Need a 7 seater

Kashkai

Due to changing family circumstances, I need a 7 seater soon-ish. Now I hate the look of most MPV's as they look and drive like boats. So the usual Scenics, Zafiras etc are a no go. I've been looking at the Quahqai+2 but they are big money, €25k or more for 2012 models.

So my criteria are,
not a run of the mill MPV,
Reliable
Cheap to tax and run
Well specced
Good to drive
Looks well
Can hold five kids ranging from 13 to 3 in age

Budget around €16k cash plus my 2009 Laguna Privilege (I've been offered between €8,800-€10,500 as trade in on this car)

Victor Meldrew

Prosperous Dave wrote: »

Due to changing family circumstances, I need a 7 seater soon-ish. Now I hate the look of most MPV's as they look and drive like boats. So the usual Scenics, Zafiras etc are a no go. I've been looking at the Quahqai+2 but they are big money, €25k or more for 2012 models.

So my criteria are,
not a run of the mill MPV,
Reliable
Cheap to tax and run
Well specced
Good to drive
Looks well
Can hold five kids ranging from 13 to 3 in age

Budget around €16k cash plus my 2009 Laguna Privilege (I've been offered between €8,800-€10,500 as trade in on this car)

The Q+2 does not have proper 3rd row seats, the little ones will be outof space in no time.

You need a full size MPV, or a Volvo X90 or Land rover Disco 4.

kirving

Ford S-Max?

Kashkai

The Nissans second row of seats slides to give the rear more leg room. My two youngest are 3 & 5 years and would comfortably fit in the back of the Quashqai. As I'll be the primary user of the car, I don't want anything too big as it'll be just me in it most of the time.

The S max was a second choice but its also pricey and not as well specced as the Nissan

Matthewjohn

How about a Hyundai Santa Fe?

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Hyundai/Santa-Fe/2.0-CRDI/34413637951831160/advert?channel=CARS

hatch03

I'm in the same situation Dave, did you make a decision? I'm torn between the qashqai and the s-max! The seats in the s-max are better but the qashqai is cheaper run.

dh0011

there are e class estates and volvos estates with seats in the boot

gallag

I was in the same situation and got the wife this, titanium x sport 2.2tdci 200bhp, she loves it and no problems in 1.5yrs.

RedDeadMarshal

Mazda 5 1.6 diesel ticks every single box in your list
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/upload/22123/images/1allnewMazda5MPVpictures.jpg

gowley

gallag wrote: »

I was in the same situation and got the wife this, titanium x sport 2.2tdci 200bhp, she loves it and no problems in 1.5yrs.

thats the best looking smax ive seen. presume its top end spec with loads of extras. what kind of money was it

wexie

http://www.carzone.ie/search/KIA/Carens/1.7-D-Pl/36513693285363250/advert?channel=CARS ???

My wife has an older one of these (although it's a 2l) and is delighted with it.
Mostly cause it drives like a car and doesnt look too much like a mammy mobile. We've had barely any trouble with it. For your budget you'd get a new one with a 7 yr warranty!

You're not left with much of a boot once the backseats are in use though

gallag

gowley wrote: »

thats the best looking smax ive seen. presume its top end spec with loads of extras. what kind of money was it

I got it 6 months old with 4k miles for 23k£. Ex demonstrator would have been over 30k£ new. Has a really nice interior, half leather half suede with the red stitching from a rs/st focus. With the 200bhp its reasonably rapid for a baby carrier.

gowley

gallag wrote: »

I got it 6 months old with 4k miles for 23k£. Ex demonstrator would have been over 30k£ new. Has a really nice interior, half leather half suede with the red stitching from a rs/st focus. With the 200bhp its reasonably rapid for a baby carrier.

thats 23k sterling then. if you were to do the conversion plus vrt it would be made expensive. list would be over 40k her id imagine

useless

gallag wrote: »

I got it 6 months old with 4k miles for 23k£. Ex demonstrator would have been over 30k£ new. Has a really nice interior, half leather half suede with the red stitching from a rs/st focus. With the 200bhp its reasonably rapid for a baby carrier.

VRT included? Or do you live in a more enlightened place that doesn't rob motorists blind?:pac:

The Smax is a nice car, the X Sport in particular. I just couldn't stretch to that model when I got mine though. MPV jealously...must be a sign of middle age:D

JohnR1968

In the past we had a Scenic and both of us hated the drive, got an S-max with 7 seats and it's great. Handles great, very comfortable; the only fault is we get 18k km's per set of front tyres.

useless

gowley wrote: »

thats 23k sterling then. if you were to do the conversion plus vrt it would be made expensive. list would be over 40k her id imagine

curiosity got the better of me... a 2011 SMax like gallag's (Titanium X Sport) is from about 17k GBP on AutoTrader, with a VRT quote online of 7172 EUR. All in about 27.5k including travel etc.

List new isn't even an option on the Ford.ie site- so I presume it's either not available or special order only, and I'd say 40k mighn't cover it...

gowley

useless wrote: »

curiosity got the better of me... a 2011 SMax like gallag's (Titanium X Sport) is from about 17k GBP on AutoTrader, with a VRT quote online of 7172 EUR. All in about 27.5k including travel etc.

List new isn't even an option on the Ford.ie site- so I presume it's either not available or special order only, and I'd say 40k mighn't cover it...

x sport is a spec for uk not irl. you could spec it up here to similar and it would cost 45k plus

useless

gowley wrote: »

x sport is a spec for uk not irl. you could spec it up here to similar and it would cost 45k plus

I just had a go on the Ford website- spec up a normal Titanium to something close to the X Sport level and it brings the list price to nearly 52k :eek:

plus that doesnt even get you the bodykit that makes the X look nicer than the normal Titanium...

gowley

lol. knew it would be pricy but 52k for an smax. wow. you would want to be mental.

gallag

useless wrote: »

curiosity got the better of me... a 2011 SMax like gallag's (Titanium X Sport) is from about 17k GBP on AutoTrader, with a VRT quote online of 7172 EUR. All in about 27.5k including travel etc.

List new isn't even an option on the Ford.ie site- so I presume it's either not available or special order only, and I'd say 40k mighn't cover it...

Where did you see one for 17k£, cheapest 2011 white 200bhp titanium x sport I see on AT is 20k£, Only 14 for sale in the Uk. I didn't think it would still be worth 20k as that would be very little depression given it will not be long until I have had it 2yrs and thought about 17k myself but AT has me hopeful as changing soon. Wife hardly does many miles (only 15000 on the smax now) and wont need a big buggy etc so going back to petrol turbo!

gowley

to buy that in ireland would be complete madness. 52 k for an smax. its a cracking looking car but bloody hell you would want to be off your rocker to pay for that here

gallag

gowley wrote: »

lol. knew it would be pricy but 52k for an smax. wow. you would want to be mental.

Holy sh12!!! 52k on a smax, you guys really get screwed, I would be lucky if I could run a clio down there! Why is it so dear?? I feel for you guys, I love my cars and I guess anyone else that takes the time to read a motoring forum does also but it must take a lot of sacrifice for an ordinary guy (like me) to put a nice wagon on the road in Ireland.

gowley

vrt id say is the answer. the cars available here would also have a smaller engine

useless

gallag wrote: »

Where did you see one for 17k£, cheapest 2011 white 200bhp titanium x sport I see on AT is 20k£, Only 14 for sale in the Uk. I didn't think it would still be worth 20k as that would be very little depression given it will not be long until I have had it 2yrs and thought about 17k myself but AT has me hopeful as changing soon. Wife hardly does many miles (only 15000 on the smax now) and wont need a big buggy etc so going back to petrol turbo!

my bad- the 17k one I quoted is a 163hp, you're right that the 200hp ones are more expensive- 19 for a black one and 20+ for the white.

gallag

useless wrote: »

my bad- the 17k one I quoted is a 163hp, you're right that the 200hp ones are more expensive- 19 for a black one and 20+ for the white.

This is probably the best car for depression I have ever had if true!

gowley

just to put it in real terms. an audi a8 in the uk has a list of 53000 sterling. same car here with a lower spec is 96500 euro

gallag

gowley wrote: »

just to put it in real terms. an audi a8 in the uk has a list of 53000 sterling. same car here with a lower spec is 96500 euro

Thats mad! And tax is so much more expensive with you guys aswell! Had to go out check there but the s-max is £195 for the year! I dread what it would cost in Ireland!

gowley

gallag wrote: »

Thats mad! And tax is so much more expensive with you guys aswell! Had to go out check there but the s-max is £195 for the year! I dread what it would cost in Ireland!

a 2.0 tdci powershift is 481 euro pa

paddydriver

OP S-Max all the way. I took an 08 in from the UK in early 09 - remember driving to Holyhead the morning Ireland won Grand Slam and wishing I was going to Cardiff:D

Had it on the road with VRT for €27k. My spec was circa €45k new; they are pricey once you add a few extras and Titanium X spec. Combination of great exch rate at time and good prices in UK. Mine is manual - Auto was crazy VRT at time due to emissions on that model. Its 2.0TDCi

Anyway, great car. Drives very well, fairly economical. We get a month of school runs on a tank.. €90 though to fill! Thankfully no major issues except few small ones covered under warranty; 3 years from UK.

Loads of room in it and comfortably seats 7 with still room for buggy and shopping in rear. Don't plan on changing till I have it 10 years - and so far would definitely consider another S-Max then. PM if anything I can answer.

NobodyImportant

Nothing to be said again for a 7 seater E class estate?

d1234

Two others to add to the list..

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Peugeot/5008/1.6-HDI-/36513690601324080/advert?channel=CARS

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Opel/Zafira/CLUB-1.7/5813318236813430/advert?channel=CARS

colm_mcm

Now I hate the look of most MPV's as they look and drive like boats. So the usual Scenics, Zafiras etc are a no go

Zubeneschamali

colm_mcm wrote: »

Well, yes, but then the OP says he's looking at a Qashqai, which is even uglier and boatier than a 5008, so who knows?

Hats off to the guys in Nissan, if anyone had told me that an Almera with a Renault engine pretending to be a 4x4 would sell, I'd have laughed at them.

T-Maxx

Have a look at the VW Caravelle too. The fact that they're van based puts a lot of people off, but it's a real 7 seater with loads of room to spare.

Tea 1000

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Peugeot/406/2.0i-16v/613238513539950/advert?channel=CARS
Save lots of money!

billie1b

Prosperous Dave wrote: »

Due to changing family circumstances, I need a 7 seater soon-ish. Now I hate the look of most MPV's as they look and drive like boats. So the usual Scenics, Zafiras etc are a no go. I've been looking at the Quahqai+2 but they are big money, €25k or more for 2012 models.

So my criteria are,
not a run of the mill MPV,
Reliable
Cheap to tax and run
Well specced
Good to drive
Looks well
Can hold five kids ranging from 13 to 3 in age

Budget around €16k cash plus my 2009 Laguna Privilege (I've been offered between €8,800-€10,500 as trade in on this car)

I have a Nissan Pathfinder 7 seater over 3 years now, I know its a bit bigger and tax is €1000 per year but its well worth it, mine does between 700 - 800 kms to a full tank, can seat 5 kids in the rear nice and comfortably all in car seats and still have boot space for a pram and shopping. All the seats fold seperately too for added space if not all seats are in use. I have never had any serious problems with her (thank god) just the usual service and tyres.
My wife and I were a bit worried about our investment in it but 3 years later we have never looked back, its reliable, good on diesel, quick and very spacious.
Ive lugged mine to France and back twice, full to the gilders with kids and everything else for a holiday, she never faltered and even though she was packed she still drove as smooth as ever and like a dream.
Happy hunting, make sure if you if pick one that you are 100% sure with your choice, as soon as you drive it off the forecourt its gonna lose about €4000 in value, best of luck.

Kashkai

I bought the Qashqai +2 last Friday after much deliberation. While the S Max drove well, there was something about its big rear end that was off putting, plus it seemed to be more cramped inside than the Nissan. The Nissan has the same engine as my Laguna and its also returning similar mileage, I.e. 55mpg on mixed city/country driving. The tax is the same as the Laguna at €280 for the year. It has almost all the goodies that my Laguna had except the keyless entry and engine start. I'm still getting used to having to fish out my keys when I want to get into the car, plus I've walked away from it when paying for fuel at garages leaving the keys in the ignition

All my kids fit into her and with one back seat folded down, there is still a good sized luggage area for our trip down to Kerry next week. So far I'm happy with her but its early days. This is the first Nissan I've owned but they seem to have a good reliability record from what I've read.

He she is btw after I gave her a good clean and several coats of car polish.

billie1b

Prosperous Dave wrote: »

He she is btw after I gave her a good clean and several coats of car polish.

Very nice, looks really well, executive like in the black colour, wish you well with it in the future

pred racer

Prosperous Dave wrote: »

I bought the Qashqai +2 last Friday after much deliberation. While the S Max drove well, there was something about its big rear end that was off putting, plus it seemed to be more cramped inside than the Nissan. The Nissan has the same engine as my Laguna and its also returning similar mileage, I.e. 55mpg on mixed city/country driving. The tax is the same as the Laguna at €280 for the year. It has almost all the goodies that my Laguna had except the keyless entry and engine start. I'm still getting used to having to fish out my keys when I want to get into the car, plus I've walked away from it when paying for fuel at garages leaving the keys in the ignition

All my kids fit into her and with one back seat folded down, there is still a good sized luggage area for our trip down to Kerry next week. So far I'm happy with her but its early days. This is the first Nissan I've owned but they seem to have a good reliability record from what I've read.

He she is btw after I gave her a good clean and several coats of car polish.

It actually doesn't look half bad in black:eek: well wear!