Suggestions required for 3 baby seats!

[Ciaran]

Hi

My wife and I are having twins and require a new bus. I've looked about and the best mix seems to be the Ford S-Max. I'm actually not too bothered as it's actually a decent drive.

Is there anything else you would suggest - Espace, Grand Picasso, Disco 3 have all been looked at but discounted for one reason or another.

Here are my ideals:

£10k-£15K so second hand 2005 onwards
Diesel
Fits 3 baby seats
35-40+ mpg combined as we do a fair bit of travelling
Big boot (see above)
preferable max of 60k miles
Relatively decent to drive if possible

I have a 330i Sport Touring and wife drives a Mk 4 Focus.

Thanks

Edited by Ciaran on Sunday 29th August 13:45

[Pints]

VW Touran? Or something from the Skoda paddock?

[fathomfive]

Volvo V70 D5?

[murray walker]

Toyota Previa. 3 baby seats, three baby seaters, three baby-bio-toilets and enough luggage space.

[Dino D]

Honda FR-V.
Seats 6 whilst still keeping a decent bot. 3 isofix mounts. Small on the outside being as wide as a CMAX and only 4,2m long. Easy acess to all 6 seats.

[Ciaran]

Thanks for the suggestions!

Will have a look at the Volvo and Touran. The FRV didn't have a big enough boot to be honest.

[Bohemianesque]

Dino D said:

Honda FR-V.
Seats 6 whilst still keeping a decent bot. 3 isofix mounts. Small on the outside being as wide as a CMAX and only 4,2m long. Easy acess to all 6 seats.

+1. It works for us.

[Deerfoot]

Bohemianesque said:

Dino D said:

Honda FR-V.
Seats 6 whilst still keeping a decent bot. 3 isofix mounts. Small on the outside being as wide as a CMAX and only 4,2m long. Easy acess to all 6 seats.

+1. It works for us.

And us. Although the front seat squabs are a bit short and offer limited thigh support. Ours has been absolutely faultless.

[4lf4-155]

i just saved you 8 grand http://www.multimac.co.uk/home

[slipstream 1985]

s max is by far the best looking one imo

[Dino D]

Deerfoot said:

Bohemianesque said:

Dino D said:

Honda FR-V.
Seats 6 whilst still keeping a decent bot. 3 isofix mounts. Small on the outside being as wide as a CMAX and only 4,2m long. Easy acess to all 6 seats.

+1. It works for us.

And us. Although the front seat squabs are a bit short and offer limited thigh support. Ours has been absolutely faultless.

Should really start a new topic but just wondering which engines you bit have?
Here in Greece only the 1,7 is available and reviews say it is not well geared so in top gear it gets quite buzzy. Still have to go for a test drive myself but only looking to change next year.
How do you find the air con - I did not notice any vents in the rear when looking around it?
I sat in it and it felt allot wider than 1810 or in other words about 10cm wider than a Jazz! Certainly felt wider than the Focus Cmax too.


To the OP, yes the boot on the FR-V is not the biggest but will be big enough unless you are planning some long self catering holidays too.
If you don't mind a longer car then the Touran has I think the biggest boot in its class. Note that the 7 seater Touran does not have a spare as the rear seats take that space.
Not sure if the Touran can take 3 seats across the back though.

Edited by Dino D on Monday 30th August 06:56

[Deerfoot]

Dino D said:

Should really start a new topic but just wondering which engines you bit have?
Here in Greece only the 1,7 is available and reviews say it is not well geared so in top gear it gets quite buzzy. Still have to go for a test drive myself but only looking to change next year.
How do you find the air con - I did not notice any vents in the rear when looking around it?

Ours is the 2.2 diesel. It`s OK.

The climate copes well in the UK, obviously we don`t get the temperatures you`ll be used to in Greece. There are no vents in the rear due to the design of the seats and B pillars.

Like I said earlier, ours has been absolutely faultless. It`s hardly an inspiring choice but it fills our needs at the moment and the wife (who drives it 90% of the time) loves it.

[Jambon]

We have three and have found the Espace to be a very reliable and functional carrier for the children. The biggest selling point on the Espace is the modular seating and interior space. Remove the back two seats and you've plenty of luggage for 5. Cruises nicely on EU motorways a 85. It's houses a 2.0 litre turbo and does the job nicely. As a driver I much prefer (selfishly)the RS6, but minor passenger's comfort over distances is a more considerate option.

[Ciaran]

Thanks everyone.

The boot needs to be quite big as the wife has a lot of gear to carry with her new job and we do a fair bit of travelling to the inlaws.

I think the S-Max is going to be the winner although they are few and far between in the 2.0l guise over here. I'd love the 175 bhp model but don't think the budget will stretch, so 140bhp it is.

[y2blade]

fathomfive said:

Volvo V70 D5?

+1

the D5 is a stonking motor

[LuS1fer]

We have a Mondeo in which we have two baby seats and a 10 year old. not sure if you could get another seat in there but may be worth a try as it leaves the vast boot emopty for the vast pushchairs and bags.

However, after the Mazda 5 which proved too small in the boot 3 up, I would look at carriers with sliding rear doors as they make your life 1 billion times easier.

[CO2000]

Ciaran said:

Thanks everyone.

The boot needs to be quite big as the wife has a lot of gear to carry with her new job and we do a fair bit of travelling to the inlaws.

I think the S-Max is going to be the winner although they are few and far between in the 2.0l guise over here. I'd love the 175 bhp model but don't think the budget will stretch, so 140bhp it is.

What about a Galaxy ? or do you prefer the S-Max's styling ?