Childminders - who's got an MPV / People Carrier? ADVICE PLEASE.......

[HellyBelly]

Hi again

I've selling my Vauxhall Frontera and with the money I'm getting a people carrier. Not sure how much I'll have to spend but should be between £5000 - £6500?

Any advice, opinions etc????

Want one that doesn't guzzle the fuel too much so not really an automatic (as believe these use more fuel?)

Want to get somes idea's before actually selling my car.

Thanks

Thanks feelingold - i never reverse now as my 4x4 has a boot that opened like a door so needs loads of room too - will look at yours as would be nice to stick with diesel!

didnt say anyone was a bad mother!!!
Good luck with car hunt!

Was calling myself a bad mother

Thanks for the advice about the car, will look into them both (and any others people suggest)

Thanks

Anyone else done research and know about this stuff.

I know JellyJelly did but I can't remember what she said?

They are probably too expensive but my 'old' family used to have a crysler grand voyager...

it had LOADS of room for people and luggage, and was very comfortable.

My friend had a chrysler grand voyager, who is also a childminder, but she got rid of it cos she said it guzzled petrol and she got a Ford Galaxy Diesel which she likes and which costs her much less to run.

Yep - I have a Fiat Uylesse - great but (for me a problem) only 7 seats....lots of boot space tho'

NannyL - would love one but I know they guzzle and feelingold has just said the same. Thanks for the advice though

Feelingold - I was told Ford Galaxy's guzzle too? I'll add them to my list to look into then but would defo have to be diesel!

Katymac - you have more kids than usual don't you? I forget who's who but I'm sure you are one of those with an assistant?? Anyway, 7 seats is defo enough for me

Hellybelly - My childminder friend does a 1.5 mile trip to school and back morning and teatime everyday, does various local small trips out to toddler groups etc at least 3 times per week and runs her 2 children about to various after school activities as well as it being their 'family' car for all of the usual weekend bits and pieces and she says she puts in £10-£15 worth of diesel per week!! I do about the same as her (except school which is just over 2 miles each way for me) and I use about £20 of diesel.

Oh goodie goodie, don't have to rule that one out then

Thanks for all your tips guys!!

Hi Hellybelly, one of my pals has a citroen, maybe a c3? a3 or something (great help eh?!) It's fab as it has heated seats, room at the back for 2 3 wheelers, not sure if that's with the 7 seats though..also has sat nav.

The Which car guide is quite useful, it costs about £7, but you could probably go & read & take notes in Asda , can do a proper comparison on fuel, space, safety etc.

I was talking to a childminder the other day and she loves her citroen synergie/peugeot 806. She has minds 5 children, seats 3 in the back (there's 3 seats in the back in some) Each of the 3 rear seats had car seats and stepping stools in the footwells so that the children could get themselves in. She was able to have the seats slid forward so there was room for buggies/bags/firstaid kits etc in the boot. She could rotate the middle row of seats so that all 5 children could talk together and she said that they all loved it. She got hers for less that £5000 on ebay! It's a diesel and does 40 odd mpg. She really loves that it has sliding doors so that she doesn't have to worry about where she parks. Now that both Citroen & Peugeot have brought out new models (C8 & 807) the old ones are around at low prices
Hope that helps

all at sea....

does she have the children facing each other so some in car seats are travelling back wards??

If so im sure ive heard / read that this is unsfae and should only be used going forwards

(not sure why that would be tho, except for babys in group 0 seats which si obviouse!)

So she said. She didn't say how old the 'rear facing children were, but was delighted that journeys were so sociable!

Dh (knowledgeable in these things - designs cars for a living) says you want a Galaxy.

I've got a 12 seater LDV Pilot diesel minibus - great for childminders, their great aunts and next door's cat!! It's not used as the family vehicle though, but is good for fuel consumption, is smaller than transit van so still parks in normal width car park spaces (not if it has a height barrier!) and currently is home to a single, a double and a triple buggy. Is a P registration (how old does that make it??) and cost £5000. The children love it.

There may be problems with insurance for rear facing seats (which my old bus had) although, apparently, would be the safest place for a toddler/older child to sit because it reduces neck injury!

ULYSSES but im probably boring you now!!

I've been very happy with my Nissan Serena 7 seater, also available as an 8 seater. They are alot cheaper than many other mpvs too.