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Parenting

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Original poster

Parents of 3 or more. What car do you drive?

159 replies

girlsyearapart · 10/02/2010 12:34

Hi I am due in august with dc3. The dds will be 2 and 3 in September.Anyway we will struggle to fit into the car we have now so are looking to buy a new one.

I am not the world's most confident driver so I don't want a bus but would like a 7 seater so if dc4 ever makes an appearance we wouldn't have to change again.

Budget 5-7 grand.

Thanks.

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AAE · 10/02/2010 22:01

Citroen C4 Grand Picasso - sooooooooo easy to alter seats within seconds and as long as not basic model, really fab inside - I love the integrated sun blinds in the kid's seat windows! 3 proper car seats fit fine in back too. Even in 7 seat mode can fit maclaren in boot.

weasle · 10/02/2010 22:08

Was just going to post this same question as due dc3 in May. Interested to read the replies as have no idea where to start, thanks. Will look at S-max certainly.

cheesesarnie · 10/02/2010 22:10

have 3 dc and we have a ford fiesta and a morris 1000 we all fit.

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PotPourri · 10/02/2010 23:36

Just realised I wrote Peugeou 406, should have said 806 (durrr)

PotPourri · 10/02/2010 23:37

sleepwhenidie can an adult go in the back when there are the 4 seats in there?

Plonker · 10/02/2010 23:43

Zafira. Love it.

Original poster

girlsyearapart · 11/02/2010 07:10

weasle you go first then! let me know what you choose..

OP posts:

hollypocks · 11/02/2010 07:18

Peugeot 807, wonderful, loads of room and feels safe. Really happy with it

crankytwanky · 11/02/2010 07:27

Our bus has died so we're in the same position.

We are looking at old-school volvos though so you might like the Citroen picasso. They get great reviews online and as there are so many of them parts can't be much of a problem.

The Galaxy/Sharran/Alhambra although 7 seats dosen't look too big.

crankytwanky · 11/02/2010 07:31

Cheesesarnie I was one of 4 and we had a vauxhall nova & a morris minor!
(Twas before carseats were a legal requirement though and we were put in the boot of the nova when going on holiday.)

Original poster

girlsyearapart · 11/02/2010 09:03

which bus did you have cranky? Cant get an old volvo then I'd definitely be a Grown Up. Not ready for that yet! (owning a garden strimmer was a big leap)

looking forward to going out looking now. May take FIL with me, he's the most car savvy I think.

OP posts:

BristolIrishGirl · 11/02/2010 09:34

Vauxhall Zafira and absolutely love it!

OhWhatNoooow · 11/02/2010 10:45

We drive a Renault Grand Scenic. Its perfect, not too big, not too ugly, with plenty of space. We have 4dc.

cheesesarnie · 11/02/2010 11:08

crankytwanky -im one of 4 too.we used to do the same.

this is why i have 3 dc.i love the morris too much(joking btw).although i cant drive the stupid thing.

Chica31 · 11/02/2010 11:36

I love our Zafia. It fits everyone in and the dogs too when the seats are folded down at the back. My friends are also jealous that I don't have to fold the push-chair down. I just lift it up whole and stick it in the big boot. It has meant I have kept the bugaboo chameleon much longer as I don't have the hassle of collapsing it.

lovemynano · 11/02/2010 11:39

VW Touran - three car seats in the back. Very reliable, good boot space, cheap to run and service.

Moving to the back end of nowhere later this year and thinking of buying a Volvo XC60 if anyone has an opinion of it? (posted on products but no replies!)

tkband3 · 11/02/2010 11:47

I have 3 dc and have a Renault Grand Scenic. Like you I really didn't want a bus and this was the perfect compromise. The seats in the boot come up really easily and when they're down, the boot is huge - I've had 2 double buggies, a single and a week's worth of shopping in it!

Poledra · 11/02/2010 11:47

Ford Galaxy - decided if I had to have a bus, it'd better be one that can fit adults in the back row. Drives much more like a car than I expected - would insist on parking sensors front and back though, as it makes life so much easier. Fitted a high-back booster, a infant carrier and a Britax First Class along the middle row without requiring me to remove all the skin off my knuckles when I put the infant carrier in. Could still fit my double buggy in the back with all 7 seats up.

Drawbacks - doors are enormous, have more than once had to put DD3 in her infant carrier into the boot so I can move the car away from the arsehole person who has parked too close to me.

sweetkitty · 11/02/2010 11:48

Have a CMAX just now and just about to trade it in for a Citreon C8 having spent the past 4 months looking at 7 seaters. DS due in 12 weeks.

The Citreon and the Peugeot 807 are the same car I believe. We almost bought a Galaxy but having looked at the Citreon we preferred it as it has rear sliding doors and felt a bit more luxurious TBH. It's a proper 7 seater as opposed to a 5 seater with 2 boot seats. As I will have 4DC we wanted 4 proper seats IYSWIM.

I am dreading driving it but we measured it against the CMAX and it's only 30cms longer and wider as you lose a lot of boot space with the rear seats in. Will still be able to get a P&T in the back though.

legalwannabe · 11/02/2010 12:37

I highly recommend the Audi Q7. It's pricey, but if you can increase your budget, it's worth it. There are plenty of seats, it's roomy and you can still still a buggy and shopping in the boot.

You get used to the size of the car after a week (which is the same with any new car).

BadGardener · 11/02/2010 12:44

Mitsubishi Grandis. Loads of boot space even with 3rd row of seats up. We're going camping in May with 3 dcs + a nephew and we're fairly confident we can fit in all our camping gear plus an inflatable canoe

Has to be said though, it doesn't drive that well.

duchesse · 11/02/2010 13:00

We have 4 children aged 0-16 and an au pair and a big slobbery dog and often have visiting children. We find our Ford Galaxy perfect for what we want it to do. If we go on holiday in it we usually have to put the roof box on for the luggage, but it's just fine most of the time. It handles easily and the fuel consumption (diesel engine) is better than I could have hoped for. Even on short journeys and with its wheels slightly misaligned (damn those potholes, must get the wheels seen to) it does 44 mpg. 60mpg if it's a long motorway journey.

greygirl · 11/02/2010 13:00

we have a ford galaxy - the boot still takes a puschair with 7 seats.
also the front seats on ours swivel round to face the back so we can have 'in-car' picnics when it rains.
and the windscreen is heated so when it is icey (or foggy) defrosting (or defogging) is easy. we love our galaxy.
make sure all seats have a 3 point harness though - nothing worse than a 5+2 seater when you have 4 car seats!

greygirl · 11/02/2010 13:03

oh and we have parking sensors, which is a real bonus!

CantSupinate · 11/02/2010 13:09

We had a 5-seater Passat Estate which (in retrospect) seems lovely. Managed with that for first 2 years after DC4 born.

We just bought a Kia Sedona L and I HATE it (read my moans here and here). I get cold sweats every time I have to reverse it. Am gritting my teeth and hoping that I will get used to it.

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