WHICH FAMILY CAR TO BUY?

[JQ]

Luke. said:

slipstream 1985 said:

This is not what car website....

Nothing wrong with asking what family car to get surely?

Not at all, but there does seem to have been a massive increase in the number of newbies registering just to ask a single question, never to be heard of again. The OP has provided virtually no information from which anyone can provide sensible advice. His budget could be £3,000, it could be £30,000, he might do 5,000 miles a year, he might do 50,000 miles, he might go camping every weekend, he may transport nothing more than a few suitcases when they go on holiday once a year.

So in summary he wants a 7 seat Volvo - both the V70 and XC90 have been recommended - /thread closed?

[J4CKO]

Been here, had a 7 seat 850 T5 when they were little, worked ok but really you need a proper 7 seater so you can separate them.

We realised the Volvo wasnt big enough so bought a Sharan new in 2002, did its job well, was looking to replace it in 2008 and looked at the XC90 but the space wasnt quite as good as a dedicated MPV, they were a lot more expensive and worse on fuel.

So, we ended up with a Galaxy Ghia, few months old, it came with rear seat entertainment which has been a godsend, it now sits there mostly unused (2000 miles last year) but no point in getting rid as though we rarely go anywhere as a family now they are all teenagers when we do we still need it and it is good for tip runs and moving stuff.

It has been very reliable, not really needed anything.

You sound like you want the XC90 but beware, they can be pretty expensive to run and not that reliable, the earlier ones certainly werent.

To be honest, nobody wants an MPV but as a tool to do a job, its the best fit, even if some tit will come on and say you have given up on life if you buy one because they heard Jeremy Clarkson say it in 2002 and either dont have many kids or any at all so arent really qualified to comment.

[TWPC]

We have three kids in our family and have owned an XC90 D5 for the past four years. It has been our only car and absolutely excellent for our family hauling needs. When we bought it the car brokers were offering nearly £10K off the list price. I would recommend it.

This being Pistonheads, this is the one you should buy:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201407095673357/sort/pricedesc/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/quicksearch/true/model/xc90/page/1/usedcars/postcode/sw40db/advert-type/Classified/radius/1500/make/volvo/fuel-type/petrol?logcode=p

[Welshbeef]

Fastdruid said:

Unless you cannot fit them in which case you don't need them.

Legally you can stick a third child in the middle with nothing more than the adult belt. Not obviously that you'd want to do it regularly if it's a squeeze and probably not one for the OP but it's worth remembering for the few times your childrens friend wants to come round after school.

He has a family of 5 so back row will be full on every trip the boot seats would be for friends so a lap belt isn't an option




To the other chap who said what's the obsession with isofix seats - well simples if you have 3 in the back two its a wider car so you could have an adult sit in comfort in the middle with both outside seats with child seats on them - without isofix you cannot.

[FredClogs]

Welshbeef said:

sday12 said:

Second hand v70 R manual '07

HTH



http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

Edited by sday12 on Wednesday 20th August 23:05

No good you cannot put 3 isofix beside each other on the back row try again.

I've had a V70 and sadly the wife now has a SMAX, the idea of having three children is that you have a spare so ISOFIX isn't necessary for larger families... The SMAX is the best people carrier to drive (I drove them all) it has the running costs and MPG of a car (a 4x4 does not) and the convenience of a people carrier (higher up, individual seat options, bigger etc...) but the Ford build quality is appaling and they're not cheap. Our next car will be a V70 again I'm shocked at the way the SMAX looks and feels after 65K miles.

[Gargamel]

Welshbeef said:

Given the law is changing so that booster seats have to be used up to 12 years of age regardless of size there is a fairly reasonable chance the OP is in this predicament.

We both need to await OP to verify first

Anyone have a source for that ? As far as I can see the law remains, in a booster until the 12th birthday OR reaching 135 cms

My 8 year old is 135cms, can't see it being easy to get her back in a booster seat.

[Welshbeef]

Gargamel said:

Welshbeef said:

Given the law is changing so that booster seats have to be used up to 12 years of age regardless of size there is a fairly reasonable chance the OP is in this predicament.

We both need to await OP to verify first

Anyone have a source for that ? As far as I can see the law remains, in a booster until the 12th birthday OR reaching 135 cms

My 8 year old is 135cms, can't see it being easy to get her back in a booster seat.

I'm trying to find it but our Heathcare visitor on her last visit under a month ago stated the law will be changing from as you state above to they have bolster seats until 12 - and I did comment that its stupid would mean families have to buy MPVs (she agreed but cannot recall the date of change

[Gargamel]

Still not seeing anything, things she has got that wrong, The last changes where back in 2013 but really only affected rear facing seats and new born to about a year

Interested to see if anyone else has something.

[Rick Cutler]

Should this not be moved to the Volvo section?

[Welshbeef]

Rick Cutler said:

Should this not be moved to the Volvo section?

S-Max is the answer the volvo XC90 while very good is beaten by the Ford

[paulmoonraker]

I have just bought a Volvo V70. Great car. Safe, massive and the diesel 5 pot actually sounds all right.

[Welshbeef]

paulmoonraker said:

I have just bought a Volvo V70. Great car. Safe, massive and the diesel 5 pot actually sounds all right.

Can you fit 5 in the car and 3 kids seats into the back row? If not its a fair comment but doesn't add to the OPs dilemma of big family no snip and not able to find a vehicle able to deliver to his families needs

[alock]

Gargamel said:

My 8 year old is 135cms, can't see it being easy to get her back in a booster seat.

Same here. Our 9 year old is ~139cm and finds booster seats incredibly uncomfortable because there isn't enough leg support. The seat ends half way along her thigh which on a long journey applies pressure in the wrong place.

[paulmoonraker]

Welshbeef said:

paulmoonraker said:

I have just bought a Volvo V70. Great car. Safe, massive and the diesel 5 pot actually sounds all right.

Can you fit 5 in the car and 3 kids seats into the back row? If not its a fair comment but doesn't add to the OPs dilemma of big family no snip and not able to find a vehicle able to deliver to his families needs

I reckon you could quite easily, but to be honest I have not tried as I only have 2 kids. I have had an adult between the two car seats that are in there.

[FredClogs]

Welshbeef said:

paulmoonraker said:

I have just bought a Volvo V70. Great car. Safe, massive and the diesel 5 pot actually sounds all right.

Can you fit 5 in the car and 3 kids seats into the back row? If not its a fair comment but doesn't add to the OPs dilemma of big family no snip and not able to find a vehicle able to deliver to his families needs

This is the problem we had and why we got the SMAX, if you have three kids under 5 then you'll find it very difficult getting the middle one in and out and if you've got say a 5 or 6 year old who is using a booster and normal seat belt and two large car seats either side for younger ones you'll find it a struggle getting the belt into the lock. It's a right faff having 3 young kids. But like I said the SMAX isn't built to anywhere near the standard of a Volvo.

[Rick Cutler]

Welshbeef said:

Rick Cutler said:

Should this not be moved to the Volvo section?

S-Max is the answer the volvo XC90 while very good is beaten by the Ford

I suggested an S-Max (never had one but heard they are great) but he said it must be a volvo. Let the Volvo peeps help him out.

[Fastdruid]

Rick Cutler said:

Welshbeef said:

Rick Cutler said:

Should this not be moved to the Volvo section?

S-Max is the answer the volvo XC90 while very good is beaten by the Ford

I suggested an S-Max (never had one but heard they are great) but he said it must be a volvo. Let the Volvo peeps help him out.

Easy solution, find an S-Max manufactured when Ford owned Volvo and stick some Volvo badges on.

[Welshbeef]

One thing I'd say is the the S Max and XC90 really hold the value well


What is often overlooked is the Galaxy..., its a full adult 7 seater not a 5+2 and has a huge boot with the seats up. Its therefore cheaper than the equivalent SMax and more kit.
Worth a look.
I'm sold on the SMax for the wife's next car - which could be very soon as we cannot fit an adult in back row when kids are upset/sick so could be a quick change for us. I think the Galaxy is the best option all round its a can let's be frank but the SMax is no great handler so why kid yourself. Also means IF we go out with inlaws then everyone has a proper seat in comfort panoramic roof etc. Wife hates the idea as its too "long" for her to handle.

[paulmoonraker]

Galaxies are more like a mini-bus

Hang about - a mini-bus!

[flatso]

FredClogs said:

I've had a V70 and sadly the wife now has a SMAX, the idea of having three children is that you have a spare so ISOFIX isn't necessary for larger families... The SMAX is the best people carrier to drive (I drove them all) it has the running costs and MPG of a car (a 4x4 does not) and the convenience of a people carrier (higher up, individual seat options, bigger etc...) but the Ford build quality is appaling and they're not cheap. Our next car will be a V70 again I'm shocked at the way the SMAX looks and feels after 65K miles.

@FredClogs: Is your S-Max a FL model?

I am stuck in the same dilema as the OP, with a second baby on the way and grandma that spends a lot of time with us, there is no way around a car with three rows of seats (between 2 baby seats there is no way to squeeze in another adult).
The Merc R-Klasse is another great (albeit often overlooked) vehicle.

Nothin wrong with people carriers, I think they are a lot more honest than most SUV's that are for the most part just useless mass just for show.
The problem in Europe is that we don't get the awesome real minivans that the americans have (Odyssey, Sienna etc.).

Cheers

p.s. that V70 Volvo is probably the prettiest estate Volvo ever built. So much better looking then the generation that came after it.