What car for 3 child seats?
Discussion
IN51GHT said:
Redgate said:
What about maintenance bills ? I know that Honda's are usually bullet-proof but this is something that worries my wife at the moment.
Std servicing from Honda, nothing eyewateringIN51GHT said:
Thanks for the link.
LuS1fer said:
Don't forget the Mazda 5.
This being PH I presume you mean the Mazda Mx-5 
serously, we had a C-max (same car) on holiday this year. even though we expressly booked a 5008..
Nice car.. 'ish.
but middle seat is narrow like most other regualy cars.. not big enough for 3 kiddie seats next to each other.
We managed (just) as we took a old booster for the eldest (6) even then we had to get a knife and slice away some of the seat foam to make it easier to get the seat buckle in.
Redgate said:
IN51GHT said:
we had an FR-V for a few year, absolutely superb vehicle. Handles OK for an MPV, capacious, reliable, quirky
What about maintenance bills ? I know that Honda's are usually bullet-proof but this is something that worries my wife at the moment. Nearly 3 years and not one issue. As posted earlier i would avoid any other engine apart from the 2.0 petrol,(no cam belt as seen in the 1.7,no turbos no DMF as seen in the diesel etc etc etc.). It has a variation of the honda civic type r lump. K20a3 I think, but maybe wrong
Steering is light and the turning circle is supurb.
Im 6'2" tall and we have 18 month twins and 4 year old, they are all housed in full size car seats and you can still get your hands down the sides of the kids seats to release the seatbelts.
The double buggy is in the boot and we still have a spare seat!
31mpg over 8k of town driving.
Ive recently changed the front and rear discs and pads, they were bought off the bay for £160.
All in all a very good kiddie mover.
Layacable said:
Redgate said:
IN51GHT said:
we had an FR-V for a few year, absolutely superb vehicle. Handles OK for an MPV, capacious, reliable, quirky
What about maintenance bills ? I know that Honda's are usually bullet-proof but this is something that worries my wife at the moment. Nearly 3 years and not one issue. As posted earlier i would avoid any other engine apart from the 2.0 petrol,(no cam belt as seen in the 1.7,no turbos no DMF as seen in the diesel etc etc etc.). It has a variation of the honda civic type r lump. K20a3 I think, but maybe wrong
Steering is light and the turning circle is supurb.
Im 6'2" tall and we have 18 month twins and 4 year old, they are all housed in full size car seats and you can still get your hands down the sides of the kids seats to release the seatbelts.
The double buggy is in the boot and we still have a spare seat!
31mpg over 8k of town driving.
Ive recently changed the front and rear discs and pads, they were bought off the bay for £160.
All in all a very good kiddie mover.
MPVs do this job better than any other car. I can't fit three kid seats in a Discovery (I've tried). The only other car we got them into was a Mondeo mk3, but it was an unsafe squeeze.
We bought the best seats we could. You could probably buy cheaper ones that are thinner to fit in non-MPV cars, but they'll be less safe.
We decided if we put a car ahead of safety for our kids, we'd have to be some sort of
s. Simple.
As soon as we don't need an MPV anymore, we'll sell it and buy something else.
We bought the best seats we could. You could probably buy cheaper ones that are thinner to fit in non-MPV cars, but they'll be less safe.
We decided if we put a car ahead of safety for our kids, we'd have to be some sort of
s. Simple.As soon as we don't need an MPV anymore, we'll sell it and buy something else.
Cfnteabag said:
Well it is looking like it will have to be an mpv then, it's just a shame they are all so damn uninspiring!
I am also worried about the massive Bork possibilities, especially of modern common rail Diesel engines!
I'll give you my experience if it helps on the main players having bought an MPV around your budget 6 months ago...I am also worried about the massive Bork possibilities, especially of modern common rail Diesel engines!
You'll struggle for an S-Max on that budget, and if you do find one it'll be very leggy, and likely to be a 1.8tdci which is quite asthmatic and underpowered for that size car. Probably best avoided.
You'll get the most for your money out of a Zafira but, well, it's a Zafira. Loads of choice, Design is quite a nice trim level. Mixed reports on the 1.9cdti unit, comes in 120 & 150 bhp. There have been some horror stories about failures on the 150bhp unit. To be fair we test drove a 150 and it wasn't a bad steer, reasonably car like and the 150 was a nice drive, but I'd read too much to put me off.
We went for a Touran. About as inspiring to look at as a house brick, but seems well bolted together. We tried the 1.9pd engine and the 2.0tdi 140. The 1.9 is a bit noisier and noticeably less punchy, but is tried and tested so regarded as very reliable. I chose the 140 which is plenty powerful enough for the car, and returns 48mpg on the combined cycle. We bought ours with 90k on, we've stuck another 8k on it in the last 6 months and it's been faultless, but I am conscious if it does throw a bill it's likely to be a biggy... Turbo, injectors, or DMF are my dred.
One thing to watch is the driving position, I feel like I'm over the pedals, like a transit. I've never been able to get a relaxed comfy position in it which is irritating. That said my wife likes it as she feels higher up so gets a better view ahead. We paid £4400 for a 55 plate SE spec in the metallic blue. Overall I think we made the right choice.
We looked at a Verso, but I just couldn't! Lots of toys and the D4D engine has really good reviews as long as you stay away from the 180bhp version which seems to suffer HGF.
HTH
Edited by wiliferus on Wednesday 2nd October 23:01
ClaphamGT3 said:
Four and a half K for an 8 year-old VW with 90k miles on the clock?! That is madder than mad Jack Mc Mad, winner of last year's Mr Mad competition!!!
You could get an E class estate of comparable age and mileage for that money and have an infinitely better and nicer car!
Yes but you won't get 3 small kids and a double buggy in it....as discussed earlier in the thread.You could get an E class estate of comparable age and mileage for that money and have an infinitely better and nicer car!
ClaphamGT3 said:
Four and a half K for an 8 year-old VW with 90k miles on the clock?! That is madder than mad Jack Mc Mad, winner of last year's Mr Mad competition!!!
You could get an E class estate of comparable age and mileage for that money and have an infinitely better and nicer car!
PH strikes again..!You could get an E class estate of comparable age and mileage for that money and have an infinitely better and nicer car!
dave_s13 said:
ClaphamGT3 said:
Four and a half K for an 8 year-old VW with 90k miles on the clock?! That is madder than mad Jack Mc Mad, winner of last year's Mr Mad competition!!!
You could get an E class estate of comparable age and mileage for that money and have an infinitely better and nicer car!
Yes but you won't get 3 small kids and a double buggy in it....as discussed earlier in the thread.You could get an E class estate of comparable age and mileage for that money and have an infinitely better and nicer car!
Don't think anyone has mentioned this yet:
Just sold my E61 Touring (could just get two kids seats in the back and a very small person in between for short trips) for a VW Caravelle Executive. Loads of room, table, swivelling seats. Very nice inside for the kids. And not too bad to drive (for a big van!). 180bhp too...
Just sold my E61 Touring (could just get two kids seats in the back and a very small person in between for short trips) for a VW Caravelle Executive. Loads of room, table, swivelling seats. Very nice inside for the kids. And not too bad to drive (for a big van!). 180bhp too...
Sharan/Galaxy/Alhambra?
They aren't the best drivers car but do what is required very well. They have ample space, with 3 in the back a huge boot too. Also space to takes some kids friends along. We've had one for a few years now, faults have been the door looms breaking and the air con packing up.
You budget would get a 04/05 one I with sensible miles. Go for a 1.9 115/130 and they are bomb proof, the 2.0 motor has not proven to be as good and is less economical.
Loads about too..
They aren't the best drivers car but do what is required very well. They have ample space, with 3 in the back a huge boot too. Also space to takes some kids friends along. We've had one for a few years now, faults have been the door looms breaking and the air con packing up.
You budget would get a 04/05 one I with sensible miles. Go for a 1.9 115/130 and they are bomb proof, the 2.0 motor has not proven to be as good and is less economical.
Loads about too..
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