What large family car?

maddragon

Hi all,
We have a 08 Mazda 5 which has served us well with our 2 boys since new. Last year baby no 3 arrived and baby 4 due in 2012. The Mazda was tight enough with 5 of us plus buggy and deffo won't do for 6 with double buggy. Any advice on a big family car. Was thinking of a second hand Espace but it seems daft to go from a Mazda to a Renault. Any advice or recommendations would be appreciated.

puntosporting

Ford galaxy!

OldmanMondeo

Merc Vito, sorry but it time to get the van come mpv...

Abi

Well what have you got to spend?


Citroen you've got the Grand Picasso c4

If you wanted to stick with Mazda, you have their MPV

Mitsubishi Space wagon

Opel Zafira

Renault Grand Scenic

Toyota Verso



In terms of wear and tear, I'd go with the verso.

maddragon

Thanks guys. The verso & zafira are not any bigger than a Mazda 5 and the Picasso and scenic are only a tad bigger.hadnt thought of the merc , googling now. My own car is 08 diesel. Looking to spend no more than 5 k with mine.

ninty9er

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Renault/Espace/Top-Spec/201143205204537/advert?channel=CARS

Not the prettiest, but that one has a nice spec

Abi

maddragon wrote: »

Thanks guys. The verso & zafira are not any bigger than a Mazda 5 and the Picasso and scenic are only a tad bigger.hadnt thought of the merc , googling now. My own car is 08 diesel. Looking to spend no more than 5 k with mine.

Grand. I was just going with anything that said 7 seater in it.

ninty9er wrote: »

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Renault/Espace/Top-Spec/201143205204537/advert?channel=CARS

Not the prettiest, but that one has a nice spec

I think in terms of how MPV's go cosmetically, that one you have there isn't too bad at all tbf. I dunno about the vito, I wouldn't be able to shake the idea that you're carting your kids around in a van :pac:

Drummerboy08

The Galaxy is the best of the MPV's IMO.

exador

Seat Alhambra ..........

pm.

ninty9er wrote: »

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Renault/Espace/Top-Spec/201143205204537/advert?channel=CARS

Not the prettiest, but that one has a nice spec

how renault are still in business i dont know they have the most unreliable cars out there

Foxhole Norman

pm. wrote: »

how renault are still in business i dont know they have the most unreliable cars out there

You obviously haven't owned any of the new Renaults then...

Typical sheepish behaviour

slave1

We got an S-Max a month or so ago and very happy with it, noticeable room improvement from a C-Max

dan hibiki

id go for the galaxy or 7 seater santa fe......and some condoms!:D

OldmanMondeo

dan hibiki wrote: »

.....and some condoms!:D

Careful now

Geranium40

Hi
we just bought a VW Sharan and its brilliant. Proper 7 seater that seats 7 adults and not 5 adults and 2 small kids. Very comfortable to drive, would recommend it.

dan hibiki

OldmanMondeo wrote: »

Careful now

no harm intended...festive spirit and all that!:D

maddragon

dan hibiki wrote: »

id go for the galaxy or 7 seater santa fe......and some condoms!:D

Can't get any that fit and wrapping the roll of cling film around the old John Thomas kills the passion.

Rolli

Not the nicest looking cars,

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Chevrolet/Rodius/SSANGYON/201140204789046/advert?channel=CARS

CJhaughey

Honda FR-V?

deise48

we have a kia sedona for three years now and have no trouble with it . although the tax is high on it

OldmanMondeo

Rolli wrote: »

Not the nicest looking cars,

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Chevrolet/Rodius/SSANGYON/201140204789046/advert?channel=CARS

That's you on the naughty list....

rolion

Sorry,what's so 'daft' to get an Espace !? IS the "father" of all the MPVs on the market !!
There are few nice Espaces on the market,i have driven since 10 years ago only Espace,own now a Grand Espace automatic,it drives well ,kids happy in the back,arrange seats very nicely to fit the 'day out',very safe...

Get a nice 2.0/2.2 Turbo,automatic,panoramic sunroof (kids falls mad for sunroof),big seats,big doors,big back luggage...
I was thinking to get this,as a second car,replacing my damaged in crash Laguna.

Can you define 'daft' !??
I hope that you don't drive the car for impresing neighbours,but rather to have your kids happy...

Regards

trad

VW Caravelle, just in case.

Ran mine to 360k miles and it still sold.

rolion

Foxhole Norman wrote: »

You obviously haven't owned any of the new Renaults then...

Typical sheepish behaviour

I know some people hates Brits,but are going mad when are English' Premier League matches...
I know some people hates French cars,despite buying and driving lots of them.
I know people that now are worried that Renault is the first Car company to stop manufacturing cars for local market...


The best car,the car that won't give you hassle,is not a Jap (like some people will think) but rather a car that is in the back of the house,covered well,locked and kept in safe storage !
That's the ideal car for some people that doesn't want have any issues with it...

Good luck...

R.O.R

I wouldn't be a huge fan of Renault's, but based on the info in the op, a Grande Espace sounds like the best fit to the needs. Ford Galaxy is a better ownership prospect but I reckon the Grande Espace has it licked on size and that is what is required here.

I would try and avoid going the Vito or Caravelle route as long as possible as the van based vehicles just aren't as easy to potter around in as a purpose built people carrier.

bazz26

deise48 wrote: »

we have a kia sedona for three years now and have no trouble with it . although the tax is high on it

Wait until you need to have the timing belt changed. It's an engine out job afaik.

Andrew33

I'm not sure the Galaxy/Sharan/Alhambra fits the bill? unless it's the brand new one. I had a previous shape one and feck all boot space if you're using the rearmost seats. You really are heading into Caravelle territory with 4+ kids.

Mr. Muddle

I have a grand scenic, it wouldn't be big enough for 4 kids and all their stuff. When looking for a car 18months ago I didn't even consider Renault because I had read so much bad stuff about them, I looked at every other 7 seater available. Grand Scenic, Verso, Zafira, S-Max, Grand Picasso and the Masda 3008 (I think) were all a similar size to each other.

As far as I know the Galaxy/Sharan/Alhambra are very similar (if not the same as each other), those 3 and the Renault Espace are probably your best bets.

I went to our local Renault to look at a second hand car for my sister and had a quick look at the scenic and it was by far the best buy of the smaller 7 seater's at the time, got an ex demo one with a very high spec (tomtom) for a good price. I got a 5 year warranty and a promise that the electric problems are in the past for Renault.

I only have 2 kids but often need 7 seats for short journeys so didn't need to go for the bigger mpv's, there is a big price jump.

maddragon

Thanks for all the replies guys. I'm going to get beaten up if I'm caught looking in the windows of any more MPVs. It seems to me it has to be a citroen c8 or grand picasso, a grand espace, a sharan or a galaxy/alhambra/s max. If it has 3 full size seats in the middle, I reckon I can fit the buggies etc. with one of the rear seats folded down. That's where the Mazda 5 fails. one of my older boys can't sit in the middle of 2 baby seats because the centre middle seat is not a full size.

My favourite (reputation for reliability excluded) is for a grand espace although the c8 has sliding rear doors - a big bonus.

rolion: how is the espace for fuel economy?

regards,
MD

rolion

maddragon wrote: »

rolion: how is the espace for fuel economy?

I use it daily ,in city traffic,part of my business,it takes around 12L/100KM .
Is a 2.0 Turbo and automatic.

Beeing an automatic,it takes faster when HE wants,but this one,with Turbo fitted,is flying up very fast...also the instant petrol consumption is going over 20l !! Also,with trip-tronic makes feel like you drive a sporty car,if your mood wants a more wilder experience...adn on motorway,you can get ease what your wants !
Not sure about Diesels,never had a diesel in my life,but check reviews,it also depends a LOT by your driving style too ,irespective of the engine...

Not sure that we can talk about economics MPVs in this class to be honest...the Grand Espace is a 'big heavy thirsty comfy lovely' beast !

You pay the price for all this ,added it up...

To be honest,with Renault cars,you love it OR hate it !!!
Just make sure you don't get a car built on Mondays or Fridays,but rather on Wednesdays !
Mine,just received yesterday the repaired dashboard sent to / from UK,€150 to fix what Renault does not want to admit:faulty internal circuits in electronical ! But that dashboard,central positioned ,spaceship layout,makes me well worthy wait for the repair !

Regards.

a.j2020

How about a Chrysler Grand Voyager? Definitely very large and as far as i know reliability is pretty good, and price isnt too high either. If you look for one thats a few years old you can get electric sliding doors and tailgate and all the high specs that you could want. Gas guzzler though I'd imagine. Here is one:

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Chrysler/Grand-Voyager/2.8-DIES/201150206135211/advert?channel=CARS

Oafley Jones

a.j2020 wrote: »

How about a Chrysler Grand Voyager? Definitely very large and as far as i know reliability is pretty good, and price isnt too high either. If you look for one thats a few years old you can get electric sliding doors and tailgate and all the high specs that you could want. Gas guzzler though I'd imagine. Here is one:

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Chrysler/Grand-Voyager/2.8-DIES/201150206135211/advert?channel=CARS

Didn't the NCAP ratings basically call that car a deathtrap.

a.j2020

It was the models upto 2001 that got the horrible ncap ratings the cars since then have been built much safer although still only 3 stars, the 08 up models are a bit better still i think, but then again i don't think EURO NCAP is the be all and end all when it comes to safety anyway. They have a lot of the safety kit and while not an Espace in safety terms, i don't think they're as bad as they get rep for. Best selling MPV in the world afterall.

Marcusm

a.j2020 wrote: »

How about a Chrysler Grand Voyager? Definitely very large and as far as i know reliability is pretty good, and price isnt too high either. If you look for one thats a few years old you can get electric sliding doors and tailgate and all the high specs that you could want. Gas guzzler though I'd imagine. Here is one:

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Chrysler/Grand-Voyager/2.8-DIES/201150206135211/advert?channel=CARS

Without a doubt, a pig of a car. My brother/sister in law have one, the west thing I have ever been near including mid 90s Puntos. Was very surprised to drive in the US and find that this was worse than cars there. Definitely not a buyer from a driving perspective, awful experience, crap sightlines, dfficult to park. Stow and go is a great concept, though.

a.j2020

In what way did you you think it was that bad?? I mean, MPVs are just a bad drive but from my experience, definitely one of the nicer riding MPVs out there and also very roomy and comfy. Engines aren't bad either, the driving position was very nice in the one i was in and the all round view made it pretty easy to park as well, it had a parking sensor as well. I was reasonably impressed with it i must say.

Marcusm

a.j2020 wrote: »

In what way did you you think it was that bad?? I mean, MPVs are just a bad drive but from my experience, definitely one of the nicer riding MPVs out there and also very roomy and comfy. Engines aren't bad either, the driving position was very nice in the one i was in and the all round view made it pretty easy to park as well, it had a parking sensor as well. I was reasonably impressed with it i must say.

Just my opinion. Thought S-mAx and Alhambra/Galaxy/Sharan were more responsive, less boaty/floaty through corners. I agree none of them are going to be race cars but just don't like it and I still drive it regularly. I don't agree with our views on visibility/sight lines ad it is a car which would benefit from a reversing camera - not to avoid scratching but to avoid running over things. The engine I found rough even for a relatively largeisplacement diesel. Will they nw get more efficient Fiat power trains, I wonder. Very high motor tax will also be an issue compared to some alternatives.

a.j2020

Marcusm wrote: »

Just my opinion. Thought S-mAx and Alhambra/Galaxy/Sharan were more responsive, less boaty/floaty through corners. I agree none of them are going to be race cars but just don't like it and I still drive it regularly. I don't agree with our views on visibility/sight lines ad it is a car which would benefit from a reversing camera - not to avoid scratching but to avoid running over things. The engine I found rough even for a relatively largeisplacement diesel. Will they nw get more efficient Fiat power trains, I wonder. Very high motor tax will also be an issue compared to some alternatives.

I agree with you on the drive, definitely not the best driving MPV out there but I think in terms of motorway ride comfort, its one of the best MPVs and to be honest thats what it was designed for in the states where cornering isn't particularly common. But yeah, in terms of a drive its not good. And agree on the reverse camera, but again, i've been in a Hyundai Trajet and you just can't see anything when reversing, comparatively the chrysler is very visible. I can't compare to a sharan/alhambra because I have no experience. But galaxy is definitely one of the best MPVs out there in my opinion.

I just think given the OPs needs, the chrysler fits the bill nicely, but yes tax is high.

Yakuza

As you're going to need 6 seats on an ongoing basis, I wouldn't suggest my car (Qashqai +2) as you'd only get half a boot with one of the rearmost seats up. For your budget you might get an 07/08 XC90, but the tax isn't going to be pretty on a 2.5 diesel, but you do get a decent boot space even with 6 seats up. The SMax is also a good choice.

paddydriver

Would strongly recommend S-Max. We have one over 2 years now and very happy with it. 3 full size rear seats and another 2 available to pop up in boot - and still have a little space behind them for shopping/buggy(s).

The 2.0 TDCI is a great car with enough poke to keep it competitive. Fairly good on juice too and we have got probably over 600 miles from a tank on long trips - but is a big tank! Takes €90 to fill when its down to empty.

David09

If you're considering the ford route and want reliability and economy, buy a galaxy or s-max with 1.8 tdci "lynx" engine. This unit is used in focus and mondeo and is known to rack up huge mileages without issues.

ninty9er

I know someone with a Grand Voyager. Its an alright car but has a 3.3l petrol engine married to a 4 speed gearbox and is completely underpowered.

It has plus points like the auto sliding doors, but overall if you want a luxury baby lugger, the R-Class Merc is your man.