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Original poster

info on MPV cars please.

121 replies

psychomum5 · 01/06/2006 13:12

I am wanting some MPV info please. Our toyota previa got written off last week (have another thread on that), and we are now looking for another car.
I really want another previa but they are proving very hard to find, so am now needing to look for other MPV's. Problem is I don't actually know any of the names of the other makes to look any up on the PCBlush.

Hoping you lovely ladies can help me. :)

Car needs to be big enough for 5 kiddies and holiday luggage as we going on hols in 3wks! I know that vauxhall safira's are out,and we know that cos that is what the insurance co. have kindly supplied. We can't even get a weeks shopping in when we all insideShock!

So.......do you have an MPV, what type is it, and is it any good??

Thankyou lots.

OP posts:
hub2dee · 03/06/2006 09:00

ottie: I quite fancied a Viano. No need to buy a new car for second or third child. LOADS of space for collections of bikes. Comfortable on long voyages, room for parents and in-laws...

Still, with one ickle baby it would have been a bit daft, LOL.

Grin
bluebear · 03/06/2006 15:41

Glad to hear that Kristina - haven't met a multipla owner that didn't love it so far...

tallulah · 03/06/2006 16:02

I had a Kia Sedona. Has 7 adult-sized seats and sliding doors. Luggage space not too bad but wouldn't take all camping stuff (for example)

knakered · 03/06/2006 16:04

Most ahve aproblem that there is no boot space when all 7 seats are in use ...so where does the pushchaire go??...I am looking at a Hyundai Trajet (I affectionately call it a "Tragic") - MPV dont interest me but as we have just dropped no4 ..needs must...anyway wondered if anyone else knows anyone who has one ...they are reasonable with a 5 yr warranty - agree hardly sexy - not the sliding door "Rolls Royce" of the MPV world - but for £11k 1yr old maybe value for money?

badgerhead · 03/06/2006 21:13

We have the Mazda MPV, although no longer available new(replaced by Mazda 5). It has sliding doors & a boot bigger than the Galaxy/Alhambra. I fit in a tandem pushchair plus other bits when full (childminder). It also tows our 6 berth caravan with ease. I have just returned from a week away with four girls & the caravan in Dorset & found it really good when fully loaded.

SecondhandRose · 04/06/2006 07:05

I have got a Chrylser Grand Voyager on its way,just won What Car MPV of the year. They have them on a one week delivery time at the moment. Their main fab feature is that all the back seats fold flat in the floor when you don't want them. A definite buying feature for us. The doors and boot also open by magic from a button on your key or from a button at the front of the car.

They did have a poor safety record but it has improved. Price is 27K-30K.

NappiesGalore · 04/06/2006 11:51

agree the chrysler voyager is nice - those seats look brilliant. comes quite highly spec'd, w lots of 'options' included, a bit less van like than some, leccy back sliding doors... i nearly bought one.

VW caravelle my favourite so far

Mercedes Viano a distinct disapointment. luxury price tag and name badge but plastic-y cheap looking interior w no pockets for the mountains of 'stuff' kids generate.

notanotter · 04/06/2006 11:58

have voyager (grand) Sad hate it - heavy and full noisy deisel

like viano but not test driven

want to look at caravelle - whats good about it nappies?

NappiesGalore · 04/06/2006 12:43

um... havnt had it delivered yet 9blinkin ages away, grr) but from what i remember/noticed on test drive inspection:

liked high driving position.
test drove the deisel which was fairly nippy for one of them, but ordered the petrol with the bigger engine, so that'll be fun to drive (turbolag on my volvo xc90 is a pain in the butt)
mostly liked the interior:
front seats are captains chairs - can be turned around when parked.
next row of seats can be mounted backwards 9albe to self change) so making a walk-in cabin area, easy to strap all kids into their seats, even struggling toddlers.
theres a pop-up able in the middle for picnics or art or whatever
you can get built in child seats so they can climb up and down into them themselves, theyre safer and are less bulky
loads of boot space, even with all seats in, up etc
easy to take seats out to use as a van for, i dunno... helping friends move house?
um, the stupid yellow colour we ordered so it can be called Ringo, the yellow submarine Grin
thats all i can remember off the top of my head

NappiesGalore · 04/06/2006 12:44

and its tall but still fits in most multi-storey car parks

Original poster
psychomum5 · 04/06/2006 12:49

we're still looking for one right now. Can't go brandnew as simply don't have money and not wanting to go the finance route....

we got £6K to spend one one, which one reading other posts rules out chrysler now as the early ones is all we can afford and if they have bad safety record really NOT risking it!

only things I definatetl want are....

sliding doors
big anough boot for holiday luggage and also weekly shop if all kiddies in car
access to all seats from the side as hate the thought of boot access

Oooh, and also, a sound proof glass panel between front seats and kiddies GrinWink!!!

OP posts:
catapult · 04/06/2006 14:01

Hi. I would say that a Toyota Previa (older style) - would be ideal. It has loads of room, and good luggage/shopping/pram space when the seats are all in use. Honestly, nothing will beat it - They are a bit heavy on fuel though, and only come in petrol version. DON'T consider an import Lucida/Estima, as they are basically the same (a little narrower) but have horrible problems with head gaskets going and are really bad news! The Previa is great, reliable, bit expensive to run (i.e., fuel costs, tyres) but if its room for all the gear we all need - its definitely a great consideration. Hope that maybe helps.

Original poster
psychomum5 · 04/06/2006 14:23

catapult thankyou for that....prob is the reason why we are looking as that I have just been in nasty car accident (not my fault) in our previa which has been written off:(!!!

would like another prvia but feeling a little unsure as of feelings left over from accident, and also that there aren't many to be found in current area, hence the need to find other MPV's that are similar IYSWIM

OP posts:
notanotter · 04/06/2006 18:56

nappies thanks for that (how much Blush just ball park?)
We drove back from newby hall (lovely day out) behind a mercedes vito (SP) it was long but looked fab more fun than viano - dp thinks mercedes cheaper than vw is he wrong?

GDGwithacraptan · 04/06/2006 18:57

I'm very late to this thread I see but I highly recommend the Grand Voyager - love mine!

GDGwithacraptan · 04/06/2006 19:02

Oh, just seen your previous post - you probably wouldn't get a post 01 for £6K, which is a shame - the remote sliding doors are the envy of ds's school friends!

NappiesGalore · 04/06/2006 20:01

notanutter (great nameGrin)- about 35k. dp says the viano new to same spec would be about 50 (!)
dont really know difference between vito and viano... how did it look more fun? curious now.

NappiesGalore · 04/06/2006 20:03

oh,its notanotter, not notanutter. whassat? an accent?
hey, sorry psycho. hijacking your thread here.

NappiesGalore · 04/06/2006 20:06

psycho - dp says to try for an old model grand espace. reckons u should get one for about 6k. says theyre lovely too; better looking than the current model he reckons.

apronstrings · 04/06/2006 21:01

Psycho5 - we have the grand caravan (same as the big chrysler.) It is a fine car - in no way exciting but works really well for us and 4 kids. This is our second the first was written off in a nasty crash - so rather than add to all this car advice I wanted to reassure you that although you may be a cautious driver for a while , and may have anxiety for a bit to come you do get over a crash eventually. We had a nasty side impact in november - I was driving and had 3 of my children with me(including baby). When we replaced the car I couldn't even bear to sit behind the driver's wheel - so the reason we replaced with the same was that we needed to get a car quickly and I wasn't up to test driving. Good luck with it!!

Original poster
psychomum5 · 04/06/2006 21:16

apronstings - thank for the vote of confidence re me being able to drive again. I do hope so....

Mine was a side impact, and I had DD2 in the car with me. I saw it coming but could do nothing to avoid. something that I am still quite literally having nightmares over:(, altho I am guessing that it still being early days tis to be expected for now??

silly thing is, I had a nasty car accident 6yrs ago while pregnant with DS1, and while having DD2 & 3 in car too (DD1 was at school), the lady who hit me also said 'I just didn't see you!!. I couldn't drive for three months after as was in hospital thro almost losing the baby, and when I finally did get behind the wheel again we had a renault espace and I felt ok, as I felt SEEN, IYKWIM....Also, I never saw it coming (was rear inpact that time), so in that way couldn't go thro the 're-living it' dreams.

the man who hit me last week said he 'just didn't see me'..... Not helping with the confidence, as I now thinking - 'well, if he couldn't see me in a great white previa, what chance do I now have with any car????'

OP posts:
MerlinsBeard · 04/06/2006 21:20

How r u doing? really i mean. Can't help with teh driving confidence thing sorry, i can't even drive. How is DD2?

Original poster
psychomum5 · 04/06/2006 21:22

Hi there MoM....

On pethidine for the pain now as in really bad way and just not handling it well:(

Holly is ok, altho still also suffering with leg pain. she coping on calpol and nurofen tho. Seems her ballet and dancing that she does has helped immensly with her IYKWIM.

How are YOU tho?????

Many hugs for you too. xxxxx

OP posts:
MerlinsBeard · 04/06/2006 21:25

her dancing will help heal any tissue damage quicker plus the fact that she young will help too.

Am shite but not going into it on ur thread, i have hijacked enough - sorry Thank you for asking x

Original poster
psychomum5 · 04/06/2006 21:26

I understnad.....have just signed in online if you need to chat, altho megs is also online so may be slow going for a whileWink

more husgxxxxx

OP posts: