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We love ours . It’s getting a bit tatty and we would like a bit more oomph when 4 up going up big hills.
Mrs Zip drives it 4 miles to work and then back. I drive it 130 miles round trip on motorways every 2 weeks.
Driving home last night I noticed that diesel is the same price as petrol . I had a look at diesel ones and noticed the road tax is cheaper than our car. Does this mean it pollutes less? Living next door to ulez would it be more future proofed than petrol if they lower the emissions limit?
There’s loads of diesels for sale. Is there a reason for that or are there just more of them?
If you type in grand Cmax alternatives it always gives you 7 seaters , 5 is enough.
Ideally I want something with around 150 hp that can have a bike stood up in the back of with the front wheel off and saddle dropped.
Narrow my choices please.
Around 12k secondhand .
Newer diesels are ULEZ compliant, older not. Most petrols in last 20 years are ULEZ compliant.
SMax?
Yes it has seven seats (there was a 5 seat version but never seen one) but ours live almost permanently folded.
Get a Euro6 140hp diesel and it ought to have more than enough grunt. We've done Derbyshire and back loaded to the gunwales and four bikes up top and North Wales with 500kg of boats and trailer in the last few weeks and our 12 year old 100k+ (but obviously not Eu6) car hasn't missed a beat. It won't light your world on fire but it's enough if you plan and flow as a driver.
I would not have a petrol for that kind of car though unless I lived in/around a ulez. It's big and flat fronted and suits low rev/torquey driving. The number of petrol vs. Diesel reflects that.
Old 2.0 diesel S-max here, fully loaded with 5, luggage and kids bikes for a week away and plenty fast enough. Only -40mpg over 700mi though, but it is 13 years old.
Another evangelical SMax owner here. Would recommend to anyone. Not sure about the ULEZ though.
You would also need to try getting a bike in vertically as the opening, whilst huge by regular car standards, may not be tall enough. Mine has had 4 bikes inside + kit wheels off and easily fits a complete back on it's side with space to spare.
Zafira tourer 1.6d is extremely economical (60mpg average in ours, £20 tax), cheaper than ford stuff second hand. Much nicer inside than old zafiras, loads available
Most 7 seaters are 5 seaters in some markets and the rearmost seats can be unbolted for more space
If your current car is a na petrol, a turbo diesel or turbo petrol will feel much punchier at motorway speeds than what you're used to, even if peak power is similar. We did a 7 up holiday (4 adults, 3 kids, luggage on roof, 2 DH bikes and more luggage on the back) and the car was fine at french motorway speeds, even up biggish hills