What 7 seater is the best ???

minibob

Hi,

I currently have a 03 Hyundai Trajet - petrol. Baby no.5 is on the way and the middle seat in the trajet does not have a shoulder seat belt so I want to upgrade the car to possibly a 07 model (depending on price).


I have been looking at Trajets - as I like them there are nice and big as the other 4 kids range from ages 10 down to 1. The Renault Grand Scenic seems to be good value also - does anyone have this car and what to you think of it.

I would be open to any other suggestions - I think that the Zafira or the Versos are too small.

bazz26

I'd say have a look at the Citroen Grand Picasso too but the Ford Galaxy is probably your best option.

johnos1984

Not wanting to sound mental but have you thought about a VW Caravelle?

Its very big and as you have a large family (I assume 2 adults + 5 kids) it would make most sense to me as with their age ranges it is quiet probable you will have them all in the car at the same time fairly regularly.

Mind you contraception is also another option:D mind you its a bit late for that now so maybe adoption?

mickdw

I would say ford galaxy too. Im sure it would be a much better drive than the trajet.
Whatever you do, avoid anything by Ssangyong just because they are unbelieveble ugly ->


I have an issue with many 7 seaters as typically the kids in the rear seats are within inches of the rear screen. They would have no chance in even minor rear hit. Zafira sized ones especially so you should certainly be looking at this too when making your choice

Sikie

"I have an issue with many 7 seaters as typically the kids in the rear seats are within inches of the rear screen. They would have no chance in even minor rear hit. Zafira sized ones especially so you should certainly be looking at this too when making your choice"

Seen the front of a 93 BMW 3 Series fold up into the back of a Galaxy at relative low speed crash <20mph with no damage to the Galaxy chassis rails or the beam across the rear only bumper and tailgate damage

mcgarrett

Have an Alhambra that has 2 integrated child seats, they worked great for the small kids. The base of the seat adjusts into a booster and an insert in the backrest pops out and contains all the restraints. The car itself has been brilliant and have no complaints would highly recommend them.

Whatever you buy take it to Clane for a spin

Yawlboy

We have 4 kids, ages 9, 6, and 2 1/2 yo twins. We have run a Land Rover Discovery 3 since 2005 and would not change it for anything except a Discovery 4.

Go anywhere, do anything, and 7 seats plus its built like a tank if you ever have a crash.

T-Maxx

VW Caravelle FTW

kildare.17hmr

with 5 young kids the corolla verso, zafira or grand scenic is not going to be ideal for you because if you are all going somewhere you wont have any room for anything else in the car and will need a roof box. its trajet/galaxy size you want and if the budget could strectch to it id recomend a diesel galaxy, a high spec model will get you loads of extras and i sold one that had intigrated booster seats in the 5 rear seats and all 7 seats have shoulder straps. The caravelle is another option like a previous poster said but you are really getting big then and when on school runs and shopping parking might become an issue!

EDIT grand espace would be another option

bazz26

VW Caravelle would feel too van like for me to be honest. Maybe the Nissan Qashqai +2 or Mitsubishi Grandis might be worth looking at?

merc3ps

I have a '10 Grand Scenic 1.5Dci. Cheap to run and I think it looks nice. No issues so far.

One problem with these +2 seats is... if in the 2nd row you have 2 proper child seats at either side, then you can't fold the seats down to allow access into the back.

You have to fold down one +2 seat and let 1 kid into the other +2 seat.. the get the next kid to sit on their lap as you put up the 2nd +2 seat.

Also, boot space for stuff will be minimal.

The Trajet is quite big really... I would look a Ford Galaxy but they are expensive. With such a large brood I really do think you should consider a Caravelle etc. They are not that much bigger once you are on the road.

kildare.17hmr

LWB caravelle is about 30cm longer and wider than a galaxy and 50cm longer than the trajet the op drives now, that will make a differance for parking.

trad

Brother has 5 kids 1 -7. has an Smax. When they are going away and the car is fully loaded he follows on his motorbike.

Have a good look at the Caravelle, they go for ever, sold mine last year with 360,000 miles and it sold first day. Kids will grow and you'll end up changing for something bigger or else having to use 2 cars.

WacoKid

Is the Renault Espace not meant to be the best?

BostonB

You need more space than most 7 seaters have.
No point having no space for luggage.

Caravelle

pmq71

I have 4 kids under 10 and spent a long time looking into this myself.

You need 7 permanant seats so I'd ignore all the 5 + 2 options with no boot. I never liked the idea of putting any kids near the back window either.

These are my thoughts on what I see as the realistic options:

VW Caravelle - too expensive for what is (new and second hand) and still feels like a converted van when I drove it. Transporter versions are even more van like but have decent boot space for prams. Caravelle has the short wheel base only and I found the boot was still cramped for prams etc. Better suited to a family that has grown out of prams and needs less boot space. Road tax is cheaper than the other options if you go with the 1.9 but struggles with the weight unless you get the higher hp versions. Beware VW transporters rebadged to be sold as "Caravelles".

Chrysler Grand Voyager
Money no object option but cheaper second hand now as the current model gets older. Nice interior and 2.7 diesel auto has plenty of power. Expensive servicing. I had one for a while and I preferred the non stow and go version as it's got more sturdy seating with a bench at the back. Gives option of child seats in the back for older kids leaving captain seats free beside the sliding doors in the middle for easy access to lifting new additions in and out of their rock-a-tots. Sliding doors are car park friendly.

Ssangyong Rodius
Lots of tin for the money and good value second hand. Massive boot and surprisingly flexible interior. It's ugly on the outside but practicality is more important with 5 kids onboard. Drives like a big car rather than a van and has plenty of power with a 2.7 auto. Downsides: Back doors open out rather than slide which is a pain in car parks and it doesn't have side air bags. Check that water separator sensor is working - not expensive but takes a long time to source at dealers. I was put off by the exterior myself until I had a look inside one and took it for test drive so I wouldn't dismiss it without checking one out. I've had one for 4 years now and we've been very happy with it. Looks "best" in black IMHO.

General tips:

• Go for leather seats if at all possible for cleaning and durabity.
• Go for automatic - makes driving much easier with these large machines.
• Bring a pram to test the boot space with the back seats in position to give leg room for the other kids. Leave room for the weekly shop in there as well

Leonard Hofstadter

Something Galaxy sized would have more boot space even when all 7 seats are in, and even removing one of the seats will give you lots of boot space, the likes of the Zafiras are very good but boot space is non existant when all 7 seats are in place.

I also don't like the fact that in a Zafira/Scenic the rearmost seats are in the crumple zones, just cause a Galaxy survived an E36(a very unsafe car by modern standards with none of the modern safety features) doesn't mean it would get off so lightly with a modern, safe car. At least in a Galaxy or Espace the rearmost seats are not right next to the tailgate, something you can't say about a Zafira/Scenic/Verso.

T-Maxx

kildare.17hmr wrote: »

LWB caravelle is about 30cm longer and wider than a galaxy and 50cm longer than the trajet the op drives now, that will make a differance for parking.

There's no such thing as a LWB Caravelle. Transporter yes, but not Caravelle.

useless

We rented an Espace for a week on holidays this year. Didnt need 7 seats, but it was the next cheapest rental on the list after the Twingo. Go figure...

Anyway. There wasn't very much bootspace when the 7 seats are in. Also, in the Espace, the seats dont fold into the floor, and they're heavy buggers to lift in and out. However, they're 7 individual seats that all have their own seat belts and a big adult (like me) can comfortably sit in all 3 rows.
Also, the seats in row 2 slide forward easily to allow access to row 3.

Our rental was a 2.0 6spd diesel. I got used to the size pretty quickly, but the manual box was horrible and the gears didnt seem to be spaced properly. Id have preferred an auto. Apart from that, it was grand to drive, and very comfortable (miles, miles better than the Nissan Primastar van I rented a few weeks later. The Espace doesnt feel like a van to drive)

I agree with the post above that you need a 7 seater and not a 5+2. You probably need a roofbox for the holidays as well:) Galaxy, Espace, maybe the new Sharan if you're looking at a brand new motor.

T-Maxx

Sound advice from pmq71.

It may sound silly, but do take the whole family and all paraphanalia (such as buggies, sports gear, skate boards, shopping bags, etc that you might have to haul along at any one time) and see if it all fits. Beware the eager (and often single) salesman bs you about how spacious and practicle a vehicle is if you just unlatch this here.....and here......and here, then swing this out, fold it under here......then this side......then click it into place with your left hand whilst you depress this yoke here with the other........

When it comes to 7 seaters (as with engines ), there's simply no replacement for displacement.:D

Leonard Hofstadter

There is a Grand Espace option, which solves the problem with luggage space.

It's still a Renault, and even by Renault standards it is woefully unreliable, I remember a What Car? reliability survey saying that a massive 77% of them would be involved in a breakdown of some description; the average car is around 10%, and the best have a <5% failure rate.

Eric Cartman

landcruiser amazon - the best 7 seater there is, and the only one that doesnt make you look like a tool

Guy:Incognito

merc3ps wrote: »

I have a '10 Grand Scenic 1.5Dci. Cheap to run and I think it looks nice. No issues so far.

One problem with these +2 seats is... if in the 2nd row you have 2 proper child seats at either side, then you can't fold the seats down to allow access into the back.
.

What we tend to do when theres up to 6 people in the car is take out the middle seat of the middle row and go for a 2 - 2 - 2 layout, that way you have the access to the back.

pmq71 wrote: »

Chrysler Grand Voyager
Money no object option but cheaper second hand now as the current model gets older. Nice interior and 2.7 diesel auto has plenty of power. Expensive servicing. I had one for a while and I preferred the non stow and go version as it's got more sturdy seating with a bench at the back. Gives option of child seats in the back for older kids leaving captain seats free beside the sliding doors in the middle for easy access to lifting new additions in and out of their rock-a-tots. Sliding doors are car park friendly.

They have a tendancy to fold like an accordian in a crash though. Good if you like driving your own coffin around though :-)

http://www.euroncap.com/results/chrysler/voyager.aspx?class=b7160ee7-ae8a-4065-8588-61b7e4598ed3

More than a 1 and a half star ncap is just a waste

useless wrote: »

Anyway. There wasn't very much bootspace when the 7 seats are in. Also, in the Espace, the seats dont fold into the floor, .

I dont think they do in any full size MPV. It's one of the sacrifices of the comfort of full size seats.

Eric Cartman wrote: »

landcruiser amazon - the best 7 seater there is, and the only one that doesnt make you look like a tool

It's the only one that costs the GDP of a small country to buy too.

Anyway, if one of your main concerns is whether other people think you look like a tool , your probably already a tool

Mr.David

Discovery 4 if you can afford the running costs

T-Maxx

Stekelly wrote: »

Anyway, if one of your main concerns is whether other people think you look like a tool , your probably already a tool

Quote of the day.:D

BTW, I don't see how people can call Disco's and TLC's 7 seaters when all they are in fact are jeeps with 2 extra child seats in the back. 5+2 IMO.

Eric Cartman

T-Maxx wrote: »

Quote of the day.:D

BTW, I don't see how people can call Disco's and TLC's 7 seaters when all they are in fact are jeeps with 2 extra child seats in the back. 5+2 IMO.

and.... he says he has 5 kids, so 2 extra child seats would suit him just fine

ML270 aswell , theyre alright as a 7 seater

skibum

useless wrote: »

We rented an Espace for a week on holidays this year. Didnt need 7 seats, but it was the next cheapest rental on the list after the Twingo. Go figure..

Don't want to hijack the thread, but who did you hire the espace through?
Thanks

Owen

Someday a manufacturer is going to start offering free vasectomies with 7 seaters and make a fortune. My sister's got 5 kids, a St. Bernard, and a Toyota Previa. She won't change it for the world because the newer MPV's don't have as much space. And even though it's big, she still has a trailer for their stuff. Looks hilarious wherever she goes, especially as she's a useless driver, and worse again at parking. Woe betide anyone stuck behind her parallel parking her mini train.

benj

bazz26 wrote: »

VW Caravelle would feel too van like for me to be honest. Maybe the Nissan Qashqai +2 or Mitsubishi Grandis might be worth looking at?

Had a VW Caravelle before and they drive much nicer than any ppl carrier and are much safer in a crash,plus loads of space for buggys,shopping,cots,sandbuckets,shovels,teddybears,dolls,bicycles,go karts, sofas,beds,kitchen sink.....etc

ltdslipdiff

How about this for a wild-card?

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Renault/5/Master-C/201037199539146/advert?channel=CARS

Typhoon.

what about something like this?