6/8 Seater Required
Discussion
I know it's rather dull, but I need to buy a 7 or 8 seater in the next couple of months as the kids are outgrowing the Renault Grand Scenic.
We've got up to abut £8k to play with, need something with 7 seats minimum but they need to be full sized seats as the youngest will be 7 soon and a lot of these MPVs don't have full sized seats in the third row.
Do around 15k a year, usual mix of driving.
Any advice, I was thinking of maybe a diesel Alhambra, or put the kids up for adoption and get a 350Z...........
We've got up to abut £8k to play with, need something with 7 seats minimum but they need to be full sized seats as the youngest will be 7 soon and a lot of these MPVs don't have full sized seats in the third row.
Do around 15k a year, usual mix of driving.
Any advice, I was thinking of maybe a diesel Alhambra, or put the kids up for adoption and get a 350Z...........
davidjwest said:
I know it's rather dull, but I need to buy a 7 or 8 seater in the next couple of months as the kids are outgrowing the Renault Grand Scenic.
We've got up to abut £8k to play with, need something with 7 seats minimum but they need to be full sized seats as the youngest will be 7 soon and a lot of these MPVs don't have full sized seats in the third row.
Do around 15k a year, usual mix of driving.
Any advice, I was thinking of maybe a diesel Alhambra, or put the kids up for adoption and get a 350Z...........
Wow, guess you've been busy. Is that 5 children then?We've got up to abut £8k to play with, need something with 7 seats minimum but they need to be full sized seats as the youngest will be 7 soon and a lot of these MPVs don't have full sized seats in the third row.
Do around 15k a year, usual mix of driving.
Any advice, I was thinking of maybe a diesel Alhambra, or put the kids up for adoption and get a 350Z...........
That sounds like a rather dedicated type of vehicle. How about something like a VW T4 or T5 converted bus/van. That way you can configure it exactly how you want it.
They aren't a bad drive either and with the Tdi motor will easily return middish 30's mpg.
We looked at people carriers a few years ago, and went for the Espace. Light years ahead in performance, economy and (relatively speaking) handling. We had ours for 3 years, and not many problems at all.
If you go this route the 2.0 dci engine is chain driven, and removes a potential big problem (not least the 1.9 turbo ingesting engine), and is available in the 10, 150 and 175 horse flavour. 150 is actually not bad and keeps up with the traffic with ease.
You'd obviously need the grande, but even then I suspect you will need a roofbox/trailer for holidays unless you go for one of the Van based versions.
If you go this route the 2.0 dci engine is chain driven, and removes a potential big problem (not least the 1.9 turbo ingesting engine), and is available in the 10, 150 and 175 horse flavour. 150 is actually not bad and keeps up with the traffic with ease.
You'd obviously need the grande, but even then I suspect you will need a roofbox/trailer for holidays unless you go for one of the Van based versions.
davidjwest said:
Yes that's right, five children, ages 6 to 10.
Not all mine, my new partner has three and I've got two so not *that* busy
lol Not all mine, my new partner has three and I've got two so not *that* busy
I'm sure there must be some suitable cars out there, but apart from my suggestion above I'm not sure what.
I think most SUV/4x4 7 seaters are all a bit compromised as the rear seats are never as comfy and nor is the middle seat.
The only other vehicle I can think of, but it too lacks proper seats would be something like a Land Rover Defender 110.
I think you need a minibus... a Mercedes Viano maybe? There were three different wheelbases available, the biggest having quite a lot of space.
I think VW did something similar, too and the Grand Voyager is similar to the smaller ones, too.
I think VW did something similar, too and the Grand Voyager is similar to the smaller ones, too.
Edited by kambites on Thursday 22 September 14:52
Are you averse to a 4x4 ? I have a LWB Shogun and wouldn't be without it now, it's part of the family. When not in use the 3rd row folds into the floor & when in use the seats are big enough for a couple of teenagers for short journeys or a pair of 10 year olds for 300 mile holiday trips. The lofty driving postion can come in handy and the diesel gets 30mpg on a run.
I've also had an Espace and a Zafira before. The Espace had plenty of room and was light & airy in the cabin but if you didn't want the 6th & 7th seats you had to lift them out (and they were pretty heavy) and find somewhere dry to store them. I believe the Galxy/Alahambra are the same - at least the early ones. The Zafira has the 'flex 7' seating which is pretty clever but I couldn't recommend the car otherwise. My Zaf was the previous shape though and I have been a passenger for 500 miles in a new one which was much better.
I've also had an Espace and a Zafira before. The Espace had plenty of room and was light & airy in the cabin but if you didn't want the 6th & 7th seats you had to lift them out (and they were pretty heavy) and find somewhere dry to store them. I believe the Galxy/Alahambra are the same - at least the early ones. The Zafira has the 'flex 7' seating which is pretty clever but I couldn't recommend the car otherwise. My Zaf was the previous shape though and I have been a passenger for 500 miles in a new one which was much better.
No idea what they are like to own but i had a hire Chrysler voyager and was comfy all round, the rear 3 seats with 2 captain chairs as the middle row, this was the lwb model and shed loads of boot space as well, diesel on my run round the m25 was getting about 27-30mpg.
I loved it, had relations over for the month from aus and we had no problems with comfort for 7 of us.
I loved it, had relations over for the month from aus and we had no problems with comfort for 7 of us.
There should be something in this 100 vehicles that would suit you down to the ground.
http://vans.autotrader.co.uk/bodytype/minibus/make...
http://vans.autotrader.co.uk/bodytype/minibus/make...
davidjpowell said:
We looked at people carriers a few years ago, and went for the Espace. Light years ahead in performance, economy and (relatively speaking) handling. We had ours for 3 years, and not many problems at all.
If you go this route the 2.0 dci engine is chain driven, and removes a potential big problem (not least the 1.9 turbo ingesting engine), and is available in the 10, 150 and 175 horse flavour. 150 is actually not bad and keeps up with the traffic with ease.
You'd obviously need the grande, but even then I suspect you will need a roofbox/trailer for holidays unless you go for one of the Van based versions.
From what I've read in several places, the 2.2dci engine is to be avoided at all costs.If you go this route the 2.0 dci engine is chain driven, and removes a potential big problem (not least the 1.9 turbo ingesting engine), and is available in the 10, 150 and 175 horse flavour. 150 is actually not bad and keeps up with the traffic with ease.
You'd obviously need the grande, but even then I suspect you will need a roofbox/trailer for holidays unless you go for one of the Van based versions.
And any with an auto box.
And the 3.0dci.
But the 2.0dci gets a warm reception
Alhambra/Sharan/Galaxy - there'll be plenty around at that price range and all seats are full-size. You won't have much boot space left though, so a roofbox and/or trailer may be required for holidays.
Grand Espace is iffy for reliability, as is Chrysler GV (+ that rear bench is more 2.5 than 3 seat) and VW Caravelles/Vianos seem to attract daft prices so £8k won't get you much.
There is also the new-shape Kia Sedona which is less interesting to drive than a Shalambra but a 56 plate with 30k miles retails for about £7.5k so within budget, and there are no reliability issues that I'm aware of (in contrast to the old model).
Grand Espace is iffy for reliability, as is Chrysler GV (+ that rear bench is more 2.5 than 3 seat) and VW Caravelles/Vianos seem to attract daft prices so £8k won't get you much.
There is also the new-shape Kia Sedona which is less interesting to drive than a Shalambra but a 56 plate with 30k miles retails for about £7.5k so within budget, and there are no reliability issues that I'm aware of (in contrast to the old model).
Got a 1.9PD 115 SE Alhambra. Went for a Seat rather than VW as they seemed to come with more kit as standard, heated seats, Climate etc. All 5 rear seats are the same and can be moved for and aft to create decent space. If you are using all the seats the boot is pretty small to be honest. For those journeys we have a roof box.
Will do high 40's mpg on a run. Been pretty solid to be honest and relatively cheap to maintain, had it a few years now. It's not electrifying to drive but does it's job well. Towed a 24ft caravan to Aberdeen and back in 2010 and lake district this year, makes a great tow car too.
Go for a Sport from VW or SE from Seat at least as the seats and stuff are better.
Will do high 40's mpg on a run. Been pretty solid to be honest and relatively cheap to maintain, had it a few years now. It's not electrifying to drive but does it's job well. Towed a 24ft caravan to Aberdeen and back in 2010 and lake district this year, makes a great tow car too.
Go for a Sport from VW or SE from Seat at least as the seats and stuff are better.
Egbert Nobacon said:
Get a Grand Voyager or suchlike.
The smaller 7 seat MPV's have their rear seats too close to the tailgate with horrible consequences should you get rear ended by anything heavyish.
Just don't hit anything with one...The smaller 7 seat MPV's have their rear seats too close to the tailgate with horrible consequences should you get rear ended by anything heavyish.
http://www.euroncap.com/tests/chrysler_voyager_200...
We've had the Alhambra (MY03) coming up for 5 years and its been very good.
Its the TDi 130 SE so has 6 speeds, cruise, climate, heated seats, parking sensors etc..
Pulls well, 36-37mpg in normal use (short journeys occasional 30 miler) and 40+ on a longer run.
Has been pretty reliable, only let us down once when it went into limp mode. RAC came out and couldn't find anything wrong so just started it up and it been fine since. It handles pretty well for an MPV but can be quite crashy over badly surfaced roads.
Ours has done 86k and gets lots of abuse inside (3 kids) and certain bits of trim have fallen off or been scratched but its a workhorse and I'm not too precious about it.
Not much luggage space with all seats in use but they are all full size.
Seats are comfy and supportive and I get no aches or pains even after 3 hrs driving.
Edited to add that S Maxs are around your budget
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
Although 3rd row aen't full size as the Alhambra but its a better driving car and more modern.
and the new shape Galaxy
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
Its the TDi 130 SE so has 6 speeds, cruise, climate, heated seats, parking sensors etc..
Pulls well, 36-37mpg in normal use (short journeys occasional 30 miler) and 40+ on a longer run.
Has been pretty reliable, only let us down once when it went into limp mode. RAC came out and couldn't find anything wrong so just started it up and it been fine since. It handles pretty well for an MPV but can be quite crashy over badly surfaced roads.
Ours has done 86k and gets lots of abuse inside (3 kids) and certain bits of trim have fallen off or been scratched but its a workhorse and I'm not too precious about it.
Not much luggage space with all seats in use but they are all full size.
Seats are comfy and supportive and I get no aches or pains even after 3 hrs driving.
Edited to add that S Maxs are around your budget
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
Although 3rd row aen't full size as the Alhambra but its a better driving car and more modern.
and the new shape Galaxy
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
Edited by GreatGranny on Thursday 22 September 15:38
Edited by GreatGranny on Thursday 22 September 15:41
The grand voyager is a bit of a death trap
www.theaa.com/allaboutcars/ncap/ncap_car_results.j...
We had a Ford Toureno minibus thing for field work, it sat 7 adults plus a lot of gear and equipment in comfort for 2 weeks covering about 2000 miles.
www.theaa.com/allaboutcars/ncap/ncap_car_results.j...
We had a Ford Toureno minibus thing for field work, it sat 7 adults plus a lot of gear and equipment in comfort for 2 weeks covering about 2000 miles.
Third row of seats tend to be small in most MPVs, something van based would give you more room (those kids are only going to get bigger) and some luggage space. This one is a bit over budget, but something like http://www.cargiant.co.uk/Fiat/details-519351-Fiat...
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