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Original poster

Calling people with small people carrier type cars

31 replies

poppiesinaline · 15/01/2006 17:14

We are thinking of getting a people carrier but not a huge one. DH doesn't like the look of them and I don't want to drive a bus but needs must, with 3 kids we need a bigger car. Was thinking of something like the Zafira. Anyone got one or something like. Need advice on whats good and whats not.

OP posts:
cranberryjampots · 15/01/2006 17:19

Ive been to look at a Zafira and a Picasso today. The zafira as you know is 7 seater and has plenty of room. The 1.9 or 2.0 dti is the best (economical) diesel for this range, but obviously is more than the Picasso.

The Picasso is very lovely indeed and has 3 good rear seats all with 3point belts. If you dont need the 7 seats and obv with 3 kids you dont, then my advice would be to go with the Picasso.

Original poster
poppiesinaline · 15/01/2006 17:23

Has the Picasso only got 5 seats? We need 7 seats, giving other kids lifts, taking MIL on trips with us etc.

OP posts:
cod · 15/01/2006 17:28

Message withdrawn

Waswondering · 15/01/2006 17:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cod · 15/01/2006 17:30

Message withdrawn

Tinker · 15/01/2006 17:31

If you get a Picasso be prepared to not be able to spot it in car parks. There were 7 pretty much in a row in Morrisons teh otehr day.

spacecadet · 15/01/2006 17:37

i have a zafira and love it, its really roomy with the 2 rear seats down, big boot. i like the flexi seat combi system.

cod · 15/01/2006 17:37

Message withdrawn

babster · 15/01/2006 17:46

I love my Zafira - it's roomy but not wide, so easy to park. Watch out for the middle seat belt in the back - the newer ones have a proper seat belt but many just have a lap belt (so no good for car seats).

Original poster
poppiesinaline · 15/01/2006 17:54

Good tip Babster. So Zafira's seem to get the thumbs up then?

OP posts:
Yorkiegirl · 15/01/2006 17:55

Message withdrawn

NotaStrongWomanMe · 15/01/2006 21:48

Renault scenic gets my vote - or the bigger Espace if yoou can afford it. Pretty much the same as the others but comes out well on safety features.

LIZS · 15/01/2006 21:51

You can get a Scenic with 7 seats but it is a bit bigger (not as big as Espace though)or Toyota Corolla Verso is a compact size with very easy to use 7 seat arrangement.

starlover · 15/01/2006 21:53

another vote for scenic! we have one and it's fabbo!
boot is MASSIVE

it is no longer than our ford focus... just higher... so it should please your dh! lol
and also you can pick them up for peanuts second hand

Wid · 15/01/2006 21:57

We have a Zafira, but I don't like it - very basic and 1.8 engine feels very underpowered. We got it for the seating flexibility - transporting Grandparents and children around, etc. but this hasn't actually materialised, so we might have well have bought a Picasso. I guess I would love it if we were using the seating flexibility.

tobysmumkent · 16/01/2006 10:15

Message withdrawn

jetlagdZebra · 16/01/2006 10:32

You can get estates with 7 seats (the extra ones fold out of the way in the back/boot when not needd); if your DH doesn't like "look" of people carriers.

Janh · 16/01/2006 10:43

I have the 2.0 DTi Zafira and it goes like stink - in Richard Hammond's book "What Not to Drive" the turbo diesel Zafira is actually recommended! It's the same length as an Astra estate, just higher; much easier to get in and out, and dead easy to park.

Mine is a 52 reg so it has the lap-belt in the middle seat, which means for me it's effectively only a 4-seater with the back seats down, I hate using lap belts - the middle shoulder belt came in sometime in 03. (But there are child seats which anchor with a lap belt - when DS2 was little he had a Britax Freeway and we anchored that with a lapbelt - so if you have a child that size it needn't be a problem.) 2 other niggles: the fact that the middle row bench doesn't split is annoying, because even if only one person is sitting there they still have to get out to let someone get into the back, and when you have both rear seats up there is nowhere to put the parcel shelf thing except across peoples' laps.

But I would buy another!

Janh · 16/01/2006 10:52

DH used to have a Peugeot 406 estate with 2 child seats in the boot - Volvo, Audi, Mercedes all do it too - not sure about Citroen although they used to. They are OK but the seats are really small and not much headroom. Definitely only useful for smallish kids, and you have to have both up at once even if you only need one, so it limites boot space - also they were rare before mini-MPVs, like hens teeth now. Volvo probably slightly easier to find.

But I am a total convert to the higher cars - I feel as if I'm sitting on the floor in any other car!

hotmama · 16/01/2006 10:59

I have a silver Picasso - but an Exclusive so top of the range so nah! Common!

Surely, not being able to get the mil in is a positive thing?

Original poster
poppiesinaline · 16/01/2006 12:01

LOL hotmama! Wow thanks guys, very helpful comments. Will show DH later. Any more comments/tips are very welcome.

OP posts:
Lucycat · 16/01/2006 12:15

We looked at a really nice black Zafira yeasterday, an 05 reg, it had done 5500 miles for £10k and it was a 1,8 too. The middle seat does now split so it's easy to get in the back, we would have bought it if the stoopid salesman hadn't insulted us with the trade in he was going to give us for our Mondeo.

Plenty of them out there though! All the people we've spoken to really like their Zafira's.

Janh · 16/01/2006 12:18

Lucycat, I thought it did, but was told on here by someone who has a new one that hers doesn't!

Will find other thread...

Janh · 16/01/2006 12:20

Gillian76 here

I'm confused now!

Lucycat · 16/01/2006 12:27

Certainly the one I climbed in the back of yesterday did! It was only a Life version too so not top of the range or anything.

Oh hang on I see what Gillian means, yes they do all slide forward together but as the seats collapse independently, you wouldn't have to move it all the way forward for someone to get into the back - admittedly not Great Granny, but a 30 something (ie. me!) managed it no problem!

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