Good *wide* family car

Gwynston

bazz26 wrote: »

Sales of cars like the Mondeo, Avensis, etc are falling across Europe as people switch to SUV crossovers and MPVs instead.

Yeah, I'm aware of that. I would love to have a new S-Max, or large SUV. But they're all more than I'd like to spend. I'm just frustrated that so many other supposedly "large" cars don't offer enough space in the back.

bazz26

That was never their intention though which is why you cannot find one. Large cars offer more boot space, interior space/legroom/comfort for passengers but have always been designed for 4 passengers with an occasional small passenger in the rear centre. With the emergence of MPVs and crossovers there was no need to go back to the drawing board with regular large cars to accommodate more passengers.

Have a look at the Ford C-Max. It's a 5 seater and has 3 individual seats across the back. It's based on the Focus and looks similar. If you need a 3rd row of seats then look at the Grand C-Max.

grogi

bazz26 wrote: »

Have a look at the Ford C-Max. It's a 5 seater and has 3 individual seats across the back. It's based on the Focus and looks similar. If you need a 3rd row of seats then look at the Grand C-Max.

C-Max is similarly designed for 4 people, with 5th as an add-on...

Gwynston

Yeah, looked at the C-Max yesterday too. Bit more space in the middle than a mid-size SUV (Qashqai, Tuscon, Kadjar etc.) but probably not enough for when the kids get bigger.

Dubl07

Compromise is a valuable lesson for kids. You're the adult and if they don't like travelling in your reasonable choice of vehicle, give them bus fare whatever the weather.

grogi

Dubl07 wrote: »

Compromise is a valuable lesson for kids. You're the adult and if they don't like travelling in your reasonable choice of vehicle, give them bus fare whatever the weather.

If the OP wanted a parenting advice, would post in different section.

flutered

when we go the the continent it is usually a renault espace we use, it is away wider than the standard 7 seater, also it is longer, superb seating, comfort which is unrivaled in any other car we tried, cheap to run also

Theboinkmaster

Why don't the premium brands make 3 seats across, so for example why doesn't the BMW f10 5 series have a proper 3rd seat, or the audi a6?

There don't seem to be any nice premium brands that cater to 3 kids, unless you go for 7 seater x5.

biko

Please stick to recommendations of cars and let OP make the decisions

Gwynston

I think bazz26 ansered that in post 33 above:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=102165407&postcount=33

I'm coming to the conclusion that proper 5-seater cars don't exist...

Theboinkmaster

Gwynston wrote: »

I think bazz26 ansered that in post 33 above:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=102165407&postcount=33

I'm coming to the conclusion that proper 5-seater cars don't exist...

But why not just make the bmw 5 series a tiny bit wider to accommodate a third seat?

Why do 3 children families have to select from ugly yokes like those currently available, why not make normal saloons a little wider?

grogi

Gwynston wrote: »

I think bazz26 ansered that in post 33 above:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=102165407&postcount=33

I'm coming to the conclusion that proper 5-seater cars don't exist...

They do exist - Renault Scenic (not Grand Scenic), C4 Picasso (not Grand Picasso).

Big Nasty

Only had a quick flick through the thread but didn't see the Galaxy mentioned?

bazz26

Theboinkmaster wrote: »

Why don't the premium brands make 3 seats across, so for example why doesn't the BMW f10 5 series have a proper 3rd seat, or the audi a6?

There don't seem to be any nice premium brands that cater to 3 kids, unless you go for 7 seater x5.

The 5 Series and A6 are large executive cars, they are not family transports. They are pretty wide but they are designed to carry two people in the rear in comfort, not 3 abreast.

bazz26

grogi wrote: »

They do exist - Renault Scenic (not Grand Scenic), C4 Picasso (not Grand Picasso).

Still MPVs though.

Gwynston

Yeah, looks like those are the only ones that fit my criteria - proper 5-seaters, but cheaper than full-size MPVs.

Also, the (non-Grand) C-Max, although I'd have to test the kids in that and a Scenic (the 2017 model looks a big improvement) to see if they're big enough..

Only the Picasso has 3 proper seats, but as I mentioned I'm not keen in the interior.

Gwynston

Or if I want to spend lots of dosh, a new model S-Max!

And the forthcoming Skoda Kodiaq looks good too, but my local dealer tells me it will be months before they come to Ireland.

Shefwedfan

I would look at Rav4 if going for that type of cross over. It doesn't have raised section in middle seats while all others do. I had Qashqai and it is small in back, my friend swapped an ix35 for a Qashqai because there was more space in back of Qashqai so I would think that would rule out ix35 and replacement Tucson.

The older model A6 had loads of room in back(changed in 11 ) so you could see if you could get decent one of them second hand. Lovely car to drive. I have one, and brother has newer model and it is a lot smaller in back. I am thinking of selling mine if you want it :-)

You could go for older XC90 or Q7 from Audi. Both are massive inside and I would love one but the money as you mentioned is crazy but you could try to go older and just get full service history etc. Like gold dust mind you.....

I don't know models but I know the merc's where always a big car but no real history of driving them or anything so cant tell if they would suit,.....

CountingCrows

VW Touran? 3 individual rear seats. I'm waiting delivery on a new highline. We needed a car where an adult could sit between two rear isofix seats.

Mantis Toboggan

I'd imagine that the Kia Optima would be a proper 5 seater car.

Casati

Tyson Fury wrote: »

I'd imagine that the Kia Optima would be a proper 5 seater car.

I have a Superb and it's grand for three kids, aged 3, 7 and 9. It's tricky getting the seat belt in though. The tunnel is high but has loads of room each side of it. The massive legroom is a real benefit

I think the Jag XF has a wide rear seat and it's easy to engage the seat belts.

Overall though all of these cars are designed to seat four in great comfort and car manufacturers are pushing families to suv's and mpv's as they make more profit from them and generally have to invest less in driving dynamics etc

Gwynston

Yeah, the Superb I tested was definitely wide enough. But middle child started complaining about having to straddle the transmission tunnel after a few minutes. I suspect an XF would be the same.

Shame as a 4-y-o XF would be a nice buy. And I liked the Superb too...

grogi

Gwynston wrote: »

Yeah, the Superb I tested was definitely wide enough. But middle child started complaining about having to straddle the transmission tunnel after a few minutes. I suspect an XF would be the same.

Shame as a 4-y-o XF would be a nice buy. And I liked the Superb too...

Superb is FWD, no transmission under rear seats... Might be exhaust though...

If a flat floor is a requirement, only MPVs then...

Gwynston

OK, not a "transmisson" tunnel as such, but whatever's under there it was enough to compromise the middle passenger after not long.

Probably unavoidable in a standard height car then....

walus

I feel your pain OP. Similar situation here, 3 kids, 5, 5 and 3 years of age. I had to fit them in their car seats accorss the back of the car and searched long and hard for the best option. Decided to go for Honda FR-V, that not only allows for seeting 3 people across the front raw and 3 accros the back but you can also offset the middle sit with respect to the two outer seats as shown on the picture. Sadly it was discountinuead in 2010 and so my 2007 model will have to last me a good few years more. I’d love to change to something more modern, an SUV maybe but it means compromising on the comfort of the kids in the back. I don’t get it either why only MPVs can accommodate 3 across the back, worse even if the kids need child seats.

unkel

Gwynston wrote: »

I just don't get it - how does everyone else manage with 3 kids in regular cars?

You and everybody else in Ireland are missing the obvious. Start with a big saloon / estate. One size up from the cars mentioned like the Mondeo. So we are talking Mercedes E-class, BMW 5-series, etc.

For budget reasons you will obviously have to buy a slightly older car, but you will be well compensated for it in terms of space, comfort, luxury and refinement.

I've 3 kids myself the first coming into their teenage years (that means you need less space than before with the car seats / boosters) and I've never even considered buying an MPV...

Big Nasty

My woman is driving an 07 Mondeo and there's a fair bit more room in it than my 05 5-series. Pretty surprised at that myself.

Gwynston

Yeah, I wouldn't consider a 5-series that big - and it has a large transmission tunnel. Non-starter, I'm afraid.

GavMan

Gwynston wrote: »

OK, not a "transmisson" tunnel as such, but whatever's under there it was enough to compromise the middle passenger after not long.

Probably unavoidable in a standard height car then....

Tell 'em what my Father told me. Children are to be seen, not heard

Gwynston

GavMan wrote: »

Tell 'em what my Father told me. Children are to be seen, not heard

Yeah back in the day before seatbelts when everyone could seemingly fit 6 kids on the back seat of an Escort no problem!

Anyway, I have no control over my kids. Another modern trend my father wouldn't recognise is that I'm not even allowed to give 'em a clip round the ear when they're bold... :rolleyes: