which car should i buy for my wife ???

[xavier]

Hi
My wife currently uses her CLK320 and i find it great run around car. Just finished 5k miles trip around Europe and it works perfectly. You do have to love these Autobahns in Germany!!!
We are expecting little one soon and i was just wondering if i should get her something bigger and four door.
I personally woud like to have a car with some power under a bonnet so i would consider E55 or C36/C43. She is scared about driving such a big car like E55 and mentioned 4x4 to me. I am not completely convinced about ML range and would probably go with X5 or maybe S4 estate with 4,2 engine. I am thinking about spending £10k max but anything cheaper would be better especially with current climate and more expenses coming my way.
Any advise or thoughts are more than welcome.
Cheers
Dom

 

[davidjpowell]

I would have thought that most 4x4's are fairly bulky themsleves?

 

[xavier]

i do think same way but she says that she will sit much higher seeing more plus she`ll feel safer
don`t even try to understand women!!!
just want to make right choice

 

[davidjpowell]

don`t even try to understand women!!!

With you there.

On that note if she wants a 4x4 I guess you will end up with a 4x4. I run a Renault Espace which does not have the cachet (or consumption), but is high up and can see the attraction.

The only experience of the ML that I have had was a preface lift (on a X plate) that I borrowed for a couple of weeks. It was a ML 270 CDi and I was not that impressed. Seemed thirsty and cumbersome. I think the face lift is supposed to be better.

I have driven a recent X5 3d and was very impressed with the performance and handling for a big car.

 

[verytalldave]

Dont instantly disregard this..........

A Renault Scenic.

I will now sit back and wait for the flak.

 

[wemorgan]

What about a Subaru Forester 2.5T?

It's 4x4 but without the negative image, gives a slightly elevated seating position and is rather rapid.

Subaru Forester (02-08) 4x4 Car Review - Parker's

eg.
2005 54 Reg Subaru Forester 5 Door Estate 2457 cc 2.5 XT 44k miles £7k
2006 06 Reg SUBARU FORESTER 2500 cc 2.5 XTE 36k miles £9k

 

[flango]

With you there.

On that note if she wants a 4x4 I guess you will end up with a 4x4. I run a Renault Espace which does not have the cachet (or consumption), but is high up and can see the attraction.

The only experience of the ML that I have had was a preface lift (on a X plate) that I borrowed for a couple of weeks. It was a ML 270 CDi and I was not that impressed. Seemed thirsty and cumbersome. I think the face lift is supposed to be better.

I have driven a recent X5 3d and was very impressed with the performance and handling for a big car.

My ML which also was pre facelift was also useless and as posted before I'm still not sure who had it the most the dealers or me! X5's seem to have there more than fair share of electrical problems.

What about some type of crossover vehicle Subaru Outback or Volvo XC you get the benefit of high driving position but the manouvreability of a car and the load area of a decent estate. Also the 3.0 litre Outback I just got rid of did 34 mpg on average 37 if you nursed it. Was also good as an Autobahn stormer and Has good safety stats but not as good as the Volvo

just my 2p worth

 

[davidjpowell]

Volvo XC70 or even XC90 (if within budget) a good shout I agree! No idea on Subaru never so much as sat in one, so will bow to superior knowledge.

 

[219]

I'd have thought a nice E or C class estate of whatever age/spec fits within your budget . it is AMAZING how much space you need to cart around all the stuff associated with a baby . I ended up buying a W126 S Class , but , for your budget , you could probably stretch to a W220 S Class - something like a S320 CDI would probably be quite economic to run and is a VERY safe car . Also a good mile-eater for those european tours .

 

[timskemp]

4x4 - XC90 gets my vote, but really for space and pace it's got to be an AMG E class estate...

 

[glojo]

I hate to ask this but..

What car would your wife like?

What car does she say, "Oh that car looks really nice!"

That is the car to buy.

Lots of forum members have met my wife and I think it fair to suggest she is not the tallest person on the block.

She drives an E-class estate.

This is the vehicle she liked and it is the vehicle she wanted.

I had arranged for her to have a demonstrator of most models for a week and after sitting in the E-class the rest went by the wayside.

Because my better half is vertically challenged the vehicle has the electric floor and automatic opening\closing tailgate. It's an ideal vehicle and so easy to drive, but it was what my wife liked and wanted; yours might like something completely different

 

[tlzeebub]

What about a Subaru Forester 2.5T?

It's 4x4 but without the negative image, gives a slightly elevated seating position and is rather rapid.

Subaru Forester (02-08) 4x4 Car Review - Parker's

eg.
2005 54 Reg Subaru Forester 5 Door Estate 2457 cc 2.5 XT 44k miles £7k
2006 06 Reg SUBARU FORESTER 2500 cc 2.5 XTE 36k miles £9k

I had one of those as a courtesy car whilst mine was in the bodyshop and you're right they are rapid, but you realise how much better made MB's are and my word it didn't half drink petrol.

 

[Smiley]

Dont instantly disregard this..........

A Renault Scenic.

I will now sit back and wait for the flak.

I know three people who have had scenics and all of them had non stop hassle and would never have another renault let alone another scenic.

 

[RoseTattoo]

I agree with Glojo - ask your wife - all of the comments so far are too blokey and do not relate to the needs of carrying a family.
1. I would say that she needs four doors as carrying a kid in a 2 door car leads to a lot of leaning in and out and a lot of strain.
2. She needs child compatible air bags in the back.
3. She needs places to store fresh wipes, pampers and used pampers, bottles, food etc.
4. The seats and trim need to be wipe clean and you need to be able to easily clean under the rear seats.
5. An estate might be useful as carrying strollers, cots, kids parephenalia takes a massive amount of room and you want it all to be stowed safely.
6. The car needs lots of pockets to store all the other accoutrements; hats, gloves, boots, jackets, books - the Citroen Berlingo is an excellent example of how to do this.
7. An entertainment system that can play MP3, CD and maybe DVD's will eventually be needed.
8. Sun blinds on either rear passenger door is a useful option.
If I think of more I'l tell you.

 

[N/B]

+1 on the Volvo XC70 suggestion, and add Audi A6 Allroad to the list.

If she wants to spend half the day being glared at and not let out of side-streets, buy her a pointless 4x4.
If she wants to slip under the radar and have a very cool, relatively quick estate car, then see above.

 

[kwakdonut]

What about an A/B Class?

5 doors, as much internal space as an S Class. Lots of cubby holes for baby things. Almost as many toys as most bigger MB's.

High up driving position, lots of airbags and safety features.

The diesels are pretty good (180/200) and not thirsty 40-55mpg.

Why is it people have a baby on the way and one of them automatically thinks 'oooh 4x4'!! We didn't - just wanted something sensible, reliable and safe.

Remember, the more room you have in the car, the more likely you will fill it with crap....

 

[219]

For the first 9 months you need a lot of length between the back seat and the back of the front seats to accomodate the sort of rear-facing infant carriers that are required these days - this is what put paid to my 190E : it was a tight squeeze once the thing was in there and awkward to get in through the door opening - I'd imagine a newer C Class would be much the same . This was why I ended up particularly looking for a SEL model , besides I knew an S Class has a HUGE boot and is one of the safest cars on the road . It was also a consideration that it had to be something nice to drive and be in , even when junior is not present as I spend a lot of time in my car . I also wanted something capable of towing a caravan , thinking ahead a couple of years to child-friendly holidays . Also some of these infant carriers need VERY long seatbelts to go round them - check for compatibility with your car . From 9 months up , once you have a conventional forward facing seat things get much easier .

 

[timskemp]

This is just my opinion, but I much prefer to put rear facing infant seat in the front so baby has eye contact with mother when mother is driving. So being able to disarm the passenger bag is essential.

 

[kwakdonut]

This is just my opinion, but I much prefer to put rear facing infant seat in the front so baby has eye contact with mother when mother is driving. So being able to disarm the passenger bag is essential.

Statistically, it is safer for new-borns to be in the rear of the car. Although I understand what you are saying, most new-borns will sleep when being driven so eye contact not really that important - looking where you're going is more important!

 

[N/B]

looking where you're going is more important!

+1, multiplied by ten.
Multitasking my backside, a psrent at the wheel distracted by a gawping/screaming infant in the front passenger seat is a lethal weapon, especially when piloting a 2-ton landbarge.