Recommend a 7-seater!

rondeco

I have a girl of 3 and twins on the way so we've decided to change car to a 7 seater. Can anyone recommend me one. I'd prefer an SUV but I'd love to hear peoples opinions on all options.

My budget is approx €14000.

Zubeneschamali

With 3 kids and a dog, I looked at the options back in 2008, and I think the best is the S-Max.

rondeco

Why did you choose that? I'd love to know what you like and what you dont like on it.

ninty9er

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Citroen/C4-Picasso/1.6-HDi-/201109201439314/advert?channel=CARS

Older, but if you don't need to spend the money you could do worse than this

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Toyota/Avensis-Verso/7-SEATER/201109201494832/advert?channel=CARS

Zubeneschamali

rondeco wrote: »

Why did you choose that?

I've done 90,000 km in it in 3 years, so I want something that drives well, not something that's just OK considering it's a bus. Mine is a 2.0 140 bhp diesel six speeder, and it drives better than the competition. It's more car-like to drive than an SUV (very like the Mondeo), it's got a beefier engine than a Grand Picasso, the nearest to it in size.

The interior is flexible, comfortable and it's pretty well equipped (it's a Zetec with a stereo upgrade), but you can probably get a similar spec in any rival. It's how it goes that sold it to me.

BTW, if you are looking at Fords, there is a brilliant tool here. Stick in a reg number, and it'll tell you everything about it.

rondeco

ninty9er wrote: »

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Citroen/C4-Picasso/1.6-HDi-/201109201439314/advert?channel=CARS

Older, but if you don't need to spend the money you could do worse than this

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Toyota/Avensis-Verso/7-SEATER/201109201494832/advert?channel=CARS

That c4 picasso is a 5 seater.

crosstownk

rondeco wrote: »

That c4 picasso is a 5 seater.

You'll be able to get 3 child seats in the back - each rear seat is individual. Decent boot space too.

rondeco

Cheers gyuys. Is it possible to get a 7 seater Kia sorento?

blazesoftware

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

BTW, if you are looking at Fords, there is a brilliant tool here. Stick in a reg number, and it'll tell you everything about it.

Brilliant link thanks. Any idea though why some reg plates have no info when I do a search?

Zubeneschamali

blazesoftware wrote: »

Brilliant link thanks. Any idea though why some reg plates have no info when I do a search?

Dunno, mine works fine, and it's not an import or anything weird. Maybe cars imported from the UK are in the system under their UK license plate only?

CarMate

rondeco wrote: »

Cheers gyuys. Is it possible to get a 7 seater Kia sorento?

Not recommended KIA at all!

Ford Galaxy or S-Max
Toyota Avensis Verso

colm_mcm

Avensis verso was introduced in 2001 and discontinued here in 2006. It's way off the pace nowadays.

How about a Santa Fe 7 seater?

rondeco

I'm liking the sound of the s-max. Can anyone offer any advice on what model to look out for?

Zubeneschamali

rondeco wrote: »

I'm liking the sound of the s-max. Can anyone offer any advice on what model to look out for?

I like the 2.0 143 bhp diesel 6 speed Zetec. That's why I bought it :P

The 2.0 is better than the 1.8, which has a very narrow powerband. All 6 speeds are shorter than 5th in the 5 speed, which is a bit silly, but it allows you to hustle a long when you feel like it.

I like the Zetec kit over the LX, but Titanium doesn't offer much more bar the Sony 6-cd player, so I just ordered that as an upgrade.

Be warned that there's no spare, and the tyres aren't runflats. Another niggle is that you can't store the boot cover in the car when not in use, which means its never in the car at all.

rondeco

No spare? What are you meant to do instead? I'm liking the zetec spec and will be looking at one this weekend. Thanks for the input mate.

Zubeneschamali

rondeco wrote: »

No spare? What are you meant to do instead?

There's a bottle of sealant and a pump to reinflate the tyre. I've no idea how effectve this might be, as I haven't had a puncture in donkey's years. If it doesn't work, it's AA time.

Quite a lot of new cars are doing this to save weight and free up space. Our other car is a MINI, same deal.