I need help, as i'm useless at making decisions. My mum has kindly said she will help me buy another car. I currently have a renault clio, m reg so getting on a bit, but its just not big enough for 3 medium sized dogs. I compete in agiltiy and flyball so need something big enough and reliable enough to get us there comfortably. My friend has offered me a ford focus ghia estate. Its a lovely car, but i worry that its so much longer than i'm used to. having only driven small cars in the 7 years i've been driving. Today i test drove a citroen berlingo, which i thought would be better for me, but i found it quite awkward to drive, but it was still quite nice. SO now i'm in a quandry. I've got to let my friend know by tonight, whether i want the ford. ITs a 1.6 petrol, air conditioning etc. THe berlingo i looked at was a 2 litre diesel which also had air conditioning, electric windows etc. THe berlingo is only 3 years old, has 61,000 miles on the clock and would be cheap to run. THe focus is older, 1998, but has 59,000 on the clock, its also £2000 cheaper than the berlingo, but would be more expensive to run. WHat would you do if you were me?

The berlingo diesel if I wanted an economical car but the Focus for a better drive and better street cred :D

Lucy
xx

I personally would go for the ford.  Cheaper and easier repairs should it go wrong (so my garage friend tells me!).  And don't worry about a bigger car - I'm a micra girl but when I had to drive OH's old Rover (one of the square ended ones) I said no way.  But once you've driven it twice its a breeze.  And people give you more respect in a big car than when you're driving a kiwi green micra :D

CG

I currently drive a Ford Focus Zetec Estate 2.0 litre with air conditioning and also had a peugeot partner combi 2.0 with air con(Berlingo with different badge).

they are both economical in terms of servicing, fuel etc and zippy.

FWIW I find the extra head room you have in the Peugoet/Berlingo very useful when you have more than one dog, better ventilation, less condensation and cooler dogs in the summer.

The storage space is also much better.

They are both very reliable.

The plus for me with the Ford is that it has climate control ie automatically defrosts the windscreen which the Peugeot did not have and of course that is a company car ;)

Fiat Doblo MPV.....can't see past mine, it's soooooooooooo roomy.   Another CD member has just bought one too!

And I am that CD member :D :D We've only had our Doblo a fortnight or so but it's great and we're loving it. The dogs have so much space...in fact there's even room for one more :)

Yes Julie...I'm still taking bookings!!!!!!!!  ;)

for a wee car that is extremely practical I love my honda jazz.  the seats fold down at the back to make it big enough for dog cages and although its like a little people carrier its actually tiny at the front and back because it has a flat back and a flat nose so all the space is in the actual car - if you know what I mean.  its also very economical.

I find the bigger the car the easier it is to park :D LOL Dont worry about the length you will get used to it very quickly. I used to drive small cars like nova's then went on to carlton estates when we got the doggies as me little nova was way too small and old, now i drive a Mitsubishi Pajero and ya cant get much bigger than that Test drive the ford but IMO try an Astra ;)

Go for the Ford. Buying off someone you know you are likey to get a much better deal and you know for certain the history of the car.  Dont worry about the length of it, you will get used to that very quickly!

I drive a regular focus 1.6 ghia great car, very nice 2 drive, felt a lot bigger than my fiesta when i got it but you get used to it - btw if you are worried about the length for parking etc halfords are doing fully fitted parking sensors for £100 these days or some slightly more advanced ones for £150

Thnaks for that, thats been really helpful. I'm going to go for the focus. It just felt more comfortable, and from what people have said is safer (it has airbags!) Plus it comes with a dog guard! I might just have to get myself a parking sensor too. I'm going to spend a lot of time in halfords cos i'm going to get it kitted out for the summer comeptition season!