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Larger families

What car with four children?

26 replies

emkana · 30/08/2009 21:02

Just wondering in theory

OP posts:
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IUsedToBePeachy · 30/08/2009 21:05

LOL EmK

We've an old Spacewagon and if it died it'd be either a Grandis or Multipla- I love whayt wehae so would happily have it's newer bro the Grandis, but DH likes the Fiat

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reban · 30/08/2009 21:53

we have a C8, lots of space and you can remove on of the chairs if you are going on holiday for extra space. Although you do feel like you are driving a tank, but i think that is unavoidable with big 7 seaters.

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sweetkitty · 30/08/2009 23:11

Am thinking the same thing, don't fancy a Zafira as don't like the wee seats in the boot thing, want proper seats.

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danthe4th · 30/08/2009 23:15

Got a fiat ulysee and love it,same as peugeot, also love the chrysler grand v. All great to drive, park etc, wouldn't be without.

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Phoenix4725 · 31/08/2009 09:00

am following this am looking fo Mpv need proper seats thugh as ds1 and ds are almost 6 footers at 15 and 12 then have dd and ds 3 also need big boot to get ds wheelchair in any onerecommend

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beepbeep · 01/09/2009 07:20

The galaxy is great, we have an smax with 3 (not so much headroom in back as galaxy) but loads of storage space. Friends have crysler grand voyager for their 4, loadsof room but pretty poor safety ratings (2out of 5)

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ChopsTheDuck · 01/09/2009 07:52

I've had a terrano, a alhambra and a citroen c4. The terrano was massive, the alhambra was pretty big and I'm so much happier with the citroen. The seats are a bit small in the back but my 9yo has no problems, and when she does I will swap her over with one of the dts.

It does double the mpg, and I feel more like I am driving a car rather than a bus. I still have enough space in the boot for ds's wheelchair and a bit of shopping and I plan to get a roofbox for hols. I think if you didn't need to fit a wheelchair or pushchair the boot space on it's own would be more than enough.

I would recomend the alhambra, but I'd go for a manual diesel. My auto gearbox went, and so did a friend who has a galaxy. That is a £2-3k job.

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4andnotout · 01/09/2009 07:55

We have a fiat multipla now which i love, we did have a dihatsu hijet which is a 1 litre 1000cc which was very economical and cute, but boot was small.

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kid · 01/09/2009 07:56

I have a zafira which I love. Its not too big for me to drive and my kids (10 and 7)rarely need to use the extra seats. We got it more incase we needed the extra seats once in a while.

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sorky · 01/09/2009 13:01

Old style Galaxy here, fantastic! I love it to bits.
Newer style were smaller, but Dh said he saw the very new shape at the weekend and they looked a bit bigger (like the old style ones)

If you do go for a second-hand one, get the Ghia (Ford) or equivalent, it will make the distance for any lengthy journey and won't cost much more at all to have a better spec and gadgety plushness inside

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Ceolas · 01/09/2009 21:34

NOT a Zafira with four. You need proper seats if you still need car seats. I'd go for any of the larger MPVs (Galaxy, Espace, Alhambra or such). That way you can take one of the seats out and still have space for a pram.

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oooggs · 01/09/2009 21:44

I have a C8 and drive with 6 seats. Two in each row (the side seat behind the passenger removed) as makes it easier to get them strapped in (3 children under 3) and a double nipper in the boot.

Very pleased with it, especially the sliding doors

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beepbeep · 02/09/2009 07:56

The smax and the galaxy both have full size individual seats. we have 3 under 3 - so all in 'big' car seats and all fit well on one row. The seats move independantly of each other too, so DD in middle is further forward than other 2 - gives me bit of room to get to her and a bit of extra space for them (harder to hit each other!!)

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sorky · 03/09/2009 08:49

I only know one family with the Smax and they said it wasn't as big as it looks, the 2 back seats don't have much leg room for anyone bigger than their 5yo, so they're switching to the new style Galaxy iirc.
Different if you don't use the back seats I suppose

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Ceolas · 03/09/2009 09:05

That's like our Zafira, sorky. My 9yo struggles to get in and out. And if she wasn't sitting on a booster, I'm sure her knees would be at her chest!

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MrsGokWantstogocampingagain · 03/09/2009 10:03

We have a Renault Grand Espace and it is lovely. Three seats in the middle that all move independantly from each other. Two seats in the back which are not tiny. A decent boot area.

All seats come out so you have a huge great van should you need it, great for collecting things from Ikea

A full tank took us down to Cornwall, trips down there and back again.Think it was something like 470ish miles.

I luuuuuuurve my Grand Espace

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Nemoandthefishes · 03/09/2009 10:06

We have a zafira which is fine for the minute but can see it being a problem in a couple of years as they all get taller. I really really want a chrysllar grand voyager...dream

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cuillan · 04/09/2009 22:26

I'm so with you mrsgok - i too LOVE my Grand Espace. It does everything i need a car to do and carries my 4 kids and dogs very comfortably.
I can also confirm that our trip to Cornwall and back again was done on not much more than 1 tank - FABULOUS !!!
I refuse to drive any other car !!!!
Hurrah for Espaces

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Deeeja · 04/09/2009 22:34

Ford Galaxy for me. Lots of headspace, can put seats down easily, kids love being in it. Fits four car seats easily, could even get in 5 if needed. Fantastic!

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MrsGokWantstogocampingagain · 05/09/2009 10:24

Woohoo!! cuillan. We have had different Espaces over the years and then we had to settle for a Toyota Previa and apart from the sliding door, which was useful, I hated it. SO I borrowed some money from the credit union, put the Previa in as part ex and we got our gorgeous Grand Espace.

It is just so spacious. It was full to the gunnells of camping stuff and handled it beautifully. On the motorway DH was having trouble staying within the speed limit. I know that sounds daft but it drives so nicely that if you don't keep your eye on the speedo you just don't realise what speed you are doing. Every now and then a little voice from the back would pipe up 'Daaaad, watch your speed' whoops!!

We then added a boat to the camping stuff and trundled off to Tewkesbury for a bit of a camp with a lake there.

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Hassled · 05/09/2009 10:31

We have a Honda FRV. 3 seats across the front, 3 seats across the back. So wide, but not people carrier big, IYSWIM.

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posieparker · 05/09/2009 10:35

Grand Espace, fits 4 children and a large pushchair and even a scooter or three!!

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posieparker · 05/09/2009 10:36

Our Grand Espace has 5 seats in the back that are interchangable (therefore all proper) and move on magnets very easily.

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Ceolas · 05/09/2009 11:41

What's the boot space like in the Grand Espace with all seats up?

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MrsGokWantstogocampingagain · 05/09/2009 12:11

Nice and big, one of the biggest we've found.

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