What can I fit 3 kids into that isn't a people carrier?

[Witchfinder]

I don't want a people carrier. I've driven them before and hated them. However, I do need to fit three children into the back of my car (aged 7, 4 and 3), and they just won't fit into the Octavia. I don't really fancy spending over a grand on a Multimac (if they were closer to £500, then I might consider it, but £1100 is just too much). I'd have a budget of up to, say, about £8000. Obviously, if I can get reasonable reliability and running costs, and something that's interesting/fun, so much the better. I'd looked at big stuff like the Audi A8 and BMW 7 and 5 series, but I don't think that even they have enough rear-seat room.

Any suggestions welcome - thanks in advance to the comedians (eg: "tie a knot in it", "sell the kids", etc...)

[V8mate]

Skoda Superb estate.

[Zod]

7 Series, S Class, XJ, A8 don't work. I spent last summer looking at this question and ended up with a seven-seater SUV. You could get a high mileage XC90 for that kind of money.

[LuS1fer]

I have a 2009 Mondeo with a bulky forward-facing child seat, 11 year old, 5 year old on a booster seat. I confess the middle perch isn't the most comfortable but the 11 year old hasn't complained yet.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/front_website/gallery...



The boot is also vast and we can get a kid's bike, 2 scooters and a pushchair in there with ease.

Edited by LuS1fer on Wednesday 24th August 11:30

[airportparking]

The merc e class comes with a 7 seat option, you could also get an xc90 which has them fitted standard or add them to most big 4x4's

[Witchfinder]

V8mate said:

Skoda Superb estate.

For £8000 or less? They're all double that IIRC, but thatnks for the suggestion. I'm not convinced the rear seats are all that wide on the Superb anyway. It's not the cabin length or the boot space that's the issue, rather fitting three child seats/booster seats abreast.

[RB Will]

Merc E class tourers can have 2 seats in the boot so be a 7 seater

[Witchfinder]

Zod said:

7 Series, S Class, XJ, A8 don't work. I spent last summer looking at this question and ended up with a seven-seater SUV.

Thanks for the tip. I had been hoping I'd get three in the back of an A8, but you've saved me the hassle.

RB Will said:

Merc E class tourers can have 2 seats in the boot so be a 7 seater

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't those seats rear-facing and a little on the... errr... flimsy side? Not sure they're suitable for child seats.

[andy43]

A wheelie bin?

[ikarl]

a blender?

[oldcynic]

V70.

We only bought an MPV when child no. 5 was on the way, and the Volvo still occasionally gets called back into service when the MPV is broken (although I admit it's a little tight for 7 of us). The rest of the time it's my daily driver.

[fathomfive]

Witchfinder said:

For £8000 or less? They're all double that IIRC, but thatnks for the suggestion. I'm not convinced the rear seats are all that wide on the Superb anyway. It's not the cabin length or the boot space that's the issue, rather fitting three child seats/booster seats abreast.

Would an Smax be too much in the direction of a people carrier?

[HellDiver]

Witchfinder said:

I do need to fit three children into the back of my car (aged 7, 4 and 3), and they just won't fit into the Octavia.

I suggest putting your kids on diets if you can't fit them in the back of an Octavia. What size are they?!?

[oldcynic]

Witchfinder said:

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't those seats rear-facing and a little on the... errr... flimsy side? Not sure they're suitable for child seats.

I'd rather be in the boot of a Merc/Volvo than the back seat of a Fiesta in a rear-end collision.

[Porkie]

Wow. I thought an Octavia would easily be big enough for 3 young kids?!?! I don't have children yet.... shocked by this!

[mikefacel]

+1 to Merc E-class, also Volvo V70 with 7-seat option.

If you really want 7 seats with 3 forward-facing rows then the nearest to real car driving experience will be a S-Max or Mitsubishi Grandis.

[badlands1]

110 Defender

[Zod]

mikefacel said:

+1 to Merc E-class, also Volvo V70 with 7-seat option.

If you really want 7 seats with 3 forward-facing rows then the nearest to real car driving experience will be a S-Max or Mitsubishi Grandis.

Rear-facing seats are not a safe option.

For a near car experience, the SUVs also fit the bill, probably better than a one box design.

[Witchfinder]

HellDiver said:

I suggest putting your kids on diets if you can't fit them in the back of an Octavia. What size are they?!?

It's the booster seats themselves, rather than the children. Three across, they simply don't fit.

[OMNIO]

you cant fit a 7, 4 and 3 year old in the back of a 5 series or similar??

Im 21 and have 2 brothers aged 19 and 14 and we can fit in a 5 series just fine.

The 3 of us could also fit in the back of an A4 (although the 700 mile trips to southern france got a bit claustrophobic towards the end...) and a Mk 2 Mondeo.

When we were younger (nearer the age of your kids) we could sit comfortably in a Mk 2 golf and a Cavalier....

Do all of them need those booster seats or something?