Is the Opel Meriva a decent buy?

Hi lads, just a quick question.

We have a 2003 Fiat Punto and we are expecting twins shortly. We were looking for a five-door car with Isofix seats but not too big a body. We are thinking about an Opel Meriva Club version, 3-4 years old. The Meriva has a flat and level boot that would leave some space for shopping etc. Basically, is the Meriva a good car, cheap to run and flexible enough to cope with two young babies?

Do you have any info on autodirect.ie? They seem to offer good deals.

David Mc Ardle (Drogheda Co Louth)

May 2011 Filed under: choosing used car

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Expert answer

Hi David,

I see that Autodirect do have a 2007 Opel Meriva for €6,495 and yes it is a good little family car for the money. It is a small MPV, so even though it has a high roof, the cabin isn't that massive. I am wondering whether it might be more prudent, given that those twin babies will grow, to look at something a little larger that wouldn't cost the earth to run.

For the same price as that Meriva, you could have a 2007 Citroen Picasso with tiny mileage. This is a much bigger vehicle and it's a great MPV. Go a year older and you could have the infinitely more useful Opel Zafira for similar money. Something like a Peugeot 307 SW offers lots of space and comfort too, as well as good value.

Anyway, I am not answering your question. AutoDirect is very good to deal with and has established a very strong reputation, so it would get our seal of approval. The Opel Meriva will be a decent buy too.

Anyway, come back to us if you need more help!

Complete Car Adviser