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So the time has come to experience the unbridled joy that is looking for a used car. 'Automatic' is the #1 criteria with 'big enough to chuck a couple of medium 650B FS bikes in the back' a very close second. The C4 Picasso (and the Grand version) have popped up in searches- are they any good? Any other suggestions?
We had three Grands over a period of 12 years and they were great for family and bike duties. Always had auto and top of the range 2.0 diesels. Only changed the last in 2017 when we got a black Friday deal on a Tourneo Custom which we couldn't turn down.
I’ve got a 2016 C4 Picasso (not the Grand version). Had it for 4 years and taken it to 50k. Been fine. No issues.
I just wanted something reasonably practical as a second car with three independent isofix rear seats and space for two dogs. Does the job. 1.6 diesel. 55mpg. I do like it.
Bike wise you’d be better with the grand version. Standard car is not the roomiest for bikes - evenfor my two kids bikes never mind carrying mine too.
Brill, thanks for the replies.
Went to twentyfour12 in one, a 29er FS and HT.
Sound, even without a roof box.
S’what we’ve got. Takes a full (large, modern 29er) bike without taking a wheel off, or up to 4 with jiggery pokery.
Reliability wise it’s been fine, we’re coming up for 4 years 40k miles.
C4 grand 1.6 D sat on the drive,, With all back seats down easliy swallows my 29er plus mrs g small 27.5
longer trips I take front wheels off and saddles /post out back wheels in first and strap them down plenty of tie down points then loads of space for kit around them. up to 135K now having some electrical niggles and needs cam belt doing. Size wise great electronics not so much! some of the controls poorly laid out and very small labelling.
I have a 1.6d grand picasso. With the "middle" row of seats folded flat it easily takes my 58cm road bike. With the middle seat of the middle row folded down I can get the road bike in by just taking the front wheel off. This allows me to take the bike and now bother taking it the child's seats.
To add, I like the car for its practical qualities. It just works for us having two kids still in car seats and a mother in law who we drive around a lot. My wife also runs toddle and babie classes so is always driving around boxes and boxes of props. Quality is alright, it doesn't feel as solid as the older Audi A4 we had before but it's a completely different car. It doesn't feel bad and you get used to it, it just doesn't feel as solid. Up until this year it had been pretty reliable, unfortunately we've just had clutch and DMF done at considerable cost and a new front shock at only 66k miles and 6 years old. However it's a urban car or loads of pot homes and gear changes and none of our cars have been trouble free.
If I didn't need the spaces for two kids and an extra adult I'd probably go for another estate car but for what we need it ticks all the boxes