Stupid MPV's

[wst]

MPV. Boring, practical, for the person who has more bodies to transport than Jack the Ripper.

Unfortunately, I need to have one. Just one will do. Unfortunately quite non-negotiable. Kinda like how I need the wheelchair ramp to the front door. Estates... ack, they're just not quite tall enough in the load bay. A Forester STI may work... but realistically I am stuck with an MPV.

So let's fill me in on the weird and wonderful of MPV kind. The Zafira VXR, the Grand Espace 3.5 V6...

The MPV's where someone forgot to tick the most boring option every time.

Let's assume that I won't be using it as a daily, because I only take myself to work and 7 seats is a bit whopping. Absolute economy isn't a problem. It might do a 1000 mile holiday once a year plus weekend "going places" travel.

[a]

Budget?

Ford S-Max 2.5 looks like it could be fun: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

[J4CKO]

We had a Galaxy Mk3, seemed to be, along with the S-Max the best all rounder, very good to drive for an MPV, not a car anyone would choose unless they had to but it was very good at what it did.

I am sure a lot about cars is how you perceive and feel about them, if someone feels good about something they will sing its praises, thats what SUV's are about, a lot of the time the MPV will do the job as well, but they just dont have an image, so that kind of skews what people think,

My sister in law wouldn't be seen dead in a Ford Galaxy, but bought a Sharan which was the exact same car underneath, paid more for a lower spec version, then, at the earliest opportunity bought a Discovery which tried to bankrupt her, but because it made her feel good, she would put up with it.

[PistonBroker]

a said:

Budget?

Ford S-Max 2.5 looks like it could be fun: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Yes, this was my immediate thought.

[eltax91]

Mazda's offering in this space (is it 5 or cx-5 or something) gets rave reviews. Sliding doors aswell so no trouble with the kids smacking them on someone's P&J

[Hoofy]

Won't an "SUV" work? That way you can pretend you haven't got an MPV.

[Iang84]

If you like lots of toys and don't need a looker Toyota previas come in a 2.4 petrol auto, they handle quite well or if you don't mind an import the Toyota Alphard/Vellfire can be found in a 3.0 and later even came in a 3.5, obviously depending on your budget as the newer imports can be quite expensive

[zedx19]

I had a similar issue when baby no. 3 arrived, we managed with my 240PS Mondeo Estate for a while but it didn't work great. So the wife got a Mazda 5 Furano and I got a Focus ST. Mazda we got was a 2010 2.0 petrol with a dizzying 150bhp, ruled out diesel due to low mileage and DPF issues. The petrol is quiet and offers enough power to move once fully loaded, it'll also return 32mpg average and 40mpg on a run even on holiday runs, ok for the size/weight imo. Ours has leather, climate, cruise, 6 disc changer, aux in, electric sliding doors, auto lights, auto wipers and everything works as it should. The sliding doors make so much sense with younger kids, especially in tight car parks. They do like to eat wishbone bushes though, will need replacing every couple of years max and the paint is incredibly thin, apart from that, typical Mazda reliability.

[wst]

a said:

Budget?

Anything bar an Espace F1. I'm mostly looking for discussion of the weird and wonderful of MPVs, the backstory bit was mostly to explain why I give half a toss about MPVs at all

As for an SUV, if we're to digress back into my personal situation - load height is the killer. I'm not a huge fan of the limitations having a proper wheelchair ramp fitted imposes on me, so I went for an MPV because lifting an electric wheelchair any higher than absolutely necessary is a bit of a faff. Either that or I need to get down the gym.

Interesting point on the imports - I nearly went for a Nissan Elgrand. Kinda wish I had, JDM vans are a bit left-field.

[Iang84]

wst said:

nything bar an Espace F1. I'm mostly looking for discussion of the weird and wonderful of MPVs, the backstory bit was mostly to explain why I give half a toss about MPVs at all

As for an SUV, if we're to digress back into my personal situation - load height is the killer. I'm not a huge fan of the limitations having a proper wheelchair ramp fitted imposes on me, so I went for an MPV because lifting an electric wheelchair any higher than absolutely necessary is a bit of a faff. Either that or I need to get down the gym.

Interesting point on the imports - I nearly went for a Nissan Elgrand. Kinda wish I had, JDM vans are a bit left-field.

They certainly are also with you mentioning an electric wheelchair the 7 seater previas 2003ish often had individual seats rather than bench seats in the back so you could take one out at a time

[Hoofy]

wst said:

nything bar an Espace F1. I'm mostly looking for discussion of the weird and wonderful of MPVs, the backstory bit was mostly to explain why I give half a toss about MPVs at all

As for an SUV, if we're to digress back into my personal situation - load height is the killer. I'm not a huge fan of the limitations having a proper wheelchair ramp fitted imposes on me, so I went for an MPV because lifting an electric wheelchair any higher than absolutely necessary is a bit of a faff. Either that or I need to get down the gym.

Interesting point on the imports - I nearly went for a Nissan Elgrand. Kinda wish I had, JDM vans are a bit left-field.

I get you re 4x4s. How about a Kangoo? They're quite funky and a lot of them appear to have been "adapted". I love the overhead interior cubby holes!

[Spanglepants]

I don't normally drive these types of vehicles but lately drove a friends new Zafira , quite highly specced. She then had a top of the range Quashquai (sp?) which I thought was much nicer and better to drive.

Hoofy said:

Won't an "SUV" work? That way you can pretend you haven't got an MPV.

[bobmcgod]

Mercedes once stuck a V8 in a R Class.

[a]

Spanglepants said:

I don't normally drive these types of vehicles but lately drove a friends new Zafira , quite highly specced. She then had a top of the range Quashquai (sp?) which I thought was much nicer and better to drive.

Hoofy said:

Won't an "SUV" work? That way you can pretend you haven't got an MPV.

Boot is probably too high up in an SUV.

I think the ideal car in terms of practicality is one of the small van-derived cars like a Berlingo Multispace. I borrowed one for a week and you really can't fault the practicality - the tallest boot I've ever seen, lovely square load space, low-ish bumper, etc.
But it was slow, rough, not a very nice drive and the cheapest feeling interior I've ever experienced.

[wst]

a said:

But it was slow, rough, not a very nice drive and the cheapest feeling interior I've ever experienced.

Therein lies the inevitable rub. Either go fully practical with a van-derived-car or get better with lifting weights.

I've decided to float the idea of "We could save £5k if we could buy a smaller car and we could spend that money on a more practical electric wheelchair!"

Then get something like an Octavia VRS. Terrible boot aperture (8 inch drop to the floor!) but would do the job. Would even make a sensible daily without feeling like I was carrying a whole lot of rather pointlessly huge car around.

[ZX10R NIN]

If you're going MPV then you need one of these types of MPV with a 3.5 V6 from the 350Z they get a move on too:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-03-E51-NISSAN-ELGRA...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nissan-Elgrand-Highway-s...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NISSAN-ELGRAND-RIDER-3-5...

Or the Toyota Version:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FRESH-IMPORT-58-PLATE-TO...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2007-07-TOYOTA-ALPHARD-M...

We have a Elgrand as team transport, it's great comfortable & it also has the ability to surprise people which makes you smile when you up the pace.

These have a low boot lip.

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Thursday 31st August 20:25

[Chester draws]

How close to meeting your spec do you think a VW Touran would be?

No boot lip, (level boot floor from top of bumper height),
190bhp in top of range model currently.

Also available as wheelchair accessible in the form of the caddy maxi. Although it sounds like you wouldn't need this.

Edited by Chester draws on Thursday 31st August 08:44

[Defconluke]

Merceded Benz Viano?
Available with 6 cylinder diesel (some old shape imported V6 petrols too) and should have plenty of wheelchair options/accessories given their common use as private hire vehicles.

5 Series GT but perhaps too high of a load lip and too low of a bootline?

Edited by Defconluke on Thursday 31st August 18:44

Edited by Defconluke on Thursday 31st August 18:45

[Herbs]

Don't rule out SUV's with air suspension as they come (the Q7 certainly does) with a load mode which drops it right down and has a level load floor.

[wst]

Lots of suggestions,wow. Not many in the "mad" category other than those daft Japanese V6 things which have more luxury than any van shaped vehicle here would get as standard.

An air-suspended SUV may cut the mustard, I think I'd have to have a play with one to see how low it can go. I know some MPV's also have air suspension to assist loading, but they're french and the air suspension inevitably has electronics to control it...

Plenty to think on. I might see how much a "better" wheelchair would cost as well. If I can open the car choices up vastly by doing so, and save money in the process, there will be left-over cash to buy said "better" wheelchair with! I won't go as far as getting a little trailer for it, that would impinge on enjoyable driving.