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!

Thanks ernest. Just had a scrummage around Volvo's and BMW's websites:

XC90 height 1784 - BMW 3 Touring is 1409, 5 Touring is 1491
It is fair to say that is quite a lot taller than both (but that's makes you smile, isn't it RTKM)

XC90 length 4798 - BMW 3 Touring is 4478, 5 Touring is 4843
OK, so the XC90 is a foot longer than the small BM, and a tiny bit shorter than the big BM. That's pretty interesting.

XC90 width (ex mirrors) is 1898 - BMW 3T is 1739, BMW 5T is 1846
Noticeably wider than the 3 and a tad wider than the 5.

Hmmm, so basically same size as a 5 series estate, just a little taller.

But for us the height would be the advantage:

DH is 6' tall

My dad is 6' 6" and mobility impaired

Brother is 6' 5"

And volvos are much more fun to drive

I love Volvo cars

typo regarding car height: "but that's what makes you smile RTKM"

ernest, I haven't met an 807 owner. Now you've got me jealous. Can I ask some questions ?

1. Is the door opening off the key fob idiot proof as to what side you're clicking open ? Is the interior control of same also utterly simple and reliable ? Do the electric doors make you utterly rule the universe ?
2. Does it feel like a bus, a coach, a van or a family saloon ? (Doubt it'll feel as nice as my 1974 chrome bumper MGB which I need to sell)
3. Is it fast, medium or slow ? Heavy, average, economic on the fuel ?
4. We are having our first child late July / early August. Would it be silly to get a C8/ 807 now and keep it till sprog(possible s) graduate and I become an old man, or would that be a genius move of forward thinking ?

(TIA for any comments)

OK, giant members of the RTKM clan, I can understand the Headroom Appreciation Society, and your penchant for tall Volvos, but I am only sized of a mortal, and my wife is similarly endowed on the vertical elevation scale....

What would we do with all the air above our heads ? Couldn't it be dangeous in a crash

pmsl

RTKM, I am saying nasty things about you in another thread but you'll have to find it

(something about pushchairs, search 'RTKM' if you get paranoid.

Anyway, you think I'm joking about the extra air, don't you ? I mean, have you ever looked at a motorcycle helmet, hey ? Tight, innit, not floating about six inches off your skull.

hub2dee, my dh is only 5'6" & me considerably less, but the headroom is great for

• boys standing up in car (not when moving)
• easier to put kids in without breaking back - bmw very low
• easier to clean (doesn't occur too often tho')
• balloons

your Q's :-
ernest, I haven't met an 807 owner. Now you've got me jealous. Can I ask some questions ?

1. Is the door opening off the key fob idiot proof as to what side you're clicking open ?

Well, my 4 yr old manages. Some map-reading-challenged women (or men) might have to turn the key the right way up 1st - left button for left door etc. Is the interior control of same also utterly simple and reliable ? very much so. Do the electric doors make you utterly rule the universe ? Absolutely. Also great when staggering to car in pissing rain with baby under one car, shoulder bag flaying wildly about and 3 carrier bags full of heavy shopping. Ds2 - open door & run.

2. Does it feel like a bus, a coach, a van or a family saloon ? (Doubt it'll feel as nice as my 1974 chrome bumper MGB which I need to sell) Well, for me, not much diff to family saloon, but was used to driving big cars before. I suppose wpould be a bit of a shock when going from mini to mpv. I did think it was quite light to drive compared with other mpv's I test drove. Seat position quite upright, but find that more comfy to practically lying-down driving position. that's a personal preference tho. Like the fact that gear stick is not on ground - quite high up. Was weird getting used to handbrake being on other side, but got used to it v. quickly.

3. Is it fast, medium or slow ? Heavy, average, economic on the fuel ? Not the quickest accelorator, but not a lead weight either - my main comparison is the ... bmw & the was pretty lively. This is fine. V. comfy esp on long journeys.

4. We are having our first child late July / early August. Would it be silly to get a C8/ 807 now and keep it till sprog(possible s) graduate and I become an old man, or would that be a genius move of forward thinking ?
   Well, it's also useful for all the extra room for the rediculous amounts of baby gear you (think you) need for 1st child. Also clambering into back to feed/change etc much easier with level floor & bags of space.

actually, I tend to have baby under my arm rather than the car. honest

Freudian slip obviously, ernest .

Many, many thanks for all this info. I am glad the controls are easy to use, that your ds2 can wing it into there in the rain, that it drives OK, and that it is good for the back. All great info.

The fact it nicely accomodates balloons is the clincher though . Hadn't even thought of its fantasticness as deluxe baby changing facility.

I rescued the brochure from the bin and had another look through. Can I bore you with some more queries ?

1. What were your thoughts on the Captain Chair layout as opposed to 'normal bench' ? It looks super luxurious / roomy / good at stopping fights between kids, and can actually take six in comfort, but you obviously lose one space (and possibly this impacts whether the seats can move / fold down etc.)
2. Did you go for leather ? In the brochure it looked slightly icky and nasty... wonder if it looked / felt better in real life
3. Are the front swivel seats incredibly useful for sorting out second row world wars ? I always remember mum or dad struggling to turning round to me and my bro when we were being evil in the car. Tee Hee.

Duuuh... you've got the 807, not the C8. Some of my questions may be irrelevant. Woops. Sorry. (In the C8 'Captain Chair' is a layout with two front swivels and then only two 'stand-alone' seats in each of the rear rows, to the sides of the vehicle).

ok, as far as I know, the C* & 807 are almost identical. You can get the captain chairs in 807 too. tbh, seemed a bit of a waste of space. The driver & passenger seats are captain chairs, as are the very rear 2 (unless you go for bench option), sorry, they're not exactly captains chairs, are they, as they have no arms. the middle row can be 2 cpatain chairs or 3 chairs, but they're not bench, still 3 individual chairs, any of which can be in together/removed, so you could still have the isle down the middle & put in the 3rd seat as & when you need it.

I personally would go for the 7 seats & just have the 4 or 5 in that you need. It may be diff now, but in fact ours only came with 5 seats as standard & we had to buy as extras the rea 2 seats (had the option of a 3 seater bench or 2 individual seast, which is what we went for)

You could easyily seat the kids on the 2 outside ones & have the middle seat folded down as table, for eg, or have one kid in middle & 1 in back.

We did go for leather. i was concerned that it was light grey 7 would look dirtyu quickly, but it doesn't 7 in fact looks miles better than the black leather in the bmw which looked really filthy. i thought the fabric covers were all really ropey 7 the leather just wipes clean.

the swival front seats look better than they are. You can't swivel them while moving or abnything & in fact, they are not easy to swivel at all, esp the drivers seat. You have to be parked., so good if you're on a long journey mid winter.p*ing rain & stopping for pic nic. You have to move the seats as far forward as possible lean as far forward as possible then shove them round. the drivers one is even more complicated with steering wheel & handbrake to contend with. In short, it is fun when you finally sicceed, but we've only done it a couple of times. Definitely not a feature just to sort out a bit of argy bargy. Am I right in thinking you're still expecting your 1st child? You seem to be anticipating a whole heap of sibling rivalry lol! Actually the space between the driver/passenger seat, coupled with no handbrake/gear stick & flat floor is perfectly adequate for cross grown up to step through & throw a few well-aimed (verbal?) blows.

btw, get sat nav, absolutely indispensibe.

Thanks, again, ernest, for all the info.
(Comma lovers: is that indeed the correct punctuation? So many of the beautiful little things!)

I didn't realise middle row seating on this family was so flexible. Hmmm, something to think about. Also glad your leather looks nice. Even better than the BM ? Wow. I'm a vegetarian and the whole leather seating thing (and for jackets etc.) is a tricky mental issue. Hmmph.

Sorry to hear swivel seats can't be used in battle combat to address misbehaving sproglets, but suppose it is much safer that way.

"Am I right in thinking you're still expecting your 1st child? You seem to be anticipating a whole heap of sibling rivalry lol!"

Yes, all things going swimingly, we should see mini me end July / early August and I'm getting so (surprisingly) excited that we may aim for more. I guess I ought to wait and see how surviving number one works out before pre-ordering any more! I clearly remember my brother and I beating each other up... can it be any other way, ernest ???

yes. My sister & I were arch enemies, with much in-car fighting. My 3 boys are siglings-heaven. they have their moments of course, and it's still early days I guess, but I envy them thier wonderful sibling fun'n'frolicks....

(You've caught me on a good day)

please read thread with your name

hub2dee

or jazzybee