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Larger families

Are there any cars out there with decent boot space that will fit 4 children?

28 replies

Getmetothebeach · 07/04/2014 17:23

After lots of dithering we decided to go for DC 3... To find out DC3 is actually DC3 AND 4.!!!!

In shock to say the least, and being practical, immediately worrying about logistics. Car being one of them. The 7 sweaters mentioned often in this Larger Families bit of MN are all well and good but none seem to have boots? Am I missing something? Do you just need to get a 7 sweater and a roofbox for buggies, travel cots etc?

Advice much appreciated. Biggest boot I've found so dear is land rover discovery..

OP posts:
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NothingMoreScaryThanAHairyMary · 07/04/2014 17:30

I your situation maybe think differently. Put eldest child in rear and remove one of the back seats low and behold boot space. Unless you get something like a vw caravelle the no of seats versus boot space is always going to be a bit of a challenge.

We have a sedona ( not always popular but I like it) and al,the back seats are removable ( great for ikea trips!).

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Quckstart · 07/04/2014 17:35

You really can't put your children in the boot!!

The best solution I have seen is a "luxury" mini bus type thing. Not perfect but does provide enough seats and luggage space.

Congratulations!

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mercibucket · 07/04/2014 17:53

as HairyMary says, make the 7 seater a 6 seater by putting down one of the seats

or get an 8 seater?

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DrownedGirl · 07/04/2014 17:55

We have a Toyota previa. Old car, but has 8 seats and a large boot, big enough for a double and a single buggy when we had 3 very little ones.

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dottyaboutstripes · 08/04/2014 00:29

We had a Seat Alhambra when we only had 4. We took one seat out and there was LOADS of room. Never folded the pram because it would fit in as was even with loads of shopping etc

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littlepeas · 08/04/2014 16:49

I have a vw sharan and am expecting dc4. Our plan is to put older two in the back seats and dc3 and new baby in the middle (middle seat and behind passenger, so access is easier to rear seats). I use my rear seats in and out at the moment, for friends and grandparents, and I can fit my bugaboo donkey (it's pretty big) into the boot, shopping fine too. We will have the spare seat for dumping stuff on as well. I do think we'll need a roof box for holidays though!

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accessorizequeen · 11/04/2014 17:35

I've got 4 dc and a galaxy. No problem fitting my double buggy in the boot. When dts were really small, we put 3 littlest in 2nd row & one of the 3rd row seats down for extra space. Ds1 used to climb in through the boot but he wasn't in the boot iyswim.

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SoonToBeSix · 11/04/2014 22:43

We have a Mercedes Vito 9 seater extra long base. The boot is huge but we have a triple pram and a wheelchair. It is basically a van with seats though.

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TheBigBumTheory · 11/04/2014 22:45

You're not supposed to put them in the boot OP...

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TheBigBumTheory · 11/04/2014 22:46

Caravelle with long wheel base has a huge boot.

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LongStory · 11/04/2014 22:49

I have the Kia Sedona and the lack of a boot can be an issue. but a friend has the Grand Chrysler voyager. They are both similar layout inside which is v practical with twins (the middle gangway is a wonder) but the Voyager has a huge boot. I wouldn't want to park it though!

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hoppingmad · 11/04/2014 22:50

We are looking at the Honda frv just now. You can't get a new one as they were discontinued in 2009 but they seem to have a proper boot (2 rows of 3 like the fiat multipla but less ugly)
We haven't actually made it out to look at one yet as we are not at the buying stage but we are choosing between that and the Volvo xc90.

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LongStory · 11/04/2014 22:50

sorry it's the Chrysler Grand Voyager, not the Grand Chrysler Voyager. !

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ClairesTravellingCircus · 11/04/2014 22:56

We have a Sharan and 4 dcs incl twins (3&4 like you).
It's actually amazing how much we can fit in. We can put our out n about double buggy and 2 travel cots in the boot with all seats up.

We have the dts in the middle row in middle and side seat. Because they're rear facing (but no support leg), we can fit a couple of bags under their seats as well.

Congrats on your pregnancy!

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cherryb77 · 15/04/2014 09:58

Galaxy, sharan and alhambra are the same car but made by different manufacturers.we have had all 3 over the years 4 kids a big dog and spend a lot of weekends at the coast they are great for space even when we were using a double pushchair. The tdi manual versions are much more economical than petrol. ...we did stray and had a renault grand scenic for a while wouldnt have another if it was free!

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saladfingers · 20/04/2014 13:08

We have 4 DC and a Honda Frv. Very comfortable and roomy. Great boot. Shame they have discontinued them. Hope ours lasts a while!

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administrator · 20/04/2014 18:09

The newer Multiplas dont have the 'bump' that made them strange looking anymore. You'll get 4 DC in their car seats and a double buggy in the boot, no problem.

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Bonkerz · 20/04/2014 18:17

We have a 6 seater fiat multipla. 3 seats in front 3 in back we have 4 children and I childmind so during week I have 3 big car seats in back and high back booster in front. Boot is enormous. During week has two double buggies and a single and room for bags and when we go on holiday it comfortably holds cases etc for 6 people and a travel cot and buggy!!

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mooglet · 22/04/2014 15:30

We have a multimac which seats all 4 (aged 6,4,2 and 6 months), and have it in a Ford S-max, so lots of boot space too. The plan being that by the time they outgrow the multimac we will be pushchair-free - hurrah! - and so we will be able to use one of the rear seats too, and still have a bit of boot space.

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popcal · 22/04/2014 17:57

We have 4 children and have had an Frv for a few years now. Also had a Touran and then Sedona ( as we need 2 cars) but downsized to another Frv as fed up of arguments about not sitting in the boot. Plenty of boot space too in the FRV.

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sweetkitty · 10/08/2014 23:58

We have four DC and a Citreon C8, we removed one of the rear seats and have a huge boot (was for double buggy now for dog).

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NoRoomForALittleOne · 12/08/2014 06:57

We have 4DC and have an i800. It's an 8 seater based on a van much like the caravelle, transporter etc. we wanted A LOT of boot space as we go camping. It is spacious and comfortable plus I know that the children all have a proper seat so it will still be fine as they grow and they are not sat on silly seats in the crumple zone of the car. The i800 has rear parking sensors as standard Grin. It did take a bit of getting used to but I love it.

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Chopstheduck · 12/08/2014 07:06

Toyota land cruiser.

The same twin thing happened to us too - congratulations! Grin

Alhambra is ok with one seat down, Galaxy is better, but I never much liked driving it. We also had a Citroen C4 which was more economical. we found a bit small in the early days when you need a pram, etc. Nissan Terrano had a bench seat that was a nightmare with a pram, but it did squeeze in behind it. We've only ever used a roofbox for holidays.

Mine are older now though - 14, 12, 9, so the older two often aren't with us, and we lost our galaxy, so we are currently running a e class merc with the occasional seats in the boot for when we do have all 4.

We test drove a toyota and it was gorgeous - would def buy that if I had the money. Also test drove a chrysler - it is a nice layout but not a huge boot and an odd layout with the seats going 2-2-3 rather than 2-3-2, so limits boot space again. I also wouldn't recommend a manual chrysler - american gear boxes are chronic - it was like trying to shift a van, horrible!

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becks5 · 14/08/2014 15:27

We have a Renault Grand Espace which has been my favourite of all our mpvs. We've got 5 children so we fill all the seats, but the long wheel base allows for more room in the boot - you have to switch your mindset from chucking stuff in to stacking up high, but we can go on holiday for 2 weeks to France and not need the roof box! I will just say though that we're no longer carrying a myriad of pushchairs, but I was able to fit a double in there when we did.

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DandyDan · 05/09/2014 15:10

The new Mitsubishi Grandis launched this year. We have an old one and it needs a box for a holiday abroad, but otherwise is incredibly spacious, even for four adult children and their stuff.

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