Looking for a decent 7 seater SUV

lawred2

Single car family and we're growing so will probably jump into the marker for a decent 7 seater soon..

Would I be mad looking at 2008/9 Discoveries? Could pick one up for max 20k..

Like the look of the 7 seater Santa Fe but anything with the new body shape is quite saucy

I don't like to spend big on cars.. 20k would be as much as I'd like to spend including part trade in

bazz26

How many kids and how old are they? A Nissan Qashqai+2 might fit the bill but the 3rd row of seats are really suited to kids rather than adults.

Redgirl82

Worth looking at this thread, similar requirements

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057465697

Eric Cartman

bazz26 wrote: »

How many kids and how old are they? A Nissan Qashqai+2 might fit the bill but the 3rd row of seats are really suited to kids rather than adults.

thats basically just an mpv , if they're looking at the discovery this will be a massive let down compared to it.

OP , the land cruiser, x5 and mercedes GL come in 7 seat, and the volvo xc90 too.

artvandulet

Have you considered a Honda FRV? It has 6 seats but with a proper boot. Most 7 seaters tend to be 5 seater with a boot or 7 seats with a very small boot, barely enough for a buggy.
Other thing I like is that the back seats can all fold flat to the floor independently giving you more boot space when you need it. Great for ikea runs.
Add to that the reliability of a Honda engine and it's a decent option.

Redgirl82

artvandulet wrote: »

Have you considered a Honda FRV? It has 6 seats but with a proper boot. Most 7 seaters tend to be 5 seater with a boot or 7 seats with a very small boot, barely enough for a buggy.
Other thing I like is that the back seats can all fold flat to the floor independently giving you more boot space when you need it. Great for ikea runs.
Add to that the reliability of a Honda engine and it's a decent option.

The FRV still available? I was looking at the new CRV but they only seem to come in 5 seater.....

bazz26

Eric Cartman wrote: »

thats basically just an mpv , if they're looking at the discovery this will be a massive let down compared to it.

OP , the land cruiser, x5 and mercedes GL come in 7 seat, and the volvo xc90 too.

That really depends on what the OP needs it for and as long as the OP has another 20k put aside for the bills that come with the Discovery. :pac:

artvandulet

Redgirl82 wrote: »

The FRV still available? I was looking at the new CRV but they only seem to come in 5 seater.....

Not new no. The last year was 2009 AFAIK.

The op was mentioning 2008/9 car so thought it was still relevant.

irishgrover

daft idea......but if you don't care that much about tax and petrol costs...which we did not...when our grand espace imploded, we got a subaru tribeca..
tax is a pain (~€1500)
fuel efficiency is ****e (~23 mpg combined)
It's not the biggest car in the world (third row of seats are fold up / down)
However it...
goes like a beast on steroids
is wonderfully luxurious with all extras you can think of
is very soundly build and reliable
Although they are rare they can be picked up very inexpensively..
We got a 2006, one owner from new, with FSH, 42000 miles on the clock for €7k
The additional running costs are more than ofset by the very low 2nd hand price, reliability, luxury and plain driving enjoyment of the car...
Some also think it is pig ugly, personally I love it

AMKC

Ford S-Max worth a look. Drive very good and are like a spaceship inside. Much better looking than every other mpv and if you can stretch to a revamped version even better. Go for at least a Zetec version or a Titanium if you can afford one and you would have the perfect car. Lovely to look at and drive and plenty of room in all 7seats. The 2.0 litre diesel is the one to go for.

Redgirl82

AMKC wrote: »

Ford S-Max worth a look. Drive very good and are like a spaceship inside. Much better looking than every other mpv and if you can stretch to a revamped version even better. Go for at least a Zetec version or a Titanium if you can afford one and you would have the perfect car. Lovely to look at and drive and plenty of room in all 7seats. The 2.0 litre diesel is the one to go for.

Would you mind me asking which year is the revamped one?

AMKC

From 2010 on. The original can look good too just need to be in the right colour.

lawred2

bazz26 wrote: »

How many kids and how old are they? A Nissan Qashqai+2 might fit the bill but the 3rd row of seats are really suited to kids rather than adults.

2 kids under 5 but with the two car seats there is no space left in the back seat.. This is fine when it's just the four of us.

However her parents visit from overseas every month which means to get anywhere local requires two trips.. anywhere further means some people stay at home..

#firstworldproblem

Plus a third wee one hasn't been ruled out

lawred2

bazz26 wrote: »

That really depends on what the OP needs it for and as long as the OP has another 20k put aside for the bills that come with the Discovery. :pac:

sod that then

lawred2

AMKC wrote: »

Ford S-Max worth a look. Drive very good and are like a spaceship inside. Much better looking than every other mpv and if you can stretch to a revamped version even better. Go for at least a Zetec version or a Titanium if you can afford one and you would have the perfect car. Lovely to look at and drive and plenty of room in all 7seats. The 2.0 litre diesel is the one to go for.

like this?

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/ford/s-max/used-2012-ford-s-max-2-0-tdci-tit-waterford-fpa-170614343716449180

is 29k reasonable?

bazz26

Slightly lower spec Zetec model but alot cheaper:
http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Ford/S-Max/2.0TDCI-ZETEC/156614297355931460/

Redgirl82

lawred2 wrote: »

like this?

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/ford/s-max/used-2012-ford-s-max-2-0-tdci-tit-waterford-fpa-170614343716449180

is 29k reasonable?

If your looking at around that price range I would look at the Seat Alhambra as an option. I haven't test drove one yet but they are highest rated on every website I have looked at

For same cash/similar mileage you get the 2013 model.

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/seat/alhambra/used-2013-132-seat-alhambra-2-0-tdi-1-mayo-fpa-171014340548626040

lawred2

Redgirl82 wrote: »

If your looking at around that price range I would look at the Seat Alhambra as an option. I haven't test drove one yet but they are highest rated on every website I have looked at

For same cash/similar mileage you get the 2013 model.

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/seat/alhambra/used-2013-132-seat-alhambra-2-0-tdi-1-mayo-fpa-171014340548626040

really don't like that

I know it's an MPV but does it really have to entirely devoid of even the lest bit of styling!?

Redgirl82

lawred2 wrote: »

really don't like that

I know it's an MPV but does it really have to entirely devoid of even the lest bit of styling!?

Personally I would prefer the Seat to the Ford in looks.

Also it has some nice options internally which I would prefer over the Ford. Like the integrated booster seat

I have driven Fords, husband had 2 of them. Found them very bland to say the least. He always bought the Zetec model which was ok but would go Titanium if I was buying a Ford again

They where very economical and he just used them to rack up the miles for a couple of years. Solid as a rock the engine.

AMKC

lawred2 wrote: »

like this?

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/ford/s-max/used-2012-ford-s-max-2-0-tdci-tit-waterford-fpa-170614343716449180

is 29k reasonable?

Its very reasonable considering that car would have been around 40k new. You might get them down a bit more if you haggle. No harm in trying. Thats a really nice looking one. Looks well in white.

Matthewjohn

You could get a 132 from a Ford Dealer with a small bit more milage for the same price as the first 12 S-max that was posted.
http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/ford/s-max/used-2013-132-ford-s-max-2-0-tdci-tit-kerry-fpa-200714376465859950

zizou_

Not to derail the thread OP but I'm in a similar situation and am trying to decide between a sharan/Alhambra and a galaxy/s-max.

I prefer the look of the ford but feel that the newer design of the vw/seat might be better in terms of refinement.

I drove a 2012 smax 2.0 diesel for a few days and was quite impressed. The only issues were weak aircon and the engine was pretty noisy above 3000rpm.

Anyone have any real world experiences of either?

lawred2

Anyone got any opinions on the 7 seater X-Trail?

Redgirl82

lawred2 wrote: »

Anyone got any opinions on the 7 seater X-Trail?

I looked at one the other day in garage. Very similar to the Qashqai only little bit larger(so same as Qashqai+2)

The seats in the back would be only for kids. they raise up and the leg space is just flat. Also once you open them there is no space in boot at all.....

Green farmer

lawred2 wrote: »

really don't like that

I know it's an MPV but does it really have to entirely devoid of even the lest bit of styling!?

If you want some style the citroen grand picasso has loads of it. Cheap to buy, comfortable, reliable and runs on fresh air. The idea of a large discovery are great, but I had one and at €1,300 a year road tax and 30 mpg , the novelty soon wore off.

lawred2

Green farmer wrote: »

If you want some style the citroen grand picasso has loads of it. Cheap to buy, comfortable, reliable and runs on fresh air. The idea of a large discovery are great, but I had one and at €1,300 a year road tax and 30 mpg , the novelty soon wore off.

yeah I've already wrote off the discovery notion

I do like the Grand Picasso as it happens

jcon1913

Opel Zafira anyone?

Handles like a saloon car ( sort of ), can be got in an ( underpowered ) low tax 1.6. they are based on the Astra I think.

Massive room in the back when the seats are folded down.

Cheap to maintain - the mechanic doesnt have that Audit / BMW / Merc smile when he's giving you the bad news, he just assumes you're skint and will have to walk home if he doesnt sort you out

I've had 2 and while they have absolutely no get-up-and-go and have zero presence, they have never let me down, not once. I've put up the bones of 150k kilometres in them.

Like the ads say, German reliability without the fancy bills.

Redgirl82

If any use I think I am down to Grand Picasso or the Opel Zafira.

Green farmer

Redgirl82 wrote: »

If any use I think I am down to Grand Picasso or the Opel Zafira.

Go and take both for a test drive to see which one suits best. keep things simple and go with your gut

stevekavo

I was in a similar position a few weeks ago and couldn't decide between a new xtrail or Santa fe. I ended up picking the Santa fe as there is just that bit more room in and even in the 3rd row of seats there is a little more leg room.

The Santa fe is great runs smooth and lots of room for everyone.

lawred2

jcon1913 wrote: »

Opel Zafira anyone?

Handles like a saloon car ( sort of ), can be got in an ( underpowered ) low tax 1.6. they are based on the Astra I think.

Massive room in the back when the seats are folded down.

Cheap to maintain - the mechanic doesnt have that Audit / BMW / Merc smile when he's giving you the bad news, he just assumes you're skint and will have to walk home if he doesnt sort you out

I've had 2 and while they have absolutely no get-up-and-go and have zero presence, they have never let me down, not once. I've put up the bones of 150k kilometres in them.

Like the ads say, German reliability without the fancy bills.

Opels urrgh

lawred2

stevekavo wrote: »

I was in a similar position a few weeks ago and couldn't decide between a new xtrail or Santa fe. I ended up picking the Santa fe as there is just that bit more room in and even in the 3rd row of seats there is a little more leg room.

The Santa fe is great runs smooth and lots of room for everyone.

Saucy though

Redgirl82

stevekavo wrote: »

I was in a similar position a few weeks ago and couldn't decide between a new xtrail or Santa fe. I ended up picking the Santa fe as there is just that bit more room in and even in the 3rd row of seats there is a little more leg room.

The Santa fe is great runs smooth and lots of room for everyone.

The Santa Fe would have been at least 5k more?

stevekavo

Redgirl82 wrote: »

The Santa Fe would have been at least 5k more?

Didn't go new on the Santa fe got a 2 year old. Worked out around the same price as a new xtrail.

lawred2

stevekavo wrote: »

Didn't go new on the Santa fe got a 2 year old. Worked out around the same price as a new xtrail.

probably thinking the same... 132/141 model

abnormalnorman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/96401186#Comment_96401186

does anyone know, can you put young kids (aged 6 or 7) in the back row seat of the X Trail , or Qashqai+2 . or are the back row seats just for older kids, that have moved on from the booster ?

Is it the same for all SUV 7 seaters? Kia Sorrento, Hyundai Santa Fe for example?