Another what car (won't be mx5 or 335d as the answer though)

[Back to the top]

Bit of help from the collective wisdom please - I am due a change of transport .
It needs to sit 3 in the back- 2 boosters and a front facing seat for the 2 year old .
I have considered an octavia vrs estate , 5 series touring or A4 avant . Haven't looked in the flesh yet but not sure whether they will accomodate us ?
The new car needs about 30 mpg ,costs less than 12k and I can't bring myself to get an mpv .
If we have to go down the big old barge route , anyone have experience of an xc90 or dare I say newer shape santa fe with 7 seats ?

[Gizmo!]

There are MPVs and there are MPVs...

Honda FR-V or Corolla Verso would be tempting.

[HellDiver]

Corolla Verso is a nice motor - I used one for a month carrying video equipment and personell about. 2.2 D4D, over the month it averaged just over 48mpg doing mixed driving.

[300bhp/ton]

Back to the top said:

Bit of help from the collective wisdom please - I am due a change of transport .
It needs to sit 3 in the back- 2 boosters and a front facing seat for the 2 year old .
I have considered an octavia vrs estate , 5 series touring or A4 avant . Haven't looked in the flesh yet but not sure whether they will accomodate us ?
The new car needs about 30 mpg ,costs less than 12k and I can't bring myself to get an mpv .
If we have to go down the big old barge route , anyone have experience of an xc90 or dare I say newer shape santa fe with 7 seats ?

Clarkson always seems to rate the Xc90 highly.

How about something like a Subaru Forrester or Legacy?

Or something like a Chrysler 300C estate. Big and roomy, 3.0 diesel, so punchy but good economy and something a bit more individual and original?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

[james_tigerwoods]

Not posted this for a while:

Fiat Multipla.

[cs02rm0]

Fiat Multipla? Put a flashing light on it and what have you got?...

[Bonefish Blues]

james_tigerwoods said:

Not posted this for a while:

Fiat Multipla.

Makes an enormous amount of sense as a family car.

[frosted]

Not a Honda FRV it's HRV . The one with the 3 seats in the middle .

[james_tigerwoods]

cs02rm0 said:

Fiat Multipla? Put a flashing light on it and what have you got?...

A multipla with a flashing light on it?

Bonefish Blues said:

james_tigerwoods said:

Not posted this for a while:

Fiat Multipla.

Makes an enormous amount of sense as a family car.

Cheap too - Image, however, may be a problem.

[Chris_w666]

S max isn't a bad car either, would be very tempted if I needed a kiddy bus.

[MrLou]

frosted said:

Not a Honda FRV it's HRV . The one with the 3 seats in the middle .

F-RV has 3 seats in the front.

It's the same concept as the Multipla.

[Back to the top]

Thanks for replies so far - general consensus being the octavia , a4 and 5 series will be too tight in the back then ?
Anyone have experience with the xc90 / Santa fe or just a thought - pathfinder ?
Appreciate the mpv suggestions but I really can't bring myself to do it ! We have a Picasso (groan) on the fleet as well as my 3dr astra - hate driving the Citroën but love it's practicle nature .
Both cars will be chnged within the year - I will get the family wagon while my lovely lady has a wish list of small,warm hatches .

[markh1973]

The FRV has 3 seats in the front and 3 in the back. We have a booster, high back booster and a front facing baby seat in the back and the eldest boy never complains that he doesn't have enough space when he is sat in the middle of the two bigger seats.


It doesn't look like an MPV and doesn't drive like one either although it could do with a bit more power. Petrol ones only came with auto boxes whereas diesel ones only came with manual boxes. Only real complaint I have about mine is that the radio is s***.

Edited by markh1973 on Thursday 22 April 16:12

[Bonefish Blues]

james_tigerwoods said:

cs02rm0 said:

Fiat Multipla? Put a flashing light on it and what have you got?...

A multipla with a flashing light on it?

Bonefish Blues said:

james_tigerwoods said:

Not posted this for a while:

Fiat Multipla.

Makes an enormous amount of sense as a family car.

Cheap too - Image, however, may be a problem.

Only if you get the newer "diluted" version - bug eyes are charming on a Sprite, but not on a Multipla for some reason I'm yet to fathom.

[MrLou]

E Class 7 seater?

[Pentoman]

Plenty of mpvs don't drive badly at all (for a regular car, but they aren't sporty either). Picasso Mk1 is actually not bad, the Scenic is crap, but I also rated the Toyota Picnic to drive (they really do give these cars stupid names don't they). I'd have no qualms taking one of the better ones over an A4 avant which isn't really that good to drive although is rather more classy and better looking than what I have suggested. I think for kids etc the extra height of mpvs may be useful - not bending down to fold them into the back seats etc?

Zafira GSi? Supposed to be a great drive and even looks quite cool-ish. 200hp turbo.

[balders118]

Alfa 159 Estate? Gorgeous car and (supposedly) very good as well.

[Back to the top]

I've looked at e class , it's huge ! Bit out of price range if I was to look at 2006 onwards - these seem to hold value well which is underdstandable . Is the 159 wide enough in the back ? Really , really can't do the mpv thing .
I know it's a bit blinkered of me but they really don't do anything for me at all .
I've seen that ML 270 can be had with 7 seats , what are they like to live with ?

[balders118]

Back to the top said:

I've looked at e class , it's huge ! Bit out of price range if I was to look at 2006 onwards - these seem to hold value well which is underdstandable . Is the 159 wide enough in the back ? Really , really can't do the mpv thing .
I know it's a bit blinkered of me but they really don't do anything for me at all .
I've seen that ML 270 can be had with 7 seats , what are they like to live with ?

I coudln't comment on the width across the back of a 159, as I havent owned one.. Couldnt be any worse than A4 avant though? I'd shortlist a few if I was you and go and check them out for yourself.. as you've found out on here everyones opinion is very different (with regards to the MPV suggestions) so a lot of whats said on here is just peoples opinions, which may well not be the same as yours.

[eldar]

If its practicality, something like a 2009 Astra estate. Epic depreciation 50%, or so in the first 6 months, let someone else take that hit.

Then 2.5 years worry free driving in a newish car. 2 services, no unexpected maintenance, cheap to run and insure, worry free.

But not exciting.