Contradiction - Seven seater driver's car
Discussion
+1 for S Max.
Although a bit left field but from the same RPJ era...
Ford Grand C-Max
MK3 Focus based complete with control blade rear suspension Was available with 1.6T Eco boost (as seen in Mk7 Fiesta ST). Sliding rear doors. Obviously smaller than SMax and centre seat is narrow (but has the neat trick of being able to fold up and disappear into the base of the seat next to it, creating an aisle through the middle)
I had one and it's chassis was far more capable than any 7 seater has a right to be!
Although a bit left field but from the same RPJ era...
Ford Grand C-Max
MK3 Focus based complete with control blade rear suspension Was available with 1.6T Eco boost (as seen in Mk7 Fiesta ST). Sliding rear doors. Obviously smaller than SMax and centre seat is narrow (but has the neat trick of being able to fold up and disappear into the base of the seat next to it, creating an aisle through the middle)
I had one and it's chassis was far more capable than any 7 seater has a right to be!
If you decide to go with an Smax, do not go with the eco boom 2.0 petrol!
Our engine and auto gear box went after 4.5yrs from new!
Ford didn’t want to know. Got rid quick!
We then went for a 2015 BMW
220d Gran Tourer and then we liked it so much, replaced it 3yrs later with another same, just different colour.
Was the same price as Smax top range new, just without any niggles and way nicer drive and economy also.
No more 7 seaters for us though, as kids all grown up and now have their own vehicles, so we are back to sporty hatches for now.
Our engine and auto gear box went after 4.5yrs from new!
Ford didn’t want to know. Got rid quick!
We then went for a 2015 BMW
220d Gran Tourer and then we liked it so much, replaced it 3yrs later with another same, just different colour.
Was the same price as Smax top range new, just without any niggles and way nicer drive and economy also.
No more 7 seaters for us though, as kids all grown up and now have their own vehicles, so we are back to sporty hatches for now.
ThunderSpook said:
tog said:
How is that legal? I thought cars were approved to only take a certain number of passengers?Their FAQ said:
Yes it is legal. It has been tested and approved to the European Standard ECE 44-04 where its results were dramatically better than the specified requirements.
This makes multimac legal all over the world except for in the US, Canada, and Australia who have their own car seat safety regulations and don’t recognise ECE 44-04
As the first multiple child seat, it has probably been subjected to more scrutiny than any child seat in history, including from BSI, TRL, VCA, British government, European government, Swedish Road Administration and VTI but all have approved multimac.
This makes multimac legal all over the world except for in the US, Canada, and Australia who have their own car seat safety regulations and don’t recognise ECE 44-04
As the first multiple child seat, it has probably been subjected to more scrutiny than any child seat in history, including from BSI, TRL, VCA, British government, European government, Swedish Road Administration and VTI but all have approved multimac.
2 Series gran tourer is a good shout if you are up for some light fettling - the B48 engine in the 220i is at 192hp stock but can easily go 250hp or 300hp+ if you really want to (and reinforce the necessary parts). It's the Mini platform which is good handling in a general sense...
The kids could grow out of the 2 series capacity quite quickly though I feel.
For bone stock options I'm liking the S-max idea and of course R-class merc but I think that is more of a barge than a handler. Those two are bigger so would last longer too!
The kids could grow out of the 2 series capacity quite quickly though I feel.
For bone stock options I'm liking the S-max idea and of course R-class merc but I think that is more of a barge than a handler. Those two are bigger so would last longer too!
Edited by Darinz on Wednesday 20th March 12:49
Luanmapo said:
If you decide to go with an Smax, do not go with the eco boom 2.0 petrol!
Our engine and auto gear box went after 4.5yrs from new!
Ford didn’t want to know. Got rid quick!
Also avoid the woeful 1.6 ecoboost petrol which suffered the same issues. Ours began suffering from chronic overheating under load and although it had the recall work done we got shot soon after. Otherwise a good drive.Our engine and auto gear box went after 4.5yrs from new!
Ford didn’t want to know. Got rid quick!
Don't kid yourself that any 7 seater is going to be B road hunting material. Even it it was you aren't going anywhere near the handling limits of even a regular non sporty 7 seater when anyone else is in the car. If the chance is there get a proper sports car or weekend car as a second or third car.
Just remember that most seven seaters are really five seaters with a tiny bench in the back that only a child could fit in, a bit like the back seat of a sports coupe.
Except children have to sit in child seats, and once you've fitted a child seat onto one of those rear bench things there's no space for poppets' legs to go.
So I'm unclear who they are really marketed at.
Except children have to sit in child seats, and once you've fitted a child seat onto one of those rear bench things there's no space for poppets' legs to go.
So I'm unclear who they are really marketed at.
These meet your brief. 7 proper seats, never a disappointment.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024031977...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024031977...
Big Ford is the obvious choice but I’ve had a few and they’ve all been horrendously s
t and unreliable. We had the old engine 2.0 galaxy mk2 which was the perfect car for us but it had niggles everywhere plus the gearing was so bad it was at somthing like 3600 rpm at 70 irrc. Nightmare. We had some other big fords with the same diesel engine and they were a nightmare with turbos and allsorts. I just can’t trust them but we still needed 7 seats.
I gave up on the sporty family car and went for a 05 xc90 and it’s bliss to drive. The interior is excellent and on a plus it doesn’t look like a people carrier. I’m waiting to find the right “drivers car” as a weekend toy.
t and unreliable. We had the old engine 2.0 galaxy mk2 which was the perfect car for us but it had niggles everywhere plus the gearing was so bad it was at somthing like 3600 rpm at 70 irrc. Nightmare. We had some other big fords with the same diesel engine and they were a nightmare with turbos and allsorts. I just can’t trust them but we still needed 7 seats. I gave up on the sporty family car and went for a 05 xc90 and it’s bliss to drive. The interior is excellent and on a plus it doesn’t look like a people carrier. I’m waiting to find the right “drivers car” as a weekend toy.
Chromegrill said:
Just remember that most seven seaters are really five seaters with a tiny bench in the back that only a child could fit in, a bit like the back seat of a sports coupe.
Except children have to sit in child seats, and once you've fitted a child seat onto one of those rear bench things there's no space for poppets' legs to go.
So I'm unclear who they are really marketed at.
People who need 3 isofix car seats in the back and (interchangeably) a huge boot or some small passenger seats. Don’t think anyone plans on putting child seats in the 3rd row, Except children have to sit in child seats, and once you've fitted a child seat onto one of those rear bench things there's no space for poppets' legs to go.
So I'm unclear who they are really marketed at.
survivalist said:
Chromegrill said:
Just remember that most seven seaters are really five seaters with a tiny bench in the back that only a child could fit in, a bit like the back seat of a sports coupe.
Except children have to sit in child seats, and once you've fitted a child seat onto one of those rear bench things there's no space for poppets' legs to go.
So I'm unclear who they are really marketed at.
People who need 3 isofix car seats in the back and (interchangeably) a huge boot or some small passenger seats. Don’t think anyone plans on putting child seats in the 3rd row, Except children have to sit in child seats, and once you've fitted a child seat onto one of those rear bench things there's no space for poppets' legs to go.
So I'm unclear who they are really marketed at.
The 7 seater with fold down seats is really practical and flexible. We only have 2 kids but it means you can have a third child seat along side for a friend etc or more normally an adult sits in the back. If you have grandparents you can squeeze them all in or if only one parent goes out both grandparents can sit in the front or middle. Combinations of trike, balance bikes, buggies, shopping, muddy boots and wet raincoats can all go in easily when rear most seats are not in use and don't knock it you can use a travel potty in the back too. We got 4 large suitcases plus 2 cabin cases in the boot of ours for an airport drop off. It offers no driving thrills as such but pick another car or tool for that job!
We had a 2011 240 S-Max Titanium X for 4.5 years and it was actually quite a fun thing to drive in its own way. For such a big car it felt quite nimble and the chassis, helped by the long wheelbase, was pretty adjustable with the throttle. I did a few early morning trips across the Lecht road on my own with a MTB in the back and had a great time.
Pre-2012 2.0t engines were known to have issues (ours had a piston fall apart at 84K miles) but post 2012 were better I believe. Powershift boxes benefit from oil changes every 40k miles to keep them reliable so check there’s records of this in the history.
Pre-2012 2.0t engines were known to have issues (ours had a piston fall apart at 84K miles) but post 2012 were better I believe. Powershift boxes benefit from oil changes every 40k miles to keep them reliable so check there’s records of this in the history.
Didn't see a budget mentioned but I have a bit of history with these.. and I only have 2 kids! Add two decent sized dogs in though and kids friends and a 7 seater comes into it's own.
We had a 2012 S Max 2.0 Diesel - was reliable and good value - serviced it regularly and although it had the slightly dim witted powershift we had that serviced and sold it to the MIL about 9 years ago and it's still working well for them. Drive is reasonable and it doesn't make you want to kill yourself, but it's no sportscar.
Replaced that with a 2015 220d Grand Tourer - slightly smaller inside but was better than the S-Max in every way - engine was better, gearbox almost as good as the ZF you find in 'proper' BMWs and the infotainment was also much better.
As noted though it's a bit smaller and we replaced that with a V-Class - only the 220d so it's not quick and the handling is much more van like (unsurprisingly), but it's bloody brilliant - such a great cruiser, and roof bars for surfboards and a Fiamma bike carrier for the back make it look a little less like a taxi.
We had a 2012 S Max 2.0 Diesel - was reliable and good value - serviced it regularly and although it had the slightly dim witted powershift we had that serviced and sold it to the MIL about 9 years ago and it's still working well for them. Drive is reasonable and it doesn't make you want to kill yourself, but it's no sportscar.
Replaced that with a 2015 220d Grand Tourer - slightly smaller inside but was better than the S-Max in every way - engine was better, gearbox almost as good as the ZF you find in 'proper' BMWs and the infotainment was also much better.
As noted though it's a bit smaller and we replaced that with a V-Class - only the 220d so it's not quick and the handling is much more van like (unsurprisingly), but it's bloody brilliant - such a great cruiser, and roof bars for surfboards and a Fiamma bike carrier for the back make it look a little less like a taxi.
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