Car for three children and two adults

[clairefromsteps]

I posted this on Products as well, but I've just realised that there is a specific cars section too!

We currently have a Vectra which just about fits two backless boosters and a baby car seat. DD2 will be starting to use her sister's old booster seat in a couple of months - one of the ones with a back and sides - and no matter how much I push, I just can't get all three seats in the back. I'm not worried about what my car looks like, but it needs a nice wide back seat, a big boot and preferably not be prohibitively expensive when it comes to petrol, tax and insurance. We'll be buying second hand, so cars that are out of production are an option.

Someone recommended the Citreon Xsara Picasso before - has anyone had one of these?

I'd be really grateful for any suggestions you may have!

We have a Picasso and it's roomy but bits keep breaking - not sure I'd recommend for durability. Our Renault Scenic previously was likewise.

I'm bumping this thread for personal reasons - looking to buy a 6 or 7 seater eg Renault Grand scenic, Peugeot 807, Volkswagen Touran etc - anyone got any recommendations?

We got a Ford Focus c max 2 yrs ago. It fitted 2 baby car seats and a backless booster. The boot is a good size - fitted our big double buggy. It has been v reliable is 2008 I think. We thought about the citreon xsara picasso at the time as well but got a better deal with Ford.
I am looking for a bigger car now as my 9yr old is squeezed a bit between his wee brothers now and we often need to drop of other kids and my mum joins us sometimes on jaunts.

We have a Nissan almira tino which is fine but not much room in the boot and a Citroën grand Picasso which has a lot more space in it. Useful to have the spare seats on occasion too. Not had it long enough to comment on reliability. Had one issue so far that got fixed under the guarantee. I do like it though and I wasn't expecting to. We were looking at Ford s-max or galaxy originally.

We've been touring garages to figure what will fit 3 car seats. So far looked at (but not test driven):

Vw touran - v v dull looking but great back seats (3 individual seats with isofix) and boot

S max - def big enough for 3 car seats (the biggest we have seen). Slightly worried re electrical problems that seem to be reported lots. Expensive

Toyota verso looked ok/good although would need to check if three car seats can fit in, not as wide as some of the others

Hyundai i30 was cheaper than others but I am doubting if 3 car seats will fit in

Peugeot 5008 - confident it would fit 3 seats, a good size without being as huge as the s max. They do have an older model (don't know the name of the model, but it has sliding doors), but it apparently is expensive to tax/fill up.

Picasso - we took a look at it but it seemed v plasticy

Ok so that was meant to be the Hyundai ix35!

we have a VW touran. Currently have 3 seats across the back. 1 backless booster in the middle, and 2 of those massive booster things with sides (use from 9kg onwards) with a 5 point harness either side.
Just about fits.

But I want a galaxy
Tis the source of many sarcastic comments, pleading begging and downright arguments!

we had our picasso for 10 years before we have to upgrade to a C* due to another baby!!!!

In the picasso I had lots of different combinations of car seats

1 x forward facing & 2 x baby car seats
1 x highbacked booster, 1 x forward facing & 1 x baby car seat
1 x highbacked booster & 2 x forward facing

then baby no4 arrived and I love the Citroen C8 (especially the sliding doors)

We've got a 5 seater Picasso.
On the plus side - plenty of room, seats 5 comfortably, loads of boot space, pretty good fuel economy.
On the downside - huge turning circle, I'd agree it's a bit plasticky too, big to park, we've had it from 6 months old and it has been reliable and cheap to run.
It's not my dream car, but it's a good family car and competitively priced.

The reliable/cheap to run bit wasn't meant to be a downside - doh.

Have now taken a closer look at some of the cars i listed above.

The Hyundai ix35 has no chance of taking 3 car seats ( and neither does the larger Hyundai sante fe).

The Toyota verso won't take three high backed boosters, you may be able to squeeze three seats of some sorts in, but when we tried one of our seats in the back it took over more than one of the three seats, so it would be limiting/a squeeze.

So a pretty limited choice!