7-Seater - Thoughts on van-based MPV?
Discussion
Hi all
Been pondering this for some time but as a family of 5, who often travel with wider family, we've been spoilt on a few occasions over the years with the use of my in-laws VW Caravelle - in particular for Euro trips and to various festivals and UK-getaways. However, the VW hasn't been the most reliable and they've actually got rid of it after a repeat of the EGR issues that some of the BiTDI's seem to be plagued with (even with the revised EGR).
Regardless - as much as we love the idea of the Caravelle for ourselves - we are definitely in the market to look at something similar, perhaps with a different badge, but I'm struggling to find anyone who has owned some of the options we've been looking at.
In particular anyone who has owned the Peugeot Traveller, Citroen SpaceTourer, Vauxhall Vivaro Life or Toyota Proace Verso... all essentially the same but seemingly with a much more accessible price point and that will still swallow up all our camping and associated gear, be relaxing to take over to the continent on longer journeys etc. I've looked round a couple and although they don't have the same appeal as say the VW which also carries somewhat of a 'scene tax' on the price - they do seem perfect for our needs. Though I'm struggling to really find experience of ownership with the BlueHDi engines - problems, reliability etc.
We used to own a 16-plate Audi Q7 which was a comfortable place and had the 7 seats which was handy for when we were also with the in-laws - and we used to throw a roofbox up top which got around the lack of boot space with all seats up, but I'm unsure whether going back to an SUV would be a better option to explore again with something like a Tiguan Allspace, Seat Terraco, Skoda Kodiaq, Peugeot 5008 etc.
Are there any other options out there we should consider? Particularly on the van front? Ford Tourneo Custom perhaps - again no experience of the engines or reliability on the Ford front.
I think upto £40k would be the range we're looking at, and we also still have our (now an adult, 18yr old) Passat 130PD which does the boring day-to-day stuff.
Vauxhall Vivaro Life example - prefer this layout in MWB length with the captains chairs / table rather than a full 8 seater - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304015...
Cheers!
Been pondering this for some time but as a family of 5, who often travel with wider family, we've been spoilt on a few occasions over the years with the use of my in-laws VW Caravelle - in particular for Euro trips and to various festivals and UK-getaways. However, the VW hasn't been the most reliable and they've actually got rid of it after a repeat of the EGR issues that some of the BiTDI's seem to be plagued with (even with the revised EGR).
Regardless - as much as we love the idea of the Caravelle for ourselves - we are definitely in the market to look at something similar, perhaps with a different badge, but I'm struggling to find anyone who has owned some of the options we've been looking at.
In particular anyone who has owned the Peugeot Traveller, Citroen SpaceTourer, Vauxhall Vivaro Life or Toyota Proace Verso... all essentially the same but seemingly with a much more accessible price point and that will still swallow up all our camping and associated gear, be relaxing to take over to the continent on longer journeys etc. I've looked round a couple and although they don't have the same appeal as say the VW which also carries somewhat of a 'scene tax' on the price - they do seem perfect for our needs. Though I'm struggling to really find experience of ownership with the BlueHDi engines - problems, reliability etc.
We used to own a 16-plate Audi Q7 which was a comfortable place and had the 7 seats which was handy for when we were also with the in-laws - and we used to throw a roofbox up top which got around the lack of boot space with all seats up, but I'm unsure whether going back to an SUV would be a better option to explore again with something like a Tiguan Allspace, Seat Terraco, Skoda Kodiaq, Peugeot 5008 etc.
Are there any other options out there we should consider? Particularly on the van front? Ford Tourneo Custom perhaps - again no experience of the engines or reliability on the Ford front.
I think upto £40k would be the range we're looking at, and we also still have our (now an adult, 18yr old) Passat 130PD which does the boring day-to-day stuff.
Vauxhall Vivaro Life example - prefer this layout in MWB length with the captains chairs / table rather than a full 8 seater - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304015...
Cheers!
I'd be looking at the proper MPVs (not van-based) - Toyota Alphard/Vellfire or Nissan Elgrand. All JDM imports, but should be reliable and more refined and drive better than the van-based models.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307270...
I'd say the i800 is a good option & they're well under budget:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307229...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307049...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307229...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307049...
samoht said:
I'd be looking at the proper MPVs (not van-based) - Toyota Alphard/Vellfire or Nissan Elgrand. All JDM imports, but should be reliable and more refined and drive better than the van-based models.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307270...
Interesting with the JDM models - I remember seeing these everywhere when I was in Singapore (I think!) - or at least these type of transport…https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307270...
Part of me quite likes the idea of a petrol over diesel and a V6…
Will add onto the list to look at - along with the i800 - hadn’t even spotted those before!
The regular mainstream car based MPV and limited SUV are not so good if you are regularly using all the seats and needing to carry luggage. Only the very largest SUV generally can carry 3 car seats across the middle seating. I'd definitely go bigger with a van based one in your situation.
This was definitely part of the reason we went with the Q7 a few years ago at the time - due to the need for 3 child seats across the bench and very few cars/SUVs could actually do it.
We’ve been slightly held back on the trips this year due to the lack of space - and I’ve also been abusing the Passat for band / gig duties - so a more practical vehicle seems to make sense in my eyes. Also given we will keep the Passat and/or potentially change it in future for something smaller means this isn’t going to necessarily be for daily duties down to the supermarket or school run - just more the trips when we’re out as a family.
I feel like I’ve got quite a bit of looking around a few of these suggestions now to get a better feel of what seems right for us. Also doesn’t seem to be quite as many horror stories as I’ve been exposed to with the VW engines… but I’ve been spoiled by the PD130 and it’s ability to just keep going with regular oil changes and TLC
We’ve been slightly held back on the trips this year due to the lack of space - and I’ve also been abusing the Passat for band / gig duties - so a more practical vehicle seems to make sense in my eyes. Also given we will keep the Passat and/or potentially change it in future for something smaller means this isn’t going to necessarily be for daily duties down to the supermarket or school run - just more the trips when we’re out as a family.
I feel like I’ve got quite a bit of looking around a few of these suggestions now to get a better feel of what seems right for us. Also doesn’t seem to be quite as many horror stories as I’ve been exposed to with the VW engines… but I’ve been spoiled by the PD130 and it’s ability to just keep going with regular oil changes and TLC
The "scene tax" that caravelles and most vws have come in handy when you want to sell it a few years down the line, they hold their money well.
I had a caravelle for a couple of years recently and although I liked it if I bought another I'd buy a shuttle instead, you'll get much more for your money.
The pop up table amd sliding seats seem great on paper but the reality is you'll rarely change configuration and you're paying a massive premium for it.
The shuttles are also classed as a car on the logbook so easier to insure, can do the same speeds as cars on A roads, fully insulated inside with an interior very similar to the caravelle, only difference is more basic looking seats but some fancy seat covers make them look really good.
I had a caravelle for a couple of years recently and although I liked it if I bought another I'd buy a shuttle instead, you'll get much more for your money.
The pop up table amd sliding seats seem great on paper but the reality is you'll rarely change configuration and you're paying a massive premium for it.
The shuttles are also classed as a car on the logbook so easier to insure, can do the same speeds as cars on A roads, fully insulated inside with an interior very similar to the caravelle, only difference is more basic looking seats but some fancy seat covers make them look really good.
Also forgot to add, its not a dig at the inlaws but it's not fair to base the reliability of something on a known problem that the manufacture have acknowledged and rectified on future models.
Nobody in their right mind would buy a 180bhp T5, a simple Google will bring up many many horror stories.
Nobody in their right mind would buy a 180bhp T5, a simple Google will bring up many many horror stories.
As a family of 5 and a dog we always had a 7 seater since the 3rd came along, 2 X 5008's both brand new.
We are doing more outdoor stuff, camping, bike rides etc as the kids are getting older, so last August changed to a T6 kombi.
Not as plush as a caravelle but does the job just fine, I was contemplating getting rid this year for a discovery sport but it meant I'd need to go back to roof box or trailers for camping and UK holidays, the kombi just swallows it all up.
They are expensive but hold the value well, twin slider and tailgate makes all the difference in feeling a bit more car like.
Recent caravan weekend to a wedding down south, even managed to hang my shirt up, could get all this in my 5008
We are doing more outdoor stuff, camping, bike rides etc as the kids are getting older, so last August changed to a T6 kombi.
Not as plush as a caravelle but does the job just fine, I was contemplating getting rid this year for a discovery sport but it meant I'd need to go back to roof box or trailers for camping and UK holidays, the kombi just swallows it all up.
They are expensive but hold the value well, twin slider and tailgate makes all the difference in feeling a bit more car like.
Recent caravan weekend to a wedding down south, even managed to hang my shirt up, could get all this in my 5008
Edited by jonwm on Saturday 12th August 21:33
Cakey_ said:
Also forgot to add, its not a dig at the inlaws but it's not fair to base the reliability of something on a known problem that the manufacture have acknowledged and rectified on future models.
Nobody in their right mind would buy a 180bhp T5, a simple Google will bring up many many horror stories.
Was going to say that, any research on T6s brings up the same for the 204's, I went 150Nobody in their right mind would buy a 180bhp T5, a simple Google will bring up many many horror stories.
we have a tourneo 9 seater. It drives really well and we have never struggled to find a parking space for it.
Ours is the 2.2 and seems OK so far on reliability
Plenty of room for the kids - who are getting big now and for baggage - ours is the swb.
Downsides - passenger twin seat is too upright so not comfy with two people on it for long distance.
Ford build quality is only OK.
Does about 35mpg on the trek down thru France
Happy enough to do 550-600miles a day in it when the need arises. It is easy to drive.
Ours is the 2.2 and seems OK so far on reliability
Plenty of room for the kids - who are getting big now and for baggage - ours is the swb.
Downsides - passenger twin seat is too upright so not comfy with two people on it for long distance.
Ford build quality is only OK.
Does about 35mpg on the trek down thru France
Happy enough to do 550-600miles a day in it when the need arises. It is easy to drive.
ZX10R NIN said:
I'd say the i800 is a good option & they're well under budget:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307229...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307049...
Job jobbed. These are bargains in comparison to the competition.https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307229...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307049...
samoht said:
I'd be looking at the proper MPVs (not van-based) - Toyota Alphard/Vellfire or Nissan Elgrand. All JDM imports, but should be reliable and more refined and drive better than the van-based models.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307270...
Used these in Singapore recently loved them. would easily have one in the 2/2/2 seat configuration. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307270...
Not all 7 seater cars have no boot, a ford galaxy will fit a kids buggy and a few small bags in the boot in 7 seat mode. That's without sliding the 3rd & middle row forward to make the boot bigger.
I compared it to a Q7, xc90 and a kodiaq. Q7 is similar in the back seat but much smaller in the boot, the xc90 has the boot but smaller back seats. The kodiaq is cleverly packaged but the smaller external dimensions translate to a smaller interior. The Galaxy is just the biggest everywhere, and much more comfortable than most vans.
I compared it to a Q7, xc90 and a kodiaq. Q7 is similar in the back seat but much smaller in the boot, the xc90 has the boot but smaller back seats. The kodiaq is cleverly packaged but the smaller external dimensions translate to a smaller interior. The Galaxy is just the biggest everywhere, and much more comfortable than most vans.
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