Reliable and cheap to run people carriers...

[redhappy]

Any reccommendations please?

Need to carry 2 adults, 2 teenagers, 2 preschoolers comfortably. Needs to be cheap to buy, and cheap running costs (pref deisel?).

Need to buy on finance somewhere, so will also need to be something that's not too obscure to find! thanks!

galaxy - more £££ to buy but cheaper to run and fix than zafira.

Thanks. We did have a nissan serena, which was great, until it broke (and even the nissan garage didn't know how to fix it).

I was under the impression the Japanese makes were good, but wary of getting another nissan.

bump

Def the galaxy, we had a vw sharan and the servicing was soo expensive as the parts costs are high.

Renault Espace - even I haven't managed to bust ours yet!

We are looking at getting an Espace so I would be interested to know what its like to run, fuel wise really.

our mechanic recommended either a ford galaxy or a toyota corolla verso.

if you want reliable i would stay away from the renaults-i was tortured with my grand scenic and i bought it from new! :( when i went to trade it in 2 dealers wouldn't take it as trade in!

i have just got the verso second hand but would think it might be too small for the teenagers.

:)

Has anyone got a new shape Galaxy? I'm thinking of buying one next year when my VW Sharan goes to the great scrapyard in the sky.

I don't want a Zafira as they are not big enough for 5 of us plus 2 minded children (I am a childminder) plus puschair/pram.

I have had a look at some online and I can get an 07 reg for about £11,000

We've had a Zafira diesel for almost a year, its a 54 plate and cost £3,400. Its got slightly more room in seats 6 and 7 than the scenic as it has dug out foot wells, hence you can fit adults in these seats.

The scenic has slightly more electronic gadgetry like being able to use the card to start the car in this cold weather then remove it with the engine running to warm/ defrost the car whilst you return to the house - in this state the car cannot be driven.

Boot space with a people mover is a big decision thing. The medium sized cars that seat 7 like the zafira and scenic are easier to park at the supermarket, in tight spaces, but the extra seats take up the majority of the boot. If you're happy to roof box/ trailer for the occasional journey where you need extra capacity for luggage then the smaller sized vehicle is more economical to run.

I had a Renault Espace - absolutely the most expensive and unreliable car I have ever had the misfortune to own (it was also the newest). Cost over £10,000 in four years on repairs and on the basis of that car I'd never touch another Renault again, even though previous to that all our cars have been Renaults.

On the positive side it was a great car to drive, I could park it anywhere despite the size and it was very luxurious.