Advice on 7 seater?

paddlepop

Wondering if any of you can offer some advice. We have decided to try to upgrade to a 7 seater as we found out we are expecting our 3rd baby :P

I think we are torn between the MPV models vs the Jeep models. I just dont like the look of MPV to be honest...I currently own a mits outlander 2.4 petrol because i tow a horse box and like the boot space for shopping bags, saddles, hay, general horsey stuff. But its a gas guzzler and i cant even get 3 seats in the back without a struggle. So i am leaning towards the jeep variety i guess...

Anyway, i would like a diesel, 7 proper seats(some arent really seats), good on fuel, and cheap on road tax. I pay a whoppin 900 currently....

Should i aim for a 2008 plus model to get the cheaper road tax?

budget is about 20k max

Any advice welcome!

Emmet_F

have you looked at honda fr-v? we have one - it's a 6-seater.3 in the front and three in the back. it's unsual but we like it because it's the advantage of a mini-van without really looking like one. all 6 seats are full size seats which was important to us.

MarkoC

Im on the same boat but with lower budget, so far i found out that Chrysler Voyager is FTW

In your budget i would go for Toyota Estima

killer007

Just after going the other way ,traded in a Citeron C8 for a grand megane.We have 2 in booster seats aged 5 and one aged 8 just out of a booster seat.C8 had 7 full seats and was the most comfortable machine I have ever driven on long journeys but it had to go.€630 road tax per year,eating tyres (changing them every 5,000 miles) and cost us approx €5,000 in servicing/repairs in the last 3 years.
Saw a Ford S-max when I was looking for cars and it looks good.Parts are cheaper than most and it seems to be a popular brand.My advice is to go with a popular brand as I found citeron parts and servicing to be very expensive and nearly impossible to trade in. Remember that you could be like me in a few years looking to down-size (unless you want a football team!!!) and big tanks of people carriers are hard to shift.

paddlepop

wise words killer007...
i dont think i could even give my mits away or trade it in at this stage, so maybe a large sedan would be better....a neighbour recently got a demo model 2010 passat and its only a few hundred euros road tax even though its a 2litre engine....sounds good. I am sure i could get 3 seats across a passat??

si_guru

We have C4 GP Exclusive which we love... just an FYI, some 2009 cars have lower tax than the same 2008 car as manufacturers altered software, gearing and tyres to be more attractive.

Zubeneschamali

You'd get a very nice S-Max for 20K...

sweetie

in the same boat as you OP, like the s-max, need to view a few soon
have you considered the peugot 5008, Irish family car of the year '11

colm_mcm

Will you be towing with the new car?

killer007

I'd still go for a seven seater for the first few years,very handy to have extra seats when the kids are fighting in the back or you need to bring relation/babysitter on hols etc. or you need to sit in the back to calm a child while travelling.

merc3ps

I have the new shape '10 Renault Scenic 7 seater 1.5 diesel. €156 tax & approx 50mpg. No issues with it yet.

I got it for approx 22k on scrappage.

Unrealistic

You might want to check out this thread that posed a similar question a few days ago.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056156167
Naturally I think the final post in that thread is the most informative.;)

slave1

Am not a Renault fan but in favour of the Scenic (well my previous car which was a 2004 model) it is possible to get a new born and two full sized booster seats in the back with easy clipping/unclipping of seat belts, also possible to get three full sized booster seats when the time comes.
Just thought if cost is a factor then you may consider.

As mine got older I went for a C-Max which takes two full sized boosters and a small(no back on it) booster, tight but achievable.

Personally a full sized 7 seater just cost too much....

paddlepop

colm_mcm wrote: »

Will you be towing with the new car?

yeah i would still like the tow bar as i will hopefully get back in the saddle after the birth.....

i also thinnk if i ever need to collect friends or have relatives visit then the 7 seater is a better option...

so looks like i will need a jeep 7 seater....any ideas on the Sante Fe? are they rubbish?

sweetie

Unrealistic wrote: »

You might want to check out this thread that posed a similar question a few days ago.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056156167
Naturally I think the final post in that thread is the most informative.;)

or this one

Anan1

paddlepop wrote: »

But its a gas guzzler and i cant even get 3 seats in the back without a struggle. So i am leaning towards the jeep variety i guess...

Hang on, are you saying you can get three seats in the back of the Outlander? If so, i'd keep it - it's yours already, they're much better to drive than a 'diesel Jeep', and changing will cost you more than you'll save for a long time in tax/fuel.

Unrealistic

paddlepop wrote: »

yeah i would still like the tow bar as i will hopefully get back in the saddle after the birth.....

i also thinnk if i ever need to collect friends or have relatives visit then the 7 seater is a better option...

so looks like i will need a jeep 7 seater....any ideas on the Sante Fe? are they rubbish?

The Santa Fe isn't great as a 7 seater. The second row is a single bench rather than three separate seats and the third row seats are tiny and completely wipe out the boot when in use.