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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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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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looneytune · 30/09/2010 11:42

I've only ever heard bad things about Zafiras and childminding. I have a VW Sharon and have been very happy with it (always have a double and a single in the boot, no probs, also can have triple and single at same time!) but it's time for me to get an 8 seater (so if anyone can recommend an 8 seater, that would be good too :))

Shoshe · 30/09/2010 11:55

mazda bongo 8 seats, huge boot diesel, and just brill.

(Can you tell I have one)

looneytune · 30/09/2010 12:02

Shoshe - I've heard you say that before but it's the look of them that's put me off - can I get past that do you think?

Shoshe · 30/09/2010 12:32

I know, its big, its ugly, but it is brill Loony, will have to bring mine for you to see, you will be converted.

Shoshe · 30/09/2010 12:34

plus you are higher than everybody else so can look down on the plebs

fruitshootsandheaves · 30/09/2010 12:38

I have a free 8 seater sitting on my drive

Peugeot 806

childmindermk · 30/09/2010 12:57

i can highly reccommend the VW caravelle!

It has 8 seats, but you can get them with 9! Also has a large boot and very spacious in the seating areas, making it easy to get lots of baby seats in comfortably!

I love mine to bits and find it fab to drive too!

Danthe4th · 30/09/2010 13:04

The fiat ulysee is fab, I can fit the double urban detour in the boot while using all the 7 seats, its the same as the peugeot and citroen just different engines.
They can also be 8 seaters by putting a bench seat in the back instead of 2 seats.

Original poster

sydenhamhiller · 30/09/2010 13:18

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

Any experience of Toyota Corollas?

OP posts:

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.

looneytune · 30/09/2010 13:45

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

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.

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

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:

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.

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

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!

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:

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 :)

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.

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!!

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.

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!

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.

badgerhead · 02/10/2010 07:58

The newer style Kia Sedona is great! I have an 07 reg one & also have a phil & teds
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
It has electric sliding doors, is fantastic to drive & I love it to bits

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