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Original poster

estate or people carrier?

27 replies

Cha · 13/04/2004 15:47

We need a bigger vehicle and I was wondering if you could tell me what you've got and why? I never buy A THING without asking mumsnetters first...
ATM we have a Polo, 2 kids and a large dog. We also have 3 other kids (dp's) who come to stay at the weekend and holidays, so at times there are 7 of us. Though this is mercifully not very often, so a 7 seater is not an absolute must. In the summer we like to go camping, so we need a car with lots of boot room for all the equipment and the dog.
We would be buying second hand and could only stretch to about £8,000 - what do you recommend - and what do you say steer clear of?

OP posts:
Twinkie · 13/04/2004 15:48

Vauxhall Zafira?? - They are supposed to be very good.

Although lots of mumsnetters say the Citreon Picasso is very good and it is quite reasonably priced too!!

Freckle · 13/04/2004 15:50

Most people carriers don't have a lot of boot room. That said, it depends on how many people you have in the car when you need the boot space at the same time. If we need more room, we just remove one or more of the seats, but you couldn't do that if you wanted 7 people in the car at the same time. If the space is only really needed when there are only 4 of you, then removing the seats is a good option.

We have a people carrier and I wouldn't be without it now. So much more versatile and with loads of space inside - more headroom, etc.

Kayleigh · 13/04/2004 15:51

We have a Mitsubishi Space Wagon which I love. It has 7 seats if you need it. Two seats are in the back and when folded down the boot is very roomy. Even with all 7 seats up there is still room for buggy and a few bags in the boot. I preferred this over an MPV as it still looked like a car and I wasn't so high up.

Sookey · 13/04/2004 15:52

I have just bought a Vauxhaull Vectra Estate CDX, which is nice and big and fairly plush (leather upholstery, easy to wipe clean). It is a couple of years old but considering it was nigh on £30k new and I paid £5k it suits me fine.

Janh · 13/04/2004 15:55

Hi, Cha.

I have a Zafira and although it's nice to drive it has drawbacks as far as the adjustable seating is concerned - with the middle row, you have to either have all of it or none of it and if anyone is sitting in it they have to get out to let someone into the back (unless they go in via the boot and dive over the rear seat backs). Also you can't easily stow the boot carpet and retractable shelf inside the car when you have the rear seats up. And in the older ones there are only 6 proper belts - middle seat has lap belt only.

You'd struggle to get a dog in it with 7 seats up but then that goes for most MPVs. The best for luggage space + lots of seats are the Previa, Grand Espace and Grand Voyager and of those I think you'd only get a Previa for 8 grand.

Or you could look at eg Land Rover Discovery, they have flip down side-facing seats in the back. We've had MPV threads before, I'll see if I can find one for you!

(It wasn't you that wanted the VW Combi was it???)

Janh · 13/04/2004 16:02

Auto Trader
What Car?
Parker's Guide
Top Gear

These all have used car sections. Have a look!

taximum · 13/04/2004 16:36

We have just bought a vauxhall Zafira too as we will soon be needing the extra room as child number three on the way in september. It's great to drive although is an older model so middle seat is a lap belt which is ok for an older child. Our ds will have to sit there on in the back

Janh · 13/04/2004 16:42

taximum, lap belts aren't really good for anybody - better than nowt but not much. If one child has a child seat which will be anchored safely by a lapbelt, put that in the middle instead.

maisystar · 13/04/2004 17:02

something to bear in mind is that if you have a people carrier the crumple zone is the area your 2 rear passengers are sitting in. sorry to be morbid but this really put me off getting one!

aloha · 13/04/2004 21:48

We just got a lovely 2001 Picasso for £6K. It feels very grown up to me. We love it, BUT if we had five kids sometimes I'd get a Zafira.

Slinky · 13/04/2004 21:55

We've got a Previa - and I love it, totally reliable and is very roomy. Feels more like a car to drive as opposed to a bus.

Big boot space and seats 8.

Most of my friends have MPVs - they include:

Nissan Serena - stay well clear, very bulky to drive, and tiny tiny inside.

Renault Espace (old version - MReg) in and out of garage, drives like a bus.

Ford Galaxy - T Reg - various knocks/rattles hence in and out of garage. Tiny boot space - gets about 2 bags on shopping in

Original poster
Cha · 13/04/2004 23:00

Yes - Janh - twas me who wanted to know about VW Combis. Went down that path and had mechanics left right and centre telling us NO NO NO. Finally let the dream go when one said of a gorgeous tomato red 78 vintage Viking that he was checking out for us - "I wouldn't put Osama Bin Laden in it" - we decided to go down the conventional route, hence the thread. Cheers for your help, do you do this as a profession???
Thanks to all the rest of you - keep the reviews coming!

OP posts:
Tommy · 13/04/2004 23:04

We have Citroen Berlingo - 3 seats across back and huge boot although not very cool. Also has slidey doors (I think that's the technical term for them) which are really important when your drive has walls on both sides and car parks anywhere when getting toddlers and baby car seats in and out. Also - cheaper than bigger ones (which is why we have one )

dottee · 13/04/2004 23:12

Bought a Peugeot 807 Quiksilver (7 seater MPV) in February - I love it! (Had a Corsa before).

There's a big crumple zone in the rear - that's one of the things we looked at.

I found it a bit strange at first (because I was changing from an automatic Corsa to a manual diesel) but I've got used to it. I can look the white van men in the eye now !

I also prefer it when driving on motorways. I can see a lot farther ahead and in the dark, I'm not getting headlight glare. The turning circle isn't that hot but I managed to get it round Snowdonia last week.

The one thing I'm a little unsure of is not seeing what is immediately behind you when reversing e.g. a small child. Hence I reverse very slowly but I have managed to reverse it into a parking space!!!

Original poster
Cha · 14/04/2004 17:41

How economical are these vehicles? That is what I want to know now. Our Polo does about 50+ mpg (it's diesel) and although I know that this will have to come down, it is rather ominous when you see 35 mpg on some of them...

OP posts:
CountessDracula · 14/04/2004 18:00

Cha we have a Previa too (like Slinky) and it is brilliant, can fit 8 Adults + our Rhodesian Ridgeback in comfort. Agree it drives like car not bus.

We bought ours a year ago, it was 9 years old and had done 80k miles, cost 4k and I can highly recommend it. It cost a pittance to get through mot and service this year and is so reliable (as are most Japanese cars).

As far as I know the only other people carrier that fits a big dog in the back with comfort when all 3 rows up is the Chrysler Grand Voyager, much more expensive than the Previa and I don't like them nearly as much, being American they roll around, suspension too squashy, rather lumbering.

HTH

Janh · 14/04/2004 18:03

Not very. Worth looking out for a diesel version!

Sad about the combis - shame to lose the dream...

I am just interested in cars btw, always read car mags at the dentists etc!

tillymint · 16/04/2004 21:12

Go for a volvo estate.
My last car was one and it was great for camping. Three seat (all proper belts) in the baxck. Mine had the centre arm rest which con verted into a booster. Wonderful car and second hand value great. Two years ago we sold mine for £8000 (it was a high model and 6 yrs old).
I now drive a 4 wheel drive car - stunning and also fab for camping, but am selling it as I'm getting a nedw one soon - people carrier as new babe on the way.

allatsea · 17/04/2004 07:57

which MPVs/Estates have 7 seats? - and some luggage space?

noddy5 · 17/04/2004 08:24

we have an astra estate it is brilliant we stuff it full with all sorts and it seems to have endless space.4x4's don't have very big boots but they look n ice.An estate is great for dogs and shopping,car boot sales,etc

dottee · 17/04/2004 09:04

The Peugeot does around 45 mpg. It's a 2 litre diesel. It does have 7 seats (you can swap/take them out and nearly 2' luggage space closing to around 1' (headrest to window) depending on what position the rear seats are.

yamamoto · 17/04/2004 12:50

Go for the Volvo estate with seats in the back. Dont have any street cred but your family will walk away from most accidents. They are good for well over 100 000 miles, second hand values have dropped since many are being traded in for the posher XC90. I dont think people carriers are as safe as they should be, as they are marketed at families with young kids.. Had our Volvo for 5 years and have no reason to change (except they are so very boring...)

Janh · 17/04/2004 12:58

We had a Volvo + extra seats 10 years ago - a 240 - the seats are very small and leave virtually no luggage space (let alone dog space). When we went on holiday with 3 kids + baby we needed a trailer for the stuff!

The Volvo was v nice (esp the warm seats) but really not big enough for 6, let alone 7.

We traded it in for a Toyota Space Cruiser - the predecessor to the Previa (couldn't afford a Previa, they were v new then) - it was 4 years old and lasted us nearly 7 years before it had to go to the old cars' home. It had loads of luggage space with 3 rows of seats and we still miss it (sniff).

3GirlsMum · 17/04/2004 12:59

I have a new Vauxhall Zafira and cant rate it highly enough. We are a family of 5, plus an extra when SS is here and extra when I have niece and nephew and we all fit in it great. I love the versatility of how you can move the seats about but obviously if all seats are out then there is limited boot space, however, I also have space for extra in my foot wells. Very good price and lovely to drive!

yamamoto · 17/04/2004 13:40

Ruffled a few peoples carriers their..! OK Volvos are smaller inside than equiv size cars, reason - lots of steel and airbags in the sides! We have a roof box when we (rarely) go away. Seats 7 with comfort plus dog. Its the estate the police have chosen after all... not that MNs want to emulate the boys in blue!