Do you have a S Max or a Toyota Verso?

[TheHouseofMirth]

Would you be kind enough to measure the width of the middle row of seats for me?

There is so much info on the net about cars but they all miss out this vital info!

When I was assessing the back seats of cars for car-seat and middle passeneger-fitting purposes, I went around the car park of Sainsbury's, peering in the back of cars! Since so many of them there have a full set of car seats in them, it gave me a very good idea of space and dimensions.

I might have looked well dodgy, but it worked a treat!

I did that! But most of these cars have tinted rear windows so it's hard to see in!

if i can find a tape measure...... though actually think dh took it to work.

But I have an smax (2010). with 2 maxi cosi rodi xr and 1 maxi cosi tobi in middle row.

Used to have a verso. think smax more spacious. before the smax I had a honda FRV which was ace, because you could have 6 and a boot which you couldn't with the verso with seats in back up. With the smax I can fit buggy even with rear seats in place.

I went to dealerships to recce.

You need a Galaxy. We just got one and the ds's can't even reach to wallop each other from their seats either side

Pooka the blokes in our dealership are so predatory I am resisting going there unless i absolutely have to!

Need to get 2 car seats and 1 DH in those seats.

Smax wider on paper, as it were, but all measurements are taken on outside which doesn't always mean it's bigger on the inside.

Tried the FRV but it was just a bit too weird for me!

Doyouthinktheysaurus what I actually need is a nice little sports car and Oyster cards for everyone else

What kind of car seats?

My friend was one of the ford testers for mumsnet last year. She had the s-max and LOVED it. Her 6'1" DH tried all the seats, including I think sitting between her 2 kids in the middle row. They were in high back boosters a la maxi cosi rodi. Plenty of room. He was apparently OK in the boot seats too, though obviously not for a long journey.

Yes the FRV takes some getting used to. But actually fantastically versatile in terms of never having to fiddle with third row seats. DH kept it, and I have the Ford now.

www.ford.co.uk/Cars/S-MAX/TestDriveReviews

Sarah in this is my friend (the snowy shot with the silver s-max). Actually looking back at it her ds was in a more full-on car seat.

Some of the other reviews may be helpful.

Right - drumroll....

Looks to be approx. 137cm from edge of seat to edge of seat.

Took a couple of photos on iphone. Will try and upload.

Worth noting that in the S-max all three seats are the same width.

Photos there

2 rodi seats and 1 tobi in the middle. Tobi bulkier I think than the other 2.

Thanks Pooka! We have a MC Rodi, a Britax Two Way Elite and then also need to fit in DH who is 5'11" and medium build. Are all 3 seats normal width? We've looked at a few cars where middle row are all separate seats and same size but to achieve this they're all actually slightly narrower than normal.

We are looking at buying a toyota verso. The S-max was also in the back of our minds.

I suggest you read the reader reviews on the whatcar website.

Whilst on most proffesional reviews the s-max beats the verso , the reader reviews give a different story. The ford seems to suffer from reliability problems in a big way.

We have a ford Galaxy (10yr old) at the moment, and we have spent £££ in the last 3 years, so I really don't want to have to keep going back to the garage even with a waranty.

I'm definately buying the Verso now. Top gear says it is boring, but at least it is reliable and boring.

We can fit three car seats in the back of our verso. Or two car seats( two way elite plus a mc infant seat) and an adult in the middle no probs.
HTH

My verso though ended up with hideous engine troubles and also the interior trim was completely falling apart after 3 years of gentle use. The FRV still going strong, and no technical problems at all.
The s-max is too new really to tell whether will be £££ in terms of maintenance.

But as we were pulling into the garage to trade the verso in for the FRV, smoke was billowing out of the exhaust and it was not in a good way! Thankfully the smoke had dissipated by the time the dealer did his inspection ;)

Thanks snowisfallingonlee and everyone else.

It's amazing how much info there is out there about cars but how little really useful practical info!

I have spent a lot of time on WhatCar? and HonestJohn and it's interesting how reviews can conflict, even with themselves.

I'm worried about buying a duff car. My 10 year ol Punto has never failed an MOT or broken down and I have a sneaking suspicion I won't be so lucky with the next one!

We love our verso. It also came out as having very good safety ratings compared to frv and others - the epac rating I think?

My Verso gave us the biggest repair bill I have ever had in my life. The Dual Mass Flywheel went and needed replacing along with clutch and starter motor, resulting in £1600 bill. Lovely apart from that !