Calling all owners of 7-seater estate cars...

[frogs]

I fear the time has come when we need to acquire a car, and am thinking of one of those big estate cars with the extra seats in the boot.

If you own one of those (particularly the Volvo V70 or the older 850) what do you think of it? I'm particularly interested in how reliable they are likely to be after about 80K on the clock.

Also (nosey question alert) how do people finance cars? I'd like to keep the cost to a level where we can pay for it out of cash, but that's going to restrict us to an older model with higher mileage. Not sure if this is going to be a wise decision in the long run.

All experiences gratefully received!

btw I think our XC70 is trendy and brill fun to drive

RTKM no didn't get family pack - just the rear facing boot seats. Other kids are 8 and 5 and had just bought them 'trendy' (there's that word again!) ?maxicosi seats before bought new car, so weren't going to spend more on integrated ones (so tight!!)
For the record, anyone out there using just booster seats for 3 yrs+ PLEASE think again - a friend of a friend had a horrendous accident and booster seat was blamed for fatality as if the car turns over it can easily slide out from underneath. That's why we bought 'cool' seats with a back for our now 8 and 5 year old (they love them).

ok

Did you get the RTI + TV?

And integrated phone system in dashboard and under arm rest with steering wheel controls?

I love them both.

Message withdrawn

Oh dear

I am so sorry

I was boasting

I will shut up now, sorry again.

Noooo, dont' shut up! I'm taking it all in!

Told dh last night I'd decided on a Volvo - he just p*sed himself laughing as he knew before I told him that I'd got the advice on MN!!

I reckon he'll go with it though! Can't wait for his promotion to go through so we can spend the car allowance!

Methinks Volvo are being slow to test the Britax isofix seats because they are trying to flog their own seats which are about twice the price! We use Britax Isofix seats in our car and they are fine - seem very secure. In fact, we were never told that Volvo hadn't tested them - indeed the garage where we bought our V70 were more than happy to supply the extra bits to make the car isofix compliant!!!

It was BRITAX that told me that btw not volvo

volvo do not make ISOFIX car seats just reg ones.

Just thought I should clear that up.

BRITAX told me several car companies have NOT done safety checks with britax ISOFIX car seats and

BRITAX cannot guarantee the safety of the seats in the cars not on the recommended list.

He said they will look safe and probably would be safe but Britax and/or the car companies will not guarantee that they are safe

ie If you had an accident you could not blame those companies for a failure of the seat.

VOLVO 0845 564636

BRITAX 01264 386034

Perhaps give them a ring in the morning to check what they say

I am pretty sure Volvo make isofix seats as we looked into it when we bought our V70. They can be used from birth and you get a cradle that the seat goes into. But I may be wrong. Will check and confirm. You are right about Volvo not being happy to recommend Britax seats but as I said, ours fit fine and very securely. Do think its probably a case of wanting to flog their own seat which is about £300 all in! BMW are pretty similar....

Andif is right about the boosters.
Children up to 11 or 12 should use a seat with a back.
Not only can they slip out but their neck gets broken because the belt isn't the right height.
And for those who say "my 9 year old won't".... who's in charge in your car?
The Maxi Cosi Rodi and the Britax Kid are both cool and comfy and my 12 year old has just reluctantly given his up. (He still sits on a booster as he's not 5'2"

If I could just revive this, to pick your knowledgeable brains for a minute...

I've found a car that could be suitable, for £6995, S-Reg V70, petrol, automatic, 80K on the clock. It doesn't have the rear child seats, but the dealer said they can be fitted, and I got the distinct impression he'd do that at the same price in order to secure a deal. What potential problems should I be looking out for? The car has a tow-bar fitted -- does that mean the engine is likely to be knackered after dragging a caravan up and down the motorway?

I'd be prepared to move up a price notch for a diesel or something with lower mileage, but the car I've looked at would probably do the job. How many miles would it be likely to do before getting to the point where I'd have to pay someone to take it away?

TIA to all you volvo-afficionados!

Our last one had a tow bar and I was worried about same thing but really liked the car and it was fine

Do you want to CAT me the details I will look in more detail

Someone said about the safety of seats and crumple zone

I would phone volvo customer service to ask

SO then it is independent

Am a bit doubtful as to why he is doing for same price he must have big mark up IMHO

what size engine is it?

It's a 2.5 engine. Looking across the Volvo dealers' websites it looks like a reasonable but not exceptional deal, which I guess gives me a bit of room for manoevre. A friend gave me the invaluable advice of not telling the dealer what my upper price limit is -- I think she was right, as he kept asking that question in slightly different ways. So I think he wanted to make it sound as if he was willing to negotiate, to keep me interested.

Does anyone know what the point is at which you would expect a car like this to fall apart/become more trouble than it's worth? You still see plenty of 850s and even older ones driving around, so there must be a bit of life in it yet.

DH says our 850 was about 90 ++

I have forgotten

2.5 is that 20v?

frogs you said independant daler does that mean that they are VOLVO APPROVED USED CAR????

Hope so

Yes, yes, Volvo approved used cars. But I am going to get RAC to check it over anyway.

brill

deffo rac check

RTKM, a bit late but I did so enjoy your optional extras blurt.

Thanks hub2dee

I think

unless you are taking the michael ?????

RTKM: I'm not - thought it was cute. You obviously LOVE your big fat Volvo !

DW likes it too. It's really the only 'big 4X4 thing' she would contemplate.

TBH, I chucked the XC90 brochure and price list away yesterday after having perused them for several weeks as I figure losing, say, 15 grand depreciation on, say, 2 - 3 years use seemed a bit much... but it's still tempting.

I also chucked the Citroen C8 brochure as I'm trying to keep the house tidy. I still think that may be a possible - although a bit silly big for just us two plus future sprog. I think those baby / shopping / car-park-friendly electric sliding doors rock! . (Idea being both sets of parents, or maybe some friends with kids could all pile in and go for big long holidays... smiley happy people and all that).

yes you are right

It is the best car ever

yes but hub2dee, it's no bigger than a big bmw estate (well, maybee a couple of cm's wider, but def. no longer) The C8 is the same car as the Peugeot 807 - made in same factory etc. i heard the new 807 now come with built in dvd? We've got the 807 & it is fab. those elctric slidey doors are indispensible, I'll never get another car without. & they're v. easy to drive & are GREAT. so there. my friend has got one & she's only got 2 kids with no planms for more, but always has shit loads of luggage