Cheap (£3k) 7 seater for school/tip/bikes etc

[anonymous-user]

So with the arrival of a new baby to add to the clan (6 of us in all now), my 996 just won't cut it any more. I had intended to get a new Dacia Jogger but a 6 month wait is not feasible. Trawling the cheap end of AT the options are obviously limited, and my knowledge just isn't good enough so thought I'd ask the masses for their thoughts.

I need something with isofix, and the space to use 3 rear seats regularly with semi-frequent use of the third row, and pushchair/bike/shopping/load lugging/junk in the boot most of the rest of the time, and I know it will get semi destroyed with food/mud/leaping kids. School run is twice a day, 8 miles of town rush hour driving each time. All cars will likely be 100k miles+. Image isn't a huge thing but experience of French cars in the past has been less than great. Am not expecting to sell on for any sort of decent money - it will be used until it dies. Fuel economy not a huge issue but anything 40mpg+ (on a run) would be good. Auto would be nice but not a deal breaker.

C4 Picasso, c2009 - lots about but are they as unreliable as ever? Lots of toys and space, but will it break/destroy my soul?

Pug 4007/5008 - electrical gremlins and high potential for bork?

Zafira c2007-2010 - I hate them but they are very cheap. Are the diesel engines particularly bad? All seem to have very tatty steering wheels.

Touran c.2007 - 1.9 or 2.0tdi, assume the 1. 9 is the better engine but is rust an issue? Kids have experience of grandparents golf+ and love the trays on the back of the front seats.

Mitsubishi Outlander? I know very little indeed about these, are they French underneath? Tiny in the third row?

Smax - petrol over diesel? A glorified focus so broadly bulletproof?

Any other thoughts?

Thanks all.

Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 15th May 13:19

[Rob8980]

How about the Toyota Verso. I assume as it’s a Toyota it should be reliable.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204114...

Edited by Rob8980 on Sunday 15th May 13:40

[anonymous-user]

Rob8980 said:

How about the Toyota Verso. I assume as it’s a Toyota it should be reliable.

Thanks. I've looked at them but they seem very very small in the third row. Also at my budget they mostly seem to have nearer 200k miles than 100k. And dull as dishwater inside. But will add to the list, might find a gem.

[Back2theFuji]

OnTheBreadline said:

Thanks. I've looked at them but they seem very very small in the third row. Also at my budget they mostly seem to have nearer 200k miles than 100k. And dull as dishwater inside. But will add to the list, might find a gem.

I've got a diesel Verso and it's terrible. Completely unreliable. You can get three car seats across though, which is good.

Your options in that price bracket are all going to be quite aged:

SMax / Galaxy
C4 Picasso
Sharan
Touran (might be a bit tight in the third row though)
Seat Alhambra
Cheeky outside shout for a Kia Sedona...

[ZX10R NIN]

Some leftfield options:

Chevrolet Orlando:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205105...

Mazda5 Sportt

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205125...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205085...

[anonymous-user]

Ooh yeah the mazda 5, good shout. Thanks Nin.

[ooid]

Chrysler Voyager? I have no personal experience but I’ve heard they are reliable.

[Welshbeef]

Good luck on the S Max / Galaxy.


It will be tired / old.


One thing with 7 seaters /family vehicles people buy them to carry lots of kids. Kids have an annoying tendency to scratch pull break spray liquid vomit etc so you need to be aware of that.

Also the only real reason your changing a 7 seater is it’s worn out. Or some issues as your going out to buy another.

We did this mark1 S max tatty / lived in mechanically sound new tyres and breaks but scratches everywhere - hand marks from sun cream on the bodywork grr. We changed it as wanted an auto version but the current model and wanted current model as stopping distance and passenger and pedestrian safety were worlds apart. So same sped crash in our old one you’d be hurt new one you’d be getting out the car without issue.

[aaron_2000]

I'd be going S Max, just avoid the Powershift auto box whatever you do. I know a few people who run them and rate them really highly, £3k might even get you the ST powered 2.5 5 pot.

[ooid]

You could also do Toyota Previa Mk1, but you need to dig deeper on ebay or AT to find a clean one below 4k.

[Welshbeef]

aaron_2000 said:

I'd be going S Max, just avoid the Powershift auto box whatever you do. I know a few people who run them and rate them really highly, £3k might even get you the ST powered 2.5 5 pot.

They handle well are really comfy van like space and so easy to pop seats up or down or slide them.
It’s not comparable to the Zaphira it’s a bigger vehicle

[anonymous-user]

Back2theFuji said:

OnTheBreadline said:

Thanks. I've looked at them but they seem very very small in the third row. Also at my budget they mostly seem to have nearer 200k miles than 100k. And dull as dishwater inside. But will add to the list, might find a gem.

I've got a diesel Verso and it's terrible. Completely unreliable. You can get three car seats across though, which is good.

Your options in that price bracket are all going to be quite aged:

SMax / Galaxy
C4 Picasso
Sharan
Touran (might be a bit tight in the third row though)
Seat Alhambra
Cheeky outside shout for a Kia Sedona...

Thanks - the Alhambra/Sharans are rare as hens teeth around here. Good call for the Sedona, although ugly as all hell!

[anonymous-user]

Welshbeef said:

aaron_2000 said:

I'd be going S Max, just avoid the Powershift auto box whatever you do. I know a few people who run them and rate them really highly, £3k might even get you the ST powered 2.5 5 pot.

They handle well are really comfy van like space and so easy to pop seats up or down or slide them.
It’s not comparable to the Zaphira it’s a bigger vehicle

Thanks both - yes WB I completely understand about 7 seaters only being replaced because they're tired/broken, but you could say that about a lot of cars. Maybe a reasonable mileage, but older, Smax would have some life left in it. I'm not TOO worried about crash performance, our average speeds on the school runs are around 18mph according to the computer on the car I'm using at the moment so it's not highest on my list of worries.

I'm glad nobody has recommended the Picasso or Zafira yet

[Martyn76]

Renault Grand Scenic?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205055...

[MisterWhippy]

They're harder to find, but I just picked up a Renault Grand Scenic 60 plate 1.5 diesel on 88k miles for £2k. An abundance of space in this thing. It's a bit sluggish, but comes with aircon, sat nav from 2009. I just need to get the cruise control to work.

Edit: or the one above..

[Back2theFuji]

OnTheBreadline said:

Thanks - the Alhambra/Sharans are rare as hens teeth around here. Good call for the Sedona, although ugly as all hell!

Ha, yeah the Kias of that era brought a whole new meaning to the term fugly!

If you did end up going in that direction, the 2.9 is the one without DPF, apparently.

[Welshbeef]

I always think auto is best in these types of cars.

[georgeyboy12345]

Don't bother with a diesel engine for 16 miles a day.

Also, for 3 grand, I wouldn't bother trying to find anything nice or unusual.

Vauxhall Zafira 1.6 16V
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203294...


Vauxhall Zafira 2.2 16V Auto
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203063...


For half your budget a Renault Grand Scenic 1.6 VVT
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205155...


Ford S-Max 2.0 Zetec
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204275...


Mazda 5 1.8 TS
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204244...

[Back2theFuji]

BTW the Zafira isn't suitable for three across, neither is the Mazda 5. Fine if you use the 3rd row though.

[ooid]

I assumed there were major recalls on Zafira due to catching a fire?