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Multiple births

When do you start showing with twins? What is life with twins like? Join the conversation on our Multiple Births forum.

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Original poster

Best car for a family of six???

21 replies

MyFourGirls · 18/10/2010 10:00

Hi there... We're looking to buy a 7 seater for about 2 grand... any recommendations for those who have one already - the day to day with twins and two older children...a car that seems reliable and has good features and space for pushchairs etc...

Any advice gratefully received...cutting it fine - I'm 33 weeks with twinnies and we've got a citroen berlingo!

We're leaning towards a SEAT Alhambra or Toyota Previa...

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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tegan · 18/10/2010 10:17

We have a kia sedona which is wonderful. i find the side sliding doors a god send for getting the lo's out when in a car park. they are probably the cheapest 7 seaters you can buy

e3chick · 19/10/2010 14:26

The Prev if you can get one for that money. Definately. Check the format of seats though as they vary year to year.

I get a great deal of satisfaction from the sliding doors and there is plenty of space for us all.

accessorizequeen · 19/10/2010 23:30

We got a ford galaxy which is fine BUT sliding doors way more useful than I would have thought really (same as you two older dcs, then dts). Have heard good things about Previa, Toyotas generally very reliable. Don't forget about you & dh as well, you've got to feel comfortable driving it. I tried a few & it was like driving a bus! Although never tested the two you're looking at.

Poppyella · 20/10/2010 10:38

We've got a chrysler grand voyager, we liked the 2,2,3 seats because we also have 2 dogs! Big boot aswell. Not sure how much they are though. Sliding doors brilliant.

tegan · 20/10/2010 14:13

sedona has 2 2 3 seat but the 3 back seat is actually 2 removable seats with the midde belt being a lap belt.

We had a grand vayager but was very expensive for parts, lovely car tho

madhattershouse · 20/10/2010 14:16

Not a 7 seater but have you looked into a fiat multipla? 6 seats and great boot space. The Diesel version does 44 mpg, far more than people carriers.

madhattershouse · 20/10/2010 14:16

Oh and all 6 seats have 3-point belts.

accessorizequeen · 20/10/2010 23:02

Tis quite useful having that 7th seat for grandparent, friend etc. Although the multipla does appeal to me if only for the mpg!

1973magpie · 20/10/2010 23:22

I've got a diesel Galaxy and it does 40-45 mpg so not too different to the Multipla. Boot not huge when all 7 seats are in, probably could get umbrella-fold double buggy in, but not much else!

HTH

1973magpie · 20/10/2010 23:23

And all seats are 3-point belts too!

mel2005 · 23/10/2010 11:05

i have the new style galaxy with all seats up and have fitted most buggies in the boot, i can fit a baby jogger twinner and a phil and teds in the boot at once and the baby jogger twinner and mountain buggy double urban as well at the same time. also have had the easywalker duowalker, airbuggy double, jane powertwin etc in without much of a problem. you just need to move the seats forward as there is loads of room inside. all my four are in car seats so they take up more room. mine does 45mpg pottering around and 60+on a run. i had an airbag key fitted so i can pop my eldest in the front and the three behind when DH is not with us and i can then fit the bikes in the car as well as the mountain buggy double. the mountain buggy also fits in whole (unfolded) with the back seats down but i mainly have all the seats up.
my step mum has a kia sedona and has had nothing but trouble with it. bought it new and has spent more time in the garage than at home. she would love to sell it but resale price is bad. also my eldest almost got his fingers trapped in the sliding doors as he could get his hands in from the seat. sliding doors do make life easier in car parks.

oooggs · 27/10/2010 11:13

love my C8 (with the sliding doors!!!)

I have dts (3.6yrs) in the back 2 seats ds1 (nearly 7) behind the driver and ds3 (nearly 2) in the middle seat. with dh and I in the front.

I like having the seat 'missing' on the left hand side as easy for strapping the little ones in then when mil visists I pop it back in again.

love it

Ponders · 27/10/2010 11:33

An oldish Previa/Estima/Lucida would def be your best bet at that price, but make sure it's diesel!

Ponders · 27/10/2010 11:39

Examples:
\link{http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/toyota/previa/postcode/ub70bd/radius/1501/price-to/3000/sort/priceasc/maximum-mileage/up_to_100000_miles/fuel-type/diesel/price-from/1000\Previa}
\link{http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201040370116072/sort/priceasc/usedcars/price-to/3000/price-from/1000/maximum-mileage/up_to_100000_miles/model/estima/make/toyota/postcode/ub70bd/radius/1501/page/1?logcode=p\Estima}
\link{http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201036367610789/sort/priceasc/usedcars/price-to/3000/maximum-mileage/up_to_100000_miles/price-from/1000/fuel-type/diesel/model/lucida/make/toyota/radius/1501/page/2/postcode/ub70bd?logcode=p\Lucida}

(Estima & Lucida are "grey" imports)

Original poster

MyFourGirls · 27/10/2010 16:54

Thanks all...all v useful...it's amazing how few mpv's have sliding doors - we already have them on our berlingo and i'm really going to miss them if we don't have a vehicle with them...esp with twins

we could stretch to a bit more to spend but not much...

OP posts:

Ponders · 27/10/2010 19:36

You could get quite a recent Citroen C8 with high mileage for about £2.5K, but they are not renowned for reliability...

ragged · 27/10/2010 19:47

We have a Kia Sedona and it's a GodAWful nightmare (ours cost 3k, too). Has been a death trap (we are suing the dealer) and otherwise very expensive to run.

Apparently Galaxy/Alhambra/Sharan is quite difficult to work on if you are at all into DIY maintenance. But I like the Galaxy/Alhambra/Sharan.

Friend with 4 at home who has tried every MPV out there, says that she would go for a larger vehicle with a flat front (so not like the Sedona or Previa) if she bought something else today, like a Ford Transit. She also is trying to talk us into a S-Max. Of the cars she's owned, I liked her VW Caravelle best.
We are thinking about a Lucida or Estima or Serena (all Nissans, I think).

ragged · 27/10/2010 19:49

I heard (from an owner who loves it otherwise) that the Gran Voyageur is very expensive to run, too; but a very comfy ride, he said.

Ponders · 27/10/2010 20:44

Serena is Nissan - supposed to be truly horrible, ragged.

\link{http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/nissan/serena-1993\Honest John on Serena}

Chrysler Grand Voyager with big petrol engine is v expensive to run - diesel would be cheaper - but \link{http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/chrysler/grand-voyager-2008/\Grand Voyager} only been around since 2008???

Lucida & Estima are import versions of Toyota Previa - no HJ review that I can find

GibberingGinger · 27/10/2010 21:16

We have a Fiat Ulysses. Its the same as the citreon C8 or peugeot 807. It's got huge, has loads of gizmos and stuff and sliding doors. However ours is unrealiable starting. Maybe its a model thing, or maybe its just our one. Who knows.

We got our 2litre diesel with only 50k miles (03 plate) for 6 grand this year. I'm sure you could pick one up cheaper than that.

Ponders · 27/10/2010 21:54

(fondly known as the Fiat Useless, GG....)

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