Discussion
Dear All,
I’m new to these fora and hoping to tap into the assembled wisdom. I’ve got a pretty short notice requirement to buy a seven seater car. We have three kids and regularly (at least monthly end up with the requirement for > 5 people in our car).
We currently own a 7-seat MPV but the EML has come on and am told by my (reliable) mechanic that it’ll be quite expensive to fix and the part is on factory back order with no guarantee of when the part will be available, potentially looking at months.
We live fairly rurally and as part of my job I may be required to drive the car at fairly high speeds on the road and also occasionally off road/reliably get to work in dodgy conditions - it’s nothing glamorous or secret it’ll just take a long time to explain on here.
I have 30-35k to spend on the vehicle. Roughly 1/3 as a deposit the other 2/3 HP is our plan. Hoping to own the car for a decent period of time after the HP, potentially up to ten years ownership in total.
I have done all the digging I can and have come up with 2 options. A nearly new, very nicely specced Kodiaq Sportline or a slightly older XC90, with Momentum Pro spec. Looking at the 2.0L 190 BHP diesel in the Kodiaq and the D5 in the XC90. Both have < 10,000 miles on the clock.
Our priorities are:
1.Reliability
2.Safety
3.Interior space
4.Economical motoring (approx 12000 miles/year)
5.I’d like to enjoy driving it but that is definitely priority 5, my wife says it’s priority 7.
Does anyone here have any thoughts on these two choices, particularly any advice of one over the other, given my priorities? Secondly Are there any alternatives that people would strongly recommend in their stead?
I have searched the fora prior to posting and couldn’t find anything that covered this area particularly.
Many thanks in advance for your time and knowledge
Best Wishes
RHJ83
I’m new to these fora and hoping to tap into the assembled wisdom. I’ve got a pretty short notice requirement to buy a seven seater car. We have three kids and regularly (at least monthly end up with the requirement for > 5 people in our car).
We currently own a 7-seat MPV but the EML has come on and am told by my (reliable) mechanic that it’ll be quite expensive to fix and the part is on factory back order with no guarantee of when the part will be available, potentially looking at months.
We live fairly rurally and as part of my job I may be required to drive the car at fairly high speeds on the road and also occasionally off road/reliably get to work in dodgy conditions - it’s nothing glamorous or secret it’ll just take a long time to explain on here.
I have 30-35k to spend on the vehicle. Roughly 1/3 as a deposit the other 2/3 HP is our plan. Hoping to own the car for a decent period of time after the HP, potentially up to ten years ownership in total.
I have done all the digging I can and have come up with 2 options. A nearly new, very nicely specced Kodiaq Sportline or a slightly older XC90, with Momentum Pro spec. Looking at the 2.0L 190 BHP diesel in the Kodiaq and the D5 in the XC90. Both have < 10,000 miles on the clock.
Our priorities are:
1.Reliability
2.Safety
3.Interior space
4.Economical motoring (approx 12000 miles/year)
5.I’d like to enjoy driving it but that is definitely priority 5, my wife says it’s priority 7.
Does anyone here have any thoughts on these two choices, particularly any advice of one over the other, given my priorities? Secondly Are there any alternatives that people would strongly recommend in their stead?
I have searched the fora prior to posting and couldn’t find anything that covered this area particularly.
Many thanks in advance for your time and knowledge
Best Wishes
RHJ83
Thank you for that. I hadn’t considered it so have done some research. The seven seat ones I have found with low mileage are above my budget but will keep looking out.
Anyone else have any thoughts? I’m really torn between the two options I found given the different trim levels I can afford. Going to have a look in the flesh this pm. Will report back for anyone that is interested.
Thanks again
Anyone else have any thoughts? I’m really torn between the two options I found given the different trim levels I can afford. Going to have a look in the flesh this pm. Will report back for anyone that is interested.
Thanks again
The XC90 would be my choice. I had the older generation one and it was great at what it did but the new one is a huge step up in interior quality and refinement. Saying that, the diesel engine in the new one is still a bit agricultural.
A bit leftfield but our next door neighbour has a Kia Sorento. It looks nice and maybe not a flash as the Volvo but I ended up in the back row seat last week (my son and her daughter took up the middle row with their car seats and her husband is 6ft 5 and took shotgun. I was very impressed. I'm 5ft 11 inches and fitted fine in the back. It even had air con controls for the rear two seats. Decent spec, I'm told very reliable and nice enough inside. Her's is the GT line I think. It has leather and some extra kit. The dashboard was a bit cheap but not awful. I've been in some French stuff lately and it's still way above that level. I'm being harsh as I own a new generation BMW 5 series but overall, I was very impressed with it. I had a bit of a turned up nose at the badge but Kia have come on massively. Prices are not expensive but maybe still a little too much for the badge. Anyway, alternative left field option to look into maybe?
A bit leftfield but our next door neighbour has a Kia Sorento. It looks nice and maybe not a flash as the Volvo but I ended up in the back row seat last week (my son and her daughter took up the middle row with their car seats and her husband is 6ft 5 and took shotgun. I was very impressed. I'm 5ft 11 inches and fitted fine in the back. It even had air con controls for the rear two seats. Decent spec, I'm told very reliable and nice enough inside. Her's is the GT line I think. It has leather and some extra kit. The dashboard was a bit cheap but not awful. I've been in some French stuff lately and it's still way above that level. I'm being harsh as I own a new generation BMW 5 series but overall, I was very impressed with it. I had a bit of a turned up nose at the badge but Kia have come on massively. Prices are not expensive but maybe still a little too much for the badge. Anyway, alternative left field option to look into maybe?
Kodiaq. We have had ours for 2 odd years and 26K miles from new, other than a service it has needed 2 front tyres. Does everything brilliantly and for your budget you may even be able to get a new one. You will also get piece of mind of a 3 yr warranty.
The Sportline is nice, saw a new one in Race Blue the other day and it looked great.
However the XC90 is a lovely thing, but it should be at nearly twice the price of the Kodiaq.
The Sportline is nice, saw a new one in Race Blue the other day and it looked great.
However the XC90 is a lovely thing, but it should be at nearly twice the price of the Kodiaq.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
Wonderful vehicles. Ours is 11 years old, 140k on the clock, and does everything asked for it RELIABLY. Supremely comfortable, quick, not very economical though (mid 20's, but it does tow a lot).
Wonderful vehicles. Ours is 11 years old, 140k on the clock, and does everything asked for it RELIABLY. Supremely comfortable, quick, not very economical though (mid 20's, but it does tow a lot).
Peugeot 5008 in GT Line 180 spec you'll have money left over, it just as good as the Kodiaq & well worth a test drive:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
Kia Sorento GT Line S
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
X5 40d M Sport this will be the best drive
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
30d
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
280 Q7 S Line
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
Kia Sorento GT Line S
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
X5 40d M Sport this will be the best drive
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
30d
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
280 Q7 S Line
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
Thank you everyone for your help.
So........
I test drove the XC90 today. My wife also went to see a friend’s (the test drive was some way away and I wanted to do it without the children).
Technologically the XC90 I drove was amazing and it’s also a beautiful car. However, it certainly didn’t feel as nimble as the Kodiaq to drive (I was much more aware that I was in a big SUV) and despite the figures telling me it was quicker than the Kodiaq it didn’t feel it.
Those who have read the whole thread will know what my priorities were. And in terms of room there was only one winner. The XC90 is just a much bigger car and as a result there is more room inside. I still wouldn’t fancy a long journey in the third row of seats, but they’re definitely better than those in the Kodiaq. Second row is very roomy. Also the boot with all seven seats up is much more usable.
If anyone has any specific questions I’d be very happy to answer them.
Thanks again to everyone for their expertise.
BW
So........
I test drove the XC90 today. My wife also went to see a friend’s (the test drive was some way away and I wanted to do it without the children).
Technologically the XC90 I drove was amazing and it’s also a beautiful car. However, it certainly didn’t feel as nimble as the Kodiaq to drive (I was much more aware that I was in a big SUV) and despite the figures telling me it was quicker than the Kodiaq it didn’t feel it.
Those who have read the whole thread will know what my priorities were. And in terms of room there was only one winner. The XC90 is just a much bigger car and as a result there is more room inside. I still wouldn’t fancy a long journey in the third row of seats, but they’re definitely better than those in the Kodiaq. Second row is very roomy. Also the boot with all seven seats up is much more usable.
If anyone has any specific questions I’d be very happy to answer them.
Thanks again to everyone for their expertise.
BW
Interesting result.
I’m considering a Superb estate or a Kodiaq but XC90s also appeal to me.
The problem is that for my budget I could get a 1 year old Superb / Kodiaq with less than 10k km and 4 years warranty (they come with 5 year unlimited km here) or a 4/5 year old XC90 with no warranty and about 100k km!
Presumably the XC90 is older and higher miles than the Kodiaq, and you aren’t worried about parts / servicing costs?
I’m considering a Superb estate or a Kodiaq but XC90s also appeal to me.
The problem is that for my budget I could get a 1 year old Superb / Kodiaq with less than 10k km and 4 years warranty (they come with 5 year unlimited km here) or a 4/5 year old XC90 with no warranty and about 100k km!
Presumably the XC90 is older and higher miles than the Kodiaq, and you aren’t worried about parts / servicing costs?
Looking at an 18 plate XC90, through an approved dealer so will have a year of warranty.
Higher servicing costs definitely a disadvantage but we’re planning to keep the car for 10 years. Once out of warranty our trusty mechanic will be asked to do the servicing as resale value not a major concern after that period of ownership and 100000+ miles I would suggest.
The Kodiaq I was interested in was a beautiful car. It’s just the additional space we really wanted. My wife is very nervous about JLR reliability so Discovery not really an option.
Higher servicing costs definitely a disadvantage but we’re planning to keep the car for 10 years. Once out of warranty our trusty mechanic will be asked to do the servicing as resale value not a major concern after that period of ownership and 100000+ miles I would suggest.
The Kodiaq I was interested in was a beautiful car. It’s just the additional space we really wanted. My wife is very nervous about JLR reliability so Discovery not really an option.
I sat in the new XC90 when I was in a Volvo dealer for a part for my old XC90.
This was when it hadn't been out that long.
It just as roomy inside and the design was first rate.
The quality was also on par if not better and the seats as always felt superb.
My eldest daughter used to use the rear seats on most journeys to avoid sitting in the same row as her 2 younger sibling and found it very comfortable (she was 16/17 years old and 5'-7"). I sat in a few times and found it ok.
This was when it hadn't been out that long.
It just as roomy inside and the design was first rate.
The quality was also on par if not better and the seats as always felt superb.
My eldest daughter used to use the rear seats on most journeys to avoid sitting in the same row as her 2 younger sibling and found it very comfortable (she was 16/17 years old and 5'-7"). I sat in a few times and found it ok.
We are a family of four children. We rose up through the usual SUV route: Lexus RX, Disco, then an S-Max back to a Disco again. We found that we were lacking boot space with the rear-most seats up, and we got fed up with the Disco breaking down so bought a VW Cavavelle Generation Six. We have never looked back - it's the perfect family vehicle and has been perfectly reliable. For £35k you could get into a 3 year old car, which might be worth £25k in a further 3 years time. If you need the seats all the time, definitely consider one.
For example:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
For example:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
Edited by WhiskyDisco on Tuesday 11th August 11:18
Edited by WhiskyDisco on Tuesday 11th August 11:46
Just a FYI, the D5 engines in the current Volvo's have an issue with the Power Pulse hose blowing.
It doesn't affect all cars, but some owners have reported multiple failures.
It's possible to get a petrol T5 XC90 for about your budget and the fuel costs aren't so different.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
It doesn't affect all cars, but some owners have reported multiple failures.
It's possible to get a petrol T5 XC90 for about your budget and the fuel costs aren't so different.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
Not sure how the age and mileage requirements will pan out, but if I was planning to buy a 7 seater - an Audi Q7 would be on that list as well.
I've test driven one and was mightily impressed with the interior and ride generally.
I went for a lease in the end and there were no good deals to be had on these, but cash down - got to be worth a look.
I've test driven one and was mightily impressed with the interior and ride generally.
I went for a lease in the end and there were no good deals to be had on these, but cash down - got to be worth a look.
Mammasaid said:
Just a FYI, the D5 engines in the current Volvo's have an issue with the Power Pulse hose blowing.
It doesn't affect all cars, but some owners have reported multiple failures.
It's possible to get a petrol T5 XC90 for about your budget and the fuel costs aren't so different.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
Thanks for the tip!! It doesn't affect all cars, but some owners have reported multiple failures.
It's possible to get a petrol T5 XC90 for about your budget and the fuel costs aren't so different.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
Will have a think about the petrol....
OttoMattik said:
Not sure how the age and mileage requirements will pan out, but if I was planning to buy a 7 seater - an Audi Q7 would be on that list as well.
I've test driven one and was mightily impressed with the interior and ride generally.
I went for a lease in the end and there were no good deals to be had on these, but cash down - got to be worth a look.
I couldn’t find any Q7s in budget with <20k miles. I agree they’re a cracking car thoughI've test driven one and was mightily impressed with the interior and ride generally.
I went for a lease in the end and there were no good deals to be had on these, but cash down - got to be worth a look.
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