The rise of the Super-MPV. A new menace
Discussion
Get out!I know quite a lot of people with hobbies which require bigger cars to ferry about equipment etc. Some choose Pickups and some choose vans/VW Campers. I think the ones who choose the campers ware more nostalgic too. Like the ones who buy the New Mini's and Beatles. It's for flower power nostalgic state. To be honest, I'd much prefer people ferrying around their gear/children in these than your usual family cars. They cost so much to buy in the first place that (most) owners seem to take more care.
We've had ours since new in 2013 and I can honestly say its money well spent. Just for the OP, i justify buying it because its now my family wagon (5 seats), I can then remove the quick release seats to use it for my showrooms delivering furniture to customers, i can do the tip run in it, i can get my Quad in the back with the seats still in, generally you'll be amazed at how much you take the practicality of these for granted. You might see them on the school run, but id take a punt at saying that very transporter is probably being used for something else aswell. think of it as a van/car/mpv in one.. basically no need for a car or separate van/larger car.
I couldn't possibly do any of the tasks above in my old 4.4 X5.. the only thing I've lost is the BMW badge and the V8 noise, and the general image of owning a luxury jeep. oh and crap Mpg. I didn't want to buy a transit, and didn't really want to sell my x5, but Buying a Sportline transporter means I have a bi tdi 180bhp/300lb/ft which has enough poke to make it enjoyable (for a 3 tonne van) and it will pull any load and 5 up with ease, and have all the luxuries and toys, and look the business, but with ten times more room. Its also DSG so it picks up pace very quickly, actually surprises a lot of ordinary cars.
There's a good reason why their so popular. and not that it matters but im Not quite sure what you find so hideous about them haha..
Here's ours, a 2013 Long wheel base Sportline Kombi.
It has heated leather captain seats, quick release leather seats in the back, Carpeted floors, Kenwood Touchscreen Satnav/Dab/Dvd , Bluetooth, Reverse Camera, Parking sensors F+R, Leather wheel, Cruise etc...it really has everything a modern day driver would need. It does have a few crappy van plastics and design flaws, but its as good as it gets. Ive also had every panel sound deadened with Dynamat, its insulated, and has an upgraded sound system. it sounds absolutely perfect, and there is ZERO road noise, its as quiet as a Mercedes. Only thing I wish it did have, which I couldn't spec at the time is Xenons.
Its a LWB, so supermarket parking means im the saddo at the back on my own. and just aswell, because no donkeys will ram their cars next to my large doors so I cant get in. I avoid multistories not so much for the vans dimensions but because of others banging thier doors on the van. Big long white panels will show up marks and paint off other doors very easily! Ive only ever taking it one underground multi story, which was petrifying, but there was plenty of room regarding height width and surprisingly length in the spaces in whatever Leeds hotel we stayed at in the city centre.
Lastly, its not quite an investment but its one of the better ways to spend money on four wheels, have a look at how much these hold their value. its truly ridiculous.. but i'm not complaining and another reason why they may be so popular compared to the typical SUV which plummets in value by the year.
I couldn't possibly do any of the tasks above in my old 4.4 X5.. the only thing I've lost is the BMW badge and the V8 noise, and the general image of owning a luxury jeep. oh and crap Mpg. I didn't want to buy a transit, and didn't really want to sell my x5, but Buying a Sportline transporter means I have a bi tdi 180bhp/300lb/ft which has enough poke to make it enjoyable (for a 3 tonne van) and it will pull any load and 5 up with ease, and have all the luxuries and toys, and look the business, but with ten times more room. Its also DSG so it picks up pace very quickly, actually surprises a lot of ordinary cars.
There's a good reason why their so popular. and not that it matters but im Not quite sure what you find so hideous about them haha..
Here's ours, a 2013 Long wheel base Sportline Kombi.
It has heated leather captain seats, quick release leather seats in the back, Carpeted floors, Kenwood Touchscreen Satnav/Dab/Dvd , Bluetooth, Reverse Camera, Parking sensors F+R, Leather wheel, Cruise etc...it really has everything a modern day driver would need. It does have a few crappy van plastics and design flaws, but its as good as it gets. Ive also had every panel sound deadened with Dynamat, its insulated, and has an upgraded sound system. it sounds absolutely perfect, and there is ZERO road noise, its as quiet as a Mercedes. Only thing I wish it did have, which I couldn't spec at the time is Xenons.
Its a LWB, so supermarket parking means im the saddo at the back on my own. and just aswell, because no donkeys will ram their cars next to my large doors so I cant get in. I avoid multistories not so much for the vans dimensions but because of others banging thier doors on the van. Big long white panels will show up marks and paint off other doors very easily! Ive only ever taking it one underground multi story, which was petrifying, but there was plenty of room regarding height width and surprisingly length in the spaces in whatever Leeds hotel we stayed at in the city centre.
Lastly, its not quite an investment but its one of the better ways to spend money on four wheels, have a look at how much these hold their value. its truly ridiculous.. but i'm not complaining and another reason why they may be so popular compared to the typical SUV which plummets in value by the year.
Edited by irfan1712 on Friday 27th March 12:28
Edited by irfan1712 on Friday 27th March 12:29
I drive one of these menaces. Trees die, children cry and because I'm bigger than everyone in their peasant sized normal cars, I own the road 
In all honesty, its no longer than our old 330 estate, a tough wider and despite my years of protesting to the wife that low and fast was better with cars, its ace sat at 65 on the motorway in my captains chair above everyone else. And when I do get to where I'm going, I can turn the seats around so I'm facing my two kids in the back, pop the table up, stick the kettle on and grab some cold milk out the fridge ready for a brew. And when I've finished my cuppa, pop the roof up, pull the bed out and I can sleep my family in it.
For someone who enjoys the outdoors like us, doing biking, walking, surfing, just mucking about in the open air etc its fantastic.
Just sitting there in the sun! by DaveyBoyWonder, on Flickr
In all honesty, its no longer than our old 330 estate, a tough wider and despite my years of protesting to the wife that low and fast was better with cars, its ace sat at 65 on the motorway in my captains chair above everyone else. And when I do get to where I'm going, I can turn the seats around so I'm facing my two kids in the back, pop the table up, stick the kettle on and grab some cold milk out the fridge ready for a brew. And when I've finished my cuppa, pop the roof up, pull the bed out and I can sleep my family in it.
For someone who enjoys the outdoors like us, doing biking, walking, surfing, just mucking about in the open air etc its fantastic.
Just sitting there in the sun! by DaveyBoyWonder, on Flickrirfan1712 said:
Just for the OP, i justify buying it because its now my family wagon (5 seats), I can then remove the quick release seats to use it for my showrooms delivering furniture to customers, i can do the tip run in it, i can get my Quad in the back with the seats still in, generally you'll be amazed at how much you take the practicality of these for granted. You might see them on the school run, but id take a punt at saying that very transporter is probably being used for something else aswell. think of it as a van/car/mpv in one.. basically no need for a car or separate van/larger car.
Thanks, that is a perfect answer. Think I want one now!
McWigglebum4th said:
Seeing the accepted wisdom on here is a baby won't fit in anything smaller then a BMW 3 series
Then surely those with 3 kids need something about the same size as a HGV
It's interesting just how big some cars can get (externally at least) and still not have enough room for 3 kids seats, Mercedes S class is a good example.Then surely those with 3 kids need something about the same size as a HGV
McWigglebum4th said:
Seeing the accepted wisdom on here is a baby won't fit in anything smaller then a BMW 3 series
Then surely those with 3 kids need something about the same size as a HGV
This always makes me laugh. I'm sure I remember myself, my sister, both parents & two dogs fitting in a mini estate fine thirty odd years ago. How much bigger are kids these days?Then surely those with 3 kids need something about the same size as a HGV
Hooli said:
This always makes me laugh. I'm sure I remember myself, my sister, both parents & two dogs fitting in a mini estate fine thirty odd years ago. How much bigger are kids these days?
You can't fit three kids seats on the rear bench. Two is easy. Three's a crowd.I had an Australian Ford Falcon, three kids seats on the rear bench was easy. The rear bench was about 151cm wide. I'm looking for a non SUV, MPV that has a similar or greater width and I've had no luck.
bigandclever said:
That E38 in your profile is longer and only marginally (40mm) narrower than the bus. "Menace" indeed
vehicle size is all about perceptions ... SWB transporters / Vitos / 'Transit custom' while slightly wider than a big car are often as pointed out above the same length or shorter than a large car
ditto the perception of all Land Rovers as ' big' the 88" / 90 is actually pretty small and the original Rangie and disco had a 100" wheelbase ...
Hooli said:
This always makes me laugh. I'm sure I remember myself, my sister, both parents & two dogs fitting in a mini estate fine thirty odd years ago. How much bigger are kids these days?
Well, a child in a car seat is about twice as wide as a child on their own.... So they're about twice the size :-) Have an older one of these as my daily fits in a normal parking space in swb spec i find it easier to drive than most cars big wing mirrors etc and best of all I can see much further down the road being higher up...
It has a full size double bed in the back for nights away. Absolutely awesome to own and drive
It has a full size double bed in the back for nights away. Absolutely awesome to own and drive
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