8 seats in Florida

[jonny996]

Holiday planning again, need a 8 seater in Florida. Only 1driver so can'thave 2 cars.

Looking at the ford E350 as we will be twin centre and need the luggage space, are these any good or is it like a school minibus?

[Grenoble]

Aren't any 8 seaters + luggage going to feel like a minibus? There is at least 500kg of added mass for a start...

[Clivey]

The E350 is a van and will feel like a school bus - the design is very long in the tooth now. TBH the only vehicles that aren't MPVs / vans and that can carry 8 are SUVs such as the Chevrolet Suburban. You will find these at rental places and an added bonus is that they're usually V8 powered. Hope that helps.

[jonny996]

How many cases can you get in one of those SUV with all 8 seats being used

[belleair302]

Its going to be a van, and they are similar to driving a transit. The roads in Florida are dead straight, people react slowly to lights etc and have poor reactions. Just be careful of the weak brakes on these things and lazy transmission.

[jonny996]

belleair302 said:

Its going to be a van, and they are similar to driving a transit. The roads in Florida are dead straight, people react slowly to lights etc and have poor reactions. Just be careful of the weak brakes on these things and lazy transmission.

Thanks, have to say with 2 wives and 4 kids in iy I can see there being much drag racing. I think the 4.4 petrol my be different from the uk ones

[Quhet]

jonny996 said:

Thanks, have to say with 2 wives and 4 kids

lucky man

[Clivey]

jonny996 said:

How many cases can you get in one of those SUV with all 8 seats being used

Plenty; These vehicles are massive.



This is a Suburban. Count the seat belts - 9 seats, plus room behind for suitcases.

[Captain Cadillac]

You do not want an E350, they are terrible to drive.

Suburban will work, just make sure that it doesn't have captains chairs in the middle row.

Some Dodge/Chrysler and Toyota Sienna vans will also be 8 passengers, but luggage space might be tight.

[V8LM]

Clivey said:

Plenty; These vehicles are massive.



This is a Suburban. Count the seat belts - 9 seats, plus room behind for suitcases.

Except front passenger number 2 can't have legs.

I doubt any 8 seater has room for 8 people's luggage at the same time.

[BuzzLightyear]

We had an E350 when we were in Florida and I thought it was actually pretty good for what it was: Reasonable performance / comfort (it was V8 iirc) and loads of room for us (me, OH and 7 kids).

[Clivey]

V8LM said:

Except front passenger number 2 can't have legs.

That's OK as they 'only' need the other 8 seats.

V8LM said:

I doubt any 8 seater has room for 8 people's luggage at the same time.

Have you seen the size of some of these US-market SUVs / Vans? I've done the same thing as the OP several times (7 adults). The last time we rented a Toyota Sienna - easily big enough to hold a suitcase for every passenger.

Mind you, you are talking to someone who managed to get 5 adults, 5 cases and 5 carry-on bags in a Mercedes A-Class on the way to the airport...it was the long wheel base model though!

[jonny996]

we had the toyota sieena last year & it worked ok as we booked a car from airport & back again to take the 2 mums & 4 kids, while the 2 dads follwed in toyota with all luggage, there is no way all 8 plus luggage would fit in to toyota, thats why I am thinking E350 size this time, not that I want to but needs must I feel

[CraigyMc]

Offtopic, but why, if you have space in the front for 3 seats abreast, isn't the damn steering wheel in the middle?

C

[The Wookie]

CraigyMc said:

Offtopic, but why, if you have space in the front for 3 seats abreast, isn't the damn steering wheel in the middle?

C

Because the steering column would have to go straight through the middle of the engine

[CraigyMc]

The Wookie said:

CraigyMc said:

Offtopic, but why, if you have space in the front for 3 seats abreast, isn't the damn steering wheel in the middle?

C

Because the steering column would have to go straight through the middle of the engine

Hardly an intractible problem, though, is it? (I mean moving the column off to one side, not putting it through the middle).

C

[The Wookie]

CraigyMc said:

Hardly an intractible problem, though, is it? (I mean moving the column off to one side, not putting it through the middle).

C

Not intractable (maybe), but perhaps an answer to a question no-one asked... Apart from you of course!

[CraigyMc]

The Wookie said:

CraigyMc said:

Hardly an intractible problem, though, is it? (I mean moving the column off to one side, not putting it through the middle).

C

Not intractable (maybe), but perhaps an answer to a question no-one asked... Apart from you of course!

Glad to be of service!

I recon this would be quite an interesting feature to see in something like a new VW campervan, assuming the drivetrain was packaged under the floor at the back.

C

[jonny996]

you forget, these are aimed at america, can you imagine the averdge american trying to shuffle across to the middle seat

[CraigyMc]

jonny996 said:

you forget, these are aimed at america, can you imagine the averdge american trying to shuffle across to the middle seat

It's part of the attraction. It looks hilarious in my imagination, particularly on very soft suspension.

C