Ford C-Max or Vauxhall Meriva? Help!

[Oodle]

Just had my third child so our VW Polo has to go! We need a car that fits 3 child seats in the back. Would prefer a small mpv that seats 5, with good boot space. My research has narrowed it down to a Ford C-Max or Vauxhall Meriva. Do these cars fit 3 car seats in the back (we have 2 week old baby, 2 year old and a 5 year old on a booster seat)? If you own one, do you like it? Have heard the Meriva has terrible visibility though. Or are there any other cars you could recommend? Many thanks!

I can't comment on the Meriva but we use to have a c-max and it was brilliant - suprisingly good quality and spacious in the back (though with 2 dc's I don't know about 3 seats in the back) We did hire a vauxhall zafira once on holiday and thought the quality was rubbish - if i was to choose between a ford and vauxhall I'd go for the ford.

Thanks Betty, I'm leaning towards the Ford, does anyone else have any experience of these cars or could recommend anything else?

I LOve my Cmax! easy, even fun to drive, great visibility etc. I can't get 3 seats in the back but that's cos dd2 is ina Britax renaissance and it is vv big (dd1 in booster). Also, the top tip is to put the stage 2 seat in the middle - I've not tried this cos usually only have the 2 in the back.

Think misdee gets 3 in the back of hers?

Boot not great though.

Thanks Slouchy - anyone else?

I have no exp of the C-Max but have driven my sis's meriva and the visibility is pretty bad - you've heard right. Sis has a friend whose meriva got written off when she was pulling out of a junction and a car hit her - she blames it on the blind spot. She didn't see it at all.

Why have you narrowed down to those too? Here are two places you should look to help you decide:

safety ratings

and

mumsnet thread about cars for three children

HTH

TWO not too! TWO!

I love my vauxhall Meriva, though only have the one car seat so can;t comment if its anygood for three. There is quite a big blind spot becasue of the fornt pillars but tbh you adjust to that quite quickly before killing too many cyclists and road-crossing old ladies.

Mind you - previously had a Ford KA and having wrestled with a car seat in that anything would have been and improvement.

Wouldn;t buy a Meriva new - I got a fantastic deal on a 6 month old Meriva with 5,000 on the clock for about £7,500. Great value for money and pretty good on petrol too.

Thanks that's really helpful!

Have recently had a c-max with newborn/second stage plus two boosters in the back for 6 year old and 3 year old. A tight fit doing up the seat belts but it got easier when the baby went in the middle in his Renaissance. A lovely car, we had a speedy 2l diesel, I recommend it.

Another vote for the Meriva! I love mine. The visibility thing isn't a problem - just lean forward or back a bit to make sure you can see clearly!

I got a good deal on mine too, Kewcumber, 6 months old, 3,000 miles - £9,000.