Wat 7 seater to choose??

judosean2005

Ok so heres my problem.me and my partner are recently are after twins .I drive an Accent at the moment which is just too small for:
Me
Partner
Car seat
Car seat
and grandmother.

So luckily enough that the grandmother is only a small woman that the accent will do for now.But the twins are getting big and bold.So were thinking of a seven seater.
So we are looking for something along a SUV type with tons of boot space.
I've checked santa Fe but are mad expensive even for an old one.
Checked Ssyang Rexton,Has 7 seats but has no boot space.
Checked the Fiat multiply(6 seater)but not as easy on the eye as the others.

So anyone any ideas?

Sean:D

colm_mcm

What's your budget and annual mileage?

Honda FR-V might fit the bill. Same layout as the multipla but better looking and has 6 seats that all slide. You can move the 2 centre seats way back so you're not all rubbing shoulders.
An often overlooked car.

richardsheil

Ford Galaxy / Seat Alhambra / VW Sharan are very good cars. We have had one from 2001 to 2008 and our second one since then. Both bought second hand with around 60,000 miles up.

Suggest you put more detail per colm's suggestion.

Pdfile

zafira is a great oul car, providing the electronics are sound and has the usual documents ( previous nct docs, service history etc etc ) their a nice peice of kit. Dark color a must.

Zubeneschamali

judosean2005 wrote: »

So we are looking for something along a SUV type with tons of boot space.

By the sounds of it, you don't need off-road 4x4 hardware, so no point in paying for an SUV. Economy will be worse than an MPV too.

What's your budget like? When I wanted a 5+2 seater in 2008, I found the S-Max was the best of them, but may be too pricey for you. I had a Multipla previously, and it's very practical (get a JTD), but not everyone likes the looks.

alias no.9

colm_mcm wrote: »

What's your budget and annual mileage?

Honda FR-V might fit the bill. Same layout as the multipla but better looking and has 6 seats that all slide. You can move the 2 centre seats way back so you're not all rubbing shoulders.
An often overlooked car.

Overlooked? Impossible to find more like. I would have bought one of these recently if I could have found one. They were too pricey new so never sold in the numbers that they should.

Zubeneschamali

colm_mcm wrote: »

Honda FR-V might fit the bill. Same layout as the multipla but better looking and has 6 seats that all slide.

Doesn't have 6 full-size seats though. The front row is 2 full + 1 tiny seat, while the three rears are smaller than full size.

T-Maxx

I've said it many times before - if you're after a real 7 seater, get a VW Caravelle/Transporter or Hyundai Montana.

Squeezing 2 small seats in the boot of a car doesn't make it a 7 seater IMHO.

bazz26

Look at the Mazda 5 too, it has a sliding door at the side which is pretty handy in tight car park spaces.

beetlefan

A renault grand scenic diesel is your man, after 08 the tax is dead cheap and now renault are offering a 5 year warranty in total ( for an extra 420 euro of course).
Very economical and loads of space , big boot, well specd.

colm_mcm

the OP has 2 kids! do they really need a Caravalle?

bazz26

colm_mcm wrote: »

the OP has 2 kids! do they really need a Caravalle?

Not unless it is moonlighting as a taxi at weekends.

T-Maxx

colm_mcm wrote: »

the OP has 2 kids! do they really need a Caravalle?

Probably not, but the OP did ask for a 7 seater.

colm_mcm

surely if the OP just wanted to know a list of random 7 seaters that were unfit for what they need they would have just googled it?

A Caravelle would certainly have enough space for what the OP needs, but it's hardly appropriate for what they need

R.O.R

T-Maxx wrote: »

Probably not, but the OP did ask for a 7 seater.

But aren't they all 9 seaters, and as such, require D on your licence to drive them?

john1963

toyota corolla verso. 3 full sized seats in middle row. perfect for 2 child seats and granny

Guy:Incognito

R.O.R wrote: »

But aren't they all 9 seaters, and as such, require D on your licence to drive them?

Nope, you can drive a 9 seater. Your licence says 8 + 1, the one being the driver.

R.O.R

Stekelly wrote: »

Nope, you can drive a 9 seater. Your licence says 8 + 1, the one being the driver.

For some reason I thought it was 8 + 1 for D

carab

R.O.R wrote: »

But aren't they all 9 seaters, and as such, require D on your licence to drive them?

Can get 7 seater Caravelles, was thinking of getting one myself!
OP, I have had a ford galaxy and a Renault espace, both are fine 7 seaters but have no boot space! Maybe you could remove one of the back seats to make more room in boot, if you do that you could look at any of the 7 seaters available? I need all 7 seats hence thinking of caravelle!:) seems to be the only thing with boot space.

Guy:Incognito

carab wrote: »

Can get 7 seater Caravelles, was thinking of getting one myself!
OP, I have had a ford galaxy and a Renault espace, both are fine 7 seaters but have no boot space! .

Renault have the Grand Espace that adds a longer back to the standard Espace.

We're driving an 05 grand Scenic at the minute and regularly have some of the nieces/nephews with us as well as our own 5 year old. Most recently we had a 3 month old baby in a car seat, a 12 year old and a 5 year old in a booster seat across the middle row of 3 without any issue. What we often do if theres the 6 year old aswell is the two boys (5 & 6 ) go in the back row (they prefer it there for some reason) and take out the middle seat in the middle row giving easy access for the boot.

We travelled to the UK last year with 3 adults, a 16 year old, a 12 year old and a 5 year old + luggage and again everyone was perfectly comfortable driving from Holyhead -> Liverpool -> Birmingham -> London and back again over a week.

It's swallowed the contents of a couple of trips to IKEA in Belfast with 5 people before the Dublin one opened.

The missus does want to move up to an Espace though and I have to say I'd be a fan of a change. Theres only the 2 of us and the 5 year old the majority of the time but we likes our sspace.:)

carab wrote: »

Can get 7 seater Caravelles, was thinking of getting one myself!
OP, I have had a ford galaxy and a Renault espace, both are fine 7 seaters but have no boot space! Maybe you could remove one of the back seats to make more room in boot, if you do that you could look at any of the 7 seaters available? I need all 7 seats hence thinking of caravelle!:) seems to be the only thing with boot space.

I had one as a hire car in Germany, nice bus. The only thing I didnt like and was one of the (many) reasons I hate the Zafira haveing had them as hire cars, is the bench seat at the back. not very comfortable and awkward to move.

Caravelle is horrendously expensive too iirc.

colm_mcm

Am I the only one that thinks a Grand Espace, or even a normal espace is too big for someone with 2 kids?

Guy:Incognito

colm_mcm wrote: »

Am I the only one that thinks a Grand Espace, or even a normal espace is too big for someone with 2 kids?

Yep. As above, I've only 1 and we want one

colm_mcm

Stekelly wrote: »

Yep. As above, I've only 1 and we want one

I know you love the Renaults, but surely you muct have some other use for it than carting one child around?

Marty McFly

What about a honda stream? Whats your budget op?

Guy:Incognito

colm_mcm wrote: »

I know you love the Renaults, but surely you muct have some other use for it than carting one child around?

It's not particularly a Renault thing tbh, I just really like having loads of space around me in the car.

I (we) were right at home with the size of he Caravelle.

colm_mcm

Horses for courses I suppose!

Surely you would have got an Espace for the price of your Grand Megane?

judosean2005

Hey everyone,thank you very much for all your comments.

I guess ill answer a few questions, The reason we wanted a SUV was cause we are weird and kind of still young.lol.and still wanna have something sporty to drive. But obviously after reading ur comments,the SUV isnt the way to go.
So i have checked all your comments and recommendations and have come up with the following 4 cars which we like.Wat ye think??

VW Sharan 1.9 diesel
Seat Alhambra 1.9 Diesel
Renault Grand Scenic 1.6 petrol
Toyota Corolla Verso 1.6 petrol

Any good or bad things to say??


PS: Budget is around 12.5k...and year isnt a problem

Sean

Zubeneschamali

colm_mcm wrote: »

Am I the only one that thinks a Grand Espace, or even a normal espace is too big for someone with 2 kids?

What is this "too big" you speak of?

Guy:Incognito

colm_mcm wrote: »

Horses for courses I suppose!

Surely you would have got an Espace for the price of your Grand Megane?

It's been a gradual climb. I made the mistake with the TV, I jumped straight to a 50" and now I can only go up, but budget wont allow at the minute

The last car was a Scenic I (phase II) so the natural step was to the Grand Scenic II . The missus took a shine to the Scenic. Now she has kind of moved on the Espace. If we'd gone straight to the Espace we'd just be looking at replacing it with another one when the time came, and with the Rate Renault chaneg the Espace we could be waiting a while if we didnt want a direct jump up the years to the same car. It would be that or move to a Trafic minibus or soemthing At least now we have the joy of one more segment to go up.

Zubeneschamali

judosean2005 wrote: »

Any good or bad things to say??

None of those are as good to drive as this S-Max.

R.O.R

colm_mcm wrote: »

Horses for courses I suppose!

Surely you would have got an Espace for the price of your Grand Megane?

Could have done him a lovely - 1 careful owner (god knows how many careless rental drivers though) Caravelle for the price of the Grand Megane

judosean2005

although that car(S Max) does look very spacious and very neat.The problem is its just out of my budget at present.:(

richardsheil

judosean2005 wrote: »

Hey everyone,thank you very much for all your comments.

I guess ill answer a few questions, The reason we wanted a SUV was cause we are weird and kind of still young.lol.and still wanna have something sporty to drive. But obviously after reading ur comments,the SUV isnt the way to go.
So i have checked all your comments and recommendations and have come up with the following 4 cars which we like.Wat ye think??

VW Sharan 1.9 diesel
Seat Alhambra 1.9 Diesel
Renault Grand Scenic 1.6 petrol
Toyota Corolla Verso 1.6 petrol

Any good or bad things to say??


PS: Budget is around 12.5k...and year isnt a problem

Sean

Glad to see you have realised the SUV is not the way to go. I still struggle to understand how being young and fun makes anybody think an SUV is fun to drive. But perhaps that is just me.

Your list above is pretty good. Just remember that the Scenic in particular can have some problems. And the Ford Galaxy up until 2006 is exactly the same as the Alhambra / Sharan. Made in same factory until the newer ones which are sister cars to the S-Max.

Good luck

newwifey

I second the S-Max
We have 4 kids, 3 smallies and one lanky teenager who is too cool to travel with us very often.
Middle row are 3 full seats (which fit 3 big comfy car seats no problem)- we have carried 5 adults with loads of leg room and comfort.
Back 2 seats are not 'full' seats like a true 7 seater but are perfect for ye with only 2 kids.
With the two rear seats dropped there is an absolutely massive boot - shopping & buggies and toys all fit easily.

We imported ours from england through the ford dealer in derry about a year ago. Saved €10k on similar purchase here. We bought a car that was fully loaded so that we would have a good resale price but would advise giving any ford dealer up north a call (ones close to the border are well versed on VRT etc).
Have to say that of all the cars we have owned, and there have been a few, I absolutely love the S-Max. Big car but feels a lot smaller when parking & driving.

debbie123

This might be totally not for your needs but my god mother has a kia sedona she has five small kids 9 weeks to 13 yrs!!! The car loads of space!! I havent checked if they suited ur budget or anything. Its just from experience its a fantastic car for a family. Hope this helps good luck in your search hope u find what you want !!! :)