Will I miss the 7 seater

[Misselthwaite]

I have three children, 9, 6 and 4. Car is on its way out its a Citroen grand c4 Picasso. Options are to buy a large estate which would be cheaper or to stick with 7 seats.

We haven't used the seats that much but they have at times been very handy. My parents are getting on and my mum currently can't drive due to ill health. 7 seats means we can go in one car. I'm a teacher so have the kids all through the holidays and thinking in the future 7 seats means all three kids can have a mate for days out.

But its much more money and I'm naturally quite tight.

Any words of wisdom from those a bit further along with older kids. Will the 7 seater be worth it?

[ImYourMama]

I would say 7 seater is 100% worth it for the invaluable bonus of flexibility

[Tsotofamily]

I would second that. I don't know what I'd do without my 7 seater

[Summerholsdoingmyheadin]

I had a 7 seater, changed to a car and after a year I went back to a 7 seater. The car was just too tiny.

[bonzo77]

Maybe look at a small 7 seater where the extra two seats are just pop up ones. Like an S max (rather than Galaxy) or Nissan qashqi +2. When I was little my parents had a normal estate car with pop up rear facing seats in the boot. Might have been an Audi.

[RueDeWakening]

We've just gone to a 7-seater (SEAT Alhambra) after years with a Citroen Xsara Picasso. Kids are 9, 6 and 3 and I can't see us going back to 5 seats for quite some time. The flexibility of having friends along after school/on trips, or being able to go on holiday with the back 2 seats down and without a roofbox on the car is fabulous.

[idontlikealdi]

We have a zafira and it has tons more space in it than SILs audi estate. We don't often use the rear pop up seats but the space is invaluable.

[Misselthwaite]

Right you've all convinced me I'll buy another 7 seater. Just need to decide which one now!

[123therearenomoreusernames]

I really like the look of the Grand C-Max if your not using all seven regularly. I currently have an S Max its great but they are pricey. The new ones are mega bucks

[DramaAlpaca]

When my DC were about the age of yours we got a 7 seater, and we had one throughout their teenage years. It was invaluable & had plenty of room for their long legs.

I've only just downsized to something smaller now that my youngest DC is 18.

[MrsRedFly]

We have a Nissan X-Trail which has 2 pop up seats in boot (previously had Qashqai +2 which have been discontinued ) which I recommend

My DC are 11, 9, 9 - they are getting bigger (surprise) and will need to think of bigger car in the next year too!

[lostlalaloopsy]

We have an SMax and I love it! There are 2 pop up seats in the boot, and just loads of space. I was just saying to dh that I can't ever see us going back to a 5 seater car.

[BackforGood]

We had 3 zafiras, one after the other from when my dc were littlies right up until 18 months ago. I REALLY miss it/them now we have an estate car. The 7 seats, but also the fleixibility of seating and the height of the boot - bikes, furniture, a wheelchair at one point, tip runs, etc., etc.
The fact you mention being able to / wanting to take your parents to places too, I think you have to stick with the 7 seats.

[Hawkmoth]

We love our Kia Sedona.

[BoolaBass]

I'll second the Kia Sedona. It has SLIDING DOORS and three full size adult seats in the middle (so can fit three child seats) and a massive boot when you remove the back row seats. It's amazing!

[Fletcherl]

I also love a 7 seater with sliding doors. Still using it for moving furniture into university digs!