Have I hit my mid life crisis? Want 7 seater with some cred.
Discussion
I'm in the same boat.
Looking at:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
300 BHP Check
RWD Check
7 Seats Check
Looking at:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
300 BHP Check
RWD Check
7 Seats Check
nottyash said:
7 seated, and street cred isn't going to happen I am afraid.
Vauxhall do a little MPV VXR. Fella near me has one and loves it, but it has no street cred whatsoever.
Awful looking thing.
I had one try to race me off the lights a few weeks back. He seemed awfully annoyed that he lost. Vauxhall do a little MPV VXR. Fella near me has one and loves it, but it has no street cred whatsoever.
Awful looking thing.
V8KSN said:
Bluebarge said:
PhilHDS3 said:
One further question though...what does "Pussy Whipped" mean? Is it like a man under the thumb per se?
Yes, it's a phrase much used by single blokes who have their freedom, a large box of tissues and a subscription to the Adult Channel.
If the thought makes you angry dads happier about your (wife's) car choice, so be it.
Fastdruid said:
nottyash said:
7 seated, and street cred isn't going to happen I am afraid.
Vauxhall do a little MPV VXR. Fella near me has one and loves it, but it has no street cred whatsoever.
Awful looking thing.
I had one try to race me off the lights a few weeks back. He seemed awfully annoyed that he lost. Vauxhall do a little MPV VXR. Fella near me has one and loves it, but it has no street cred whatsoever.
Awful looking thing.
What a chopper, doesn't realise we all think he is a dick :-)
nickofh said:
If it were me I wouldn't worry too much about getting something that is fun to drive etc. Just get something that does its job well and doesn't let you down. Save the fun for your other car.
I would look at something like this . Under 5k ( 54k miles ) , Solidly reliable , looks comfy and ok for what it is.
![](http://thumbsnap.com/sc/WgN0pCAH.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/GMiKb17E" Target="_blank">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/GMiKb17E.jpg)
#
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MITSUBISHI-GRANDIS-2-4-A...
After owning a number of the usual choices we've now got a grandis. Does everything well and you don't see many on the road.I would look at something like this . Under 5k ( 54k miles ) , Solidly reliable , looks comfy and ok for what it is.
#http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MITSUBISHI-GRANDIS-2-4-A...
One of the key differences is that it has space behind the extra seats for luggage. We managed a week away for 7 of us and got all our luggage and holiday gifts in too.
So many of the 7 seaters leave no space for luggage so you either have people OR luggage.
Second kid arriving any day now, and with grandma being around a lot more these days I am also forced into a 3-rows of seats, as no rear bench will take 2 child seats and an adult.
Most SUV's are basically like american neo-victorian housing developments made of cardboard. They are not what they pretend to be, besides a slightly elevated driving position most are small inside and have small boot space. Why people say that SUV's are more credible is beyond me. They excel at nothing, and to me they project an image of someone who just follows trends. Like blokes that try to fit into low rise trousers when their shape clearly does not lend itself to the low and tight cut; they end up looking like a hot dog stuffed into those pants just for the sake of fashion.
The way I see it vans are more honest, and as such deserve more street cred. They are built for purpose, to transport your most precious in comfort. Your family alongside your health and skills are your most valuable assets, so driving around like a maniac with your family in the back is plain stupid and as such deserves no street cred.
You need as much space as possible, sliding doors (they are truly a great feature in our small european parking spaces), automatic transmission (so the wife can relieve you from some taxi duties without having to worry about clutch and gears whilst the kid is screaming in the back), comfortable suspension and large windows so the kids can see the world outside. Basically you need a van.
Unfortunately the european market has minivans that are actually microvans, the only real contenders are the VW T5 or the Mercedss Viano. Both are more or less commercial vehicles with a bit of carpeting and some seats so don't expect a very comfortable ride. The Grand Voyager is another option, as is the Previa or an import such as a Toyota Sienna or Honda Odyssey.
The R-Klasse MB is also very interesting, pitty only that the rear doors are too long which makes it impossible to get the kids out in narrow parking spaces.
Most SUV's are basically like american neo-victorian housing developments made of cardboard. They are not what they pretend to be, besides a slightly elevated driving position most are small inside and have small boot space. Why people say that SUV's are more credible is beyond me. They excel at nothing, and to me they project an image of someone who just follows trends. Like blokes that try to fit into low rise trousers when their shape clearly does not lend itself to the low and tight cut; they end up looking like a hot dog stuffed into those pants just for the sake of fashion.
The way I see it vans are more honest, and as such deserve more street cred. They are built for purpose, to transport your most precious in comfort. Your family alongside your health and skills are your most valuable assets, so driving around like a maniac with your family in the back is plain stupid and as such deserves no street cred.
You need as much space as possible, sliding doors (they are truly a great feature in our small european parking spaces), automatic transmission (so the wife can relieve you from some taxi duties without having to worry about clutch and gears whilst the kid is screaming in the back), comfortable suspension and large windows so the kids can see the world outside. Basically you need a van.
Unfortunately the european market has minivans that are actually microvans, the only real contenders are the VW T5 or the Mercedss Viano. Both are more or less commercial vehicles with a bit of carpeting and some seats so don't expect a very comfortable ride. The Grand Voyager is another option, as is the Previa or an import such as a Toyota Sienna or Honda Odyssey.
The R-Klasse MB is also very interesting, pitty only that the rear doors are too long which makes it impossible to get the kids out in narrow parking spaces.
Wacky Racer said:
Vauxhall Zafira VXR.
That is all.
There is a tit that drives one around where I live, complete with tuner stickers and a dirty great intercooler poking out of the front - drives like a bellend, looks like a bellend, is a bellend.That is all.
Dirty great big bellend cars - why would you want to blast around in an mpv is beyond me, and if you have a car full of kids grow the f**k up.
VXR Mpv's are driven by stereotype angry dads, who the hell else would look twice at one?
I would be looking for something fairly economical, comfy, with plenty of torque so likely a crossover type thing as mentioned by others, 5k wont get you into the newer cars with better eco-engines etc though like the new X-trail, rav 4's and other such stuff.
Edited by Rick1.8t on Sunday 19th October 16:24
Rick1.8t said:
Wacky Racer said:
Vauxhall Zafira VXR.
That is all.
There is a tit that drives one around where I live, complete with tuner stickers and a dirty great intercooler poking out of the front - drives like a bellend, looks like a bellend, is a bellend.That is all.
Dirty great big bellend cars - why would you want to blast around in an mpv is beyond me, and if you have a car full of kids grow the f**k up.
VXR Mpv's are driven by stereotype angry dads, who the hell else would look twice at one?
I would be looking for something fairly economical, comfy, with plenty of torque so likely a crossover type thing as mentioned by others, 5k wont get you into the newer cars with better eco-engines etc though like the new X-trail, rav 4's and other such stuff.
Edited by Rick1.8t on Sunday 19th October 16:24
Late model Renault Grand Espace - Mrs FB has one and I have to say that it's brilliant.
Incredibly comfortable, quiet, spacious, tints, dvd, all mod cons, leather alcantara, sat nav , panoramic roof, airbags/ 5 star safety, 7 adult sized seats ( no SUV compromised seat size bolx e.g Q 7 Middle and rear dwarf seats), cruise control - it will sit quietly and comfortably at 100+ for hours in end when we head off skiing to the Alps - and it even with all 7 seats up it still has a decent boot which most others mentioned eg s max, zafira do not have.
Fantastic holiday/surf/ski/ rugby club bus and the late model ones are pretty reliable apparently - ours (09) has never put a foot wrong in 60k miles after we bought it from the first owners - a Porsche Race Team where it was the team courtesy bus.
£5k will get you a decent one.
As for the young onanists going on about angry dads - how little you know. When your kids are in the back you want something safe fast and comfortable with loads of space . When you're on your own you can have something antisocial - which I do.
You will only try to drive like the top racing drivers you all are the once when you have a car full of kids full to the brim with Sunny D and chocolate ice cream ...
Incredibly comfortable, quiet, spacious, tints, dvd, all mod cons, leather alcantara, sat nav , panoramic roof, airbags/ 5 star safety, 7 adult sized seats ( no SUV compromised seat size bolx e.g Q 7 Middle and rear dwarf seats), cruise control - it will sit quietly and comfortably at 100+ for hours in end when we head off skiing to the Alps - and it even with all 7 seats up it still has a decent boot which most others mentioned eg s max, zafira do not have.
Fantastic holiday/surf/ski/ rugby club bus and the late model ones are pretty reliable apparently - ours (09) has never put a foot wrong in 60k miles after we bought it from the first owners - a Porsche Race Team where it was the team courtesy bus.
£5k will get you a decent one.
As for the young onanists going on about angry dads - how little you know. When your kids are in the back you want something safe fast and comfortable with loads of space . When you're on your own you can have something antisocial - which I do.
You will only try to drive like the top racing drivers you all are the once when you have a car full of kids full to the brim with Sunny D and chocolate ice cream ...
As some other poster have said the S Max with the 2.5 Petrol engine should give you some fun. The engine is chippable and on the S Max Owners site there are tales of over 300 hp !
This last remark also gives you a clue about another "best thing" about the S Max, the owners club. There are some knowledgeable guys on it and any mods (Eibach spring mods are common)are discussed in depth with "How to" threads on stickys to allow you to mod to your hearts content.
As regards other posters comments about the handling the S Max is based upon the Mondeo floor plan and genuinely handles very well for a car with a gross weight of 2550 kgs and an unladen weight of 1700kgs. I had 2 x S Max as company cars and had demonstrated every 6/7 seater combination available at the time (2 years ago last one)and the S Max performs better and handles better than every other combination (even it's sister car the Galaxy). The car drives very well with few vices and as long as you reprogram your head to realise it ain't gonna accelerate like a Caterham or other pocket rocket (well they can't take 7 people either)you'll really enjoy driving it.
Just a point raised above regarding tyre wear, the front of the S Max takes most of the loading and so it will wear much heavier there than at the rear. As posted previously if you take the tyres at the front down to the wear bars 14,000 miles is the best I've had out of them, (Michelin Primacy) conversely the rears will get about 40,000 being much more lightly loaded. However if you swap the tyres front to rear at 8,000 miles the rear tyres will have had a chance to harden and then wear less aggressively such as I then swap them again front to rear after a further 12,000 miles and continue this practice until the wear bars come up. Using this method I've got 32,000 mile out of a set of tyres which I think is acceptable. Just to advise on my driving style I raced classic sports cars for 10 years including some V8 stuff so I'm not too much into "Driving Miss Daisey" mode.
Oh...and just to wind some folk up remember if fitting two tyres only they go on the rear. As stated above the softer tyres if fitted to the front wear much more quickly having to share heavy loadings and drive and brake, the rears have an easy time. Check out the Michelin tyre proving vids on youtube, it shows what happens if you put soft and new tyres on the front and run existing tyres on the rear. The front will track round corners in bad weather at max grip and...the rears don't, understeer is much safer than oversteer on public roads. The same information is given in AA, RAC and loads of other tyre manufacturer sites, and given that putting new tyres on the front wears them out loads quicker than the rear, and the tyre manufacturers would benefit with increased profits from that, you have to accept that what they say is true.
Mickey
This last remark also gives you a clue about another "best thing" about the S Max, the owners club. There are some knowledgeable guys on it and any mods (Eibach spring mods are common)are discussed in depth with "How to" threads on stickys to allow you to mod to your hearts content.
As regards other posters comments about the handling the S Max is based upon the Mondeo floor plan and genuinely handles very well for a car with a gross weight of 2550 kgs and an unladen weight of 1700kgs. I had 2 x S Max as company cars and had demonstrated every 6/7 seater combination available at the time (2 years ago last one)and the S Max performs better and handles better than every other combination (even it's sister car the Galaxy). The car drives very well with few vices and as long as you reprogram your head to realise it ain't gonna accelerate like a Caterham or other pocket rocket (well they can't take 7 people either)you'll really enjoy driving it.
Just a point raised above regarding tyre wear, the front of the S Max takes most of the loading and so it will wear much heavier there than at the rear. As posted previously if you take the tyres at the front down to the wear bars 14,000 miles is the best I've had out of them, (Michelin Primacy) conversely the rears will get about 40,000 being much more lightly loaded. However if you swap the tyres front to rear at 8,000 miles the rear tyres will have had a chance to harden and then wear less aggressively such as I then swap them again front to rear after a further 12,000 miles and continue this practice until the wear bars come up. Using this method I've got 32,000 mile out of a set of tyres which I think is acceptable. Just to advise on my driving style I raced classic sports cars for 10 years including some V8 stuff so I'm not too much into "Driving Miss Daisey" mode.
Oh...and just to wind some folk up remember if fitting two tyres only they go on the rear. As stated above the softer tyres if fitted to the front wear much more quickly having to share heavy loadings and drive and brake, the rears have an easy time. Check out the Michelin tyre proving vids on youtube, it shows what happens if you put soft and new tyres on the front and run existing tyres on the rear. The front will track round corners in bad weather at max grip and...the rears don't, understeer is much safer than oversteer on public roads. The same information is given in AA, RAC and loads of other tyre manufacturer sites, and given that putting new tyres on the front wears them out loads quicker than the rear, and the tyre manufacturers would benefit with increased profits from that, you have to accept that what they say is true.
Mickey
Edited by MotorsportMickey on Thursday 23 October 15:44
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