5 seats plus large load options

[cj2013]

Following advice on her last time around (some 18 months ago) I bought an RX400h.

It's been as expected, really - smooth as butter, no real issues beyond regular maintenance, very little to have grumbles about.

Its main purpose is to transport 2 adults and 2 children, mostly on trips away. This means taking two baby seats (one ISOFIX) plus all the child paraphernalia including a large pushchair, a bag full of child supplies (2 large quantities of nappies, baby food and so on), a bag full of baby clothes, a suitcase or two, then toys and so on. I have only done around 5k in the RX, but this has been made up of small quantities of long journeys. Whilst this doesn't add up to much in fuel over a year, it has affected how much it has been used as a journey away can involve plumping up £100+ in fuel in one trip, as the RX in the winter seems to average around 30mpg (can be closer to 40 in the summer though, when the conditions are right).

The achilles heel of it has been the storage part - you have to get inventive to fit it all in (like disassembling toys/equipment/pushchair), and then rear visibility is affected, and then you can't get the pushchair out en route. One additional bugbear is size - although the official figures won't support the reality, it is massive on the outside. If you don't have a Parent/Child or end space, you simply can't get the baby out. I've also had to avoid using some smaller roads due to being clipped or forced into hedges by other road users who drive too close to the centre. It may well be down to the huge mirrors, but it is pretty much the exact size of a parking space (going by the 2.4m x 4.8m space sizings in the UK).

With this in mind, next year I'll be looking to change for something a bit different. I expect to be working with a budget of up to/around £3k, with no qualms about dipping into shed territory. I don't fancy the idea of going up to the post-2005 £500p/a RFL, as it's a bit gratuitous for a vehicle that will be parked off the road more than it will be on it.

As you can tell from above, my main issues will be:
- Luggage space
- Budget
- Running costs

With that in mind, I'm thinking
- 7 Seats (as they tend to have best in class luggage space with them folded away)
- Diesel (as I'll be doing fewer longer journeys, as opposed to regular shorter journeys, and won't be affected by any ULEZ)


I don't mind the unusual as long as it's not something where parts are a pain/expense to source (looking at you, Lexus hybrid!), but I haven't done much research into my list. I also quite like automatics for longer journeys, but I reckon I'll be handicapped by that.

So far, I've been thinking about:

- Mazda 5
Pros: Slidy doors, running costs, styling is decent, tax/mpg looks decent
Cons: Not convinced it'll have much extra capacity

- Mitsi Grandis
Pros: More 'exclusive', looks like it has decent capacity, tax/mpg looks decent
Cons: Can't see many manual ones about, unconvinced about styling

- Dodge Journey
Pros: Decent VW engine, quite exclusive, lots of storage
Cons: Know very little about them - possibly hard to source parts? Is it any good?

Some thoughts on others that I expect will be mentioned

- Grand Voyager
Good practicality, but a friend has one (not seen him in a while but speak to him on social media) and has said they are slow and thirsty, even in diesel form.

- Grand Espace
They look huge, and I'd be concerned about everything falling off and breaking, including the window cables. Had previous experience of the modern Renault era!

- C4 Picasso
Like the looks, but would be very concerned about the build quality in the price bracket

- Zafira of any kind
Had one as a shed, and it was a bit crap. Not especially good any anything except being everywhere and cheap. Also, see below...

- Ford S-Max/Galaxy
Plenty about 'in budget', but like the Zafira a lot seem to have fallen into a specific category of ownership I can't particularly label, but the kind of ownership where people have no money to maintain them and so they have the cheapest tyres possible, awful service history, or otherwise ran on a lemonade budgets that mean you end up spending twice its value making it safe to want to put your squishy kids in.

- Honda FRV
Quite like these, but the load capacity is par/worse than the RX.

I initially was keen on an estate of some kind, but I haven't seen any that I've been convinced would have the load space I'm looking for. Had been considering the usual 5-series/3-series touring, a4 avant types. The o/h (who generally has no interest in cars or driving them) has also suggested that a similar 4x4-type car would be her preference.



I'm currently thinking it'll be between a Grandis/Journey, but open to any odd suggestions. Don't worry about any Autotrader links specifically, as I'm not actually looking for another month or so and keen on just general ideas right now.

[Peanut Gallery]

Have a wander over the smax thread..

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

[pherlopolus]

Have a look at superb estates. Mine was cavernous... 4 of us and enough stuff for 2 weeks holiday easily fitted with load cover in place.

[cj2013]

Peanut Gallery said:

Have a wander over the smax thread..

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

That's actually turned my head towards the Grand Vitara

[dodsi2000]

pherlopolus said:

Have a look at superb estates. Mine was cavernous... 4 of us and enough stuff for 2 weeks holiday easily fitted with load cover in place.

This, we had a 2016 hatchback superb. Enormous car inside.

[Belle427]

Father-in-law law used to have one of these and it was very practical. I think his was a 130 sport but was generally a good place to be
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-54-SEAT-Alhambra-1...

[journeymanpro]

Skoda superb estate.

[Rob8980]

How about just getting a roof box for the Lexus? Better the devil you know and all that. Unless the physical size of the Lexus is still going to be a problem.

[cj2013]

Belle427 said:

Father-in-law law used to have one of these and it was very practical. I think his was a 130 sport but was generally a good place to be
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-54-SEAT-Alhambra-1...

It's basically a Galaxy/Sharan of the same era, meaning it's (especially by now) a nightmare on wheels.

[cj2013]

Rob8980 said:

How about just getting a roof box for the Lexus? Better the devil you know and all that. Unless the physical size of the Lexus is still going to be a problem.

The size is definitely an issue for me, but essentially it will only make it less economical (whilst costing more buying a roof box).

I like to change cars anyway, and there's an opportunity to do so and put a little bit aside.

[cj2013]

pherlopolus said:

Have a look at superb estates. Mine was cavernous... 4 of us and enough stuff for 2 weeks holiday easily fitted with load cover in place.

They are typically £5k+, unless you go for a very, very high mileage leggy one

[Welshbeef]

Peanut Gallery said:

Have a wander over the smax thread..

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

Ours will be (yet again) 7 up today the remaining boot stuffed plus were putting the roof box on for another 600ltrs of storage space.
Ours is a total work horse

[stevemcs]

How about a Honda CRV ?

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say a long wheelbase Mercedes R Class could be the answer but you have to get past the looks:

7 seats

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-BENZ-R320-3-0T...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

An E class is the other option but 7 seaters are harder to find & normally more expensive than the R Class.

E320 7 seater

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Leftfield:

Grand Espace

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

3.0d

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[Welshbeef]

ZX10R NIN said:

I'd say a long wheelbase Mercedes R Class could be the answer but you have to get past the looks:

7 seats

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-BENZ-R320-3-0T...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

An E class is the other option but 7 seaters are harder to find & normally more expensive than the R Class.

E320 7 seater

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Leftfield:

Grand Espace

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

3.0d

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

The R classes you link are 6 seaters 3 rows of two seats only.

[ZX10R NIN]

So they are luckily that still works for the OP as he only needs two rear seats on his long trips.

[cj2013]

ZX10R NIN said:

So they are luckily that still works for the OP as he only needs two rear seats on his long trips.

I don't need 2 rear seats at all really - as explained in the post, a 3rd row guarantees decent boot space for the most part, but offers some flexibility if I end up with a grandparent or two in tow.

[cj2013]

ZX10R NIN said:

I'd say a long wheelbase Mercedes R Class could be the answer but you have to get past the looks:

7 seats

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-BENZ-R320-3-0T...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

An E class is the other option but 7 seaters are harder to find & normally more expensive than the R Class.

The R Class is £555 a year in VED.

ZX10R NIN said:

E320 7 seater

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Most estates, specifically the E class, seem to have quite a short boot height, meaning that they have less boot capacity that the RX.

[quote]

Leftfield:

Grand Espace

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

3.0d

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

As covered in the OP, I've ruled out a Grand Espace based on a few factors.

[ZX10R NIN]

cj2013 said:

I don't need 2 rear seats at all really - as explained in the post, a 3rd row guarantees decent boot space for the most part, but offers some flexibility if I end up with a grandparent or two in tow.

Yes I understood your requirements which was why I said that you only needs the two rear seats. Did you think I was referring to the third row of seats?