7 seats required, budget not really important...

[Mario149]

As per the title really....My sis and her family are coming back from a 3 year stint living abroad, and have asked if I'll help them find a car to transport her, the husband and 4 children for when they get back in a month or so. As I said, budget is basically not an issue, requirements are:

7 seats facing forward (kids are getting bigger now)
decent performance
good amount of luxury/toys
nearly new
good value for money (within the context of the car being nearly new and depreciating obviously)

Only car that completely fits that bill that I can come up with is a 2009 Land Rover Disco 4 XS or HSE 3.0 TDV6. Or possibly an Audi Q7, but reviews of them seem to universally say they're a bit pants.

Have I missed anything obvious?

TIA

[bazking69]

Does it have to be a 4x4, or will an MPV do?

[The Wookie]

I'd probably go with the Disco personally, but perhaps Merc R-Class?

[iggletiggle]

Mercedes R Class - both the 320cdi and 420cdi
Mercedes GL - believe you can get these in 7seat

[anonymous-user]

Discovery 4 gets my vote, we have two discovery 3s and they are fantastic.

The volvo xc90 is also pretty good for carrying 7 people, the boots seats are fairly spacious.

I cant comment on other cars as I've not been in any other new 7 seaters.

[anonymous-user]

Volvo XC90, handsome in a volvoey way, 7 seats plus a useable boot, hold their value very well I believe.

[Dick_Phallus]

Budget not important you say? 4 MX5s then.

[Mario149]

Hmmm, thanks for the replies so far.

Doesn't have to be a 4x4 which I guess opens up a Ford S-Max Zetec Titanium thingy.

I discounted the mercs as I think on the website it mentioned it as occasional 7 seater(s). Does anyone own one of them? Are they more than "occasional"?

They had an XC90 for the job abroad, and weren't massively enamoured with it mainly as the petrol engine seemed rather anaemic. If there's a more powerful version, maybe it could be a contender again.

[TuxMan]

Audi Q7 all the way !!! very modern well designed piece of kit !!

if price is not a option ....wow this looks awesome

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1671593.htm

or maybe this one .

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1662852.htm

Edited by TuxMan on Monday 10th May 14:24

[jonnydm]

Another one for the XC90.
Maybe try the V8, although fairly thin on the ground.
Something like this:

http://www.volvoselectedusedcars.com/control.cfm?M...

[Mehdi]

+1 for the GL. old man has one and is great if you have to take 7 people in comfort... hes got the 350 cdi its not that fast tbh, but the thing does weigh a ton! the rear seats can have a 6ft person sittin in comfort. And its road presence is very strong, whist also being quite rare to see...

its got little gadgets that are nice i.e. the rear two seats fold up/down electronically by their own buttons.., if you have memory seats, u can program the steering wheel to move up and in so when you go in and out of the seat there is more space. The full leather option looks nice also, and if you get the facelift model (59plate- i think) you get led rear lights which look ace, and an led strip at the front which can be programmed off. Also the sport model is great value for the money.
Mehdi

[Dog Star]

"Budget no object" you say....?

I recall Renault doing an Espace with a F1 engine in it - I saw it at Silverstone.

Would that do?

And here it is....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpdDDsavOPI

[thinfourth2]

Well if budget is no problem here you go

http://tiny.cc/omtkz

[Bill]

Mario149 said:

Doesn't have to be a 4x4 which I guess opens up a Ford S-Max Zetec Titanium thingy.

Hateful thing. I got SWMBO one on the grounds it doesn't look or feel as big as it is.

The steering wheel is set very slightly to the right. The gear ratios are awful (2.2d with the 6 speed manual) until you get to 3rd when it kind of works, until you discover that 6th only pulls above 60. And the torque steer is distinctly unpleasant. The ride is awful, again until you're on a fast A-road when it does at least handle ok. Just as long as there aren't any roundabouts when the aforementioned torque steer ruins any enjoyment. And the interior build (particularly the plastic cubby doors/flaps) is pants.

I'm just hoping we don't take a complete bath when we sell it.

The Volvo is ok, but the interior is gloomy and plastic, and it's not that big.

The Disco3 (now 4) was my choice.

We needed to be able to fit 3 sprog seats across the back so all other 4x4s were out for us, and the S-Max is the best of a bad bunch on the people carrier front.

[Beefmeister]

Disco 4 3.0 TDV6 HSE.

All the car she'll ever need.

The interior on the Disco 4 is also leagues ahead of the 3.

And it's cleaner, faster and more economical than the 3 too.

Amazing bit of kit.

[thebigmacmoomin]

Ford S-Max, either the 2.2 TDCi 175bhp or the 2.5T 225bhp + remap on both.

(think thie 7 seaters)

[sunbeam_alpine]

She can have my old garden furniture for free - she just has to come and collect it

Even as I write this I realise it might not be the sort of answer you're looking for

[Si 330]

The 3rd row in an s-max are child friendly only, not proper man seats.

[10JH]

How about Range Rover with the Overfinch 3rd row of seats.

[PhilboSE]

TuxMan said:

Audi Q7 all the way !!! very modern well designed piece of kit !!

Edited by TuxMan on Monday 10th May 14:24

Another vote for the Q7. If you have the money, it's a much nicer place to be that typical people carriers.
IMO, the Merc and BMW X5 aren't genuine 7-seaters; it's practically impossible to access the rear seats in the X5 and when you get there, there is naff-all space.

The V8 TDi is the pick of the range for me, but they're a £10K premium over the V6 new.

Volvo XC90 is OK but an aging design now but that does mean that dealers will give you a £10K discount on list. We found it underpowered on the diesel versions; I didn't like it at all.

If she must go down the people carrier route then the Espace seems to be the most upmarket (if that's not a contradiction in terms), but it is near the bottom of all the reliability surveys.

Just my 2p, albeit after 12 months deliberating. I went for a V8 TDi Q7 with all the trimmings, £25K cheaper than list for a 6-month old 6K miler from a dealer. Very happy with it and it transports a large family, pet and our stuff with aplomb on a regular basis. (slight) downside: 23mpg average, can't get over 30mpg on a steady cruise regardless of how defensively it is driven. (major) upside: massive torque makes for "comfortable" progress at any speed.