The rise of the Super-MPV. A new menace

The rise of the Super-MPV. A new menace

Author
Discussion

LittleEnus

Original Poster:

3,218 posts

173 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
It would seem to me that there are more and more of these hideous things about-



Also Mercedes Vano and other mini-van type things.

I can only assume the race for the biggest 'car' has taken a new turn and the 4x4's no longer cut it at the school run grand prix?

I would like to know what makes people buy them and how to you use one day in day out as I can imagine parking them can't be fun.

Krikkit

26,500 posts

180 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
I hired one of those VW's last year and did about 2k miles in it over a week, it was surprisingly decent to drive, certainly no worse than a humdrum hatchback. Visibility was great, the diesel engine returned 40mpg despite having 8 blokes plus gear stacked up to the roof, and it rode and handled nicely.

Not a bad choice if you've got a huge litter of kids, but I wouldn't choose one unless a 7-seat Disco or similar was too small.

LittleEnus

Original Poster:

3,218 posts

173 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
Krikkit said:
I hired one of those VW's last year and did about 2k miles in it over a week, it was surprisingly decent to drive, certainly no worse than a humdrum hatchback. Visibility was great, the diesel engine returned 40mpg despite having 8 blokes plus gear stacked up to the roof, and it rode and handled nicely.

Not a bad choice if you've got a huge litter of kids, but I wouldn't choose one unless a 7-seat Disco or similar was too small.
Yeah but you would have to have minimum of 4 kids, that is a lot!

Lordglenmorangie

3,053 posts

204 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
I fail to see the logic to this post rolleyes

Kawasicki

13,041 posts

234 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
LittleEnus said:
It would seem to me that there are more and more of these hideous things about-



Also Mercedes Vano and other mini-van type things.

I can only assume the race for the biggest 'car' has taken a new turn and the 4x4's no longer cut it at the school run grand prix?

I would like to know what makes people buy them and how to you use one day in day out as I can imagine parking them can't be fun.
Fairly simple, it's on my list because I need to fit three kids seats in a car, and we're buying a dog, which we will take with us on camping holidays. It will sit in the garage most of the time, the kids walk to school. I would actually prefer to get a smaller car, like a Sharan or even a Touran, but I wouldn't say no to a good Multivan if it was at the right price.

Truckosaurus

11,183 posts

283 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
I too have driven a rental Transporter van. They are easy to park due to large mirrors and square shape, plus (in SWB form at least) can fit in a normal supermarket parking space.

When I go down to Dorset to visit family there's loads of them about, all modified (as campers or just paint and wheels). Don't see many non-workvan ones up here in Hampshire.

bigandclever

13,750 posts

237 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
That E38 in your profile is longer and only marginally (40mm) narrower than the bus. "Menace" indeed laugh

LittleEnus

Original Poster:

3,218 posts

173 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
Lordglenmorangie said:
I fail to see the logic to this post rolleyes
As much logic as your eBay classifieds post where you were trying to sell a t5 camper can hehe

LittleEnus

Original Poster:

3,218 posts

173 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
bigandclever said:
That E38 in your profile is longer and only marginally (40mm) narrower than the bus. "Menace" indeed laugh
Good point, well made smile

Its the height generally I think that makes them seem so much bigger. I know that cars with roof boxes can sometimes struggle in multi-story car parks so wonder how you can get by with them

So people that own them, are they really that good to drive? No issues?

Hugo a Gogo

23,378 posts

232 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
3 or 4 kids, plus granny and granddad?

you wouldn't buy one unless you needed it, because they are bloody expensive

and yes, as said, no bigger than a 7 series, but with better visibility

oh and not a new menace either, VW vans have been fairly popular since the 50s
my uncle had a Hiace van for his family in the 80s, my wife's family had a Tranny van with builder's benches down each side

all in all, poor effort

Matt UK

17,649 posts

199 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
Used extensively in Europe and the envy of the Eurocamp.

Vincefox

20,566 posts

171 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
Few guys i work with who have families have all converted to these one by one. Theyre a brilliant solution to having to have a family vehicle but still wanting to have something a bit useful, fun and interesting.

It's not for me, but i actually quite like them. If i had to drop performance and ferry a family around it's what i'd choose.

graham22

3,293 posts

204 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
They drive nice for a van but as someone posted above, no nicer than a low spec car.

You have to remember they are still a van, perhaps loaded with 8 blokes & kit the suspension was working nicely but 2 up they bounce all over the place.

Unless you have a Caravelle or California they take ages to warm up inside, many with windows added don't have demisters or rear wipers so it's mirrors to reverse and ofetn these aren't heated.

The spec varies - a 130hp+ model with electric windows, factory glass isn't too bad a place to be. A basic 85hp model with not toys is a slow, good work horse but not so nice compared to most cars.

Useful 2nd vehicle but as a daily driver - if I could afford another for carrying bike around as a 2nd car then I would but in my situation I prefer a nice car and trailer for such occasions.

I've said before though, they are fairly depreciation proof so work trying for the summer especially if you can add value by fitting decent wheels, carpet/insulation & colour matching.

LittleEnus

Original Poster:

3,218 posts

173 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
On reflection should have just put the title without the new menace bit smile


lufbramatt

5,318 posts

133 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
Ugh, came within inches of having one of those T5 things embedded in the side of my Passat last night when the moron driving it decided he didn't want to pay any attention to the lane markings on the roundabout we were on and changed lanes (crossing the cross hatching) at the last second with no warning, then spent the next 3 miles flashing and tailgating me after I hooted him. Seem to be driven with the attitude of "I'm bigger than you move out of my way"

Edited by lufbramatt on Friday 27th March 10:07

LittleEnus

Original Poster:

3,218 posts

173 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
lufbramatt said:
Ugh, came within inches of having one of those T5 things embedded in the side of my Passat last night when the moron driving it decided he didn't want to pay any attention to the lane markings on the roundabout we were on and changed lanes (crossing the cross hatching) at the last second with no warning, then spent the next 3 miles flashing and tailgating me after I hooted him. Seem to be driven with the attitude of "I'm bigger than you move out of my way"

Edited by lufbramatt on Friday 27th March 10:07
And we're off smile

sjg

7,444 posts

264 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
They're ace.

Most of the people I know with them don't have huge numbers of kids but do have hobbies that involve taking kit around with them - windsurfing, R/C planes, motorcycle trackdays, mountain biking, etc.

Footprint of a SWB one is no more than something like an E-Class estate so I don't really see what the problem is. Some people drive like knobs in anything.

Busso GTA

178 posts

125 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
Not sure about menace but they seem to have a fair few tosspots piloting them the Vaneo also seems to suffer the same sort of people not exclusively but a fair few I encounter , more often than not are shod with awful unsuited alloys too

northwest monkey

6,370 posts

188 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
My neighbour has one (VW T5?). 3 kids + a couple of big dogs = very little boot space in a "normal" car or MPV for holiday luggage etc. Seems nice inside & not much bigger than his wifes 3-series estate. Also very handy for tip runs etc.

ewenm

28,506 posts

244 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
sjg said:
They're ace.

Most of the people I know with them don't have huge numbers of kids but do have hobbies that involve taking kit around with them - windsurfing, R/C planes, motorcycle trackdays, mountain biking, etc.

Footprint of a SWB one is no more than something like an E-Class estate so I don't really see what the problem is. Some people drive like knobs in anything.
I wonder how their footprint compares with a 7-Series BMW for example? whistle