We are looking for a suitable car to replace the Xsara Picasso...BUT it must do over 50 mpg .. We have looked at the Yeti, 2 wheel drive version, but doing research, it appears that Skoda are having major paint problems with the Yeti.
Paint bubbling on the doors and sills, all within the first two years of manufacture. These panels supposed to be galvanised...:doh
Skoda have a three year warranty, and are claiming that stone chips are causing the initial damage... when pushed... ie threatened with legal action...they do the repaint under warranty, however at 3 years and a few months on, and the paint bubbling appears again and Skoda say... " Not our problem.. it's out of warranty...:augie
What happened to "fit for purpose" shouldn't a car last longer than this?
For example... my Mav is over 19 years old with no rust or bubbling on the doors or sills, or anywhere else for that matter, and neither has our 9 year old Picasso.
On investigating, Skoda have similar issues with some other models too.:doh
Add also the problem with DMF (Dual Mass Flywheels) that VW group and other manufacturers have, some last only 30k miles, yet some can do 80 k...
Either way you end up with a bill £1500 or so...
We also looked at the C4 Picasso, but like similar cars, eg Zafira etc, the foot print of the cars are getting bigger, ie longer, and wider, and we also looked at the Peugeot 3008 SUV, but that is 7 feet wide across the mirrors... So to fit it into our garage we will have to fold the mirrors in BUT when reversing it out, you need the mirrors to see behind you to save hitting the wall at the side of the property.
We also looked at the Cmax, but that seems outdated, however there is a new one out soon, but we are reluctant to buy a "new model" as there will be no non OEM parts available, like exhausts etc.
We found out the hard way, when we bought a new MkIII escort in 1981 at 13 months old, the alternator went, and being a new model, there were no service exchanges available...:doh:doh:doh
So we might do a test drive on the C4 Picasso, and see if it can go into the garage...
Are there any other cars, that can give over 50 mpg, very reliable, a minimum of 12,000 miles between services, that don't cost the earth to maintain?
We like the higher driving position of the Picasso, so an SUV type is essential.
We looked at the Peugeot 2008 but my wife hit her head on the roof when getting in, and we are rubbing shoulders when we are both sat in the front.:doh
We thought about Nissan Quash.. thingy, then thought too many Renault parts, so they are a non starter, so Renault Scenic also out.
Not looked at Kias, or Toyotas or Hyundais yet...
Any other contenders?
Regards,
Rustic