OK - big people carriers - which one? The good, the bad and the butt ugly!

[3sEnough]

Hi - I thought you chaps might have some useful input for me on this tricky issue - my dh is dead against a people carrier, even though we have now come to the conclusion that we can no longer all fit into our family car (audi A6 - bought new, dh loves it and SERIOUSLY loathes people carriers!) WE can't afford a 7 seat 4x4 and in any case I feel really cr.p about the CO2 emmissions, but we do need a new car. DH is car mad and hence is actually quite depressed about the thought of getting rid of ours and getting a 'butt ugly' one (which he thinks they all are!) Right - which do you lot recommend from the reliability, cost of purchase and ownership slant and of course - isn't butt ugly. So far we are thinking Toyota previa (I like but dh thinks looks like large cockroach!) and he prefers the Ford galaxy with dvd and v6 engine!! TIA

I must admit, I did consider it, but we only have 2 kids (so far), so have gone for the estate option (in fact 2 - merc + volvo!).
As for people carriers - we've hired a Vauxhall Zafira in the past. Great for space; drives like sh*te and the visibility is poor. Once had a BMW X5 out of the car pool at work - they are wonderful to drive. Best driving position ever, but DW wouldn't let me get one due to Co2 emissions.
I know someone else at work who swears by the Ford Galaxy, but they are v. expensive if you want to get all the options and toys...
Have you thought about a bigger estate, e.g. E Class Merc?
Sorry. Not much help....

toyota previa is at the end of its very long life and is going to be completely redesigned and relaunched this year so will depreciate like a stone. It was good when it came out but there are more modern alternatives which give you more for your money.

Ford galaxy has just been launched, has had great plaudits in the press, but I'd bear in mind that the last ford galaxy was consistently one of the most unreliable cars in the UK in all of the JD power surveys. reliability and warranty claims against it SHOCKINGLY bad. Not that that means this one will be as bad, but who knows? And it is too early to tell so far.

If you don't need something as colossal as a people carrier the Ford c-max and the renault scenic grande (or something) are meant to be good - the c-max much more like a drivers car than the galaxy. Renault always good design but watch out for reliability etc.

Have you looked at the what car website? Good reviews but more importantly it has reviews posted by people who actually own and drive the cars, which can be useful to highlight problems that everyone or lots of people have with that car.

we have a galaxy and it is excellent my advise is dont go for a new one you will get a lot more for your money if you go for one a few years old as they have just bought out a new model. Its the best 7 seater on the market and we love ours!

we have a three day old!!! vw transporter and we are lovin it lovin it lovin it ...big though!

We have justbought a multipla, only have one child but every weekend we take dp mum with her mobility buggy and her dp who is huge out in the carand they were struggling getting into our estate. We love it and cannot imagine driving a concentional car again, it is ugly in some people's eyes but beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

we havent got a people carrier but are also toying with the idea. we liked the ford s-max, not quite as big as the galaxy but dh had a test drive and liked it. we also like the look of the espace but havent looked into reliability etc. the new galaxy is nice too

we have had galaxy previa and chrysler and trasnporter seems the best to be

have i got a cold? 'best to me

the multipla only seats 6 (but all in comfort) and most people think it is fugly - I love it. It is in the Museum of MOdern art in New york doncha know. Also it was Tom cruise's wedding car

I had a zafira over christmas and hated it

Also read the reviews - the multipla drives really well (even Jeremy clarkson liked it - not that that should be a recommendation )

dh has a very whizzy BMW estate but we always choose the multipla to go out for the day.

I'll shut up now

I think if my car mad dh could choose he would go for a voyager with pimped windows and dvd

I am looking for one too, dh likes the mitsubishi delicia, looks like a previa but a bit more van like, (or meatier if you are dh)

anyone got one/heard about them? think they are quite rare...

trouble with a lot of them is that you loose boot space when you have all seats up.

not the case with a previa though cos a friend has one.

voyager rocked about like the Dawn Treader
Transporter is what you need if you have 3+

Thanks so much guys - hadn't realised about the previa having a revamp! Dh will be miffed that he missed that nugget in all him car mags! (I don't think he reads the people carrier pages with quite the same enthusiasm as he does the porsche, RS6 etc. pages!) We're going round in circles here - we peeked in the ford s-max but I can't bring myself to pay £18,000 (if we had the bits we wanted) for a car that neither of us really like! Funny that everybody mentions the galaxy - when I look online at the reviews everybody seems to love the way they drive and the practicality but all agree that the ford service is terrible. We would go second hand though (money tight) and hence just go to our local garage who are cheap and fab at keeping cars going beautifully (and are 1/3 of the price of Audi service - I exaggerate not!) HMMM - decisions, decisions. I shall have a quick peek at second hand merc e classes (can you fit 3 big boosters across the back?)

Are you sure you are not being a trifle assumptive about the 4x4 CO2 emmissions compared with a large MPV?

ours is silver

how many children do you have? I've got a Toyota Corolla verso 7 seater and love it, and it seats three children in car seats comfortably in the middle row, but is only the size of a normal estate so is easy to park.

Before that I had a much-loathed VW Sharan. What a pile of poo, it didn't even have electric windows or remote central locking, despite being quite new.

We also had a Grand Voyager once - top-of-the-range, bought from new and it broke down with serious, unrelated faults 3 or 4 times within the first two months. Somewhat put me off Chrysler...

I was surprised that Jermemy liked the multipla as it isuch an un Clarkson like car. Dp loves driving his.

Handlemecarefully - I know that the big MPV's are not great (in the 200's) but the XC90, discovery and 7 seat 4x4's are in the 300's - a big jump up.

We've got the VW Caravelle - the 7 seater version of the Transporter - and I loathe it! You can't park it in multi storey car parks a sit is too tall - the suspension is like a van so you feel every bump - other peoples' kids get car sick in it as it is so bumpy - do not consider!!

gosh ours is fab scot

i have hated the chrysler ( we have had 2) The transporter is like an airline ( fab suspension - dont feel speed bumps) so smooth and quiet.

how old is yours scott?

we had a galaxy once - poo poo poo
leaked squeaked and creaked
dont do fords!

We've got a diesel XC90 and the CO2 emissions are 239, according to Parkers

I've never found an MPV I like, we used to have an old Merc estate which was good if you don't mind the backwards facing rear seats, and vast running costs.

OOH - coco - that's low (or rather, just the same as a previa etc! - now all I need to do is be able to afford the blooming thing!) WE're getting more and more confused as we drive more cars.....I may just put a child on the roof instead!

We have an XC90 - lovely car - but we do live in a rural area so need a 4x4.