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Original poster

people carriers - again

50 replies

lady · 16/11/2003 10:41

I know there has already been a very good thread about people carriers, but I would like to be a little more specific. It seems that there is much to be said for most of them, and it really depends on one's own likes/dislikes and requirements. Mine are very specific, and I would really like to hear from someone with similar requirements.
My kids are 5,3,1. For the last 4 yrs I have been driving a Saab 9-5 estate which is fantastic. Fits 3 car seats, loads of seat space, loads of boot space for luggage and dogs. The problem is that I now have at least 3 runs a day to do - we live in the country and have a 5 mile run to the village where the kids are at school / nursery. Soemone who lives quite close has children with the same routines, so by combining we can do 10 runs a week each rather than 15. So we have 6 kids, aged 6,5,4,3,2,1!!!
The people carrier would be purely a taxi for school run use. I don't need luggage space or dog space, but I do need space for a Maclaren buggy and millions of school bags (13 on a Monday!), and I need seats that will take 2 car seats but all still be accesible, but also accessible to the adult who inevitably has to help with strapping in.
I have looked at a Zafira, but access to the back row worries me (re car seats in middle row) plus the lap belt (we want to get 2nd hand - I know the new one has a 3-pt)and also there seems to be no boot space at all when the third row is up.
I really don't want a bus, I want to stay as close to "car" as possible.
Does anyone have advice? How is the Sharan?

OP posts:

CountessDracula · 16/11/2003 11:50

On Top Gear last week the Sharan was the least reliable car out of about 250!!

We have an ancient Toyota Previa, (L reg so it must be 10 years old). Bought it for 4k about a year ago and it has been fantastic. It has 8 seats and when they are all up there is still room in the boot for our massive dog + buggy/luggage etc, so I guess there would be room for many school bags.

I did a lot of research when I bought this and the only other one that still had reasonable boot space with all the seats up was the Chrysler Grand Voyager. We chose the Previa for a number of reasons but mainly because (a) Japanese cars more reliable (b) had driven a Grand Voyager in the states and it was like going round a corner in a marshmallow, suspension way too squashy for me and (c) the Previa was cheaper.

HTH

tallulah · 16/11/2003 12:08

I know you say you don't want a bus, but for seat access you really can't beat a Kia Sedona (and they are cheap!).

The middle row is 2 seats, with 3 at the back, so you can "walk through" from the front of the car (if necessary) for access to the back row, as there is a gap between the middle 2 seats. (great when it is raining & you want to sort out coats etc in the dry). Also the large sliding side doors are a boon, and the boot is enormous!

We looked at a Zafira too but it just wasn't big enough.

Good luck

Downside is that the older models (mine is a 51 & comes in this category) have a lap belt on the middle seat, and don't have remote central locking. The newer models have remote locking but the middle seat splits so the person sitting there is effectively on the gap between the 2 seats. I didn't feel this would be safe in the event of a rear collision so we went for the older style.

CountessDracula · 16/11/2003 12:10

Sorry I didn't mention layout in the Previa. It's 2/3/3 seats, big sliding door, seat nearest sliding door in middle row comes down/forward so you can get to back and you can walk through from front to back too. Big bonus, the back seats flap up and attach to the walls so you can have a huge boot without taking seats out.

Original poster

lady · 16/11/2003 18:54

This is a brilliant help - thank you! Still looking for suggestions on something a little more compact... is that possible?

OP posts:

lou33 · 16/11/2003 19:04

We have a 6 seater Honda Shuttle but really fancy a Citroen C8.

janh · 16/11/2003 19:22

lady, have a look here - click on the 7-seater link and you get a list of used 7-seaters from kelkoo. If you look up the models listed you can get more info on them. (I tried to do a link to the page itself and it kept giving me this page back for some reason!)

I think one of the Hondas - Stream or Shuttle - has access through the middle to the rear row. If you make a shortlist you can then look up the road tests on What Car or Auto Trader (only new cars obviously but you'd get a good idea).

Original poster

lady · 17/11/2003 13:55

how about the Seat? Anyone any comments on that?

OP posts:

janh · 17/11/2003 14:10

The Seat is the same as the Galaxy and Sharon - just cheaper.

janh · 17/11/2003 14:14

Sharan, even!

3GirlsMum · 17/11/2003 15:03

We are in the same predicament. Must say I do like the Zafira and it has some really good write ups in the car magazines for safety and features. Was quite surprised to hear how badly the Sharan came out as that was another we looked at. Will watch this thread with interest!

WSM · 17/11/2003 15:20

The Seat one doesn't have as nice an interior as the Sharan though.

janh · 17/11/2003 19:01

We have a Zafira, 3girlsmum - it's a year old so only has the centre lap belt in the back but it is lovely, great to drive, lots of space and quite high seats. Ours is the 2 litre diesel and it goes like stink. However I have a couple of niggly grumbles:

the middle row doesn't split, which is a PITA - if it did you could sit one in the middle row and one in the back and have a nice big long cargo area
the rolled-up luggage cover is too long to fit in the back of the car when you have the 2 rear seats in use - the carpet is a nuisance too. If you only have one in use you can poke them diagonally into the space, though it's awkward, but with both in use you just have to leave them behind, even if you won't need the seats later and will have shopping to hide.

See, I said they were niggly!

You also have to be v careful about the rear seat belt buckles when pulling the rear seats out of the floor or else the latching bit breaks - we have just had to replace one.

The write-ups say it has good stowage spaces but I'd argue with that too. It does have quite a few bits of space, but funny sizes and in inconvenient places, and the glovebox is minute.

Slinky · 17/11/2003 19:15

Another vote for the Previa!

I LOVE my Toyota - extremely reliable, masses of room - both inside and boot space. I don't think you can beat the Previa for boot space.

We've had ours for 4 years (bought new) and spent ages looking around at the different types.

Zafira - road-tested it and hated it! also too small for us.

Espace - friend has one which seems to spend more time in the garage then on the road.

Galaxy - boot space TINY.

Grand Voyager - decided against although I liked it due to the fact at the time (as I say 4 years ago) it had a appalling safety record - major crumpling etc. This is now void as I know they have had a major overhaul and safety records now are fine (but I now love my Previa too much to get rid off it )

codswallop · 17/11/2003 19:16

pal has the alhambra and its great

codswallop · 17/11/2003 19:17

Our latching bit almost broke -too - its a great drive though .. dont quite know where s is coming from - always wins all the prizes, but its in a different category to the huge busses so obv is smaller...

CountessDracula · 17/11/2003 19:50

Another thing about the Previa - it drives like a car not a bus

princesspeahead · 17/11/2003 20:10

lady, not a people carrier I know but perhaps another option - we have just ordered a Toyota Land Cruiser. 8 seats( 2 - 3- 3), not bad boot space with all the seats in use and the back seat splits and half and each side folds up if you don't need one or both of them giving you a bigger boot. Also the second row split and fold as well. Drives very well (only driven the diesel, not the petrol) and famously indestructible and reliable...

Original poster

lady · 17/11/2003 21:05

This is great, thanks everyone. It seems to me that there is no middle ground - you go huge, or you go small. That sounds obvious I know, but there really doesn't seem to be middle ground. It sounds like the Previa is great, and I have a friend who swears by her Chrysler Grand whatsit, but they are so big. But I do think that the age of the children is a huge consideration, a) because of the need for car seats and b) because of the back row being accessible to adults to help. Yes, ideally you put the older ones int he back to strap themselves in, but it doesn't always work like that, does it? Depends what order you pick them up in. 3girlsmum - are your kids quite young too? Have you come to any conclusions yet?
I actually spoke to a pal today with a Zafira - was interested in what she had to say as her kids are about a year younger than each of mine so thought she would have the same sort of requirements. But because they are a year younger, they are not really into the rat-race run. The eldest is at nursery, so her max. requirements are picking him up, with a pal maybe at the same time, and her younger two are already wtih her. She said if they are using the back seats they climb through from the back (which obviously wouldn't be possible if you had it laden with bags etc) and when I asked her if she kept a buggy in there, she said "no way, there isn't the space". 'Twas she who suggested the Seat but they all seem so similar.
The Land Cruiser is MASSIVE is it not?
By the way Janh, v clever links, thanks.

OP posts:

princesspeahead · 17/11/2003 21:11

yup, the land cruiser is massive. but tbh if you want to get 6 children and a lot of luggage in and out of a car sensibly, it is going to be on the massive side! And it definitely drives like a car, not a bus...

janh · 17/11/2003 21:57

lady, you could look at the Toyota Avensis Verso - hasn't been out that long though so second hand wouldn't be cheap. The Corolla Verso is the equivalent of the Zafira in size (the Zafira is based on the Astra) and apparently it doesn't work as well as the Zafira, the Avensis is bigger and has better luggage space, might be a better compromise between Zafira/Corolla and the biggies? Have a look at the road tests. (It is quite dear though.)

I agree with your friend that the Zafira won't really do for what you want - that's another of the probs about the middle row not splitting, you couldn't even leave a baby seat on the middle row and still access the back because you have to slide the whole row right forward - except if they climb over the back as she said.

janh · 17/11/2003 22:06

Or, see if you can find a Toyota Picnic - the Avensis Verso replaced it. Some have 6 seats and some have 7. They're usually two-tone, quite easy to spot! And much cheaper.

codswallop · 17/11/2003 22:15

Thats crap about the buggy in a zafira - i fit a maclaren buggy in there wiht all the seats up - dont i pph?

codswallop · 17/11/2003 22:17

Oh and my middle row splits on my zafira - what planet are these pople on?!!

Thik its not big enough for you tho...

janh · 17/11/2003 23:01

coddy, mine doesn't - is yours newer? Where does it split?

bossykate · 17/11/2003 23:44

any advice for someone who wants to do the first family car type thing? our elderly punto is finally giving up the ghost... love it, but frankly time to upgrade... don't need a people carrier and don't want a ford, other than that... open to ideas.

TIA

ps - sorry, lady, probably should have started another thread, shouldn't i?

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