Need a 7 seater - any advice

[Jo15]

We need to get a 7 seater car for our expanding family but will not need all 7 seats all the time - just need to be able to fit 3 car seats on back row - two boosters and baby seat.

We have seen a C4 Grand Picasso - only a 2008 model but has 65,000 on the clock which is making us think twice - do not know if this high mileage is a problem. The other options are a Ford S-Max or Toyota Corolla Verso.

Any advice would be much appreciated - budget is about 10k.

Yes it is a diesel auto. It is the exclusive model which is the one my husband is after. Had a look on Auto Trader and they are about £2000 more for a similar car with lower mileage. Don't know whether it is worth paying the extra £2000.

herbietea, you have been really helpful. Please could I ask you one question about the hill assist. I think all the C4 autos have this. I have always had an automatic partly because I don't like hill starts and wanted to ask whether you find the hill assist works well and always kicks in. Also what is it like not having a hand break?

I've got a Kia Carens" and I love it.. Really economical, nippy. You can fit two big Aldi shopping bags in the boot for that midweek shop. If we go on hols we put on the roofrack for extra storage. All Carens come with a roofrack. And the 7 year warantee...

we have a VW touran that fits the bill. Two fold down seats in the boot, 3 full seats in the middle (can just fit 3 high back boosters in which I think are wider than the previous stage seats).

The boot is big when the seats are down (tiny when they are up). Comes with roof rails if a roof box is a consideration.

we got a chrysler voyager last week so far so good but we will have 3 dcs under 3 by the end of the year so need 3 proper car seats. It is probably bigger than you need.

How about a zafira? my sister has one with dcs 8,4 and 2 and can fit my two dds in there too if needs be.

We've just ordered a Touran having looked at the Citroen, the new Peugeot and the Ford S-max. The Touran seemed to be the best value for money.

Have you thought about a Land Rover - you can pick up a decent County (12 seats but some fold up) well within your budget.

DO NOT GET A RENAULT!!!!!

We've got a touran and love it, it's really flexable. But the fold down seats in the boot are only really for children (but fine with car seats) and if these are up there's very little space in the boot - you'd be struggling to get a pushchair in.

Thank for all the advice. Have a Renault and have been pleased with it and it has served me well but would like a change now. My heart is still set on the Citreon - I really liked the interior - what is under the bonnet is dh's territory!! Will go and test drive on the weekend and check the service history. dh assures me that if it was a business car doing business miles on a motorway then the high mileage is not so much of an issue.