Budget MPV suggestions...
Discussion
Well that's it, my life is well and truly on hold for the foreseeable future. It looks like number 3 might be on the way, nice/daunting news depending on how you look at it but in about 7.5 months we will have a children of the following ages - 0, 24m, 4.5yrs......jesus!
Anyway, current car is my rather lovely BMW E61 525d MSport but there is no way you can fit a rear facing seat, car seat and booster in the back without getting the angle grinder out and taking some limbs off. So it's up for sale
Another consideration is budget, the E61 is up for 11.5k but we need to plough >50% of this into savings in leiu of mat leave and other financial considerations.
So, with a budget of max £5k, what are peoples experiences? I've done some browsing round and come up with the following:-
- Toyota Corroloa Verso (A good mate will have a 1.6, 2003 one of these for sale soon, known provenance and all that).
- Honda FR-V - Looks relatively nice and has a useful looking seating configuration
- Citroen Grand Picasso - was once passenger in one of these and thought it was quite nice for what it was. French, poor reputation, saying that my old man has been running a C5 deisel for 9 years and it has never broken, not once.
- Renault Espace - you seem to get a lot of bus for the money but it's a Renault and they are universally shyte aren't they?
- Citroen C8 - Big bugger, sliding door, useful, know nothing about them.
- Fiat Ulysse, like Renault, aren't all fiat's unreliable and crap?
- Ford S-Max - have a good rep but seem to be out of budget
- Ford Galaxy - Looks like a transit van but if they're good I don't care.
It would do maybe 10k/year so not fussed about petrol/diesel, would also prefer manual as have had issues in the past with auto boxes but then again, if the car was right I wouldn't rule it out. Auto is handy for being able to turn round and smack the kids while your driving actually.
So, words of wisdom, advice, commiserations welcome. Oh and please refrain from the usual comments re being taking on holiday from lands end to john-o-groats 7 up in a hillman avenger, with the dog tied to the roof rack, times have moved on. And yes, I know a 5 series estate should accommodate 3 young kids, but they just don't seem to, frustrating, the seat shape/isofix points just don't allow it.
Also, if anyone has such a vehicle for sale and want to PX upward to a rather nice E61 then I'm open to offers.
And on a more positive note I'm getting a mint 56 plate Toyota Celica 190 T-Sport next week which should provide something of an antidote to the ensuing mundanity.
Anyway, current car is my rather lovely BMW E61 525d MSport but there is no way you can fit a rear facing seat, car seat and booster in the back without getting the angle grinder out and taking some limbs off. So it's up for sale
Another consideration is budget, the E61 is up for 11.5k but we need to plough >50% of this into savings in leiu of mat leave and other financial considerations.
So, with a budget of max £5k, what are peoples experiences? I've done some browsing round and come up with the following:-
- Toyota Corroloa Verso (A good mate will have a 1.6, 2003 one of these for sale soon, known provenance and all that).
- Honda FR-V - Looks relatively nice and has a useful looking seating configuration
- Citroen Grand Picasso - was once passenger in one of these and thought it was quite nice for what it was. French, poor reputation, saying that my old man has been running a C5 deisel for 9 years and it has never broken, not once.
- Renault Espace - you seem to get a lot of bus for the money but it's a Renault and they are universally shyte aren't they?
- Citroen C8 - Big bugger, sliding door, useful, know nothing about them.
- Fiat Ulysse, like Renault, aren't all fiat's unreliable and crap?
- Ford S-Max - have a good rep but seem to be out of budget
- Ford Galaxy - Looks like a transit van but if they're good I don't care.
It would do maybe 10k/year so not fussed about petrol/diesel, would also prefer manual as have had issues in the past with auto boxes but then again, if the car was right I wouldn't rule it out. Auto is handy for being able to turn round and smack the kids while your driving actually.
So, words of wisdom, advice, commiserations welcome. Oh and please refrain from the usual comments re being taking on holiday from lands end to john-o-groats 7 up in a hillman avenger, with the dog tied to the roof rack, times have moved on. And yes, I know a 5 series estate should accommodate 3 young kids, but they just don't seem to, frustrating, the seat shape/isofix points just don't allow it.
Also, if anyone has such a vehicle for sale and want to PX upward to a rather nice E61 then I'm open to offers.
And on a more positive note I'm getting a mint 56 plate Toyota Celica 190 T-Sport next week which should provide something of an antidote to the ensuing mundanity.
Edited by dave_s13 on Monday 11th March 09:47
t but are built for a purpose and great because of it. They'll never have the pace or dynamic polish of an Smax but are super practical and throwaway. We have a Vauxhall Zafira which would be in your budget as well. I can just about fit three car seats(two suitable for 4yr olds and one booster seat) accross the back seat and it has two seats in the boot as well.
Not the most involving of drives and the 1.6 petrol isn't powerful enough for it really.
Not the most involving of drives and the 1.6 petrol isn't powerful enough for it really.
Thanks for the replies so far chaps.
Not feeling the bench seat thing, part of the appeal, if there can be such a thing, of a massive mpv is that you can get a bit of space between the kids. Stops the tendency to bicker and fight I'd imagine. Oh and I have an irrational hatred of anything with it vauxhall badge on it I'd rather cut my own nuts off than drive a zafira, oh wait..........
Not feeling the bench seat thing, part of the appeal, if there can be such a thing, of a massive mpv is that you can get a bit of space between the kids. Stops the tendency to bicker and fight I'd imagine. Oh and I have an irrational hatred of anything with it vauxhall badge on it I'd rather cut my own nuts off than drive a zafira, oh wait..........
We've got a 2001 Galaxy TDI (115bhp). I really should hate it, but strangely I've become quite attached to it. It's on 186k and is looking like every one of those miles was a tough one, but it keeps on going despite everything we do to try and kill it.
As well as surviving the daily school run, it's frequently used to transport building materials, furniture, and the huge amount of crap we take on holiday. It's comfy and has enough mid range shove (I've had it remapped!) to keep up with traffic without feeling like you're ragging it. It will also do high 40s mpg on a reasonably quick run.
Problems? The air con died last summer. It was a split pipe that costs £100 to replace but due to location requires the whole front end to come off to replace (£££). It's also been through a couple of rear brake calipers (crappy handbrake mechanisms), and it's on it 4th set of drop links! That's about it, though I've noticed some uneven tyre wear on the rear so I'm getting that looked at this week.
Many will say it's just too boring to drive, but somehow I manage to have fun in it. There's something quite satisfying about pedalling a big old bus around at decent speeds!
As well as surviving the daily school run, it's frequently used to transport building materials, furniture, and the huge amount of crap we take on holiday. It's comfy and has enough mid range shove (I've had it remapped!) to keep up with traffic without feeling like you're ragging it. It will also do high 40s mpg on a reasonably quick run.
Problems? The air con died last summer. It was a split pipe that costs £100 to replace but due to location requires the whole front end to come off to replace (£££). It's also been through a couple of rear brake calipers (crappy handbrake mechanisms), and it's on it 4th set of drop links! That's about it, though I've noticed some uneven tyre wear on the rear so I'm getting that looked at this week.
Many will say it's just too boring to drive, but somehow I manage to have fun in it. There's something quite satisfying about pedalling a big old bus around at decent speeds!
Our Grand Espace has been shockingly unreliable, but is a brilliant way of carting three smalls about the place.
Avoid the 2.2dci - we didn't - and the reliability is much better, particularly from 56-plates on. You should just be able to find a 2.0dci within your budget: go for Grand and get one with a glass roof.
Avoid the 2.2dci - we didn't - and the reliability is much better, particularly from 56-plates on. You should just be able to find a 2.0dci within your budget: go for Grand and get one with a glass roof.
dave_s13 said:
Thanks for the replies so far chaps.
Oh and I have an irrational hatred of anything with it vauxhall badge on it I'd rather cut my own nuts off than drive a zafira, oh wait..........
Fair enough. It is functional though and my OH likes it (but she clearly has no taste as she married me). Touch wood has been reliable in the two years we've had it; just a pair of front tyres and regular services.Oh and I have an irrational hatred of anything with it vauxhall badge on it I'd rather cut my own nuts off than drive a zafira, oh wait..........
Hi, I own five under 8 so i have some experience of your pain. Something like a Mazda 5 is not much good if you want 3 in the middle row. The very middle seat is a perch more than an actual seat will be a 'mare to get a booster/child seat in, would be harder than your BMW.
Our 2nd car is the FRV. It was our maincar until number 5 arrived.
+ves
-Solid build quality: in 4 years of extreme use, school run, shopping trips then one long annual run it has needed oil/servicing and tyres
-3 individual seats in the middle plus a bonus one in the front to reward the best child with when they are good. Otherwise it folds down into a nicely levelled arm rest/MiccyDs holder.
- step through seating on the front for when you want to get people out to the pavement rather than into the road
- good sized boot by mid MPV standards, i.e a phil and teds doubler pram will fit in without much slamming of doors and swearing.
- rear seats can be staggered to stop too much infant based violence.
-looks quite good by MPV standards....my wife has started a trend in the local primary school for them
- 2.2 diesel quite pokey
- velour upholstery is pretty child resistant
-ves
-If you are dumb enough to have another accident and it is twins then it gets resigned to second car and start looking at the full size MPV alternatives (what happened to me)
-2.2 CDTi not quite the last word in economy...circa 40mpg on a run, mid 30s day to day
-leccy window switches to the RHS of the steering wheel on the dash. 4 years later i still forget where they are and am constantly hunting for them.
No experince of the petrol engine models but friends/neighbours with the same 2.0 petrol in Accord etc seem happy enough.
You seem to be focusing on cars from two sectors, mid and full size MPVs. Unless you really need a full size i would suggest you hold off getting one.
cavey
Our 2nd car is the FRV. It was our maincar until number 5 arrived.
+ves
-Solid build quality: in 4 years of extreme use, school run, shopping trips then one long annual run it has needed oil/servicing and tyres
-3 individual seats in the middle plus a bonus one in the front to reward the best child with when they are good. Otherwise it folds down into a nicely levelled arm rest/MiccyDs holder.
- step through seating on the front for when you want to get people out to the pavement rather than into the road
- good sized boot by mid MPV standards, i.e a phil and teds doubler pram will fit in without much slamming of doors and swearing.
- rear seats can be staggered to stop too much infant based violence.
-looks quite good by MPV standards....my wife has started a trend in the local primary school for them
- 2.2 diesel quite pokey
- velour upholstery is pretty child resistant
-ves
-If you are dumb enough to have another accident and it is twins then it gets resigned to second car and start looking at the full size MPV alternatives (what happened to me)
-2.2 CDTi not quite the last word in economy...circa 40mpg on a run, mid 30s day to day
-leccy window switches to the RHS of the steering wheel on the dash. 4 years later i still forget where they are and am constantly hunting for them.
No experince of the petrol engine models but friends/neighbours with the same 2.0 petrol in Accord etc seem happy enough.
You seem to be focusing on cars from two sectors, mid and full size MPVs. Unless you really need a full size i would suggest you hold off getting one.
cavey
Cavey is correct about the middle seat in the mazda 5. i tend to use mine as a 2 + 2 + 2 config as the middle seat can be folded away and used as a way to get in an out the rear seat.. on saying that consider that my kids are older and are able to climb through to the rear seats and strap in with no assistance.
Bear in mind also you will have no boot once the rear seats are up.
Bear in mind also you will have no boot once the rear seats are up.
I'm not a parent myself (and hope never to be, judging by the horror stories on here), but my parents have run a string of Alhambras/Galaxy/Sharans. The last of which, a LHD French 2.0 TDi '03 Sharan was something that I had to drive myself over here for a long time, and for all people seem to have against VAG diesels, it felt pretty good. Plenty of room in there for all four of us when we were home as well as the parents, and the seats can all pop out if you need to turn it into a van. Get a late version of one and you should be alright for a low price - or a more modern version shouldn't be too bad either, even if the Alhambra/Sharan and Galaxy are different cars. I'll put in my vote for them.
mk1matt said:
We've got a 2001 Galaxy TDI (115bhp). I really should hate it, but strangely I've become quite attached to it. It's on 186k and is looking like every one of those miles was a tough one, but it keeps on going despite everything we do to try and kill it.
As well as surviving the daily school run, it's frequently used to transport building materials, furniture, and the huge amount of crap we take on holiday. It's comfy and has enough mid range shove (I've had it remapped!) to keep up with traffic without feeling like you're ragging it. It will also do high 40s mpg on a reasonably quick run.
Problems? The air con died last summer. It was a split pipe that costs £100 to replace but due to location requires the whole front end to come off to replace (£££). It's also been through a couple of rear brake calipers (crappy handbrake mechanisms), and it's on it 4th set of drop links! That's about it, though I've noticed some uneven tyre wear on the rear so I'm getting that looked at this week.
Many will say it's just too boring to drive, but somehow I manage to have fun in it. There's something quite satisfying about pedalling a big old bus around at decent speeds!
Blimey, I could have written this As well as surviving the daily school run, it's frequently used to transport building materials, furniture, and the huge amount of crap we take on holiday. It's comfy and has enough mid range shove (I've had it remapped!) to keep up with traffic without feeling like you're ragging it. It will also do high 40s mpg on a reasonably quick run.
Problems? The air con died last summer. It was a split pipe that costs £100 to replace but due to location requires the whole front end to come off to replace (£££). It's also been through a couple of rear brake calipers (crappy handbrake mechanisms), and it's on it 4th set of drop links! That's about it, though I've noticed some uneven tyre wear on the rear so I'm getting that looked at this week.
Many will say it's just too boring to drive, but somehow I manage to have fun in it. There's something quite satisfying about pedalling a big old bus around at decent speeds!
Mrs TT has an '02 plate Galaxy, currently on 175k and, yeah, it looks like every one was a hard one! Not a single panel that doesn't have scatches or scrapes........4 badly corroded alloys.........but it just keeps on truckin'!
OK, as well as droplinks and calipers, ours ate it's turbo at 150-odd thousand, and it suffers from electrical gremlins (latest is the boot refuses to open with the central locking, requiring the key), but..........it's SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO practical. OK, taking the seats out is a faff, but it's a transit van when they're out, and with them in there's loads of space for the kids (we only have 2, but Mrs TT is a childnminder).
The diesel engine is as noisy as a transit, mind.
Certainly nicer to drive than the Zafira we used to own.
Edited by Twin Turbo on Monday 11th March 13:57
Have four under the age of 7 so my thoughts are with you!
When the 2.5 year old twins joined us we kept the VW Touran and added a LWB VW Caravells - expensive but awesome bit of kit - inbuilt rear facing kids seats x 2, space for the twin pram and can walkthrough when one of the little ones decided to fill a nappy, drop its ice cream or unclick their belt but big to park and easy to ding despite parking sensors. oh and electric side doors are the killer app!
We kept the Touran which is used for the school run and also limits the number of people asking us to take their kids o school (some see the Caravelle as the de facto school bus).
Having looked at the verso (too small) and the Mazda 5 (middle seat useless) we have decided to trade the caravelle infor a Toyota Prius+ 7 seater mainly for financial reasons - I will run it as my company car, first year 100% write down allowance and allows us to stop the pcp payments on the caravelle.
If I were buying on my own money the new VW Sharan with sliding rear door or the Ford Grand C MaX would get a serious look in.
Looked at the multimac - wife wants but I am not convinced as our 2 lads already look like that they outgrow it before long despite it being approved up to 12 years it looks like a. Big 8 year old will struggle in it.
The caravelle was the only. One of above that allowed the whole family plus all kit plus felt safe enough if one was rear ended and had a a proper spare tyre whereas the 7 seater Touran has no space for a spare and in full 7 seat mode not much room for luggage.
When the 2.5 year old twins joined us we kept the VW Touran and added a LWB VW Caravells - expensive but awesome bit of kit - inbuilt rear facing kids seats x 2, space for the twin pram and can walkthrough when one of the little ones decided to fill a nappy, drop its ice cream or unclick their belt but big to park and easy to ding despite parking sensors. oh and electric side doors are the killer app!
We kept the Touran which is used for the school run and also limits the number of people asking us to take their kids o school (some see the Caravelle as the de facto school bus).
Having looked at the verso (too small) and the Mazda 5 (middle seat useless) we have decided to trade the caravelle infor a Toyota Prius+ 7 seater mainly for financial reasons - I will run it as my company car, first year 100% write down allowance and allows us to stop the pcp payments on the caravelle.
If I were buying on my own money the new VW Sharan with sliding rear door or the Ford Grand C MaX would get a serious look in.
Looked at the multimac - wife wants but I am not convinced as our 2 lads already look like that they outgrow it before long despite it being approved up to 12 years it looks like a. Big 8 year old will struggle in it.
The caravelle was the only. One of above that allowed the whole family plus all kit plus felt safe enough if one was rear ended and had a a proper spare tyre whereas the 7 seater Touran has no space for a spare and in full 7 seat mode not much room for luggage.
Edited by arguti on Monday 11th March 14:07
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