People carriers - any that aren't the pits?

[benjj]

With another baby due in a month I think that the wife would be better off with something bigger than her Golf.

I have looked / am looking at various estate cars (E46, A4, CClass MB etc.) but the wife just mentioned something about a friend having a VW Touran. She seemed very keen.

Are these any good? Also are there any others that are half decent? Budget of 6k max which writes off Ford S-Max etc.

Size also an issue. Touran / 3 series BMW Touring about the max size we can handle.

Any suggestions very welcome.

Cheers,

Ben

[Codswallop]

Mitsubishi Grandis and Honda Stream both look pretty good for MPVs imo, and should be reliable. Grandis has hideaway rear seats and I seem to remember that reviews praised the handling of both. Honda FR-V might also be an interesting alternative with it's 2x3 layout.

[mattnunn]

benjj said:

With another baby due in a month I think that the wife would be better off with something bigger than her Golf.

I have looked / am looking at various estate cars (E46, A4, CClass MB etc.) but the wife just mentioned something about a friend having a VW Touran. She seemed very keen.

Are these any good? Also are there any others that are half decent? Budget of 6k max which writes off Ford S-Max etc.

Size also an issue. Touran / 3 series BMW Touring about the max size we can handle.

Any suggestions very welcome.

Cheers,

Ben

Been through this a few months ago, unless it's your third I'd push her into a estate. We got a nice 2.0 TDCI SMax private sale 60K fsh for £7k, the Tourans are very over priced IMO, most value for money is the Citroen Picasso or Grand Picaso but my missus likes to drive as much as me and they drive like a matress on wheels, but the interiors are well thought out and the view from the front is amazing.

Beware though all these people carriers over 3 years old that have had kids in and/or used as 7 seaters have fked interiors, really you have to start looking to understand what I mean, we saw some 18month old Citroens that looked like someone had been playing rugby inside them.

[barky]

If 5 seats is enough have a look at Seat Altea XL's ... by brother has one & it doesn't seem to be nasty to drive

[Blakeatron]

Our chipped touran sport was a pretty decent and not overly big. 7 seats but boot 2 did fold flat to boot floor. Enough room for big dog and pram in boot.

[Vladimir]

Despite a growing family, an MPV simply did not compute.

So this is our people carrier:



Carries seven, huge boot, great visibility.

Downsides are no airbags, hideous RFL and cr4p mpg. Oh and a turning circle similar to the USS Nimitz.

[The Moose]

Will this be number 2, 3, 4, 5...you get my drift? And how old are the current ones?

I think they're hateful things personally!

[majordad]

New Ford C max 1.6 Diesel. We bought one in April, have done 20k miles since, all good . Before that we ran a petrol 1.6 A Class, not good on fuel and noisey as only 5 gears, before that a Renault Scenic 1.9 Dsl, good car , mostly.

[diddly69]

How about a Zafira VXR?

[Changedmyname]

diddly69 said:

How about a Zafira VXR?

Another vote for this^^.

[Jimmy No Hands]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/ford/... ?

FSH and one owner...



But it is ex police and just states "high miles."

[10 Pence Short]

Vladimir said:

Despite a growing family, an MPV simply did not compute.

So this is our people carrier:



Carries seven, huge boot, great visibility.

Downsides are no airbags, hideous RFL and cr4p mpg. Oh and a turning circle similar to the USS Nimitz.

We got rid of one we had at work (54 plate, diesel), because it was about as reliable as South Coast football club owning Russian oligarchs.

[J4CKO]

Vladimir said:

Despite a growing family, an MPV simply did not compute.

So this is our people carrier:



Carries seven, huge boot, great visibility.

Downsides are no airbags, hideous RFL and cr4p mpg. Oh and a turning circle similar to the USS Nimitz.

Hi Mattee !


We have a Galaxy and it does all we need of it, reckon it will go next year for something some more interesting but as a "needs must" car it really is quite good at what it does, we had the Sharan before and that wasnt a patch on this, there is no better way of transporting a family at a decent speed with 40 plus mpg economy.

[lost in espace]

My people carrier broke down so my wife is using our alternative transport at the moment, another vote from me!

[Vladimir]

10 Pence Short said:

We got rid of one we had at work (54 plate, diesel), because it was about as reliable as South Coast football club owning Russian oligarchs.

Ours is the newer TDCi version - they need a LOT of TLC (ours has had a lot done under warranty) but they get under your skin like no other car. As a reliable, economical family runabout, look elsewhere.

Hi Jacko! ;)

[surveyor]

I'm rare on here because I say nice things about an Espace.

Make sure its 2007 and 2.0dci on though, which is pushing it for your budget.

[sawman]

For a people mover the ford S-Max seems ok, I came close to buying a subaru tribeca a few years ago, prices were dropping like a stone for a while, havent looked at them recently though.

[IroningMan]

surveyor said:

I'm rare on here because I say nice things about an Espace.

Make sure its 2007 and 2.0dci on though, which is pushing it for your budget.

Rare? I should coco.

Ours is a 2005 2.2dci: huge, comfortable - I take it non-stop to the Pyrenees each summer - but crushingly unreliable.

Budget £2k a year for major component failures.

[J4CKO]

Vladimir said:

10 Pence Short said:

We got rid of one we had at work (54 plate, diesel), because it was about as reliable as South Coast football club owning Russian oligarchs.

Ours is the newer TDCi version - they need a LOT of TLC (ours has had a lot done under warranty) but they get under your skin like no other car. As a reliable, economical family runabout, look elsewhere.

Hi Jacko! ;)

Not seen you on SN for a while !

[benjj]

Hmm, thanks everyone, lots to think about here.

As you'll see in my 'garage' I do have a thing for quirky French oddness. Perhaps a Vel Satis is the way to go...

Sensible head is now saying a hot Honda Accord estate so I can nick it for morning blasts...

Damn, wish this was a 996/F430/DBS what car...