Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Other subjects

People carriers

136 replies

Kathleen · 04/09/2002 13:56

Our family car no longer big enough for us and thinking of moving up to a people carrier. Seat Alhambra and Toyota Picnic under consideration. Any comments appreciated.

OP posts:
bubbly · 02/06/2003 12:58

just posting to keep this EXTREMELY INTERESTING thread active....

sed · 02/06/2003 13:31

No one has mentioned the Honda Stream. Brilliant car - converts to 7 seats like the Zafira, but drives more like a car than a bus. We got one in April and I am so pleased with it!

Slinky · 02/06/2003 13:41

We have a Toyota Previa and I absolutely love it!

It is HUGE compared to some of the other MPVs - I had my heart set on a Ford Galaxy but after comparing boot space - went for the Toyota.

Last year, me, DH and 3 kids (6, 4 and 2) went to France and we packed 3 suitcases, 1 buggy, 2 sleeping bags, 3 duvets plus food supplies into our Previa WITHOUT a roof box and there was still room within the car.

When we looked around for an MPV - DH and I test-drove the Zafira and both of us hated it. We discounted the Galaxy/Sharon due to boot space. My friend has an Renault Espace and has had nothing but trouble with it so that put us off.

Other than the Toyota, I was interested in the Grand Voyager but at the time this was being knocked due to appalling safety records.

So Toyota Previa it was - a "V" reg, so one of the last of the old models, but we are planning to change over to the New Style (with the sliding doors both sides) later this year.

chanelno5 · 02/06/2003 13:42

We've just ordered a Chrysler Grand Voyager, now I've just read 2under2's message - eek! However, a friend of mine has one and has had no probs with it and absolutely loves it. We chose it because it is the longest people carrier we could find, so even if all 7 seats are in use, there is still plenty of room in the boot for luggage.

chanelno5 · 02/06/2003 13:44

Oh yes, Grand Voyager's safety records are much better now (thanks for reminding me, Slinky)

SamboM · 02/06/2003 13:45

We chose the Previa for the same reason, it's about the same size as a Grand Voyager.

lou33 · 02/06/2003 13:52

Sed is that the one replacing the Shuttle? I like the look of it.We have a Shuttle and it's great, also drives like a car.

Tetley · 02/06/2003 13:56

Another vote for the Galaxy - we've had it for 2 years now & I love it! We'll soon be going on our 3rd holiday to France (i.e. long drive) - but it's never uncomfortable as there's lots of room to move about - and lots of space for the luggage!

In fact if I've lost something its usually found in the depths of the car. It also acts as a storage unit for pushchairs, so that they don't clutter up the house!

I also remember those comments about the boot being the crumple zone, but we've only got 2 kids, so it's rare that anyone is in the back - only when grandparents are visiting - which is also when it's great having so may seats, as we don't have to take 2 cars when we go out for the day.

bubbly · 02/06/2003 14:10

ooh this is getting better none of these are on my short list I can see more research is in order ho hum

janh · 02/06/2003 14:56

We have the Peugeot 406 (2 litre TD) with the child seats in the back, it's a lovely car to drive in (except for an inexplicable unlocatable draught in your face in the front passenger seat) but when you have the 2 seats up you can get very little else in. (Plus it makes both our DSs travel sick, I think it's the smooth but soggy French suspension, DS1 always was but DS2 wasn't, and isn't in my car, so it's a point to consider!)

We wanted the Audi A6 - very similar in total space - but it was being restyled at the time and there weren't any (it's a company car so there was a deadline). You can get them with child seats in the boot but I don't know how easy it would be to find one second hand.

Both of them have a huge capacity for camping kit!

We used to have a Toyota Space Cruiser, which was the one before the Previa, it was narrower but the same basic design, much larger luggage space than all the Galaxies etc and you didn't have to remove the rear seats, you could fold them away to the sides - if you just fold one away you end up with a huge L-shaped space. (And it had belts for 8 although the 2 centre ones were lap belts.)

There is a 7-seater Toyota Avensis Verso now, kind of a replacement for the (6-seater) Picnic they used to make - might be worth a look? Same principle as the Honda Stream I think, and don't Mazda do one as well?

The best thing for me about all the biggies is the height - when we reluctantly got rid of the Space Cruiser (it was 12 years old and costing a lot) I got a Suzuki Wagon R instead because it's still high up - easier to get in and out of, good view out and it goes "coo-eee!" at me in enormous car parks.

suedonim · 02/06/2003 14:58

The Honda Stream is very popular here, too. What about the new Citroen - the C8, I think it's called. Anyone know about it?

wiltshirelass · 02/06/2003 15:02

anyone considered a toyota landcruiser as a 7 seat option to a people carrier (which I just can't face. still pining for my 2-seater, sob)

bubbly · 02/06/2003 16:08

Anyone just got back from school run/work or day out want to add anything????? Keep em coming peeps. thanks

helenmc · 02/06/2003 16:54

just had £1500 repair bill for 5 year old Renault espace!!!! Only done 48,000 miles.

BearintheBigBlueHous · 02/06/2003 17:21

What about non-people carriers, but cars that have enough room for two kids, maybe three in the back - we don't need a third row of seats or rear facing seats in the boot, but we do want the biggest possible boot space for all of our weekend/holiday stuff. We're looking at the Saab 95 estate at the minute but it's soooo pricey. However, cheaper makes don't seem to have the boot capacity, even the Volvo V70's boot isn't as big. Someone mentioned the big Mercedes earlier, but its boot is smaller than the Saab's too. Has anyone got a Saab - is it worth it? Great thread Kathleen BTW.

judetheobscure · 02/06/2003 17:27

Also had trouble with Renault Espace and considering changing. Two £500+ repair bills in the last year, one coming the day before we went on holiday necessitating hire of a minivan instead. Fumed all the way up to the Lake District Not easy to hire people carriers at short notice.

Our main trouble is fnding one with enough space. 4 children. We have to have a roof box for long journeys and even then it's squashed inside. Is the Toyota Previa any better.

Also, don't bother with normal opening doors, go for sliding otherwise you won't get the children out of the carpark.

Another vote for diesel too. One tank of petrol £55ish lasts nearly a month of school runs and shortish trips.

janh · 02/06/2003 17:40

Bear, when I was researching ours the Peugeot 406 and the Audi A6 estates had the biggest given boot space of the ones I looked at (up to 22K) - both bigger than the equivalent Volvo. (I didn't look at Saabs.)

Top Gear magazine has tables in the back of every single car currently available, including luggage space with back seat up and down.

We went in a VW Passat saloon on a taxi journey recently and that was huge inside the car, don't know how big the estate is though.

Jude, the Previa is better than the Espace for luggage space with 6 people in - plus you don't have to take any seats out, just fold them away. Don't know about the Grand Espace though.

suedonim · 02/06/2003 17:53

A friend has just got a Kia Sedona. We see them all the time here in Indonesia and if they can stand up to these roads they must be built like brick s**t-houses!

judetheobscure · 02/06/2003 18:02

Re the back seats in crumple zone - I can't see many people carriers being worse than a mini or other small hatchback. Certainly in collision with a low level car I would have thought they would be better off, though lorries perhaps a different story. Are there any definitive answers anywhere?

Incidentally Jeremy Clarkson is anti- any form of people carrier. Just becasue they're practical and not necessarily stylish or high-performance. I ignore most of what he writes as he has no concept of practicality.

RockingRosebud · 02/06/2003 21:05

Another vote for the Previa, it is huge though but mine has rear parking sensors which are very useful and make you look like a brilliant driver!

tallulah · 02/06/2003 21:07

I've got a Kia Carens. Seats 6 in 3 rows of 2, & the very back seats fold down to leave a big luggage space when not needed. Not too good on fuel (but comparable to Espace etc) tho they now make a diesel. Beauty is you get a big car for not much money. We also have air con, which I now couldn't live without!

My mum drives a Honda Civic. 5 seater with no middle bump so plenty of legroom for the back seat passengers, & a generous boot.

bloss · 03/06/2003 03:25

Message withdrawn

northernlass1 · 03/06/2003 08:57

We're looking too - dh seems to be obsessed with having a huge amount of space - every time I suggest something like a Scenic he snorts that it just doesn't have enough space! - we have ds (nearly 4) and dd (20m) a labrador and family that live 400 miles away.

Bloss - Would the Zafira fit us all in?

bubbly · 03/06/2003 09:55

bloss I think you've convinced me
Thanks everyione for your advice I'll let you know what we do. Decision making in my family is a long and painful process so we may be some time...

badjelly · 03/06/2003 11:01

can't really help but think the senic looks the nicest!