7 seater woes

Agreed, If you want a genuine 7 seater, Smax is hard to beat. Go and try to fit 3 child seats in back of X5 or Tiguan then try again with Smax. Had one for 8 years when kids small and found it great. Only thing it lacks is prestige, but to be honest with 3 small kids that drops down the list.

My sister got a kia Sorrento when her 3rd arrived , sold it after a year for a Smax, the seating options didn't work for her.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/kia-sorento-2021/36954143

Kia Sorento with a 7 year warranty is a wild card option

We got a VW Sharan, 4 kids. The last of them were built in 2019/2020 and Tiguan replaced them in the line up. Great car, very happy with the purchase, love the fact that you see models from the 00's on the road so you know they are reliable work horses.

Was immaculate when we bought 3 years ago, 2019 reg. Kids have it destroyed inside.

I dunno, the 2019 I got is a 2 litre diesel so I guess it's one of the good ones. Had been looking at a Japanese import one that was a 3 litre petrol, glad I didn't opt for that!!

I agree. But they've fallen out of fashion. I don't think there are any new models. All SUV and crossovers.

+1

Also seems to be a trend of having massive wheels with wide flared out wheel arches........and then a tapered narrow/smaller cab!

So you get the disadvange of a larger more ackward vehicle and the disadvantage of a smaller passenger space.

had one of these, very practical and reliable, easy to drive

Exactly this.

What you really need 3 kids + friends + grandparents is the MPV square sided and van like. The nicer driving ones are perfect.

We had Tourans, for years shorter than a Passat but like a TARDIS inside.

They are mostly diesel these days. Which doesn't suit lots of short local journeys which many MPVs do.

If I was doing it again I'd have a MPV as soon as I had one kid. Just so useful. Doubles as a van at the weekends for DIY.

We had two petrol then diesel. The diesel was a nightmare. Just unlucky maybe. I'd buy another tomorrow if it was manual and petrol. Or a PHEV or BEV. I think MPVs are extinct though unfortunately.

The ID4 is the white knight of the MPV class. Will be interesting to see the 7 seater version

If its too good to be true, it usually a sign to walk away.

I don't know your financial situation obviously, but I personally wouldn't be going near a marquee brand car as a seven seater with 2 young kids and a third on the way. With the best will in the world, the kids will make messes, break things and generally increase wear and tear in the vehicle. I'd be weary of buying brand new for the same reason, even if I had the money..

Now obviously if money isn't an issue then perhaps sound.

Have a grand scenic here that we got about 7 years ago, second hand. We have had multiple trips to France with bikes, it's helped us move house twice and it's up on 370k km at the point. It has given us a few wear and tear issues on top of regular service but nothing you wouldn't expect.

Car would be worth feck all now so will continue with it as long as feasible.