What's the ultimate "family" car?
Discussion
Seven pages and no mention of the Volvo V70R. That would tick more boxes than most suggestions, and could even pull a caravan. I of course know that somebody somewhere will inevitably dig up a photo of a Quattroporte pulling a caravan, but it's not really in the running for tow-car of the year 
chonok said:
I think the reality is, when we have kids, as much as we would like to have driving dynamics and performance at the top of our list when searching for a family car, all we really want is an easy life, so a bit of extra space doesn't harm!
This exactly.I have an aversion to stuff on the seats, floor etc. I can't stand anything travelling in the cabin other than people, this doesn't help me.
I have one kid and working on another. I'm looking at a big car next, I hate having to undertake some kind of miltary packing operation, I'd just rather have the space. I can't imagine how people get on with 2 kids and a VW golf. You must have had occasions where you can't fit everything in. But then I never travel light.
Sadly can't afford an RS6, but it would be my money no object family car or maybe something like a Cayenne Turbo, ML63. I suspect that X5 M550d job would be good. I'll end up with an estate of some sort I'm sure.
I'm getting the feeling that the ultimate PH family car doesn't exist It seems that most people need the space and carrying capacity of a 7 seater off roader like one of a Volvo XC90 a Q7 etc, but I'm guessing that few people need the off road ability and the consequential tall ride height and power hungry heavy four wheel system? Therefore if someone could make such a car, but with two wheel drive and the ride height of a normal car (which is also more practical for loading the roof bars with stuff), it would offer slightly more practicality, but with much better handling and more performance 
It seems that most people need the space and carrying capacity of a 7 seater off roader like one of a Volvo XC90 a Q7 etc, but I'm guessing that few people need the off road ability and the consequential tall ride height and power hungry heavy four wheel system? Therefore if someone could make such a car, but with two wheel drive and the ride height of a normal car (which is also more practical for loading the roof bars with stuff), it would offer slightly more practicality, but with much better handling and more performance 
RobM77 said:
I'm getting the feeling that the ultimate PH family car doesn't exist It seems that most people need the space and carrying capacity of a 7 seater off roader like one of a Volvo XC90 a Q7 etc, but I'm guessing that few people need the off road ability and the consequential tall ride height and power hungry heavy four wheel system? Therefore if someone could make such a car, but with two wheel drive and the ride height of a normal car (which is also more practical for loading the roof bars with stuff), it would offer slightly more practicality, but with much better handling and more performance
A Grand Espace came close for us - if only the bloody thing would have run for more than a few weeks at a time...Discovery 3/4 tough to beat for a combination of practicality and comfort, though. Very few of the cars mentioned in this thread will seat five in any comfort. It seems that most people need the space and carrying capacity of a 7 seater off roader like one of a Volvo XC90 a Q7 etc, but I'm guessing that few people need the off road ability and the consequential tall ride height and power hungry heavy four wheel system? Therefore if someone could make such a car, but with two wheel drive and the ride height of a normal car (which is also more practical for loading the roof bars with stuff), it would offer slightly more practicality, but with much better handling and more performance RobM77 said:
I'm getting the feeling that the ultimate PH family car doesn't exist It seems that most people need the space and carrying capacity of a 7 seater off roader like one of a Volvo XC90 a Q7 etc, but I'm guessing that few people need the off road ability and the consequential tall ride height and power hungry heavy four wheel system? Therefore if someone could make such a car, but with two wheel drive and the ride height of a normal car (which is also more practical for loading the roof bars with stuff), it would offer slightly more practicality, but with much better handling and more performance
You've described an SMax. It seems that most people need the space and carrying capacity of a 7 seater off roader like one of a Volvo XC90 a Q7 etc, but I'm guessing that few people need the off road ability and the consequential tall ride height and power hungry heavy four wheel system? Therefore if someone could make such a car, but with two wheel drive and the ride height of a normal car (which is also more practical for loading the roof bars with stuff), it would offer slightly more practicality, but with much better handling and more performance I would have thought that most run of the mill cars would be better family cars than the (relative) exotica and performance variants suggested for carting 2 adults and 2 kids in comfort. Something like a Skoda Superb with a decent (probably diesel) engine and sensible tyres would take some beating. A Galaxy was suggested up thread, probably even better.
Most cars are well equipped enough and have plenty of performance, no need for a curtain twitching badge.
Most cars are well equipped enough and have plenty of performance, no need for a curtain twitching badge.
A TH Automobiles TH2 has been my dream family car for years. It is a VW Caravelle with a Porsche Turbo engine in the back. Looks pretty standard from the outside but can do 0-60 in 5 seconds. Would scare most things at the traffic light Grand Prix.
http://www.thautomobile.de/en/index.html
http://www.thautomobile.de/en/index.html
Willy Nilly said:
I would have thought that most run of the mill cars would be better family cars than the (relative) exotica and performance variants suggested for carting 2 adults and 2 kids in comfort. Something like a Skoda Superb with a decent (probably diesel) engine and sensible tyres would take some beating. A Galaxy was suggested up thread, probably even better.
Most cars are well equipped enough and have plenty of performance, no need for a curtain twitching badge.
Brilliant cars, and I love the boot design, but not really ultimate...Most cars are well equipped enough and have plenty of performance, no need for a curtain twitching badge.
RobM77 said:
I'm getting the feeling that the ultimate PH family car doesn't exist It seems that most people need the space and carrying capacity of a 7 seater off roader like one of a Volvo XC90 a Q7 etc, but I'm guessing that few people need the off road ability and the consequential tall ride height and power hungry heavy four wheel system? Therefore if someone could make such a car, but with two wheel drive and the ride height of a normal car (which is also more practical for loading the roof bars with stuff), it would offer slightly more practicality, but with much better handling and more performance
But they used to exist, you didn't use to have to buy a 4x4 if you wanted lots of room, waft and comfort. It seems that most people need the space and carrying capacity of a 7 seater off roader like one of a Volvo XC90 a Q7 etc, but I'm guessing that few people need the off road ability and the consequential tall ride height and power hungry heavy four wheel system? Therefore if someone could make such a car, but with two wheel drive and the ride height of a normal car (which is also more practical for loading the roof bars with stuff), it would offer slightly more practicality, but with much better handling and more performance When we had our second son we had a 335i sport touring and an Mini, the sport touring had crap load space and became a real chore, so rather than sell it I bought an older Merc for a couple of grand.
It was great, old man green with beige leather and a huge load space that gobbled everything in the boot along with the dog.
Plus it had a nice V6 3.2 petrol engine, in fact it made me get what Mercs are about, great family car.
Nice square boot, not sloping so it looks good but is useless in use.....
Loads of space inside.....
And was a really nice relaxing place to spend a few hours a day....
I swapped for the later model, which was nicer in some ways but no where near as useful...
And then swapped for the later one again, which was crap in comparison...
The older cars seemed to be designed around 'doing the job right' rather than 'looking funky' and I think that is a shame, as to me I think if a car looks purposeful then it also looks funky.
like when you see an M3 on 18" wheels rather than 20's.
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