Have I hit my mid life crisis? Want 7 seater with some cred.
Discussion
It was actually partly Pablo16v's glowing recommendation that persuaded me to buy our SMAX and it has been every bit as brilliant as I had hoped. I too have the 2.0 Ecoboost petrol with the powershift DSG box. As a family car it can not be beaten - it's huge, well thought out and robust. Sure, it's a bit cheaply finished, but with kids crawling all over it, that isn't an issue.
Handling wise, it's way better than the A4 it replaced - it's actually really good to drive and comfortable too. I went for the top spec Titanium X spec which was an ex demo too, meaning it came with a spec list as long as your arm (auto lights / wipers, xenons, elec memory heated / cooled seats, nav, glass roof, the lot) but even the Titanium model below it is well specced.
I have 3 kids - 2, 5 and 6 years old and they fit side by side in the middle row - the elder 2 occasionally go in the third row (both them and their seats are strapped into place each sitting - the little one's seat is permanently strapped in, and she's secured in the harness) and there's enough room for that. The boot with the third row in place will take a few days shopping but in five seat mode, it is HUGE.
Brilliant car, but drinks like a fish. 2,000 miles in France this summer at 24mpg...
Getting one in budget will be a challenge as after an initial "piano off a cliff" depreciation hit, they level out and command strong money especially the diseasels.
Don't just take my word for it....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pNu1NgkKHo
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/ford/s-max
s
t we took on holiday with us....
Handling wise, it's way better than the A4 it replaced - it's actually really good to drive and comfortable too. I went for the top spec Titanium X spec which was an ex demo too, meaning it came with a spec list as long as your arm (auto lights / wipers, xenons, elec memory heated / cooled seats, nav, glass roof, the lot) but even the Titanium model below it is well specced.
I have 3 kids - 2, 5 and 6 years old and they fit side by side in the middle row - the elder 2 occasionally go in the third row (both them and their seats are strapped into place each sitting - the little one's seat is permanently strapped in, and she's secured in the harness) and there's enough room for that. The boot with the third row in place will take a few days shopping but in five seat mode, it is HUGE.
Brilliant car, but drinks like a fish. 2,000 miles in France this summer at 24mpg...
Getting one in budget will be a challenge as after an initial "piano off a cliff" depreciation hit, they level out and command strong money especially the diseasels.
Don't just take my word for it....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pNu1NgkKHo
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/ford/s-max
s
t we took on holiday with us....
J4CKO said:
Can we stop with the "Given up on life" quote, it was old five years ago and is usually delivered by someone in a diesel repomobile or shagged out MX5.
Nope. They are all about having given up on everything apart from carting the kids around. That is their reason for being. If you are a "petrolhead" and it's your only car you've given up on your life as everything now revolves round your children. That's not a bad thing by itself but there is a subset of "angry dad" who really wanted a decent fast car and instead has been forced into a MPV.
As a daily school run/holiday vehicle with something more interesting in the garage it's ideal.
(I don't have a diesel or a MX-5, would be a tough call if I had to choose between a diesel repmobile or a MPV though).
Trying to get a seven seater to handle and perform with entertainment is always going to be a challenge. So we went the opposite route and accepted that our motoring thrills would come from elsewhere.
So a VW T25 became part of the family. I like to try different things to drive and this certainly has proven to be an experience (Of course it is RWD, rear engined and air cooled!!). I quite like sitting up so high (without it being a SUV), I like the fact you aren't racing to the next set of lights (part of the issue with Dads in 'quick' MPVs), I like the noise, the smell, the breakdowns, running issues and solving the issues. I like sitting in Lane 1 on the motorway ..... just a completely different experience...
Probably not what you are looking for?
Mike
So a VW T25 became part of the family. I like to try different things to drive and this certainly has proven to be an experience (Of course it is RWD, rear engined and air cooled!!). I quite like sitting up so high (without it being a SUV), I like the fact you aren't racing to the next set of lights (part of the issue with Dads in 'quick' MPVs), I like the noise, the smell, the breakdowns, running issues and solving the issues. I like sitting in Lane 1 on the motorway ..... just a completely different experience...
Probably not what you are looking for?
Mike
Dapster said:
It was actually partly Pablo16v's glowing recommendation that persuaded me to buy our SMAX and it has been every bit as brilliant as I had hoped. I too have the 2.0 Ecoboost petrol with the powershift DSG box. As a family car it can not be beaten - it's huge, well thought out and robust. Sure, it's a bit cheaply finished, but with kids crawling all over it, that isn't an issue.
Handling wise, it's way better than the A4 it replaced - it's actually really good to drive and comfortable too. I went for the top spec Titanium X spec which was an ex demo too, meaning it came with a spec list as long as your arm (auto lights / wipers, xenons, elec memory heated / cooled seats, nav, glass roof, the lot) but even the Titanium model below it is well specced.
I have 3 kids - 2, 5 and 6 years old and they fit side by side in the middle row - the elder 2 occasionally go in the third row (both them and their seats are strapped into place each sitting - the little one's seat is permanently strapped in, and she's secured in the harness) and there's enough room for that. The boot with the third row in place will take a few days shopping but in five seat mode, it is HUGE.
Brilliant car, but drinks like a fish. 2,000 miles in France this summer at 24mpg...
Getting one in budget will be a challenge as after an initial "piano off a cliff" depreciation hit, they level out and command strong money especially the diseasels.
Don't just take my word for it....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pNu1NgkKHo
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/ford/s-max
st we took on holiday with us....
We have a 61 plate Titanium, and I agree with the above. For what it is, the S Max is a great drive and to my eyes still has a bot of style to it for a people carrier, especialy compared to the Citroen.Handling wise, it's way better than the A4 it replaced - it's actually really good to drive and comfortable too. I went for the top spec Titanium X spec which was an ex demo too, meaning it came with a spec list as long as your arm (auto lights / wipers, xenons, elec memory heated / cooled seats, nav, glass roof, the lot) but even the Titanium model below it is well specced.
I have 3 kids - 2, 5 and 6 years old and they fit side by side in the middle row - the elder 2 occasionally go in the third row (both them and their seats are strapped into place each sitting - the little one's seat is permanently strapped in, and she's secured in the harness) and there's enough room for that. The boot with the third row in place will take a few days shopping but in five seat mode, it is HUGE.
Brilliant car, but drinks like a fish. 2,000 miles in France this summer at 24mpg...
Getting one in budget will be a challenge as after an initial "piano off a cliff" depreciation hit, they level out and command strong money especially the diseasels.
Don't just take my word for it....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pNu1NgkKHo
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/ford/s-max
s
t we took on holiday with us....We have a Ford Galaxy 2 litre diesel. Before we test drove it, I was expecting it to be very boring to drive but I love it, the car handles so well for a large car, in fact I use it more than my VW Golf, I find the torquey nature of the diesel quite addictive. Its a really useful car for family and tip runs etc. Go for a Galaxy, its bigger inside than an S Max. We looked at both and the Galaxy won hands down.
Tesla S85 7 seats 0-60 3.2 seconds 300 mile range 8 year warranty
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bv2UE7sNBfA
Enjoy your crisis!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bv2UE7sNBfA
Enjoy your crisis!
We bought a VW Sharan for family duties. Not sure if it has 'cred' though, it wasn't on my list of requirements.
But it's large, safe, comfortable and the tdi engine has enough urge/range to handle french autoroutes well enough.
The wife likes driving it, the kids say they like the view the big glasshouse gives and the dog hops into the boot more easily than a 4X4.
Also with the seats out it makes a very useful tip car, collecting engine/gearbox, Ikea flat pack etc etc.
Personally I'd not bother trying to find sportiness in a non-sporty car. Just concentrate on the features you'll use this sort of car for.
But it's large, safe, comfortable and the tdi engine has enough urge/range to handle french autoroutes well enough.
The wife likes driving it, the kids say they like the view the big glasshouse gives and the dog hops into the boot more easily than a 4X4.
Also with the seats out it makes a very useful tip car, collecting engine/gearbox, Ikea flat pack etc etc.
Personally I'd not bother trying to find sportiness in a non-sporty car. Just concentrate on the features you'll use this sort of car for.
99Chimaera said:
We have a Ford Galaxy 2 litre diesel. Before we test drove it, I was expecting it to be very boring to drive but I love it, the car handles so well for a large car, in fact I use it more than my VW Golf, I find the torquey nature of the diesel quite addictive. Its a really useful car for family and tip runs etc. Go for a Galaxy, its bigger inside than an S Max. We looked at both and the Galaxy won hands down.
Each to their own, I had a 2014 TDCI140 Galaxy as a hire car for three weeks and thought it was gutless as hell and slow as a snail, it feels quick due to the (small) burst of torque, but it's not and had me cursing the lack of go many times. Go for the 2.5T, now that is a nice engine.
I haven't driven one but the Grand C-Max is seven seats and based on the Focus so should be a decent steer.
As an alternative and as a luxury option rather than sporty how about a Mitsubishi Grandis? Thirsty but the higher spec ones have some great gadgets for keeping the passengers entertained.
As an alternative and as a luxury option rather than sporty how about a Mitsubishi Grandis? Thirsty but the higher spec ones have some great gadgets for keeping the passengers entertained.
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