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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

CM Club: All those who have a PEOPLE CARRIER.............

43 replies

looneytune · 09/10/2006 10:25

Would you mind naming your vehicle and telling us what you think of it, like a mini review? A couple of us are about to buy a people carrier and it would really help with making a choice.

Thanks

OP posts:

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StrawberryFULLMoonOWOWOWWWWWWW · 09/10/2006 10:28

nice one....am waiting....

Original poster

looneytune · 09/10/2006 10:46

Would also be really helpful to know which are economic on fuel

OP posts:

LoveMyGirls · 09/10/2006 12:54

i have one but i dont think mine is a good example of what to buy infact i would say steer clear of renault espaces! but to be fair mine was bought for £200 and i've spent £500 on it, its just been alot of hassle and i didn't have the money to spend on it i only bought it because i was/ am skint and the engine died in my old car so i thought i might as well buy a bigger car as i thought i would get more customers as it is i havent and so now im even more stuck.

LoveMyGirls · 09/10/2006 12:55

fuel is costing me about £15 per week.

badgerhead · 09/10/2006 12:59

I have a Mazda MPV, its a 7 seater with sliding doors. Ours is the diesel & therefore quite economical, for a large car, it has a 2.0 l engine & we also tow a large caravan with it.
I prefer cars with sliding doors as it is easier to get the children in & out in tight spaces.
They no longer make them new, now it is a Mazda 5 which is slightly smaller & is not heavy enough to tow our caravan.

Twoandabump · 09/10/2006 13:11

I have a Mitsubishi Chariot (imported Spacewagon).

7 seats, but the back row not easy to get folk in, but the middle row seats do slide, but not if you have seats strapped in!

It is a great looking car, very bling lol, but as we use it as a 5 seat with huge boot it is OK.

Again, tows a caravan! It gets about 25-28 around town and 30's on the motorway. It is a 2.4 petrol engine, but an ecotech one.

It does cost for parts though!

Twoandabump · 09/10/2006 13:13

Have to agree with the Espace. One mindee mum has one, it ia an R reg, and is off the road again.
They have just fitted a new clutch, and now don't know if they can repair it or not!!

tobysmumkent · 09/10/2006 13:15

Message withdrawn

CwmbranChildminder · 09/10/2006 13:38

Hi - I bought a 7seater recently for my childminding business and I must say I tested every 7 seater/drove them and fully inspected and went on various websites to get the run down. At first I was looking at a Galaxy or VW Sharan. Then after looking for 2months we came across a GRAND SCENIC. Think they only started making the 7seater scenic from 05. It is fab - looks great / extremly comfortable / the back 2 seats are better than the Zafira and fold down so simple and not clumpy or heavy. You can easily have 6 seats available and enough space for a decent boot. Also I can fit a double buggy in boot as well as having 7seats up.
We got 1.6 petrol as I dont do too many miles. My Dad has a 2litre Disel and he says ours is more powerful being petrol.
Hope this helps - I truely recommend the Renault megane GRAND SCENIC

HenniPenni · 09/10/2006 13:47

Nice one looney! We're looking at getting a MPV so this thread has great timing.

emmatom · 09/10/2006 13:56

I love the space and height of people carriers, but my vauxhall Sharan leaked water into the passenger footwell and was in the garage quite regularly.
My current Vauxhall Zafira has just cost me £1000 for a new fuel pump and makes a very odd squealing noise intermittently.

Bloody cars. The next car I buy is going to be Japaneese. According to Top Gear, you can drop a Toyota off a tall building and it will still go.

I am just so fed up of spending so much on repairs that I'm going Japaneese.

Ineedaholiday · 09/10/2006 17:51

Ive got a seat alhambra. Its diesel and seems to be qutie economical. Im putting in about £20 a week to do about 220 miles. Its also got nippy and doesnt drive like a van like the c8 which I had before it.
Its got 7 proper seats all with proper seat belts, no lap belts.
Ive currently got 3 stage 0-4 car seats in the middle row with space between them, back 2 seats have booster cushions and theres plenty of leg room. Ive got a big double buggy in the boot and sometimes that gets swapped over for a proper pushchair which just fits if its in bits.

FeelingOld · 09/10/2006 18:48

I have a Fiat Ulysees, its a 2L diesel and I love it. It has 7 seats which can be removed individually, loads of room, sliding rear doors (which are fab in car parks or tight spaces) and is economical to run and really nice to drive.
This is what I fit into it every day :-
back 2 seats - 2 booster seats (like booster cushions but with backs on)
middle row - 1 fixed 9months-4yrs seat in middle seat cos this can be fitted with the lap belt.
outer 2 seats - another fixed seat and another booster seat
front seat - this is where my 11 year old sits when all other seats full.
Boot space - 1 double buggy with 1 single buggy on top of it, 2 raincovers shoved under 2 back seats, 1 potty and changing bag, blankets and travel rug in 2 compartments (which are sort of above the wheels and have doors on them) and all school bags.
I think that's pretty good

I used to have a renault espace and had no probs whatsoever with it and the only reason I prefer the Ulysees is cos of the sliding doors.

Hope that helps loony

StrawberryFULLMoonOWOWOWWWWWWW · 09/10/2006 19:56

it was a zafira i saw yesterday..i do like them but find the inside ..a bit plain>!!!

StrawberryFULLMoonOWOWOWWWWWWW · 09/10/2006 20:01

and the mitsubishi chariot (new style) are luverly!! esp ones with wipe clean leather interior!..not bad price, but none within 200miles for me to see!

FeelingOld · 09/10/2006 20:14

A childminder friend of mine has a zafira and likes it as her family car (has 2 school age kids) but has to fold down one of the back seats to get her double buggy in (and it is one of the ones that folds up very neatly) so when she has lots of mindees she is unable to take her double buggy with her.

StrawberryFULLMoonOWOWOWWWWWWW · 09/10/2006 20:18

yes i thought the boot space with all seats in place was minute!

nannynick · 09/10/2006 20:40

Great thread, I'm looking at a upgrade to a 7 seater in the near future.

Out of interest, any views as to best value for money - I'm guessing some of the vehicles mentioned cost more than others.
What about insurance, are all these cars in the same group, or could there be big differences in insurance premiums?
Any views regarding if you should buy them new, a year old, or many years old?

Up till now, Zafira has been on my list to consider, though the boot space with all seats taken is an issue. Will have to look at the seat alhambra.

zaphod · 09/10/2006 20:46

I have a Toyota Previa, 8 seater, automatic. It has a huge boot, but is pricey to run. So far, so good regarding it breaking down, and it's a '95.

Twoandabump · 09/10/2006 20:55

I have 7 proper seats that you could seat adults in,and still have some boot space.

Problem is that it is a group 15 insurance, but it is really nice car to drive.

The back row of seats folds up and you get a huuuge bot by doing that.

Original poster

looneytune · 10/10/2006 09:37

Great. Keep them coming

OP posts:

jura · 10/10/2006 12:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

kittywits · 10/10/2006 12:45

We have a zafira, fantasic car. The family will expand again in March so we are attempting to by a 9 seater mercedes traveliner.

StrawberryFULLMoonOWOWOWWWWWWW · 10/10/2006 13:28

i like the alhambra too!!!

babydales · 10/10/2006 14:17

Mazda MPV the best car yet.

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