PEOPLE CARRIER/MPV ADVICE

[loopyredangel]

We are expecting our second child in November and my humble Astra will be too small to fit more than one other adult in the car! Thinking of getting a 7 seater, any recommendations please?

Funny how we all like different things though isn't i? My CM has her third Zafira, she adores it (passed one to her DH, replaced older for herself).

Whilst we liked the Espace.

So the thing is you really need to look at loads to figure wat is tight for you. For example- if mobility is an issue (as it clearly is) I find the Espace seats easy to get into, Mum (who has mobility prbds and is somewhat shorter than me) finds them a little too high. And then there's boot space- !! As campers we need loads, that's what out us off the Galaxy. And that's even before price becomes an issue...

maybe get yourself down to one of those car supermarkets, or even take a while to browse on Ebat see if you can spot what you do and don't like in the different models?
You'll find someone here who loves and hates every model produced- but its you you're buying for, not them.

The S-max looks great- bloody typical though - I only have an automatic licence and they don't do it in an automatic!!!

i have ordered a citreon C4 seven seater.
it is lovely and it comes as automatic as standard, you can switch it to gears but there isn't a clutch pedal.
i can't wait until june when i get mine.

Just thought - if you can only have an automatioc, do not get a Renault as their automatic gearboxes are notoriously cr*p (according to my dad and "Honest John" who is a car journalist, amongst others). Actually, if you google "honest John" I think he has a website and you coud post your question there.

I've heard that bout the older Renaults (again according to my FIL lol who is really about as reliable as Ukips chances of forming the next government....).

had a chat with Dh earlier, he says have a look at the safety tests on which, randomly google a few to see what crops up and then go for what you fancy most, coz you'kll be driving it! Space apparently isn't an issue re the wheelchair as most MPV's allow you to remove seats.

now, WHY i spoke to DH I have no idea as I know far mroe about cars than him LOL! But there ye be

Just been to test drive a ford galaxy 2006 model, nice drive, seat was a bit high, might cause problems when pelvis gets worse, is the seat height adjustable? Plus, can the seats be folded down - the dealer seemed to think you can only remove them if you want more boot space!?!?

Most full-size MPVs only have removable seats.

The 5+2s do have fold-into-floor ones - S-Max, Verso, 307, Zafira, new Picasso C4 etc

Dh thinks yes, although Dh says the only one he knows of that goes completely flat is the Toyota (thats a nice car btw)

The back 2 seats in the 5+2 cars do fold flat into the floor so leave a lot of boot space.

In the C4 Picasso the middle seats do too, it sounds like an incredible design:

I want one! But can't justify it

Do you have a limited budget or not? If not (or the limit is generous ), then I'd recommend the Mercedes R Class. It's a 6 seater in 3 rows of 2 seats each, and has tonnes of room, as well as isofix points in 4 (or might even be 5) of the seats.

Read this review of the 7-seater C4 Picasso.

It has 4 Isofix fixings, including front passenger seat (airbag can be disabled with a switch). It is a brilliant design all round and apparently the build quality is far better than Citroens ever used to be. You might good a used one at a sensible price before November (and even the new ones aren't that bad - you can get one from a car supermarket for £13K although the diesels cost more of course).

You've bags of choice, loopy

not a seven seater but if you are after space we love our multipla, and the new ones are less odd looking. Although we have an old style one and love it to bits.

not a seven seater but if you are after space we love our multipla, and the new ones are less odd looking. Although we have an old style one and love it to bits.

sorry got so excited talking about our multipla I double posted

We picked up our new Previa yesterday and although the seat configuration is different to our old one the boot space is still good even with all seats in place. I love the Previa. We had our old one for 9 years and I actually got all choked up when we left it on the forecourt looking all lonely.

You need to decide what you want the car for primarily - e.g. all 7/8 seats in place then will you need a sizeable boot for all the shopping? or will you use just 5 seats but need the boot space clear or will folded down seats do. Do you have to remove the back row of seats and store them to get the boot space you want? Bench seats or individual? One passenger door or two? The permutations are endless!

That's why I love my Grand Voyager - have space for 7 plus space for luggage. If we can take our brood to airport plus in-laws and all the stuff they take on holiday it must have a big boot!! Also in new model the seats fold into the floor. Still prefer driving my Mazda MX5 though....

Well we decided on a frod galaxy in the end, the price was right! We pick it up tomorrow, it gets great n-cap saftey rating which is quite important to us. There is heaps of space. I will miss my lovely little astra though, and I am moving over to a diesel so hopefully I won't forget at the petrol station which pump to go for!