7 seater - Need Opinions

Kashkai

I'm trading in a 5 seater Kia Sportage Jeep for a seven seater to accommodate my kids and their "lovely" friends.

I've narrowed down the choice to the following:
New Hyundai Santa Fe 4WD
New Ford S-Max
New Ford Galaxy

I've looked at all three and they have their own merits. The Santa Fe appeals to the wife because its a SUV. The Galaxy appeals to me because it will accommodate all the kids and their paraphenalia. The S-Max is a compromise between the two. Roomy but sporty to drive.

I've gotten a good trade in price for my jeep against all three new cars so if anyone else out there has checked them out, let me know your impressions.

Henry Ford III

S-Max. Sporty, roomy, and the best drive of the lot. Strong residuals likely if it's a diesel too.

AlanD

I'd seriously consider the new Santa Fe. The seating arrangement is pretty good in them but with all three rows in place, the boot is small enough. The car is such an improvement over the old one though. I really liked driving it. Whatever you do though, don't buy a 2WD Santa Fe. Cars that tall should not have 2WD and no traction control.

It's a bit pricey though for the top end Santa Fe. I'll buy one when it's cheaper second hand I reckon

crosstownk

The only consistent problem I find with 7 seaters is the lack of space in the boot/luggage area when all 7 seats are in use. I particularly loathe the way the Pug 307SW seats take up boot space when folded - you have to physically remove them to have the boot floor flat. Others such as the VW Touran and the Opel Zafira have flatt folding seats.

Of your options above I'd be inclined to go for the Galaxy - I prefer the larger MPVs. If it was me purchasing I'd prefer a VW Sharan to be honest, but hey, thats me.

ianobrien

I'd go for the Galaxy. We rented one for holidays and there was 6 adults plus luggage in the car (some of the luggage was on the 7th seat). It was comfy, had dual air con and could cruse at 100mph no problem with all of us in it, although it was a 150bhp diesel.

Above 70mph, crosswinds started to effect the thing and the big back doors made car parks troublesome if somebody parked too close

colm_mcm

I'd go with the Santa Fe, if you don't need a full time seven seater, the 2.2 CRDI is sweet, and apart from the B&Q style fake wood it's got a fairly decent interior. It also looks a lot better than most MPV's

Beware lack of initial grip on the 2WD

bazz26

Henry Ford III wrote:

S-Max. Sporty, roomy, and the best drive of the lot. Strong residuals likely if it's a diesel too.

Most people don't really have "best drive" on the top of their wish list when it comes to buying these type of vehicles imo.

Space, number of seats, practicality, safety, comfort and space again are mostly what is needed.

Lex Luthor

I'm considering a Suzuki Grand Vitara XL7 at the moment....

colm_mcm

don't do it Lex Luthor, they're seriously out of date, and are very hard to sell now that the new model is out. Unless you get it ridiculously cheaply

Diamondmaker

I drive a 3 coupe and still found the Avensis Verso fun to drive. 2l eng has good smooth power very light controls I would imagine makes it very easy to manouvere in the school runs........
All the seat are rmovable turning it into a Van and I think it looks quite cool and sleak.

okidoki987

What about a Hyundai Trajet or Crysler Voyager?
Hyundai
7 seats, easy to remove and hugh amount of space when all 5 removed.
Good value with loads of extras as standard.
Diesel good option but a little expensive.
Cheaper then Galaxy etc with more for your money.

Crysler
Seats now fold into floor so very easy to take in/out.
Grand Voyager is massive.

colm_mcm

Toyota Don't do the Avensis Verso any more, pity, cos it was great to drive for an MPV.

Diamondmaker

The 05 one should do though?!!

colm_mcm

absolutely, values of them should hold steady even though its ended production, there is no direct replacement and demand for second hand Avensis Versos is quite high.

Lex Luthor

colm_mcm wrote:

don't do it Lex Luthor, they're seriously out of date, and are very hard to sell now that the new model is out. Unless you get it ridiculously cheaply

I thought they just brought out a new Grand Vitara and not in the XL7 version??? So is their much difference between the new XL7 and the one it replaced? When was the change made?

The interior of the '04 one we looked at was light grey with a light grey dash which doesn't appeal to me. I like my dashes black and seats black. Call me crazy, but its my preference. We had a 99 Corolla a few years back...fantastic car, but I just couldn't live with the colour of the interior.

colm_mcm

The facelifted Vitara should have a better interior (think it was done in 03?) with an intergrated ftereo, The odometer will write "Hello" when you put the key in the ignition and say "see you" when you take it out.

They didn't bring out a new type XL7, so there's still a few old type Vitaras available new.

mike65

Buy a Merc w124 esate with the extra seats option. 6 grand will get you a good un and they won't loose a penny more if you look after it. Or take a chance on a Pug 505 7 seat estate (if you can find one)

Mike.

colm_mcm

Or try a 1998 Renault Laguna "Family" seven seater while you're at it!

sword1

That would have been light on fuel 10 years ago

CiniO

AlanD wrote: »

Whatever you do though, don't buy a 2WD Santa Fe. Cars that tall should not have 2WD and no traction control.

What is the problem with 2WD on Santa Fe?

I always believed there's hardly a need for 4wd on cars which will be used on roads.

macjohn

zombie thread - was started in 2006

CiniO

Heh, I didn't realise :P

Moonbeam

I love my Ford Galaxy:)

Special Circumstances

sword1 wrote: »

That would have been light on fuel 10 years ago

I love this post. Randomer resurrects 10 year old post to tell someone their information would have been correct. ... 10 years ago.


Next move is surely to start a thread informing people that the sky is blue???

sword1

Special Circumstances wrote: »

I love this post. Randomer resurrects 10 year old post to tell someone their information would have been correct. ... 10 years ago.


Next move is surely to start a thread informing people that the sky is blue???

Look again,I did not resurrect the thread

sword1

Sorry,post I was replying to has been deleted,I replied to a post in latest posts about Santa fee being good but heavy on fuel

biko

Old thread lock
Thread was brought back by a user who has now deleted their post.