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Original poster

good 7 seater car for cm-ing?

33 replies

sydenhamhiller · 30/09/2010 11:22

Have a nagging feeling this question might not be allowed for some kind of marketing/ lobbying reason, but going to chance it!

I've been childminding for a year, and change of hours/ numbers means that I really need to change my car to a 7 seater to make my life easier.

We were thinking about a Zafira, but see on another thread that the Zafira has a tiny space with all the seats up, and as I do have a Phil and Ted, I don't want to have to take the wheels off everytime we use the car :o)

So can anyone recommend a car? Don't have much money (who does? :o)) so looking at the less-expensive end of the market...

Many thanks

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Mum2Luke · 22/10/2010 23:47

I looked at the S-Max, we were told by the Ford guy that if we had adults in the back (such as my 2 older 'kids' who are 20 and 17 resepctively) they would be a bit uncomfortable due to low roof in back.

I like the Zafira but is it roomy enough for 20 yr old, 17 year old, my 8 year old, my 6'2 tall hubby and me? Would it cope with lots of luggage when we go on camping holidays? My hubby takes half the house with him such as BBQ, bikes and sun loungers!

This is why we are looking at the new Galaxy shape but one about 5 yrs old as they changed it in 2006. Grin

TeamEdward · 16/10/2010 19:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DiscoDaisy · 16/10/2010 18:44

Voyager or Grand voyager. The Grand has a bigger boot. The best thing about them ius the seat configuration It's 2,2,3 which means you don't have to move the middle row to get to the back row. I cried the day I sold mine. Sad

HSMM · 16/10/2010 18:40

Toyota Previa. Loads of boot space too

Elliea123 · 16/10/2010 12:53

I got an 8 seater Toyota Previa at Blackbusch car auction a year ago, cost me £1000 (it's a P reg), and it's been great!! Bargain, even if it only lasts for a few years it's well worth looking at the auctions x

Mum2Luke · 12/10/2010 11:33

Will have to see what sort of budget we have, we are being constantly squeezed of spare cash now that Tax Credits are going and in 2013, CB is being taken off us too.

Have to hope and pray the VW keeps going for at least another year or 2 the ways things are going. Its probably the best car I have had and has paid more than its £6,000 I bought it for.

southernsoftie · 10/10/2010 14:01

What about a Peugeot 5008? It is not a huge car but the seats are v flexible and easy to put up/down, and the middle row seats all slide forwards/back individually. Lots of cubby holes too. Boot is tiny with all 7 seats in place though.

Mum2Luke · 08/10/2010 18:08

We haven't got the money for a new one, it will have to be anything between £5K and 10K and you don't get much for that these days.

I did find a new shape galaxy the other day for £9K and an 07 Zafira for £7K and 8K.

Guess its going to have to be a loan for one though.

badgerhead · 02/10/2010 07:58

The newer style Kia Sedona is great! I have an 07 reg one & also have a phil & teds Grin
You need the newer style one as you then can get 3 car seats in across the middle & the rear two seats can be accessed through the boot, which I usually reserve for the older children Wink
It has electric sliding doors, is fantastic to drive & I love it to bits Smile

AJ27 · 02/10/2010 07:16

A Galaxy would be perfect for you but you do need a screwdriver to attache/detach the rear seats. The Zafira and Kia Carens have seats that flip up and down easily. The Toyota Verso has an okay boot space when seats are in the back, but again you need a screwdriver to have the seats in or out. The Zafira and Kia are very economical for a 7 Seater. Or you could get a Fiat Scubu (8 Seater) which is a bit like a minibus. There's loads of choice out there - I used this website when looking for a 7 Seater: www.7-seater-cars.co.uk.

Mum2Luke · 01/10/2010 16:27

I would like a newer car, I have a VW Sharan and am loathed to part with it as its a workhorse - its a 1.9 TDi and very economical. Its also a T Reg and 12 yrs old so if it doesn't pass MOT next march am looking for new one.

I am looking to buy a new shape Galaxy (2006 -) so if anyone has one and can tell me what its like to drive, practical things like the folding seats and is it economical.

I have thought about a Zafira, my neighbour has one but whether I could get my travel system pram in it as well as the kids is another thing!

PinkCanary · 01/10/2010 12:56

I have a zafira as other local childminders recommended one. Same thoughts as everyone else re boot and moving seats. But it is very attractive car compared to others that are on the market. And I've managed fine once i knew its limitations.

(You always know you're at a childminder group when all you can see is a car park full of Zafiras!)

Might need to revert back to car-less soon though as just had renewal quote through. Turns out am now in an uninsurable postcode. They've put my compulsary excess up to £350 and doubled my actual insurance quote to £1500. When i rung to negotiate they basically said it was so high because they didn't want my business because of where I live.

vicki2010 · 01/10/2010 09:46

ford galaxy seven seater,can fit a double maclaren, single maclaren and with one of the back seats down a double three wheeler..diesel..great to drive...loads of leg room and reliable got mine for about £5500 low milage...highly reccomend!

wouldnt touch the zafira being a childminder you'll regret it!!

Shoshe · 01/10/2010 09:08

A graco DuoSport fits in the boot of a Zafira, ( I had one) but I did need to hold it in with a bungee or it fell out when I opened the boot,

The Mothercare Duolite and the Mamas and Papas Aria Twin are all the same size as the Graco, as well so should fit.

Mummyto2xx · 30/09/2010 20:48

hi, i have a 53 reg zafira and fell in love with it as soon as i saw it, its a very comfty car and easy top drive,

however as others have already said its a bit of a pain in the bum removing car seats in the middle row when needing to put up the back seats,

best idea for this would be to leave the seats up, the boot space is next to nowt can fit a single maclaren or mothercare strollers in boot could have a couple of them stacked on top of each other

but am having a very hard time in finding a double that can fir currently have the maclaren triumph and cant fit that in even with hoods taken off the handles are too long and wont fit in ggrrr

hope you find the right car for you soon :)

Original poster
sydenhamhiller · 30/09/2010 14:23

Oh, would do my head in too - with 2 small mindees in fixed seats, and own children not, don't want to be faffing with taking car seats out every couple of journeys...

Of course Isofix car seats would sort that out, but can't really justify buying 2 new lots of car seats for a car I may/ may not buy! :o)

Have been wanting a Zafira for about 3 years,(how sad is that - not diamonds, sports car but a Zafira...). Feel suddenly unfaithful looking at other cars :o)

OP posts:
tassisssss · 30/09/2010 14:15

syden, yip you have to take the fixed carseats out of the middle row to move it forward to pop the back seats up...not a huge deal perhaps but it did my head in!

looneytune · 30/09/2010 14:14

Oh don't worry, I know you were teasing but I seemed to be getting more replies than you hence me thinking best to start new thread Wink

Shoshe · 30/09/2010 14:12

You have to slide the middle row of seats forward to access the back row of seats, and then pull the back down of the nearest seat, (so even with isofix, this cane be a pain, with seat fixed by seat belts impossible, as you have to undo them every time.

Original poster
sydenhamhiller · 30/09/2010 14:09

Tassisssss - thanks for that. I have Phil and Ted, which is a beast of a thing - think I may have to take wheels off whichever MPV I get.

I have a teeny car at the mo, and live in London (parking isshooos) so want to get the 'smallest' 7 seater I can, so initially thought Zafira. If I understand correctly, were you saying that if you wanted to convert from boot to 3rd row of seats, you'd have to take the car seats off 2nd row first?

Thanks!

(And Looneytunes -feel bad now, was just teasing :o))

OP posts:
fruitshootsandheaves · 30/09/2010 14:06

Didnt like my Espace, too unreliable but then at least it didn't terminally break towing the caravan on the M25

tassisssss · 30/09/2010 13:49

We've had a zafira and now have a toyota corolla verso and the biggest advantage is the flexibility of the back seats...you can pop the back seats up and down without having to move the middle row (which is such a pain if you've got big fixed carseats in it). I love popping out with 3 kids, deciding to take friend's kid home with us and just popping an extra seat up...or if I get to the supermarket and have tonnes of shopping to unload into the boot I can just put the back row away. So, I'm saying it's ultra flexible and that really, really works for me.

The boot is still piddly (v much the same as the Zafira). I can get my maclaren single in but only if I jam it which is fine as it's on it's last legs but if it were new I might be a bit more precious about wedging the foamy handles in!

Disadvantage of the verso I think is that there's a bit less leg room in the back row (I'm fine with that for age of my wee ones but might be an issue with bigger kids or if you want to transport adults in the back row.

Putting double buggy in middle row along footwell bit has worked for us.

looneytune · 30/09/2010 13:45

Yeah sorry about that Blush. Will start a new thread :)

RosieGirl · 30/09/2010 13:42

I love my Renault Espace especially with its 5 star safety rating, although boot space can still an issue.

Original poster
sydenhamhiller · 30/09/2010 13:18

Thanks for feedback.... more on 7 seaters? ( Winklooneytune)

Any experience of Toyota Corollas?

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