What Car? (7-Seater)

[oldcynic]

Kolbenkopp said:

BlueMR2 said:

A W124 estate for the classy option.

Really cool

but difficult to find as 7-seater?

No headrests in the boot?

Should have bought a V70.

[BlueMR2]

Kolbenkopp said:

BlueMR2 said:

A W124 estate for the classy option.

Really cool

but difficult to find as 7-seater?

11 with 9 without on ebay. 2 of the 9 have no mention of seats and no photos of the boot so could be 7 seaters.

[BlueMR2]

oldcynic said:

No headrests in the boot?

Should have bought a V70.

You use the ones on the middle seats. If someone slams on the brakes they will hold your head until the driver comes off them no different to having their own headrests.

[chrisp84]

We have a Zafira and have just bought a Turan as we couldn't fit three car seats in the middle row of the Zafira. The Zafira, if you don't need the aforementioned car seat configuration, is a brilliant family car. I've done work exibitions and moved house with it. We've got the 1.9 diesel and it's pokey enough, not the best economy but not too bad. With the boot seats up the boots a bit small but easily enough space for adults. Not an amazing driving experience though!

[300bhp/ton]

zcacogp said:

Chaps,

Friend needs a car. Criteria are typical of those of a family; three kids, to be used as an only car to drive them to school and back, ferry the odd friend around, do the weekly shopping but also to take them on family holidays to France and beyond. Chap is an old friend but not a PH-er, hence is not bothered about image, styling, fun-to-drive and all the rest of it. Budget is around the £5k mark, but he would like something where the last row of seats fold flat into the floor. He's not that keen on a full-fat MPV, so Sharan's and Galaxies are out.

As far as I am aware the list in this category is pretty much Ford S-Max, VW Touran and Vauxhall Zafira. The Ford will be the most exciting but is at the limit of their budget, and the Vaux and VW are both pretty dull but worthy.

Is there anything I have missed? Any other models I should be considering? Anything to look out for when buying any of these? Any experience of owning the things?

No need for oodles of detail, but am keen to know what else there is in this sector which I may have missed.

Thanks,


Oli.

I still stand by the fact these make first rate family wagons. Loads of room, hugely practical, wonderful residuals, fun, kids love them and affordable to run and maintain. What more do you need?

1992 defender 110 safari 9 seat
£5,395
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...



And rated by the Dft as one of the safest vehicles on the road.

[George7]

A slightly more obscure option if he likes being unique. Should be reliable too.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

[J4CKO]

300bhp/ton said:

I still stand by the fact these make first rate family wagons. Loads of room, hugely practical, wonderful residuals, fun, kids love them and affordable to run and maintain. What more do you need?

1992 defender 110 safari 9 seat
£5,395
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...



And rated by the Dft as one of the safest vehicles on the road.

Safest on the road as most are used in fields and dont do huge road mileages, they are not great in a crash compared to a modern car with crumple zones, airbags, abs, esp etc, they are more akin to a tractor than a car, slow, thirsty with comedy handling and not exactly comfortable, the OP said he would want to do the occasional drive to France, ok, it is possible but I wouldn't wish 500 miles in a Defender on my worst enemy.

I love the Land Rover but it is a huge compromise compared to a modern MPV, we have a Galaxy and it is great at what it does, it will do 45/50 mpg if you are looking for economy, it is very comfy and is happy at 90 plus mph, it has aircon (essential in a family bus) and safety wise it gets a good rating, the S-MAX is similar to drive, perhaps a little bit nimbler but both handle better than any other MPV beign based on the Mondeo, streets ahead of the old Galaxy/Sharan/Alhambra.

[300bhp/ton]

J4CKO said:

300bhp/ton said:

I still stand by the fact these make first rate family wagons. Loads of room, hugely practical, wonderful residuals, fun, kids love them and affordable to run and maintain. What more do you need?

1992 defender 110 safari 9 seat
£5,395
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...



And rated by the Dft as one of the safest vehicles on the road.

Safest on the road as most are used in fields and dont do huge road mileages, they are not great in a crash compared to a modern car with crumple zones, airbags, abs, esp etc, they are more akin to a tractor than a car, slow, thirsty with comedy handling and not exactly comfortable, the OP said he would want to do the occasional drive to France, ok, it is possible but I wouldn't wish 500 miles in a Defender on my worst enemy.

I love the Land Rover but it is a huge compromise compared to a modern MPV, we have a Galaxy and it is great at what it does, it will do 45/50 mpg if you are looking for economy, it is very comfy and is happy at 90 plus mph, it has aircon (essential in a family bus) and safety wise it gets a good rating, the S-MAX is similar to drive, perhaps a little bit nimbler but both handle better than any other MPV beign based on the Mondeo, streets ahead of the old Galaxy/Sharan/Alhambra.

It might have compromises, however I think it's benefits out weigh it's compromises. Many people use Defenders for long distance touring just fine. I have several friends that have driven to Morocco and back in them no probs at all. Personally I've done 500 mile road trips in them too and found it nothing but a joy to drive.

[SVX]

Mt friend has just had the same quandry, and has ended up in a Mitsubishi Grandis.

I've had a ride in it, and I have to say for a MPV, it's pretty well screwed together.

[williredale]

BFG TERRANO said:

williredale said:

How old are the kids? We have an 08 Zafira and with the extra seats up there isn't much room in the boot as has been mentioned. We can get a (smallish) pushchair in there and that's it. We can get three car seats across the middle though so if he has three kids the boot seats can stay away and the boot is large. The 1.6 petrol isn't up to much in ours. Underpowered and thirsty if you're on a motorway doing motorway speeds.

My wife had several as company cars. Agree the 1.6 petrol is gutless and thirsty, the diesel however, she had as a loan car when hers was in for something was quite good.

I can imagine a diesel suiting it well. When we got it it was a case of the statistics not giving the whole picture as regards the motorway performance.

[Bill]

300bhp/ton said:

It might have compromises, however I think it's benefits out weigh it's compromises. Many people use Defenders for long distance touring just fine. I have several friends that have driven to Morocco and back in them no probs at all. Personally I've done 500 mile road trips in them too and found it nothing but a joy to drive.

I've driven one 23k to Cape Town, and it was great. Off road...

If the OP's friend has no interest in cars, the last thing he needs is a deeply compromised enthusiast's vehicle.

[nosuchuser]

My mates got an s-max 2.5T but without the massive wheels. Loves it. Needed 3 abreast car seats (poor bugger). It's now five years old and he's umming and ahhing about whether to replace it. Thing is, there's nothing out there that does the same job so well.

So yeah. S-Max.

Edit - he's had no problems with it. Something squeaky in the cabin is about his only complaint. He's looking at remaps now

[gazchap]

Honda Stepwagon. 8 seater, very clever seating arrangement, Honda so is bulletproof, reasonably nippy and economical.

Only real downsides are that they're as rare as hen's teeth so eBay is usually your best bet.

[300bhp/ton]

Bill said:

300bhp/ton said:

It might have compromises, however I think it's benefits out weigh it's compromises. Many people use Defenders for long distance touring just fine. I have several friends that have driven to Morocco and back in them no probs at all. Personally I've done 500 mile road trips in them too and found it nothing but a joy to drive.

I've driven one 23k to Cape Town, and it was great. Off road...

If the OP's friend has no interest in cars, the last thing he needs is a deeply compromised enthusiast's vehicle.

Never know, it might convert them to becoming an enthusiast

[Bill]

It'd be that or suicide

[andygtt]

Mercedes ML500.... V8 with 7 seats that adults can sit in comfortably.

I've had most of the other people carriers and hated all but the ML... its no sports car and its not cheap on fuel, but the diesel voyager I had only did 30mpg and the sharron was worse and old previa was around 15mpg (the previa was the 2nd best people carrier I had!).

I sold my 8 year old ML500 for 3k... nothing wrong with it, just what the market value is a year ago... I plan to get another soon

[deltashad]

andygtt said:

Mercedes ML500.... V8 with 7 seats that adults can sit in comfortably.

I've had most of the other people carriers and hated all but the ML... its no sports car and its not cheap on fuel, but the diesel voyager I had only did 30mpg and the sharron was worse and old previa was around 15mpg (the previa was the 2nd best people carrier I had!).

I sold my 8 year old ML500 for 3k... nothing wrong with it, just what the market value is a year ago... I plan to get another soon

This. I had a fully loaded inspiration with amg kit. I miss it. Spent a long time looking for the ultimate 7 seater. This was it.

[Bluebarge]

How old the kids are, and how long he intends to keep the car, are fairly crucial questions which will guide what works and what doesn't. The rearmost seats in most "half-fat" mpvs and 7-seat 4x4s are for smaller kids only.

I think most 4x4s selling for around £5k will be in potential "big bill" territory, so check also whether he has the income to keep a big beast like that on the road.

[YoungRestorer]

Seat Alhambra. It is a Ford Galaxy/Smax, but cheaper. Its good fun to drive, with decent handling and pull for its size: plus my dad regularly gets about 40 mpg from his diesel

[Danbo]

Another vote for SMax here. We've had our 5yr old 2.0 Tdci for 2 years with no issues and made much better to drive with a Bluefin remap.