Renault Grand Scenic - good cm car?

[Ilovebagsandbruuuce]

Am just starting out as a newly registered childminder so the time has come to part with my much loved fiesta.

Looking for a 7 seater, and thought the Renault Grand Scenic could be perfect. Good price for 2nd hand and a few to choose from.

So...good points/bad points in terms of childminding???

(Am a bit rubbish at parking so a smallish 7 seater would be ideal where i can fit ina twin stroller).

Not a CM, but have the car! I can fit in a Maclaren Techno single when it's a 7 seater, but you need to take the twin stroller with you to see if you could fit it in. I had tried several other 'smaller' 7 seaters and only the Renault would fit the pushchair so it was a done deal, to me. (Volkswagon too expensive, citroen and peugeot couldn't fit the pushchairs).

If you can get a model with some of the extras the car is great

• storage under the floor in the front seats and the middle seats
• The rear 2 seats are very easy to lift up and put away
• the remote thingy is great, can leave it in your handbag/pocket and the car will unlock when you walk up to it, and lock when you walk away and you start the car with a push of a button.
• The rear sensors are great, and my car displays where the 'obstruction' is at the back of the car (ie which side)
• visibility is great, as you are a little bit higher, and the corners of the car are far more visible compared to other cars
• the middle seats can be moved forward and backwards so you can adjust the leg room.
• some models will have built in visors for both the middle and the rear seats.
• can get a built in sat nav which has the controls in the centre compartment (be careful, some models don't actually HAVE a centre compartment!!!)
• mobile will automatically touch base with the car system via bluetooth when you get in so you can receive/make calls easily and hands free
• because of the height the younger children are much easier to get in and out of their car seats - hardly any bending!

If there's anything else, I'll get back to you!!! (Only had it a week so still in my honeymoon period!)

Wow thank you. That is a really useful response and serves to confirm my suspicions that this is the car for me. What plate is yours? I'd be looking between 04-05 ish for my price range, not new unfortunately.

I have this car on an 06 plate. Lovely to drive and lots of refinements.
Big down side though is that you can only put booster seats on rear (flip up) seats. No full size stage 1/2 seats.
If I had to make the car buying decision again, I would go back to my massive Toyota Lucida which had 8 seats which you can configure in umpteen different ways with room for double buggy and other junk as well. Plus sliding doors which are just fabbo!!

Make sure it has had its brakes checked there was a safety recall.

Sorry no idea but can I hijack and just ask if there are any down sides to the Lucida? (I'm after an 8 seater)

Down sides to my Lucida were that it was fairly elderly so no passenger airbags or ABS etc. sliding door only on one side and middle seats in rear only had lapbelts.
But having said that I put Britax 'eclipse' and 'first class seats' in there and used the lap belts with 'mighty tite' seat belt tensioners and those seats weren't going anywhere!
Other than that a really lovely comfy ride, roomy enough for the children to climb in and walk to their seats and loads of room for nappy changing (or emergency potty use)
Probably not as fuel efficient as a modern car though.
Newer imports are available and I am seriously considering one!

Hello, I have a Peugeot 307 sw with 7 seats and I love it. I do agree that the boot is a bit small when all the seats are up, you would definitely get a double in with one of the rear seats down (so 6 seats), otherwise you would have to try it and see. You can definitely get a full size car seat in the rear seats, my ds has a Concord Lift (or something) and it's massive). The middle row of seats are three full-size seats, so easy to get three seats along there.

Mine is a 56 plate and I paid 5,200 for it which I thought was quite good, it has a panoramic sunroof, parking sensors, cruise control etc. The downsides are boot space and the fact that the rear seats don't fold flat into the floor, as they do on the Zafira (but can't get 3 seats along the back seat) or the Grand Picasso (more expensive).

I have a Grand Scenic.

High up position is good for driving and strapping children into car seats.
Middle row easily fits two adults and a toddler car seat.
Adjustable seats in middle row useful
Built in sunvisor in middle row good
I love the push button start and automatic handbrake
Good storage in floor and little pockets in doors and centre arm rest.

The only think I would say is that the rear seats, the leg room can be a bit cramped. DD is 9 and fits in OK but I wouldn't like to do a longer journey like that. They are not suitable for adults.
I'm not sure about what car seats fit into rear seats, as I only use booster cushions or none.

I would definitely consider one again.

Just to add to my previous post, if you are getting the Grand Scenic and want to get ISO-fix seats get the fully universal ones, not the semi-universal ones!!

Just went through hell today trying to get the car seat. The semi-universal - with the bar at the front, the bar is too short to go all the way down to the bottom of the under floor storage (apparently how you have to have it as the lid is not strong enough to take the weight!) - even the longest one. The universal one also needs a top tether strap purchased in order to anchor it behind the seat.

TBH I think the universal one is better anyway, but as most places don't have them in stock you will be guided towards the semi-universal.

When all seats are in use the boot is not that big, so test out your pram, but the rear ones individually disappear into the floor when not needed.

V light to drive.

The front passenger airbag can be turned off with just a switch, freeing it up for a car seat

Child mirror so you do have eyes in the back of your head

The diesel is more economical if you do a lot of miles and/or plan to keep it for quit
e some time. The 1.5 is not sluggish but the 1.9 pulls away quicker.

The middle 3 seats are not a bench, unlike the zafira, but move independently which gives flexibility with car seat positioning.

Fitting isofix seats is a pita -ours was listed as appropriate but it's so difficult to get ours in and out,we just leave it in the car permanently.

Lots of really useful posts, so thank you.

To update - I got my Grand Scenic this week, a 1.5dci 04 plate. Although its a bit older than i would have liked, i LOVE it!!! Its sturdy, feels solid, roomy and really nice to drive. Am very pleased with it.

Just need to find a twin stroller which folds up really small to fit in the boot with all seats up. Any suggestions?

Mothercare has a double stroller which folds upwards rather than sidewards, which fits into our boot!