and ignore the badge and the "STEPWAY" graffic on the door (better than penguins and hopefully will come off just as easily) it doesn't look bad.
The new grill and lights really do pick up the car's looks.
Space inside, particularly the boot and elbow room is good and it comes with 5 years warranty.

But what's really bugging me is this:
We could lose the total cost of the Stepway in three years
(but it's more likely it would be around 75%, well ok 80% after she's ramraided Tesco once a week )
and still lose less money than what we'd lose on the 500X over the same period and for 70% less than the monthly PCP payment of a 500X.

I've even managed to find a deal with 9% off list and they tell us they don't do discounts!

SWMBO isn't even aware of the concept of bagde snobbery so I'm going to line up back to back test drives and keep my mouth shut!

Anybody got any other Crossovers that you think we should consider?
 
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My hopefully haves (not important to anyone but me)
Smallish petrol engine, probably turbo charged.
Sat nav.
Cruise.
Low road fund and decentish mpg.
99 years warranty, but more would be better.
Small enough to park on our crowded street, but not flash or tempting to all the toe rags.

Anybody got any other Crossovers that you think we should consider?

The Jeep Renegade is on the same platform as the 500X but styling (and cost) may not be to your tastes. The main reason for my reply is that you maybe should look at the implications for cars registered from April 2017 onwards. Especially if you end up with a factory order and cheap RFL is a major player in your decision making.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...11/ved-reform-briefing-for-motor-industry.pdf
 
My parents are just awaiting delivery of a new shape Peugeot 2008 - they selected that option based on criteria not dissimilar to your own. Available with 1.2T petrol, though they'be gone for a 1.6TD with 'Grip Control' - PSA'a attempt at a 2WD system similar in concept to that in the Panda Trekking. Looks to offer advantages over straight Front-Wheel Drive, without weight/MPG penalties.

[ame]https://youtu.be/0R0GuGyP1hQ[/ame]

I found them a great deal in a high-spec car - equipment and feel of the class above for a competitive price.
Take a look - may or may not be of interest. Also Citroen C4 Cactus seems highly regarded with AirBump armour! GripControl available on their RipCurl model.
[ame]https://youtu.be/9aLYB_TtaaI[/ame]
Styling not everyone's cup of tea, but I think it's unique, interesting, if not conventionally 'pretty'.
 
Gotta say I had a C4 Cactus for a day when the DS3 was in getting some work done and it is a very good utility car. Rides well the 1.2 petrol pulls nicely enough and doesn't guzzle fuel and it's interesting outside and in with decent space.

Only issue I would have with recommending it would be that the only reason I had it is the ds3 we have has been a proper Friday car and the 1st dealer we used was terrible. They do make good interesting cars but the build quality can be very French if you get a bad one, although there a huge number of good ones out there as well.
 
I really like the Cactus (Cacti?), especially in those funky colours (turquoise, purple, yellow) but the stealth grey works well too. Plenty of body protection, great interior storage, and you're not paying for masses of tech kit that you don't want/need. I wish they did a proper 4x4 version - I'd be interested to know how effective the GripControl feature is in mud & snow. I've been trying to persuade the missus to look at one as a replacement for her horrible V50, but she has a thing against French cars (ever since I talked her into a BX GTi 4x4 25 years ago - a relationship that ended in tears). Citroen servicing is miles cheaper than Fiat (my DS3 cost me £200 every 20k miles), and the extended warranties are pretty cheap.

Edit - just watched that vid of the Pug with GripControl - looks quite impressive. I wonder what tyres were fitted to those two vehicles though.
 
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There's the Seat Ateca I just thought of. Pricing might be an issue though, particularly with it being newly launched.

Vauxhall Mokka..... :eek: No, I wouldn't either, but thought I'd put it out there ;)

500L?! The list prices are frightening for what can be quite a challenging car to look at from some angles, but I'd bet the discounts are massive, it's basically more Giant Panda than a 500, which may suit your requirements perfectly, and in some colours such as the yellow available on the Trekking model, it can actually look funky in a slightly strange way. :eek: No turbo engine though - only a 1.4 16v normally aspirated 6 speed manual jobbie. Decent tried & tested engine, but probably won't rip-up the tarmac Panda TwinAir-style.

I'd second a look at the Jeep Renegade as they do have that same sortof appear about them as a Panda, with some funky colours (orange, yellow, red) (y) I'd probably favour the Captur over the Sandero too, just because whilst the Sandero is cheaper, it kind of should be. The Captur is fairly cheap but Renault could get away with pricing it a fair bit higher, which makes it really good value in my book. I'd not expect any more issues with the Captur than on any other car now either really - Renault seem to have the build/reliability bit largely nailed from what I can tell. The 4 year warranty & 4 year breakdown cover is testament to that & makes them quite a success story when you think how appallingly they were rated a few years ago.

Is is just me or is it strange how the 500X, without doing anything particularly wrong, just doesn't seem to have captured (ahem) peoples imaginations on here?! :confused:
 
Thanks everyone, really helpful stuff's been written.

I can't think of Jeep without thinking of that tv show "Queer as Folk" and the Renegade looks like it was designed by the same person that designed the shoe box.

I see more Vauxhall Mokkas than any other crossover type car, but it's very dull.
It probably should be a contender, but there's no personality to it, it's naff but not naff enough to be interesting.

The Pug and the Citroen interest me a little.
The 2008 is a little bit bland and the Catsarse a little "out there with the fairies" but will it's practicality, cost and ride comfort overcome it's looks and it's other short falls (like the rear windows)?

They both offer what we need at the right sort of price and the more I think about them, those Air Bump things on the Citroen isn't that bad an idea, all three of our Pandas have door dings on them.
Might have to have a closer look at both of them.

All that Grip Control, Grip Xtend stuff isn't of interest on this car, I'm going to keep the Panda 4x4 for a while longer yet and might even cough up the balloon to keep it.
I don't think Grip Control will cut the mustard to replace the 4x4 for what I need.

One thing I have found out, there are quite a lot of savings to be had if you root around.
I think most of us know about Fiat's discounts, but I've found Blue Light Card and Motor Source to better them, if you qualify.

But Carwow has turned up the best deal so far, £4500 off a Captur Dynamique S with special paint.
 
There's the Seat Ateca I just thought of. Pricing might be an issue though, particularly with it being newly launched.


Is is just me or is it strange how the 500X, without doing anything particularly wrong, just doesn't seem to have captured (ahem) peoples imaginations on here?! :confused:


Being in the same position as the OP wife looking for a new car at the moment, the seat is very costly, as you say has only just come out so no incentive for cheap deals at the moment.

We went to look at the 500x as I like the outside appearance of the car, it's very cheap by comparison to other manufacturers and it's (it was) about the only fiat I like at the moment, however after going to look at one I very quickly changed my mind, the interior is very poor quality and the first thing my wife said on opening the door is 'don't like it' 'to plasticky' and it really is a very cheap and nasty interior, they managed to make it look ok on photos but in person it's not good at all.
Maybe this is why there don't seem to be many and they loose a lot of their value very quickly after registration
 
There'a a new 'Mokka X' just been launched - looks a little better than the original, though I feel still looks a little bland in the interior, compared to the competition.

GripControl is no substitute for 4x4/AWD, but it does offer a compromise that seems well-suited to these crossovers - a little more all-weather/surface capability than a hatch, but without the pretence of claiming to be a true off-roader.
As has been said - lots of good options and deals in this space for everyone'a tastes/requirements!
 
I am not a massive fan of its look myself (although to be fair I couldn't ever see myself buying an SUV/crossover!)

They do make a lot of sense around where we live, not for the looks but the ground clearance.

There is so much traffic calming humps and bumps, you wouldn't believe!

Every crossing is raised up and the humps and horrid raised squares come thick and fast due to some mad idea that all of London should be a 20mph speed limit.

I say mad idea because to achieve 20mph you'd need to speed up traffic to over double what it is now!
My Pop reads an average speed 9 mph!
 
...The Pug and the Citroen interest me a little.
The 2008 is a little bit bland....

Meant to mention that the Peugeot 2008 in the vid is the 2013-16 model, the version my parents are picking up is the 2017 face-lift, which adds a bit more aggressive front grill, additional plastic bump protection around the wheel-arches and some interior upgrades (including an Apple CarPlay system, if that stuff floats your boat) - thought I'd mention as previous post may have been a bit misleading on appearance. New model below:

https://preview.netcarshow.com/Peugeot-2008-2017-hd.jpg

Also thought I'd mention that I THINK you can get a reversing camera on the Citroen Cactus, which I just noticed was a nice-to-have on your list!

Good luck and let us know what you go for!
 
The Pug and the Citroen interest me a little.
The 2008 is a little bit bland and the Catsarse a little "out there with the fairies" but will it's practicality, cost and ride comfort overcome it's looks and it's other short falls (like the rear windows)?

They both offer what we need at the right sort of price and the more I think about them, those Air Bump things on the Citroen isn't that bad an idea, all three of our Pandas have door dings on them.
Might have to have a closer look at both of them.

All that Grip Control, Grip Xtend stuff isn't of interest on this car, I'm going to keep the Panda 4x4 for a while longer yet and might even cough up the balloon to keep it.
I don't think Grip Control will cut the mustard to replace the 4x4 for what I need.

If you are not going for anysort of 4x4 then there's a 2nd way coming with Citroen.
cl-16.061.005.jpg

c3_11.jpg


Has proper electric rear windows and the air bumps but a little cheaper as its the new C3. Should be a bit more nippy as well given it shares engines with the Cactus but its less of a van.

Despite the ds3 we're still considering replacing it with one of these with the 110hp petrol. Available with all the bits you've specified.
 
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My money would be on the Captur, but I'm biased as I once got almost a quarter of a million miles out of a Renault 5 with no significant issues. With the kind of discounts available, it's good value.

Sadly the 500X wouldn't even make it to my longlist, much less my shortlist. There's far better cars available for 500X money, with far better dealer support too. Even if the 500X could be had for the same price as the equivalent Captur, I'd buy the Captur without a moment's hesitation.
 
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Well, after much debate my better half has decided what she wants.
Horay! (er not quite).

She's thought about it long and hard and what she wants is ................... my car!
Not one like it, but mine :cry:

So the swap on offer is:
She gets my well cared for, one owner, low mileage Antarctica 4x4 TA.

I get her one careless owner, low mileage, rubbish filled, never cleaned, bird shiite streaked 1.2 Lounge.

I wasn't at first best pleased with the deal until it was explained I will also still get fed, clean clothes, get to carry on sleeping in the same house/bed and another bed related perk.

So it looks like I'll need to find a new car!
 
I will also still get fed, clean clothes, get to carry on sleeping in the same house/bed and another bed related perk .

Hmmmm ... breakfast in bed? (y)

Give in gracefully and let her have the Antarctica, sell the Lounge, and buy yourself a toy!
 
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