Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Shopping

From everyday essentials to big purchases, swap tips and recommendations. For the best deals without the hassle, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Anyone got any experience with the Sharan? Or any other recomms for a 7 seater.

36 replies

Chooster · 19/02/2011 22:12

We are entering the world of a 7 seater car and we are looking at a Sharan. Does anyone have any experience or are there are any other recommendations fora 7 seater?

OP posts:
bottersnike · 20/02/2011 08:15

We are looking for one of these as well! I've also looked at a Ford Galaxy, Seat Alhambra, Ford S-Max and Citroen C4 Grand Picasso.
My thoughts so far:

Sharan - love the sliding doors, not particularly quick unless you get the 200bhp version but incredibly safe and practical.
Seat Alhambra - same as the Sharan, slightly different look, bit cheaper, residual values not as strong.
S-Max - love it, not as big as the others so depends on whether you would need all 7 seats all the time. Fab engines, higher spec models overpriced (IMHO!)
Picasso -looks great, bit wobbly to drive but very practical, really good MPG if you get a diesel, back seats OK for kids
Galaxy - love it, want one! Like the Sharan in terms of space but more stylish inside.

Can you tell I like cars? Wink

throckenholt · 20/02/2011 08:35

depends if you are looking for new or second hand - fuel economy are probably a lot better with newer ones.

Other options would be kia sedona (huge) and vw touran (smaller, with fold down seats in back row) - depends how often you would use them.

I think the Sharan/Galaxy/Alhambra are basically the same underneath but with different levels of trim and cubby holes and gimics.

notheroldie · 20/02/2011 08:39

Ohhh so glad someone started a new 7 seater thread, I'm looking too, so thanks for the info. (and for doing all the homework for me!)

notheroldie · 20/02/2011 08:40

Oh a question, can you fit 3 cars seats in the back seat of ant of them, or do you have to use either the front seat or one of the rear ones?

notheroldie · 20/02/2011 08:40

any not ant

mankyscotslass · 20/02/2011 09:01

We have a galaxy, have had 3 of them!

We have had at one point a stage 0, stage 1 and a high back booster with harness in the 3 middle seats.

Now we just have 2 boosters and a high back booster!

I love our Galaxy.

Have had a Grande Scenic (hated it & Unreliable), used a Zafira and grande Picasso.

Scenic we couldn't use pur seats in the back two seats and not recommended for those models, same for the Xafira. The legroom in the back was realy only ok for children.

Grande Picasso was better in terms of space compared to the Scenic and Zafira.

throckenholt · 20/02/2011 09:14

you can fit 3 full seats in the back of most of them - that is pretty much one of their selling points. Older models sometimes only have a lapbelt in the middle seat though - so beware of that.

OADCB · 20/02/2011 09:16

Watching with interest.

We may be heading down the galaxy/sharan route soon.

Discounted the zafira as hate the back seats and lack of boot space. Although I could fit my baby jogger city mini in it with wheels off which amazed the salesman

mankyscotslass · 20/02/2011 09:29

I do love our Galaxy! Only thing I would like to add to it is sliding doors, it would make parking spaces easier!

Friends have the Kia Sedona and love it, and we nearly bought A Grande Voyager, but the safety reports put me off.

We won't be able to replace it for years, so we looked at mainentance costs too.

sparklyjewlz · 20/02/2011 09:44

Our Chrysler Grand Voyager is the most comfortable car in the world! We have 3 teenagers and drive down to the French Alps every year. Go for the diesel rather than petrol one.

Original poster
Chooster · 20/02/2011 12:04

Thanks all.... the extra 2 seats wouldn't be used much but when they are it would be adults or I'd need to be able to put the car seats there and the adults air in the middle. I'll be using 3 car seats for the next 3 yrs or so. Was thinking new but have since seen some good second hand deals. One question though, are the in built car seats on the sharan and alhambra any good? Anyone tried the land rover discovery, could prob afford one second hand....

OP posts:
throckenholt · 21/02/2011 10:00

I have a VW touran that fits your most recent description - 3 high back boosters across the middle just fit (they I think are wider than the earlier stage seats so they should fit better). You can easily seat adults in the back - although they have to climb through from the middle. Can also put car seats in the back - full seat belts etc. Also have option to turn off airbag in the front seat.

mpg for diesel is about 50mpg (mine is 3 years old).

Big boot when back seats down, tiny when up.

Only thing I don't like is there is no spare wheel - instead you get a kit for filling it with foam (I think) to get you to a garage.

It is a smaller car than the galaxy (et al) and sedona - but may suit.

Mum2Luke · 23/02/2011 08:42

I have a T Reg Sharan love it for the space so looking to buy new shape Galaxy when we have the money and when the car just runs out of steam lol!

It is plenty of room, the new version has sliding doors which I think should be on all 7 seaters, spaces in supermarkets are just not wide enough! I can fit 7 adults in with very minimal luggage and 6 with lots of luggage if I have 1 of the seats down.

It has been used as a van without any of the rear seats in this is brilliant for taking eldest son to university with all his clobber but the only drawback is having to take the seats out and they are heavy. I have written on the back in the corner which side to put them back in as the seat belt clip won't go in if its in wrong!!

Mine is 1.9 TDi, its has done 192,000 miles (it was 2nd hand when we bought it) and I wouldn't even touch a Zafira now as its too small for what I use it for.

frenchfancy · 10/03/2011 17:09

We have an old (2001) Galaxy. Fits 3 car seats across the back no problem and the 2 rear seats are the same full size seats (interchangeable). We have 2 of the built in car seats, which are great, but not very cosy for little ones.

Ours rans for 8 years with no problems but for the past 2 yrs has cost us £££ in repairs. I certainly wouldn't buy one over 5 yrs old. Also watch the tyres as they cost £££.

In summary, it has been a great car, but running cost are expensive as it isn't very fuel efficient. We are getting rid of ours to trade in for a Toyota Verso.

Mum2Luke · 29/03/2011 14:21

well, my VW Sharan 'died' on the way back from a weekend with relatives, the AA man wouldn't even touch it so its been scrapped Sad.

We test-drove a Ford Galaxy 2009 reg after my DH found it on the internet for £10,500 as it had done 79,000 miles (ex-lease car). We bought it after we both decided it was a lovely drive and pick it up on Friday. Its got ISOFIX seats so it will be fab for my childminding work and its crammed full of safety features (Passenger airbag, side curtain airbags, a knee-bag and collapsable steering column and Bluetooth phone kit).

Cannot wait to drive it!

littlemoomin · 29/03/2011 16:28

Try this list for the apparent best 7 seaters (new only, not used) www.carbuzz.co.uk/blog/post/Top-Ten-7-Seater-Cars.aspx

CherryPie3 · 31/03/2011 17:03

very glad I found this thread Grin

I'm liking the look of the Vauxhall Zafira at the moment, the Sharan & the Galaxy remind me a bit of rocket ships with the pointy front end. They're probably very excellent cars but I'm very a bit vain :)

Have checked out the sedona and I love the sliding doors element, also a lot of the childminders/mums to many drive and recommend them - which is good. Need to have a drive of it - of all of them in fact - before making any decisions tho.

My personal preference has to be with the Grand Scenic tho - love love love the 5 seater so surely the 7 seater must be as good? Right?

xx

SJisontheway · 31/03/2011 17:12

We have the new Sharan. Love the sliding doors. Very happy with the car so far. It's a very comfortable drive. 3 kids fit easily in the back and the 2 back seats are a good size too - comfortable for an adult. We upgraded from the Mazda 5 - needed more space, but for compact MPVs I would recommend highly. Also has sliding doors - a bit of an obsession of mine.

turnipvontrapp · 31/03/2011 17:15

We have the peugeot 807, love it. Back 2 seats solid and a decent distance from the back window (important to me after seeing that safety crash test online).

Sliding doors also great in tight spaces.

ragged · 31/03/2011 17:25

A lot depends how many seats you regularly need, do you regularly need 7 seats or just 5 seats with occasional use of the other 2 seats? I would buy a Touran or Zafira if I only needed the extra seats occasionally. Are you buying new or 2nd hand?

I have a Kia Sedona & don't much rate it. Fuel economy of 31-37 mpg (we got 58 mpg out of our previous car, a VW estate, sob!). Terrible turning circle, very wide, so can be difficult to park.

Friends with a Voyager say the fuel economy is awful (but they like everything else about it).
My mechanic has a Sharan and thinks highly of it (and its clones).
Around here a few people have Land Rovers as their 7 seaters -- terrible fuel economy & dear to work on.
Friends aren't thrilled with their Peugeot (?807) & would like to go back to something bigger, like a Transit (they used to own). They find the Peugeot quite annoying.
I know a very happy owner of an S-Max (lots of oomph, but more pricey than many of the others).
VW Caraville is very nice (but probably bigger than you want).

I would buy a Galaxy or Previa if I could.

CherryPie3 · 01/04/2011 09:02

Really interesting points, all round the sharan is highly recommended! Even I can't argue with that Grin.

We have 3 kids however I often take mum shopping with my sister so the 7 seats would be used regularly. I was thinking about the safety aspect of the rear seats, so many people have told me that there's a high risk of injury if there are child seats in them/adults in them/dogs in them.... Surely if they weren't safe they wouldn't be on the road? I'm probably just very naive about it all as we've never looked into bigger cars (we curretly have fiat grande punto! Bit of a squeeze). Definitely need to upsize.

Will watch this thread with much interest tho and I'll show my dh too as he's the one flashing the cash.

Should add....we will be buying second hand - would have to be no more than 3 or 4 years old tho.

Thanks :) x

dilbertina · 01/04/2011 09:14

We have a galaxy and have been very happy with it. Fuel consumption is good (on longer journeys can get to 40mpg no problem) and it doesn't feel like a bus to drive, visibility is great. I have 3 carseats across the back. We only tend to use additional two right at back occasionally so put them in when we need them. They are pretty heavy, but once you've got the knack they are easy enough to fit. I can bung the pushchair in the back without even folding it and it can cope with family camping trips, even including medium sized dog and basket! I can happily recommend it.

CherryPie3 · 01/04/2011 11:16

Ooh Dilbertina dh will be very glad you posted that :). He loves ford! He is leaning towards S-Max tho...

CherryPie3 · 01/04/2011 11:17

Good news about having enough room for the dog and canine baggage too as we have a dalmation and she obviously will be accompanying us from time to time.

Thanks :)

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 01/04/2011 11:24

We have a Galaxy, it's great. It's absolutely huge inside, masses of space width wise and foot space for the back seat. We had a vectra before so this is like a tank compared to thatGrin It's very easy to drive though, feels very light.

The 6th and 7th seats we won't use much but we wanted the boot space for camping. The extra seats fold into the floor so you don't have to store them anywhere.

we looked at the Sedona, I like the sliding doors but fuel consumption is high and the re-sale value of older ones is not great.