Reliability recommendations

[Gilitygirl]

Hi,

I've had my Ford Focus 03 reg diesel estate for 12 months now. I really love the car, but for the second time in that year it has refused to start.

Last time it would have cost me £1,100 but for the fact I had an extended warranty (still cost me nearly £600 though). It took the local main Ford dealer nearly a month (!!!!) to get it started again. Can I name names here for their rubbish service?

Now it's not starting again and regardless of whether it is just a minor fault or an expensive one I just don't feel I can *trust* the car anymore.

I was wondering if anyone can recommend a good towcar for me...

It needs to:

1) be an estate or big booted car to fit two Border Collies in comfort

2) be a diesel

3) be RELIABLE!! and have good/prompt customer service at main dealer

4)be able to pull my dinky caravan (MTPLM 1,100kg) with confidence - and preferably a bit of power to spare

5)have a bit of 'oomph' for motorway overtaking - I'm no boy racer but I like the confidence of having a bit of acceleration!

6)be reasonably frugal on the fuel (have you SEEN the price of diesel!)

My current car fits the bill for everything but #3!!

I was thinking of a Renault Megane Sport Tourer or Skoda Octavia Estate, or even pushing the boat out and getting an older Nissan X-Trail as the 'wet and muddy field' capabilities would be handy when parking at agility shows.

Thanks in advance for any advice...

 

[DavidW1]

Hi Beej,

If you wan't reliability above all else then go for one of the top performing brands published in the major reliability surveys such as JD Powers.

You will find they are almost exclusively Japanese makes with Honda, Mazda, Toyota and Nissan consistently in the first three.

My personal choice would be a Subaru Legacy Estate or a Forester and if my van was lighter that's what I would have.

OK they are not diesel but with a price of around 25p a gallon over petrol and higher service costs, i.e. more frequent oil changes, the cost advantage of running a diesel is minimal unless you drive mega miles.

If you can run to an X trail then also consider the Toyota RAV4 or Honda CRV, you can get them in diesel and there have been lots of favourable comments on here about both models.

If you can run to it and you don't consider it too large the Honda Accord Estate is also highly rated by vanners and likewise the very Similar Mazda 6.

All the above should not let you down, will tow your van with ease and have stacks of room for the dogs.

 

[mickk]

Hi Beej

I would recommend the Nissan Xtrail but do not go to old say 2003 onward & go for the 2.2lt I have the 2005 Xtrail SVE DCI

it tows my Bailey Pageant very well at speed or slowly in mud or dry & lots of room about 26/30 Mpg dependant on how you drive, Go for it?

Mick k.

 

[Gilitygirl]

Hi,

Thanks for the suggestions - I'd love a Rav4 but the boot space for the dogs even in the five door isn't up to much.

I've just been on the user reviews at Whatcar and am REALLY scared by the reliability reviews of the X-trail diesels - they all seem to have had a turbo problem running into megabucks to fix.

I love the boot space in the X-trail though, and it'd be my number one - but I'm loathe to trade in one cheaper lemon for a more expensive one!!

How reliable have your X-trails been?

 

[Clive-Cardiff]

If you Google "car reliability" you can get lots of sites that will give you the answers your looking for.

I think the basic place to start is to think Japanese and you wont go far wrong

 

[johnk]

Hi Beej,

HONDA CRV DIESEL.If you can stretch to one of these,go for it.I have driven all the competitors and there is no competition!.I had a 05 reg x trail for one day and the turbo and oil cooler blew so i took it back and swapped for crv and its been great.

good luck!

 

[Robert_374242026]

well well, have read the comments of others and its my opinion that although you mentioned Skoda others did not ,so, we have a Skoda 2.0 140 bhp dsg Octavia Elegance hatchback.We came away from 4x4 types and do not regret it one bit .We have now done 23000 miles and mpg is 42 mpg from new.Pulling 1350 klg has been effort less . That 42 mpg included the towing.People have said about the 150 bhp Skoda and as caravanners i do not see the point as you cannot go any faster than our limits and the 2.0 as i say does it easy.Of course this is only my opinion.

 

[Gilitygirl]

well well, have read the comments of others and its my opinion that although you mentioned Skoda others did not ,so, we have a Skoda 2.0 140 bhp dsg Octavia Elegance hatchback.We came away from 4x4 types and do not regret it one bit .We have now done 23000 miles and mpg is 42 mpg from new.Pulling 1350 klg has been effort less . That 42 mpg included the towing.People have said about the 150 bhp Skoda and as caravanners i do not see the point as you cannot go any faster than our limits and the 2.0 as i say does it easy.Of course this is only my opinion.

Hi

Robert - forgive me, is that a diesel or petrol version?

 

[ColinA]

Skoda 4x4 best of both worlds Beej 47mpg solo 32 towing 1615kg kerb weight.

Colin A.

 

[Ken_374329292]

Hi Beej,

HONDA CRV DIESEL.If you can stretch to one of these,go for it.I have driven all the competitors and there is no competition!.I had a 05 reg x trail for one day and the turbo and oil cooler blew so i took it back and swapped for crv and its been great.

good luck!

And so say all of us .

 

[Gilitygirl]

Skoda 4x4 best of both worlds Beej 47mpg solo 32 towing 1615kg kerb weight.

Colin A.

Thanks again for your replies.

I've just had word from the local garage that the problem it isn't an easy fix, and will have to be taken to the main dealer to be plugged in to the diagnostics computer.

Sounds another expensive one - and the main dealer is closed over Christmas so I'll be car-less over the festive period.

Think I'll definitely look at the Skoda...and take a peak at the X-trail - head (and wallet - and eco-conscience) says Skoda, heart says Nissan!!

 

[Robert_374242026]

Hi

Robert - forgive me, is that a diesel or petrol version?

Hi Beej,yes it is a diesel M 2 /A5, highly reccomend.

 

[Robert_374242026]

Skoda 4x4 best of both worlds Beej 47mpg solo 32 towing 1615kg kerb weight.

Colin A.

Hello Colin A, those figures are quite something as when we looked into the Skoda book it only gave the 4x4 urban 25.9mpg extra urban 45.6 and combind 35.8 mpg plus kerbweight at 1583kg .The 4x4 bit at first did appeal to us but in all the years we have had others i can only remember down on the Salisbury site going up the slope was the only time we used it, so we for all round purposes we chose the 140 bhp bhp dsg diesel, and as i remarked over the 23000 miles we have done our mpg is standing at 42 mpg based on brim to brim.

 

[Robert_374242026]

well well, have read the comments of others and its my opinion that although you mentioned Skoda others did not ,so, we have a Skoda 2.0 140 bhp dsg Octavia Elegance hatchback.We came away from 4x4 types and do not regret it one bit .We have now done 23000 miles and mpg is 42 mpg from new.Pulling 1350 klg has been effort less . That 42 mpg included the towing.People have said about the 150 bhp Skoda and as caravanners i do not see the point as you cannot go any faster than our limits and the 2.0 as i say does it easy.Of course this is only my opinion.

Hi , yes it is a diesel.

 

[ColinA]

Hello Colin A, those figures are quite something as when we looked into the Skoda book it only gave the 4x4 urban 25.9mpg extra urban 45.6 and combind 35.8 mpg plus kerbweight at 1583kg .The 4x4 bit at first did appeal to us but in all the years we have had others i can only remember down on the Salisbury site going up the slope was the only time we used it, so we for all round purposes we chose the 140 bhp bhp dsg diesel, and as i remarked over the 23000 miles we have done our mpg is standing at 42 mpg based on brim to brim.

Robert those are the figures I get according to the trip computer and the weight is correct. was it a petrol you were looking at. Mines a diesel.

Colin.