4 kids - what car?

[325Ti]

afternoon all

another what car topic

just found out kid number 4 is on the way - so first thought is what car do i need!

kids will all be in car seats (3 in boosters) between 4 and 8 years old

obvious choice for a 7 seater is S-max but concerned rear most seats are only for temporary use and not permanent

so Galaxy / Sharan possibly best choice but any others?

any one else with 4 kids offer suggestions?

thanks

[325Ti]

samoht said:

New or used (how old) ? Budget?

used, preferably £15k max - wife would also prefer auto which really seems to limit choice

[325Ti]

samoht said:

325Ti said:

samoht said:

New or used (how old) ? Budget?

used, preferably £15k max - wife would also prefer auto which really seems to limit choice

£13k - tick
seven seats - tick
automatic gearbox - tick
legendary 6.2L V8 engine - tick


however I suspect you're really better off with an MPV as more comfortable passenger space ;-)

that is lovely, but suspect if i buy that my wife would make me sleep in it!

[325Ti]

ZX10R NIN said:

The Galaxy is the sensible choice:

2.0d Titanium X 150

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011085...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008182...

If you don't mind spending a bit more on fuel the Nissan Elgrand is a good pick.

Nissan Elgrand

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012137...

Highway Star

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nissan-Elgrand-3-5-V6-A...

Hybrid

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2012-Toyota-Alphard-Hyb...

Alphard

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TOYOTA-ALPHARD-350G-C-P...

Vellfire

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FRESH-IMPORT-2008-TOYOT...

sounds like the galaxy is the way forward - the others look interesting but being older / import puts me off - think best option for a family bus is boring but reliable

[325Ti]

Dapster said:

I have 3 kids and we're on our third S-Max and it's a brilliant family car. When the kids were young, we could get 3 abreast in kids seats. When a little older, we had 2 in kids seats in the 2 outer seats on the middle row, and the eldest way in the back on his own. They are now 12, 11 and 8 and all occupy the middle row with the little one in a booster.

The rear most seats are for kids only but you do get a good view out and our son loved it, but he did feel out of touch as he couldn't hear the conversation but he could hear music and it was well ventilated. With the 3rd row in use you have only a small amount of luggage space.

All in, the Galaxy is far more suited to your needs but it is a big old bus, and about as glamorous as a wet sock. The S-Max and surprisingly, the Galaxy, are actually excellent from behind the wheel. My brother in law has a 7 seat Toyota Verso and he dies inside each time he has to drive it, but I actually enjoy the S-Max. The 2.0 petrol Ecoboost or 200bhp 2.0 diesel are the ones to go for with the autobox.

You can get a new shape top spec Titanium X in budget



https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008182...

thanks for your reply - defiantly siding with the galaxy now. Wifes current care is a 200bhp diesel mondeo so know the engine well

[325Ti]

Thought I'd pop in and update this- took a while to settle on what we wanted, wife liked the Sharon for the sliding doors, but the interior hasnt updated since about 1980 and was terrible.

So have just put deposit on a manual petrol galaxy

[325Ti]

Liokault said:

Jasandjules said:

Might be worth a look at an R Class.... Ours has a Pan Roof, heated rear seats... And has 4 isofix points.....

That’s what we went for after out E class estate 7 seater got rear ended.

The R class is very nice indeed.

Always liked the R class and it would of been a contender if they had continued to make them, didn't want anything over 3 or 4 years old

[325Ti]

dave_s13 said:

magpie215 said:

325Ti said:

samoht said:

New or used (how old) ? Budget?

used, preferably £15k max - wife would also prefer auto which really seems to limit choice

Nissan Elgrand
Honda Elysion
Toyota Alphard

Theres 3 to be going on with

Be very careful.

I had an Elgrand for 2 years, had it lpg converted to take the sting out of the 16mpg it did. Then it developed a starting fault that nobody local could fix so had to take it to a specialist over an hour away....and they couldnt fix it either. Well not without slotting a whole new wiring loom and engine in the damn thing.

Ended up selling it to that garage anyway. Lost a lot of cash on that one sadly.



Picked this up last week. 2017 titanium x 180bhp auto. These things are always advertised as "fully loaded" but they rarely are. This one has every option apart from AWD and adaptive suspension. So it's got radar cruise, heated and cooled massage seats, high beam assist, removable towbar, android auto...and the rest.

It's the bestest, nicest car I've owned yet, and this is number 42!

And I've got 3 kids under 11. 3rd row is perfectly adequate even for adults. Middle row has 3 full size seats, so 4 kids will be easy. Only thing that'd make it perfect would be a slidey door like an Alhambra/Sharan..mbut they look even more blobby, bland and st.

It doesn't give you the same interior utility of an Elgrand but this is balanced in favour of the ford as it drives like a nice driving car, not a wallowy van. Even then at 6'4" the Elgrand driver's seat doesn't go back or down quite far enough to get comfy....everyone else can spread out on a full size chair mind.

So yeah, check out a galaxy, they are really very good family cars.

Ohband don't even think about an e class for 4 kids. I had a 7 seat e350 CDI....nice car but the boot seats are cramped and uncomfortable, only for short journies.

Edited by dave_s13 on Saturday 6th March 00:06

Edited by dave_s13 on Saturday 6th March 07:47

Great to hear a good endorsement like that. Looks like a great example you got, the red was my first choice but their quite rare . I went for silver, only added option being the pan roof. It'll only be used for school runs during the week and family trips at weekend, I use my company car for everything else