First family car... SMax?
Discussion
On the hunt for a family car with our first baby due in the summer. Now I realise it’s perfectly doable in a 5 door hatch but I do also a) need an auto b) like to take the bikes away at weekends and c) do a fair bit of gardening and DIY...
Estate is the obvious answer but I stumbled across the SMax SCTI thingy with c. 250bhp I think.
Thoughts or experiences most welcome. Anyone have one?
Estate is the obvious answer but I stumbled across the SMax SCTI thingy with c. 250bhp I think.
Thoughts or experiences most welcome. Anyone have one?
We have had two s-Max now and quite frankly for what they are they are ideal. We replaced our second one with another car that I cannot bring myself to admit, simply due to cost as at the time money was a little tight. However as soon as drove away from the dealer we realised we made a big mistake.
I actually thought the s max is a good drive, perfect size, and could swallow absolutely everything. We are due to change our car again shortly and will go straight back to a new s max no messing and hang the expense. It is worth it.
Can you tell I am a fan?
I actually thought the s max is a good drive, perfect size, and could swallow absolutely everything. We are due to change our car again shortly and will go straight back to a new s max no messing and hang the expense. It is worth it.
Can you tell I am a fan?
We had our first baby a year ago and needed something that me and the wife could share, be big enough for push chairs tip runs etc... I looked at CRVs and the like and in the end opted for an e91 330i.
Perfect mix of practicality, enjoyment, style and reliability. A year in and it's been more than ideal and not missed a beat. We even did a 2 week driving holiday around Spain and France last summer and it was great.
My only complaint is that the boot could be bigger for what it is. Rivals such as the A4 and C class have more load space, but the 3 series is still just fine.
An S max seems massive overkill for a family of 3
Perfect mix of practicality, enjoyment, style and reliability. A year in and it's been more than ideal and not missed a beat. We even did a 2 week driving holiday around Spain and France last summer and it was great.
My only complaint is that the boot could be bigger for what it is. Rivals such as the A4 and C class have more load space, but the 3 series is still just fine.
An S max seems massive overkill for a family of 3
croissant said:
We had our first baby a year ago and needed something that me and the wife could share, be big enough for push chairs tip runs etc... I looked at CRVs and the like and in the end opted for an e91 330i.
Perfect mix of practicality, enjoyment, style and reliability. A year in and it's been more than ideal and not missed a beat. We even did a 2 week driving holiday around Spain and France last summer and it was great.
My only complaint is that the boot could be bigger for what it is. Rivals such as the A4 and C class have more load space, but the 3 series is still just fine.
An S max seems massive overkill for a family of 3
I've been looking at those too funnily enough - just seemed a bit small for an estate. I'm hoping to be able to chuck an adult bike or two in the back. But yes, point taken on overkill... maybe a bit extreme just to transport the bikes. Perfect mix of practicality, enjoyment, style and reliability. A year in and it's been more than ideal and not missed a beat. We even did a 2 week driving holiday around Spain and France last summer and it was great.
My only complaint is that the boot could be bigger for what it is. Rivals such as the A4 and C class have more load space, but the 3 series is still just fine.
An S max seems massive overkill for a family of 3
JD82 said:
croissant said:
We had our first baby a year ago and needed something that me and the wife could share, be big enough for push chairs tip runs etc... I looked at CRVs and the like and in the end opted for an e91 330i.
Perfect mix of practicality, enjoyment, style and reliability. A year in and it's been more than ideal and not missed a beat. We even did a 2 week driving holiday around Spain and France last summer and it was great.
My only complaint is that the boot could be bigger for what it is. Rivals such as the A4 and C class have more load space, but the 3 series is still just fine.
An S max seems massive overkill for a family of 3
I've been looking at those too funnily enough - just seemed a bit small for an estate. I'm hoping to be able to chuck an adult bike or two in the back. But yes, point taken on overkill... maybe a bit extreme just to transport the bikes. Perfect mix of practicality, enjoyment, style and reliability. A year in and it's been more than ideal and not missed a beat. We even did a 2 week driving holiday around Spain and France last summer and it was great.
My only complaint is that the boot could be bigger for what it is. Rivals such as the A4 and C class have more load space, but the 3 series is still just fine.
An S max seems massive overkill for a family of 3
Go for a Mondeo estate with the same engine you'll have more than enough room:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
New Shape
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
New Shape
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Or if you want something different then the Insignia VXR is a good shout:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-V90-960-24v-CDi-E...
this car ticks all the boxes. well equipped, comfortable, reliable, family man image, keeps the kids safe, shed money, keep it till retirement with no more than yearly oil changes...
I think we have a winner
this car ticks all the boxes. well equipped, comfortable, reliable, family man image, keeps the kids safe, shed money, keep it till retirement with no more than yearly oil changes...
I think we have a winner
Olas said:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-V90-960-24v-CDi-E...
this car ticks all the boxes. well equipped, comfortable, reliable, family man image, keeps the kids safe, shed money, keep it till retirement with no more than yearly oil changes...
I think we have a winner
It's just had £400 spent on MOT advisories and a £950 garage bill so a little more than yearly oil changes.this car ticks all the boxes. well equipped, comfortable, reliable, family man image, keeps the kids safe, shed money, keep it till retirement with no more than yearly oil changes...
I think we have a winner
Personally I wouldn't want to be driving my family around in a 22 year Volvo but each to their own.
dave328 said:
Olas said:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-V90-960-24v-CDi-E...
this car ticks all the boxes. well equipped, comfortable, reliable, family man image, keeps the kids safe, shed money, keep it till retirement with no more than yearly oil changes...
I think we have a winner
It's just had £400 spent on MOT advisories and a £950 garage bill so a little more than yearly oil changes.this car ticks all the boxes. well equipped, comfortable, reliable, family man image, keeps the kids safe, shed money, keep it till retirement with no more than yearly oil changes...
I think we have a winner
Personally I wouldn't want to be driving my family around in a 22 year Volvo but each to their own.
Demelitia said:
I can get a bike in the back of my 130i with the front wheel off, three on the roof rack if I needed to. Unless you plan on having 3 kids in record time, or unexpectedly have triplets, an s-max seems a little bit big for your needs.
On reflection I agree. I get two bikes in my Scirocco wheels off - was hoping I could avoid the wheels off. Couldn't get on with a Saris Bones rack either. We have an S-Max - the 140-something Hp diesel version.
Good points:
It's big
Lots of interior space - the middle row of seats slides forwards and backwards so you can swap load space for legroom and vice-versa
We bought ours at 2yrs / 30k miles and it is now at 7yrs/70k miles and nothing at all has gone wrong with it
Less good points:
It's mahooosive.
It's a big, lumbering beast of a vehicle. Drove an automatic which was loads better than the manual we have.
Eats (expensive) front tyres (we get 10-12k out of a pair).
We like it - it's great for our family of 4 (all of us are over 6ft). A bit OTT for a family of 2 and a baby though! Does 40mpg on diesel.
Good points:
It's big
Lots of interior space - the middle row of seats slides forwards and backwards so you can swap load space for legroom and vice-versa
We bought ours at 2yrs / 30k miles and it is now at 7yrs/70k miles and nothing at all has gone wrong with it
Less good points:
It's mahooosive.
It's a big, lumbering beast of a vehicle. Drove an automatic which was loads better than the manual we have.
Eats (expensive) front tyres (we get 10-12k out of a pair).
We like it - it's great for our family of 4 (all of us are over 6ft). A bit OTT for a family of 2 and a baby though! Does 40mpg on diesel.
this is my username said:
We have an S-Max - the 140-something Hp diesel version.
Good points:
It's big
Lots of interior space - the middle row of seats slides forwards and backwards so you can swap load space for legroom and vice-versa
We bought ours at 2yrs / 30k miles and it is now at 7yrs/70k miles and nothing at all has gone wrong with it
Less good points:
It's mahooosive.
It's a big, lumbering beast of a vehicle. Drove an automatic which was loads better than the manual we have.
Eats (expensive) front tyres (we get 10-12k out of a pair).
We like it - it's great for our family of 4 (all of us are over 6ft). A bit OTT for a family of 2 and a baby though! Does 40mpg on diesel.
+ 1.Good points:
It's big
Lots of interior space - the middle row of seats slides forwards and backwards so you can swap load space for legroom and vice-versa
We bought ours at 2yrs / 30k miles and it is now at 7yrs/70k miles and nothing at all has gone wrong with it
Less good points:
It's mahooosive.
It's a big, lumbering beast of a vehicle. Drove an automatic which was loads better than the manual we have.
Eats (expensive) front tyres (we get 10-12k out of a pair).
We like it - it's great for our family of 4 (all of us are over 6ft). A bit OTT for a family of 2 and a baby though! Does 40mpg on diesel.
Have the 163 hp diesel version. Pretty much agree with the above.
We are a family of 4 and can pretty much full the boot to the brim if away for a few days. Did manage with a BMW E90 325i for a few years prior, but the S Max makes things so much easier.
As mentioned, it's a bit of a bus to drive. Very uninspiring. We have the auto - the Powershift box which has been fine, ideally should be flushed/serviced every 3 years or so I think.
Another owner here, we have the new shape one, 180 hp hehe, goes really well when I get the gears right. (6 months in and I'm still struggling, but I've only done 6k miles, so there is still hope for me)
It was the only car that I found that could fit a rear facing seat behind a 6ft driver. Fits loads of stuff in the boot, drives really well, but as said, it is really big, it overhangs parking bays, it does not like town driving (does it, but it just feels sluggish with its weight)
I would agree oversized for one kid, what about a mondeo estate?
It was the only car that I found that could fit a rear facing seat behind a 6ft driver. Fits loads of stuff in the boot, drives really well, but as said, it is really big, it overhangs parking bays, it does not like town driving (does it, but it just feels sluggish with its weight)
I would agree oversized for one kid, what about a mondeo estate?
JD82 said:
dave328 said:
Olas said:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-V90-960-24v-CDi-E...
this car ticks all the boxes. well equipped, comfortable, reliable, family man image, keeps the kids safe, shed money, keep it till retirement with no more than yearly oil changes...
I think we have a winner
It's just had £400 spent on MOT advisories and a £950 garage bill so a little more than yearly oil changes.this car ticks all the boxes. well equipped, comfortable, reliable, family man image, keeps the kids safe, shed money, keep it till retirement with no more than yearly oil changes...
I think we have a winner
Personally I wouldn't want to be driving my family around in a 22 year Volvo but each to their own.
768 said:
JD82 said:
dave328 said:
Olas said:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-V90-960-24v-CDi-E...
this car ticks all the boxes. well equipped, comfortable, reliable, family man image, keeps the kids safe, shed money, keep it till retirement with no more than yearly oil changes...
I think we have a winner
It's just had £400 spent on MOT advisories and a £950 garage bill so a little more than yearly oil changes.this car ticks all the boxes. well equipped, comfortable, reliable, family man image, keeps the kids safe, shed money, keep it till retirement with no more than yearly oil changes...
I think we have a winner
Personally I wouldn't want to be driving my family around in a 22 year Volvo but each to their own.
The S-Max is a great product! Absolutely go for it.
I know estates are reveered here, but the truth is that most are still relatively small inside for the footprint they have. The more upright seating position in MPV and SUV body styles translates to more interior space. And yes, space is luxury, especially with kids.
Throwing the pram in without having to disassemble it completly, going away for the weekend and not needing to think how you will fit everything inside (toys, small bikes etc). Mama can go in the back and sit comfortably beside the baby (sliding and reclining seats) . The only thing the Smax is missing is sliding doors.
I know estates are reveered here, but the truth is that most are still relatively small inside for the footprint they have. The more upright seating position in MPV and SUV body styles translates to more interior space. And yes, space is luxury, especially with kids.
Throwing the pram in without having to disassemble it completly, going away for the weekend and not needing to think how you will fit everything inside (toys, small bikes etc). Mama can go in the back and sit comfortably beside the baby (sliding and reclining seats) . The only thing the Smax is missing is sliding doors.
We have an smax, they are great for what they are although a little heavy on fuel imo, not that it matters for the miles we do. We have the 200bhp diesel as the wife wanted the sporty xsport one and it was the most powerful with a manual gearbox, I fancied the focus st engined one but they all look mundane compared!
We only have it because we had no option though after having triplets amd a teenager and needing 3 isofix. Buying one for one baby is massive overkil, you just need a normal sized 4 door car.
We only have it because we had no option though after having triplets amd a teenager and needing 3 isofix. Buying one for one baby is massive overkil, you just need a normal sized 4 door car.
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