What Car? (7-Seater)

Author
Discussion

zcacogp

Original Poster:

11,239 posts

243 months

Sunday 7th October 2012
quotequote all
Chaps,

Friend needs a car. Criteria are typical of those of a family; three kids, to be used as an only car to drive them to school and back, ferry the odd friend around, do the weekly shopping but also to take them on family holidays to France and beyond. Chap is an old friend but not a PH-er, hence is not bothered about image, styling, fun-to-drive and all the rest of it. Budget is around the £5k mark, but he would like something where the last row of seats fold flat into the floor. He's not that keen on a full-fat MPV, so Sharan's and Galaxies are out.

As far as I am aware the list in this category is pretty much Ford S-Max, VW Touran and Vauxhall Zafira. The Ford will be the most exciting but is at the limit of their budget, and the Vaux and VW are both pretty dull but worthy.

Is there anything I have missed? Any other models I should be considering? Anything to look out for when buying any of these? Any experience of owning the things?

No need for oodles of detail, but am keen to know what else there is in this sector which I may have missed.

Thanks,


Oli.

TheTurbonator

2,792 posts

150 months

Sunday 7th October 2012
quotequote all
Might be able to get an early (06 or 07) C4 Grand Picasso for that budget.

Plenty of info here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

covmutley

3,012 posts

189 months

Sunday 7th October 2012
quotequote all
We have an s-max. Great family car but I think the C4 grand picasso would be better for that budget. I actually wanted the C4, as the wife uses our mpv to ferry the kids around but she couldnt get on with the auto box so we went for the s-max.


sulli

584 posts

218 months

Sunday 7th October 2012
quotequote all
When we finally had to bite the bullet and go for a people carrier, we looked at absolutely every type.
The Pug 807 was the one we finally went for, did everything well, massive spec and great to drive. Plus it had so many nice little touches the othersd didn't...
Look: http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

longblackcoat

5,047 posts

182 months

Sunday 7th October 2012
quotequote all
Renault Grand Scenic from 2006 will be £3-4k. Dull to drive, but perfectly adequate.

BFG TERRANO

2,172 posts

147 months

Sunday 7th October 2012
quotequote all
Picasso. 5k should get something very tidy.

In a thread I followed the other day someone picked up an 08 diesel with sensible miles and history for little over 3k.

Ferg

15,242 posts

256 months

Sunday 7th October 2012
quotequote all
If 6 seats is enough, Fiat Multipla. Decent boot PLUS 6 seats. A lot of the seven seaters have no boot when all seven are in use.

Edited by Ferg on Sunday 7th October 21:24

zcacogp

Original Poster:

11,239 posts

243 months

Sunday 7th October 2012
quotequote all
Chaps,

Many thanks for your answers.
BFG TERRANO said:
Picasso.
Do these have a third row of seats? I'm googling but can't find out the answer.

(Those with sharper perceptions will realise that I am asking questions about a genre of cars I know nothing at all about!)


Oli.

grayme

936 posts

235 months

Sunday 7th October 2012
quotequote all
We've got a Toyota Corolla Verso.

Steer clear. It's done just over 100k and is six years old, last year it got its third clutch and second gearbox.

Boring as anything to drive.

zcacogp

Original Poster:

11,239 posts

243 months

Sunday 7th October 2012
quotequote all
grayme said:
We've got a Toyota Corolla Verso.

Steer clear. It's done just over 100k and is six years old, last year it got its third clutch and second gearbox.
Ooooh, not good. Toyota = reliable, surely? Maybe not ... Was yours just a duffer or is the bombproof image of the brands from the rising sun misplaced?

Boring to drive won't bother him!


Oli.

nadger

1,411 posts

139 months

Sunday 7th October 2012
quotequote all
Mazda 5? Reasonably rare I think, but I don't think they're the 'full fat' people carriers? I could be wrong about that though! They may be a little out of the price bracket though thinking about it.

grayme

936 posts

235 months

Sunday 7th October 2012
quotequote all
zcacogp said:
oooh, not good. Toyota = reliable, surely? Maybe not ... Was yours just a duffer or is the bombproof image of the brands from the rising sun misplaced?

Boring to drive won't bother him!


Oli.
We thought it would be reliable, but given the recent history of accelerators sticking on, I'm not seeing it.

When it went wrong for us (just under five years and less than 100k), I called Toyota but they were 'unable' to assist with the work it needed; why not just say 'unwilling'? She did say I was entitled to tell anyone how unreliable Toyota was, so I am fulfilling my obligations. wink

Then I looked at the history and saw it had had a new clutch just 10k miles before.

It still seems a little stiff at times now changing gear, it better not be going again.

If it wasn't so beaten about, I'd be looking to downsize to a Fiesta.

ajf

428 posts

205 months

Sunday 7th October 2012
quotequote all
Might be worth looking at early Mitsubishi outlanders early 08 cars are starting to go for around your budget
3rd fold flat most come with switch able 2/4wd

GreatGranny

9,097 posts

225 months

Sunday 7th October 2012
quotequote all
Friend has a Verso and its been faultless over the last 5 years he's owned it.

I've driven a few as hire cars and I liked them. Felt solid, strong engine (diesel) and comfortable. Good mpg as well.

C4 ia also a good shout. Good value. Not sure how reliable they are.

eric twinge

1,614 posts

221 months

Sunday 7th October 2012
quotequote all
S-Max.

S-Max.

S-Max.

S-Max.

S-Max.

S-Max.

S-Max.

S-Max.

S-Max.

S-Max.

S-Max.

S-Max.


williredale

2,866 posts

151 months

Sunday 7th October 2012
quotequote all
How old are the kids? We have an 08 Zafira and with the extra seats up there isn't much room in the boot as has been mentioned. We can get a (smallish) pushchair in there and that's it. We can get three car seats across the middle though so if he has three kids the boot seats can stay away and the boot is large. The 1.6 petrol isn't up to much in ours. Underpowered and thirsty if you're on a motorway doing motorway speeds.

BlueMR2

8,643 posts

201 months

Sunday 7th October 2012
quotequote all
A W124 estate for the classy option.

BFG TERRANO

2,172 posts

147 months

Sunday 7th October 2012
quotequote all
williredale said:
How old are the kids? We have an 08 Zafira and with the extra seats up there isn't much room in the boot as has been mentioned. We can get a (smallish) pushchair in there and that's it. We can get three car seats across the middle though so if he has three kids the boot seats can stay away and the boot is large. The 1.6 petrol isn't up to much in ours. Underpowered and thirsty if you're on a motorway doing motorway speeds.
My wife had several as company cars. Agree the 1.6 petrol is gutless and thirsty, the diesel however, she had as a loan car when hers was in for something was quite good.

nagsheadwarrior

2,779 posts

178 months

Sunday 7th October 2012
quotequote all
Surely the obvious answer is the capacious gallic charms of a peugeot 505 estate, uber cool and half the budget buys a belter,save the rest for fuel and waxoil!

On a similar vein mk2 granadas are spacious with 7 seats and a great investment as would be a cx familiare!

Kolbenkopp

2,343 posts

150 months

Monday 8th October 2012
quotequote all
BlueMR2 said:
A W124 estate for the classy option.
Really cool

but difficult to find as 7-seater?