2nd car (7 seater) helppp

[dandani]

Hi! I really hope someone can give me some advice. I've got baby no. 3 on the way and looking at buying a really cheap second car. The car I currently have is a 5 seater mokka and theres no way I can fit 3 car seats across the back row. I could have one in from but with my husband commuting to work every morning at 7am and then school runs it's going to be a bit strapped with a newborn in tow come summer time. So I'm looking at a 7 seater with 3 full size middle row seats. Got about £3000 budget to work with, I know I'm not going to get an amazing car and I'm 100% okay with that. I already have the 1st car so I'm not looking to get the best car going.

Does anyone have experience of 3 in a row fitting in a 7 seater? I have 1 child age 5 forward facing in a harnessed seat and another child age 3 in an extended rearfacing seat and in summer will also have a newborn seat to fit aswell. I'm looking at the Ford S-Max (seemingly most reliable from what I've read), Citroen Grand C4 Picasso and Renault Grand Scenic. Looking at at least 10 years old with my budget, please tell me someone can help 😭

Those 3 are great cars for fitting 3 across.

You'll probably have most luck if you use the infant seat without the isofix base.

I have a vauxhall zafira 'b' model and fit 3 across.

I've got a C4 grand Picasso and find it's great, all 3 middle row seats move independently which helps get a good fit, I've had the three types of seat you will need in it easily.

Hi, I second the C4 grand picasso.
My partner has two children aged 8+6 whom are on booster seats and we are due our own child in June. This was the only car we found ( didn't try the scenic) that fitted 3 car seats/isofix in the 3 middlenseats as they are full seats.
:)

Thanks for your replies, I'll be using a newborn seat without isofix as I've heard that gives you more room and I've never had an isofix seat so just sticking to what I know lol.

Does anyone have experience with older 7 seaters? My car is only 6 years old so slightly apprehensive as I've not had much experience with older cars. Just want to know if people have any more problems than you'd expect also :)

If you're concerned about reliability then reputationally fords are the most reliable of your 3 choices. Also diesel engines last longer (as in for more miles) than petrol as they operate at lower revs. Look for a car that has been regularly serviced, that decreases the chance of a breakdown. Congratulations on your new arrival :)

Thanks, the more I know the better for buying. I appreciate it 😊

Why don't you get rid of the mokka and get a newer 7 seater? It seems mad that your better car will be the one you can't all go out in together?

Because my mornings would consist of getting the kids fed and ready for school by 7am, leave to take my husband his 20 min drive to work and then I've either got the option to wait around for half an hour then take the kids to school or drive back home to be in the house for 5 mins to then leave again to do the school run. It's not a problem just now as my son is awaiting an EHCP so he can't attend school currently but by the time the new baby comes and I need to start the school run again if everything goes well with that then that whole process is impossible lol. Long story but that's a short summary. Plus I'd get £3500 for my mokka if I'm lucky, not worth it to us as it cost us £10,000 when we first got it and we do still love it

Consider a Verso. We get 3 in the back easily, all rear facing. The boot seats aren't great for adults but fine for older kids