Another person looking for 7 seater advice!

mrsbeebee

I need a 7 seater fairly urgently. I have limited cash at the minute and don't want to get a loan at present. I have 2 options at the minute:
1. Get a small loan and buy an 07 S max from a main dealer diesel, advertised price €4750.
2. No loan, use cash to buy a 08 petrol mazda 5, zafira, Picasso advertised prices 1750-2000 through private sales.

All similar mileage.

I'm currently on maternity leave so no major mileage at the minute - just school runs. Back to work at the end of next year doing 500km per week commute. If I go with option 2, I will be in a financial position to get a decent car loan before I go back to work and buy something better (about €15k)

I've never bought a car through a private sale before so wary!

Any advice would be appreciated!

colm_mcm

Option 2. Something like a Honda FRV 6 seater perhaps?

They have an actual boot.

mrsbeebee

colm_mcm wrote: »

Option 2. Something like a Honda FRV 6 seater perhaps?

They have an actual boot.

I'll check those out. Thanks!

NIMAN

How many seats do you actually need?

The Mazda 5 will only seat 6 people, the middle seat in the middle row is not very wide and wouldn't really hold anyone. Plus if you have to the 2 rear seats in use, you have next to no boot space (a common issue on most 7 seaters).

As a previous owner of one, I would definitely advise trying to test drive or get a look at an FR-V. Great cars, very roomy and great boot space even when 6 people are seated.

Only thing is, they are very rare and you may have to travel to get one.

mrsbeebee

NIMAN wrote: »

How many seats do you actually need?

The Mazda 5 will only seat 6 people, the middle seat in the middle row is not very wide and wouldn't really hold anyone. Plus if you have to the 2 rear seats in use, you have next to no boot space (a common issue on most 7 seaters).

As a previous owner of one, I would definitely advise trying to test drive or get a look at an FR-V. Great cars, very roomy and great boot space even when 6 people are seated.

Only thing is, they are very rare and you may have to travel to get one.

I need 6 seats - 4 kids with 2 car seats and 2 boosters. I'll start googling the Honda!

Steviesol

S max is fantastic, very efficient with the fuel, also the very back seats don't need boosters. Very happy I purchased mine.

selectamatic

selectamatic wrote: »

In keeping with the last few family orientated offerings...




https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2001-toyota-previa-2-4-auto-7-seater-nct-04-2018/17269588

2001 2.4 auto Toyota Previa
Test till 25/04/18 & Taxed till the end of February
Supposedly 151k miles
interior and exterior look pretty clean
Asking €950
Being sold by a small time dealer who's had it since the 18th of September and most likely took it as a p/x so definitely room for haggling once you're present with a pocket of notes.
Could make for cheap reliable family motoring through the first quarter of 2018

I posted this in the bangernomics thread. It'd tick some of the boxes for ya, should be reliable and above all cheap I'd be thinking a bit over 500 should buy it and you've tax till next March. When it comes to move it on you're dealing with recouping hundreds rather than thousands which is much less stressful and leaves you with more free cash to sort out buying the much newer car before you go back to work.

Just putting it out there as another option, insurance would need to be checked out though as it could well be a hurdle.

The frv is a good option too cheaper alternatives could be a corolla verso or a Honda stream.

Steviesol

Is it not hard to insure a car over 15 years old ?