What car suitable for 3 kids?

Buyingcar2012

We have a newborn (others aged 5 and 3) and the change to a car to take 3 car seats has been looming for a while. Currently have a 3 series which isn't big enough and I plan to sell it once I get sorted.

My commute is about 20 km per day in city traffic (Dublin 14 to town and back) so I won't clock up huge mileage. Weekends will be the usual kids activity runs.

Our budget is about €15K to €17,500 and will be getting a second hand car. I'm not a huge fan of MPV's but I doubt many are and I know its all about the practicalities. I do like the Volvo XC60 and that does fit 3 car seats (albeit you need to use a Volvo car seat for 1).

I've heard the Ford S Max is good as well. What are your suggestions?

happywithlife

Most MPV's will be diesel so is it worth it maintaince wise if you're doing a lot of city driving? I have the smax myself and love it for boot as I do gaa coaching so can bring the kids and the gear handily enough
It's one thing fitting the seats in but other things to consider are will the kids fight if cramped on top of each other? We had to separate our's for a spell between the middle and back rows as even though they had room thhe youngest went through a phase of pulling his sister's hair whenever it was within reach. How important is boot space? Do you do a big grocery shop with kids in tow for example ?

Buyingcar2012

happywithlife wrote: »

Most MPV's will be diesel so is it worth it maintaince wise if you're doing a lot of city driving? I have the smax myself and love it for boot as I do gaa coaching so can bring the kids and the gear handily enough
It's one thing fitting the seats in but other things to consider are will the kids fight if cramped on top of each other? We had to separate our's for a spell between the middle and back rows as even though they had room thhe youngest went through a phase of pulling his sister's hair whenever it was within reach. How important is boot space? Do you do a big grocery shop with kids in tow for example ?

All good points. I'd like to stay away from diesel as I'm not doing the mileage or the type of lengthy driving that suits the engines.

I'm not concerned about the fighting as it happens now anyway every so often. The weekly shop is currently done with 1 child in tow but that'll change with mat leave and will change as the youngest go to school.

NIMAN

If you don't go the route of MPVs, the choice of cars will be limited that can handle 3 young kids, as I've discovered myself.

Most saloon or hatchbacks simply haven't the rear seat space. I have a Golf which is very tight to get 3 kids in the rear. My Nissan Leaf is slightly roomier than the Golf, but still tight.

I am currently thinking of looking at something bigger. I have the likes of a Passat, Mondeo or Skoda Superb on my list of cars to view.

drunkmonkey

What your thinking the XC60 with the family pack might be one of the best ideas, you've the 2 inbuilt boosters.
I'd also look at importing one as you've a lot more choice and way better specced ones.

Honda CRV takes 3 isofix in the back so should fit 3 across as well, think the Volvo is better in the right spec. (Redesign with family pack)

beauf

I went the route of a petrol MPV for much the same reason though we don't do a commute in it.

You might have more choice in the UK or NI if looking for a petrol one.

MPV are so practical and useful I don't really get the dislike of them. It's simply an image thing.

Estates are another option, but they are in no way as useful as a MPV for a larger family.

thierry14

Not a 7 seater, but looks ideal for your journeys

Outlander Hybrid

Would run on electric only for your daily journey

Supposedly very reliable too

Probably under warranty still

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201710100134492?advertising-location=at_cars&advertising-location=at_cars&year-from=2015&postcode=m52ty&model=OUTLANDER&page=1&make=MITSUBISHI&fuel-type=Hybrid&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New

MarcusP12

thierry14 wrote: »

Not a 7 seater, but looks ideal for your journeys

Outlander Hybrid

Would run on electric only for your daily journey

Supposedly very reliable too

Probably under warranty still

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201710100134492?advertising-location=at_cars&advertising-location=at_cars&year-from=2015&postcode=m52ty&model=OUTLANDER&page=1&make=MITSUBISHI&fuel-type=Hybrid&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New

Pretty sure you won't get 3 child seats in the back of the outlander. We were leasing (I'm working abroad currently) an outlander (2016) for ferrying around when we had 2 kids (2 and 4 at the time) but when we had a new born we just couldn't squeeze in the 3 car seats and had to change the lease to a 7 seat Kia Carnival (which is not as much fun to drive as its name suggests, ba dum tsch!).

I don't think there is much out there that will fit 3 car seats across the back seat. I know a 08 5 series will just about physically fit 3 but its messy as the seat belt buckle ends up slightly under one of the seats. So something like a skoda superb might be the answer for that budget.

NIMAN

beauf wrote: »

MPV are so practical and useful I don't really get the dislike of them. It's simply an image thing.

So true.

We had an FR-V up until the Autumn, and it was fantastic as a family car. So much space, and its only now thats its gone do we miss that.

Needs must, and if you have to fit in 3 kids, then an MPV might have to be your choice.

Cantona's Collars

NIMAN wrote: »

So true.

We had an FR-V up until the Autumn, and it was fantastic as a family car. So much space, and its only now thats its gone do we miss that.

Needs must, and if you have to fit in 3 kids, then an MPV might have to be your choice.

A 2008 one here at a very good price.
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/08-honda-frv-1-8-6-seater-new-nct3-19-tax8-18/17655919

NIMAN

Cantona's Collars wrote: »

A 2008 one here at a very good price.
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/08-honda-frv-1-8-6-seater-new-nct3-19-tax8-18/17655919

Thats a decent price.
If thats well serviced and looked after, €3k would buy you a lot of motoring.

happywithlife

For the op's budget I'd rather come up in years
A lot of family cars do high mileage and a 2008 surely will incur a higher maintaince bill?

Cantona's Collars

happywithlife wrote: »

For the op's budget I'd rather come up in years
A lot of family cars do high mileage and a 2008 surely will incur a higher maintaince bill?

If they are well minded it shouldn't be a worry. We recently upgraded from a 2007 7 seater SUV to a 132 5 seater. The first thing I did was fit a set of seat covers,kids can wreck car seats in minutes.

Perhaps a C4 Grand Picasso would suit the op. 3 individual seats in the back and an extra 2 if needed.

NIMAN

happywithlife wrote: »

For the op's budget I'd rather come up in years
A lot of family cars do high mileage and a 2008 surely will incur a higher maintaince bill?

Admittedly if your budget is 15 - 17k, then buying a 2008 for 3k is likely not going to happen.

But it is an option. After all, if you got a 2008 car, it will need maintenance here and there, but you will have any extra 12-14k in the bank to pay for it.

ftm2008

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057615625&page=8

link above to a good read...
the OP in the thread summed up exactly my thoughts exactly.
we are expecting #3 and with one old enough to be without a car seat but too tall for the middle

currently thinking of a Superb estate

pwurple

Have you looked at Ford Galaxy

ftm2008

I would prefer something a little leaner and better looking tbh
big saloon or suv even ,, like the mazda6 but not sure if the middle seat will be wide enough

slave1

We had a SMax, 5 years of hassle free motoring, never missed a beat, never an issue of any kind, loads of space

AMKC

You should be able to get a really nice second hand S-Max for your budget and in Titanium spec too. They were available with a 2.5 petrol but that could be very hard on the bill so maybe get a diesel and just do a few long drives every week and you should be grand. They are a lovely car to be in and drive. Being in the front its like you have your own USS Enterprise.

lenan

Have you heard of multimac car seats?

My niece has a 4 seater one for her kids. It simply is the most amazing thing I ever seen. If your car is compatible it would work out alot cheaper.

https://multimac.co.uk/home