Should I give in to an S-max?
Discussion
bga said:
TBH may as well go for the diesel. The 2.5T is a nice engine but you'll not really find yourself enjoying it with the family in the car as it needs to be worked a fair bit to get the best out of it.
Each to their own, but when I had a Liberty GT as the family truckster, the kids loved it going to the 7750 cut-out, and the couple of laps of Bathurst, and the regular fun to be found. A bit of work, yes, but kids can enjoy it too.It is possible to enjoy a car with your family and not be a knob.
Get the S-Max if it works for you, but I didn't want an MPV/SUV either and my thread on getting a fun car for three kids in Oz is here...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Photo on the third page of the car, loaded to the gunwales with family and guff, on the start/finish line at Mount Panorama.
Different market, but similar thinking.
Edited to add the photo I was thinking of...
Edited by PomBstard on Sunday 13th November 09:01
I got my smax in 2014 when my twins arrived, we also had a 18month old.
It replaced a BMW 3 series saloon. To be honest it's a fantastic car, does everything we need it to, and is nicer to drive than the BMW was. I got mine planning to move it on once the kids were on boosters but I think I'm actually going to keep it longer than I had planned.
Only downside I have and it's not too big an issue - it's not as economical as I had hoped. Averaged in Mid 30's. Front tyres don't last long either, but it is a fairly big car so maybe I was dreaming of achieving better.
Sometimes look along at the galaxy and wish I'd gone to that but then it's bigger again and he smax does the job without feeling van like.
It replaced a BMW 3 series saloon. To be honest it's a fantastic car, does everything we need it to, and is nicer to drive than the BMW was. I got mine planning to move it on once the kids were on boosters but I think I'm actually going to keep it longer than I had planned.
Only downside I have and it's not too big an issue - it's not as economical as I had hoped. Averaged in Mid 30's. Front tyres don't last long either, but it is a fairly big car so maybe I was dreaming of achieving better.
Sometimes look along at the galaxy and wish I'd gone to that but then it's bigger again and he smax does the job without feeling van like.
PomBstard said:
Get the S-Max if it works for you, but I didn't want an MPV/SUV either and my thread on getting a fun car for three kids
Unfortunately it's impossible to fit 3 child seats into the rear of 99% of cars so that pretty much demands an mpv, as there is little choice available that can take 3 child seats along the rear bench. Most large MPV's
Disco
Volvo XC90
I think the above list are the only vehicles that have 3 independent rear seats that will take 3 class 0-1 car seat in a row.
Of course you could find something where you can fit one in the 3ed row at the cost of boot space but with twins and another child, it's not practical as you need the space.
Even big 4x4 which you would expect can't Q7 for example shares the 2.5 rear bench with the A6.
I'm going to have to go against the general concensus on these. I drive one of these nearly every day for work (top spec, diesel, all the toys) and it's horrible. Ours are 2011/2012 models so I appreciate the new ones are probably better. They're certainly brisk enough, the engine pulls very well and throttle response is good. Anybody who says they handle well is not driving the same vehicle I am. Wallowy, bloated and crashy, highly uncomfortable for passengers and seems to manage to perform the incredible feat of being both too stiffly sprung and utterly without precision. Sport, comfort and normal modes make quite literally no difference.
Inside the interior feels cheap and plastic, the cabin is not a pleasant place to be and the way that every single button is lit makes driving at night like a journey inside a planetarium. Main beams are good but dipped has the illumination of a weak candle.
Mine is always fully loaded and space inside is poor. Boot is a good size but the cabin is cramped, dark and no better than your average estate. Add in the fact they are truly hideous to look at and you have a car with all the style of a blancmange. Hateful cars. OP, you'd be much better off with an estate from one of the usual suspects, one of the larger Volvos or a Discovery etc.
Inside the interior feels cheap and plastic, the cabin is not a pleasant place to be and the way that every single button is lit makes driving at night like a journey inside a planetarium. Main beams are good but dipped has the illumination of a weak candle.
Mine is always fully loaded and space inside is poor. Boot is a good size but the cabin is cramped, dark and no better than your average estate. Add in the fact they are truly hideous to look at and you have a car with all the style of a blancmange. Hateful cars. OP, you'd be much better off with an estate from one of the usual suspects, one of the larger Volvos or a Discovery etc.
Tim1989 said:
I'm going to have to go against the general concensus on these. I drive one of these nearly every day for work (top spec, diesel, all the toys) and it's horrible.
Titanium X Sport have 18 alloys and sport suspension, which makes the ride very hard and crashy.Plus sports seats, which are harder still.
But the lower specs (including my wife's Titanium) are just fine.
qska said:
Tim1989 said:
I'm going to have to go against the general concensus on these. I drive one of these nearly every day for work (top spec, diesel, all the toys) and it's horrible.
Titanium X Sport have 18 alloys and sport suspension, which makes the ride very hard and crashy.Plus sports seats, which are harder still.
But the lower specs (including my wife's Titanium) are just fine.
Have you had a look at an XC90? I hate them but only because I used it for the wrong reasons. Our kids were 2-3 years old when we bought it and it was just as good for kid stuff as the Galaxy it replaced. If you need an MPV then an S-Max is not only the best family choice but the closest you'll get to a fun car. However if you just need 7 seats and some practicality then have a test drive of an XC90.
And then when you've driven the XC90, try a Mazda CX-9. You might prefer the dash design of the Swede but that is soon forgotten as a day-to-day living thingy - only downside to the Mazda, and it's a biggie for fuel-consumption focussed people, is that its thirsty, though no worse than the 3.2 and doesn't come as a diesel.
Deerfoot said:
I don`t think the CX-9 was offered in the UK. I`ve seen them in Canada but never here.
Ah, shame - so much better than the XC90 as an everyday proposition.Anyway, the point I was trying to make a few posts above was that there are cars out there that are fun, that have space for three kids, and aren't SUV/MPV thingies. There just aren't many, and I know, as I've been looking for a few years.
The OP doesn't have to get an SMax or similar, and certainly doesn't have to get a diesel as there will be plenty of opportunity to enjoy a nicer engine, even with kids on board. Its possible the kids might even enjoy it too... At the time of taking the photo of the Lib at Bathurst, it was fitted with a rear-facing infant seat and two booster seats, all secured with top-tethers and lap/sash belts. All seats were occupied and the boot was full of family crap for a week away, including a Mountain Buggy for the youngest
Edited by PomBstard on Tuesday 15th November 10:10
PomBstard said:
Ah, shame - so much better than the XC90 as an everyday proposition.
Anyway, the point I was trying to make a few posts above was that there are cars out there that are fun, that have space for three kids, and aren't SUV/MPV thingies. There just aren't many, and I know, as I've been looking for a few years.
The OP doesn't have to get an SMax or similar, and certainly doesn't have to get a diesel as there will be plenty of opportunity to enjoy a nicer engine, even with kids on board. Its possible the kids might even enjoy it too... At the time of taking the photo of the Lib at Bathurst, it was fitted with a rear-facing infant seat and two booster seats, all secured with top-tethers and lap/sash belts. All seats were occupied and the boot was full of family crap for a week away, including a Mountain Buggy for the youngest
An E Class Estate is more than big enough IMOAnyway, the point I was trying to make a few posts above was that there are cars out there that are fun, that have space for three kids, and aren't SUV/MPV thingies. There just aren't many, and I know, as I've been looking for a few years.
The OP doesn't have to get an SMax or similar, and certainly doesn't have to get a diesel as there will be plenty of opportunity to enjoy a nicer engine, even with kids on board. Its possible the kids might even enjoy it too... At the time of taking the photo of the Lib at Bathurst, it was fitted with a rear-facing infant seat and two booster seats, all secured with top-tethers and lap/sash belts. All seats were occupied and the boot was full of family crap for a week away, including a Mountain Buggy for the youngest
Edited by PomBstard on Tuesday 15th November 10:10
We had an S-Max titanium, 163bhp diesel, Auto. Bought it at 6 months old for £23k and sold it last year for £16k to a family member - it's been rock solid and never put a foot wrong. I wasn't that keen on the seats, but the ride was good - handling of course isn't great, but if you're realistic about what you're driving, it's fine.
Space wise, you can get a lot in - we had 2 kids and 2 decent sized dogs and only needed a roof-box for family holidays, and you'll have no issue with the 3 seats in the rear too.
Auto box isn't amazing, and the economy is less than you'd expect, and on that basis I'd avoid the petrol ones.
Maybe look for an interesting weekend car though ;-)
Space wise, you can get a lot in - we had 2 kids and 2 decent sized dogs and only needed a roof-box for family holidays, and you'll have no issue with the 3 seats in the rear too.
Auto box isn't amazing, and the economy is less than you'd expect, and on that basis I'd avoid the petrol ones.
Maybe look for an interesting weekend car though ;-)
PomBstard said:
Each to their own, but when I had a Liberty GT as the family truckster, the kids loved it going to the 7750 cut-out, and the couple of laps of Bathurst, and the regular fun to be found. A bit of work, yes, but kids can enjoy it too.
It is possible to enjoy a car with your family and not be a knob.
Indeed it is (my other "family" car is a 5L wagon) but the 2.5T isn't really that much of a step up from the diesel in terms of practical performance. It is possible to enjoy a car with your family and not be a knob.
Alan_I_W said:
An E Class Estate is more than big enough IMO
Not as a family car for newborn twins and an older child. The problem is that there isn't the space across the back for the twins in isofix (or belt fixings) and a reasonable booster in the middle. You can cram them in but kid in the middle won't be very comfortable. I wish it wasn't the car otherwise I wouldn't have an E-class and an SMaxHave an 08 tdci auto S-Max for 4 years now. 3 kids. Closing in on 140k miles soon.
This car is all about transport, not performance driving in any form. Get another car for that.
Its super versatile, the 7 seats get used a lot for friends / family / guests. 2 other families we know have ditched their 5 seaters and gone for 7 seaters as a result of seeing how much we use them. The 3 individual seats in the middle row are brilliant.
The autos seem to have a double clutch arrangement which is generally very smooth on upshifts but not so much on downshifts. No biggie.
Straightline performance is perfectly adequate and the turbo diesels do the 50-70 mph acceleration well, and will cruise at 110mph (we go to Germany often)
Handling is good for a MPV but woeful c.f. a normal sedan. All that weight doesn't want to change direction.
Seating in the front 2 rows is superb for adults, the 3rd row is only really for younger than teenagers.
Trim is not good quality, chrome plastic film bubbles and peels off. But kids wreck cars anyway.
They are surprisingly easy on tyres for a large, heavy car.
Rear parking sensors / rear camera is a must with these things. It feels like piloting an aircraft carrier up the Thames sometimes.
Finally, I frequently get 'do you want to sell this car' notes left on the windshield, so not anticipating difficulty at sale time.
This car is all about transport, not performance driving in any form. Get another car for that.
Its super versatile, the 7 seats get used a lot for friends / family / guests. 2 other families we know have ditched their 5 seaters and gone for 7 seaters as a result of seeing how much we use them. The 3 individual seats in the middle row are brilliant.
The autos seem to have a double clutch arrangement which is generally very smooth on upshifts but not so much on downshifts. No biggie.
Straightline performance is perfectly adequate and the turbo diesels do the 50-70 mph acceleration well, and will cruise at 110mph (we go to Germany often)
Handling is good for a MPV but woeful c.f. a normal sedan. All that weight doesn't want to change direction.
Seating in the front 2 rows is superb for adults, the 3rd row is only really for younger than teenagers.
Trim is not good quality, chrome plastic film bubbles and peels off. But kids wreck cars anyway.
They are surprisingly easy on tyres for a large, heavy car.
Rear parking sensors / rear camera is a must with these things. It feels like piloting an aircraft carrier up the Thames sometimes.
Finally, I frequently get 'do you want to sell this car' notes left on the windshield, so not anticipating difficulty at sale time.
bga said:
Not as a family car for newborn twins and an older child. The problem is that there isn't the space across the back for the twins in isofix (or belt fixings) and a reasonable booster in the middle. You can cram them in but kid in the middle won't be very comfortable. I wish it wasn't the car otherwise I wouldn't have an E-class and an SMax
I completely forgot about ISOFIX. If the OP isn't interested in an XC90 then I think an S-Max is the perfect car for him. I was raised with 2 brothers in a Granada and that seemed fine Take a look at the VW Touran. My ex bought one, it drives great (she bought the TDi Sport), handles VERY well and the trim is way beyond Ford, we compared it side-by-side at Motorpoint. Residuals are more impressive too.
I honestly thought about buying it off her when she mentioned selling it.
I honestly thought about buying it off her when she mentioned selling it.
Edited by Fastchas on Wednesday 16th November 15:19
Im in exactly the same boat as you. Really smax is the answer, and yet http://www.sarahcoxcars.co.uk/used-cars/mercedes-b...
sp222 said:
We had an S-Max titanium, 163bhp diesel, Auto. Bought it at 6 months old for £23k and sold it last year for £16k to a family member - it's been rock solid and never put a foot wrong.
Same here, paid 21k ran it for 4 years, utterly reliable and sold for 12k.Brilliant cars. 😎
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