Which MPV

bennyc

I have an eight y/o 13y/o and a new born and the Volvo S80 does the trick but we always seem to have a need for more seats. I reckon 15K tops is the budget and I want to rule out the S-Max , Touran type car with the fold down seats. I want to have 2 extra seats and still get a buggy in.

I am looking at any of the Galaxy , Alhambra, Sharan.

Is there any other one I should be looking at ?

Guy:Incognito

bennyc wrote: »

I am looking at any of the Galaxy , Alhambra, Sharan.

Is there any other one I should be looking at ?

They are all the same car (unless the newest gen has the Galaxy seperate but not sure if budget allows for that)

Zubeneschamali

bennyc wrote: »

I want to have 2 extra seats and still get a buggy in.

Grand Espace

bennyc

Stekelly wrote: »

They are all the same car (unless the newest gen has the Galaxy seperate but not sure if budget allows for that)

Well thats the reason I have selected any of the three of them as my only option so far. I reckon the new version is out of range but might be sourced in UK.

bennyc

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

Grand Espace

A friend had one and got shot of it after 1 year due to failing electrics and poor dealer support, that was a 05 model afaik and could be the same as what I would budget for.
Any other ESpace owners out there that could tell a better tale.

colm_mcm

reliabilityindex.co.uk list the Espace as the least reliable car they tested with 71% breaking down in years 4 and 5.

dlambirl

bennyc wrote: »

I am looking at any of the Galaxy , Alhambra, Sharan.

Stekelly wrote: »

They are all the same car (unless the newest gen has the Galaxy seperate but not sure if budget allows for that)

They are the same car. Although I know when my friend was looking for one the Alhambra was way more expensive than the Sharan.

Guy:Incognito

Theres the c8

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201010197188862 Thats the first one I picked at random.

and the sister car the 807

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200840190249941

Zubeneschamali

Stekelly wrote: »

Theres the c8 and the sister car shed the 807

FYP.

Ddad

I've the S-max and it's only 4cm shorter than the new galaxy, so much the same boot space really. The main diffreence is the ceiling in the rear seats which is lower. I can also get the buggy and a few other bits and bobs in when the 7 seats are up. I've done the Zafira and the Touran and they're much smaller wheelbases than a galaxy/smax (same wheelbase). I've also driven the older galaxy/alhambra variant and to be honest if you can squeeze together enough money get and S-max diesel it's poles ahead of the others for comfort and safety. Their residuals aren't half bad. Run away from the older renault and citroen buses, run very far away.

Zubeneschamali

Ddad wrote: »

I can also get the buggy and a few other bits and bobs in when the 7 seats are up.

I drive an S-Max myself, and as you say it's much better to drive than the competition, but from his first post it looks as if the OP has already tried it and found it too small.

bennyc

I have to be honest I was just painting the S-Max with the same brush as the Touran , Zafaria, Corolla verso?. so I reallly need to check one out . I probably will go the other direction mind.
One thing I liked most about the Galaxy ETC is the way seats can be lifted in and out to suit the needs of the trip that day. God the c8 and 807 look awful but so do the rest bar the S-Max and new shape Galaxy but its not all about looks.

Any opinions on this

44mpg could be a bit unrealistic ? Would you get similar on these shores ?

Zubeneschamali

bennyc wrote: »

One thing I liked most about the Galaxy ETC is the way seats can be lifted in and out to suit the needs of the trip that day.

Not on the new model, the seats fold flat instead. I used to have a Multipla, and lifting a full-size seat in and out is a killer. You have to store them somewhere, too.

44mpg could be a bit unrealistic ?

I get 35+ from a 2.0 S-Max, and that's at 140 kph on the motorway, mostly. I'd say 44 would be achievable if I slowed down a lot.

Ddad

Like I said Benny no interior size difference between the smax and galaxy oter than the roof height. There is a world of diference between the old models and the new ones. In terms of economy and safety opt for the modern car. I've a 307 sw with the removeable seats and believe me the novelty of removeable zseats soon wears off. IMHO the fold flats are way better. One thing about the new Galaxy and smax though is that they don't have spares anymore, run flats or glue I'm afraid. I have a jack powerbar and low profile spare in my Smax following 2 hours of a wait for the AA to replace a shredded tyre.