1/2-Cost Heroes: Folks companies

Posted on June 18, 2014 at 6:01 pm

Other people providers have smartly and really develop into a company accepted as a sensible determination for todav starting to be household. Increasingly consumers are making a choice on the additional versatility and house that the sort of increased-sided cars bargains, so it’s no ask yourself that they’re so regularly occurring at the 2d-hand marketplace too.

That stated, MPVs’ recognition doesn’t imply that their used charges was pushed up. In truth, it’s pretty basic to seek out a number of latest-form worker’s providers only a few years outdated, which can be reachable for half of the value they’d price to purchase recent from the showroom ground. We’ve htodavd a root throughout the Car Dealer classifieds, and located the superior alternatives at each dimension inside the elegance.

Citroen C3 Picasso – New £15,965 / 1/2-Expense Hero £7,371

The Citroen C3 Picasso’s been out for many years now, however due to a few funky styling touches it nonetheless seems to be sparkling recently, and proves that purchasing a pesar de todo lo contrario al uso mini-MPV doesn’t need to suggest being caught with some thing that’s approximately as wonderful as cardboard. Inner it’s a delightful issue , too, with a beautiful, textured sprint and lots of garage. That stated, the interior’s a splash flimsy in locations, and a few of the petrol engines aren’t the sprightliest matters on the earth.

No shock, then, that our select of the variability is without doubt one of the diesel versions. The eight-valve 1.6 HDi ninety is the most affordable to tax at simply £20 a pesar de todo lo contrario al uso yr, but when you may spare a further £10 todav 12 months, the sixteen-valve 1.6HDi a hundred and fifteen gives a lot more usable efficiency whereas slightly impacting gas economic system. As a brand new selection, we’d select the mid-differ VTR+ trim, which packs the simplest combination of cost and gear.

However, the Part-Cost Hero we’ve came across is available in the head-of-the-range Exclusive trim, and given that, this particular example is really well-priced. It’s covered just 16,000 miles, and is finished in a particularly fetching shade of black that works well with the tinted rear windows and contrasts nicely with the Exclusive’s chrome accents. Seat-back picnic trays, a ski flap, and a luggage net all make this a really practical, flexible example of the model, too.

Vauxhall Zafira – New £21,120 / Half-Price Hero £10,365

With the new Zafira Tourer now released, you might be surprised to learn that Vauxhall’s still selling the previous-generation model – but it is, as a cut-price alternative. And while you’d struggle to call the Zafira a particularly exciting MPV choice, it remains popular for a reason: it does what it says on the tin. Inside it’s spacious and extremely practical, while outside it still looks smart enough to avoid the mumsy connotations of its predecessor. And while it retains an older range of engines that are more expensive to tax, diesel models at least deliver enough oomph to be worth a look.

Which is why we’d pick one, of course. And naturally, with the Zafira being a cut-price choice, we’d go for the cheapest version and trim level as a new buy – the 1.7CDTi 110 Exclusiv. At £21,120, it represents quite a bit of new MPV for the cash. At less than half that cost for a nearly-new example, though, it’s a bit of a steal.

But we’ve gone one better. In fact, make that two better. For significantly less than half the price of an Exclusiv, we’ve managed to find a better-equipped Design model. What’s more, we’ve managed to find one with the pokier 1.7-litre CDTi 125 engine. Amazingly, Vauxhall quotes identical fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emission figures for the more powerful version, yet better acceleration. It’s a no-brainer. And in Design trim, this particular example gets heated front seats, roof rails, tinted windows and and MP3-compatible stereo. What’s more, it’s done just 8,404 miles, and it’s barely two years old. Now that’s truly a Half-Price Hero!

Renault Scenic – New £22,195 / Half-Price Hero £10,495

Renault’s Scenic was the car that started the mid-sized-MPV niche, so it should be no surprise that it remains a popular choice today. It isn’t a class leader any more; it’s not as practical as some of its rivals, with rear seats that don’t fold flat, and there are some ergonomic issues inside. But there’s still plenty to recommend it – it looks pretty good for a people carrier, and it’s a decent thing to drive.

We’d usually recommend picking the 1.5-litre dCi as a new purchase as it’s so much cheaper than the more modern, more powerful 1.6-litre – but second-hand, the disparity is reduced significantly. So much so, in fact, that it makes the latter a more desirable choice. And in our preferred Dynamique TomTom trim, it makes for a very commendable used MPV choice.

So, as you’d expect, that’s the model we’ve gone for as our Half-Price Hero. Just £10,495 gets you this smart-looking silver example, which has covered 14,000 miles – below average for its age. As a bonus, you get some attractive, 16” alloy wheels and plenty of kit, including cruise control, dual-zone climate control, and Bluetooth compatibility. If you’re looking for a stylish way to transport the family, it fits the bill nicely.

Peugeot 5008 – New £22,200 / Half-Price Hero £10,900

After a run of disappointing family cars from Peugeot, the 5008 marked something of a turnaround in the manufacturer’s products. It’s a handsome beast inside and out, with some sharp styling accents and a smart, well-finished cabin. It’s good to drive, too, with excellent ride comfort, a sweet gearchange and well-resolved steering. And the variety of diesel engines are among the best in its class.

Naturally, then, it’s a diesel that we’d pick – the 1.6-litre HDi 115, to be precise. Matched to the well-equipped Active trim level, it offers a great balance of performance, fuel consumption, equipment and price.

Unfortunately, that distinctive engine is rather new – and its predecessor, the 1.6-litre HDi 112, will cost £20 more every year to tax. But compared with the saving you’ll make by buying our Half-Price Hero, that rather pales into insignificance. Our chosen instance’s done just 10,833 miles, and it’s for sale at a main dealer, which adds some extra peace-of-mind. It’s also been recently reduced, which helps make it a very competitively-priced example. And while the unusual shade of red might make it a touch harder to sell come resale time, it does at least mean it stands out from the crowd of monochrome cars on the roads today.

Ford S-Max – New £24,090 / Half-Price Hero £12,000

The Ford S-Max is getting a little long in the tooth now, but the attributes that made it so popular when it was new still ring true today. It’s still one of the most involving people carriers to drive, and it still offers excellent levels of refinement. This is a big car, too, and while that makes it a little more cumbersome than some smaller rivals, the flipside is a spacious interior – and a versatile one, too, with some very flexible seating and plenty of storage space. It also happens to look pretty good, even after all these years.

Fortunately, the engine range still feels pretty up-to-date, and we’d choose the strong 2.0-litre TDCi 140 powerplant as our favourite. Its emissions and fuel consumption are very reasonable, while its mid-range punch is enough to make sure the S-Max doesn’t feel sluggish. Zetec trim is the ideal accompaniment, with a good spread of kit that will satisfy most buyers’ needs.

Our Half-Price Hero matches our chosen model to a tee – and while it might be a few years old now, with just 11,111 miles on the clock, it’s nicely below average mileage. As such, it should still feel tight and fresh, and as a facelift model it’ll look no different to a brand new S-Max. Of course, it’ll save you a packet over a showroom-fresh example, and achieved in todavn inoffensive colour of Moondust Silver, it should a pesar de todo lo contrario al usolso be etodavsy to sell on once your time with it really is over.

By Alex Robbins

Posted in Cars