Do not get the grand picasso.

We had nothing but problems with ours.

we also have a toyota verso and LOVE it.

had a zafira previously and hated though (though loads of our pals have it and are happy with it).

I love the flexibility of the verso, you can just pop the extra seats up and down as you need without having to move the middle row (which, when we had it involved me first removing to massive carseats while juggling baby and toddler).

We have a Toyota Verso and it's marvellous! Massive boot when you don't need seats 6+7 and when you do they appear very easily so you can decide while you're out to bring home extra children. Seats 6+7 aren't very good for adults and it doesn't leave very much boot space at all, but it suits us fine.

The only thing that annoys us is the large turning circle, but we'd definitely buy another if anything happened to this one. So I would recommend looking into it.

WE have two a Peugeot 406 diesel estate, they made a seven seater called the Family, we paid £700 four years ago and we cant fault it, 35mpg reliable and comfey, once the kids get above 5ft2 its a bit cramped to sit in the boot, its now done 200,000miles, I use it every day.
Last March we bought an 8 seater Mazda bongo as we often take the elderly inlaws with us and both kids are very tall so wont fit in the Peugeot boot, we paid £1200 knowing it needed a small amount of work but as the going rate was £2500, it was a bargain, we left the dent in the door, had it serviced and a new radiator, so total spend was about£1600, its fantastic, easily carrys 8 adult size people, big sunroof aircon, its a2.5 diesel automatic, 22 round town but 30 on a run, easy to park too as you are sat high up and its only the same foot print as a normal large car, if you fit a kitchen in the boot most insurance cos will insure it as a camper, we spent £150 on the kitchen and the insurance came down from £1000 to £320
The seats fold flat in to a massive bigger than double bed, the seats also fold up to a table and four chairs, undo 8 bolts from the seats and it becomes a van, they really are a useful tool, they also have an excellent owners club, if you join it reduces the insurance cost, both of these cars are also DIY fixable with parts easily obtainable.

I bet I'm too late but I would not fault the Kia Sedona.

I've had a Mazda 5. The sliding doors were fab and the space really good. The only negatives were no where to put the parcel shelf when all seats in use and the middle seat in the middle can't be used as a seat so in theory it's a six seater. I thought that would be ok as I only have 2dc but infant it got on my nerves having to sit just one extra child in the back seats occasionally. I paid 8k back in 2008 and it was 2yrs old. Unfortunately mine had a battery problem and no one could find the fault to fix it.

I now have a scenic grand. It cost £11k for 12 month old with 10k miles. It drives fine but as I do town driving is low mpg so I suggest you get a diesel. The cubby holes are great, keyless entry fab, holder for parcel shelf and back seats really easy to get into.

Food for thought Rose.

We don't have a big lump sum and do need something very reliable as I work in the community which is why we got a brand new car on 0% finance last time so that we could spread the cost.

Apart from servicing my current car, and just having new bushes on the rear axles that's all that's been done in the 6 years that I've had it.

Hadn't really considered getting something older, I suppose because of the worry that it'll need more doing to it, and the unplanned expense and difficulty with work while it's in the garage would be extremely difficult to manage.

I do like the look of the Mazda 5 and grand c max, the sliding doors really appeal but you're right that 20k is a massive amount of money.

The thinking goes on........

peugeot 307 SW

We bought our XC90 for 4400. It has done 100k miles but, as with all Volvos, will do another 100k miles. We never buy new cars, rarely spend even as much as we did (our previous top car cost £2400) and we usually have few problems. I think the notion that you have to have new, low mileage cars is a bit of a myth perpetuated by manufacturers. Our Volvo is 10 years old but is fantastic and will do us for years. For 20k (which still sounds to me like the kind of money that should buy you a house) you can get one that is about 2 years old. However, the sliding doors are not part of the deal!

Ford grand c-max

we've got a qasqai + 2 and it's great!

there is a way to solve that, activate the child locks, you will need to let them out but no more damage :D

XC90 really isn't an option money wise unfortunately. FIL has one and I am very .

We don't have much of a lump sum available, and bought our last car using a 0% finance deal which we'd be keen to do again. Current car is now 6 years Los and only just needing any money spending on it other than the annual service.

We're looking at about to 20k mark price wise, and I have to say that I really do like the idea of having sliding doors at the back - our ds's don't seem to have grasped the fact that our current doors swing open and can and do ding other cars .

the heated seats are great in the winter, couldnt do without them now.

heated seats make you feel like you have wet yourself, not a luxury i would be after.

Love my Volvo 940 and V70 7 seaters, the two rear seats are back facing and fold down under the boot for extra space.

Just bought an XC90 which is fantastic. The seats in the boot are really comfy and still leave boot space and, when they are down, the boot is huge. It is really, really comfortable and can be automatic or you use gears but no clutch so good for city or country driving. Also, my first car with heated seats so really toasty buns.

Volvo XC90. Fab.

we have a grand scenic, with extra storage fitted under the seats etc.

the extra seats are fine if your a child but i have been in the back with my knees under my chin (being six foot) when we have needed it.

if you put all the seats flat you can fit a sofa in there, or lots of stuff. you need to move. i

t doesnt feel van like to drive infact the steering is pretty light. i love being thst much higher up too. i would hate to change it now.

Citroën C4 Grand Picasso.

We rarely use the two extra seats, but they come in useful now and again

Plenty of room for 6ft+ DS and DSS, and slightly smaller younger DSS, as the three back seats are 'proper'seats, the middle isn't a shelf.

Doesn't feel big, to drive or park

I have had mine just over 3 years and have no complaints

My Grand Scenic locked with the baby and my keys inside yesterday. It was for less than a minute.

Another vote for the Toyota Verso ...

Aha, Theas18, the Verso has a little slot under the carpet in the boot where you can stow the parcel shelf cover thingy!

Our Touran is a 53 plate, so 2003/4 model; has done 112k miles and the only repair was the EGR valve at just over £300 for parts and DH fitted
We paid £8k just over 4 years ago.
HTH