I wanna: car to seat up to 7

Frugal_Fox · 3 June 2006 at 5:51PM

Okay,

Heres the deal. We are a family of 4, who love camping, and have a dog who comes too!

We are about to start the road to fostering.

We currently have an estate, plus my Suburu which seats 4 - 5. Once we get approved for fostering we may have an additional 2 children, plus possible baby to chauffer around.

A total of 4 children wouldn't really be a problem, and the cars could stay as there are - except we'd never be able to go out as a 'family' unless we took both cars, but if we go to 5 children, then neither car is going to be suitable.

Hence we are looking for cars to seat up to 7 but, don't particularly want a people carrier as looks a little naff with just two children in it!! Or should I forget that misconception...

Racking brains to come up with 5 - 7 seater cars and can only so far think of Ford Maverick, Land Rover Discovery & Renault Savannah - not sure its around any more.

What can anyone advise me?

Many thanks
FF

Nile · 3 June 2006 at 6:13PM

I'll move this thead over to the 'Motoring & Public Transport' board, where it should get more views and responses.

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere(please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].

Regards

Nile

Frugal_Fox · 3 June 2006 at 6:31PM

Thanks Nile,

I wasn't sure where to put it - so thanks!

FF

Frugal_Fox · 3 June 2006 at 8:30PM

Can anyone help???

BobToo · 3 June 2006 at 8:31PM

The Renault Savanna is a good option, but the newest are M/N plate. I had a 1.9 Diesel one until I crashed it just before Christmas and it returned 45mpg with adequate performance. The boot isn't big enough for seven people's luggage though- a trailer or roofbox would be required for holidays. All seven seats in the Savanna face forward and have belts- static on the third row (which I think is no bad thing).

There have been a few other seven seat cars. The Peugeot 406 was available with seven seats but the back two were rear-facing. I haven't seen them in action but I imagine that would wipe out all the boot space. The old shape Laguna could be had with, from memory, side-facing seats. Personally I'd prefer to have a backrest between my children and my luggage but, again, I haven't seen one. The Montego also had a pair of rear-facing seats but I can't see you finding a decent one now- it was hard enough then.

I think there have been a few Japanese cars with seven seats and many 4x4s have a long-wheelbase option with extra seats.

sundin13 · 3 June 2006 at 8:41PM

How about a Peugot 307SW.

And a little more mpv-ish, try Mazda Premacy, Honda Stream, Renault Grand Scenic

littlemissfrugal · 3 June 2006 at 9:38PM

Ive got a Zafira and its a fantastic car we have family far and wide and try and combine visits to them with a few days in a caravan and we just pack so much into it - also because its based on a Astra the servicing and maintainence costs aren't too steep go for a diesel and your laughing. real workhorse wouldn't be without it now.

Chris_VRS · 3 June 2006 at 10:32PM

obviously depending on budget...galaxy/sharan/alhambra? are plentiful and can be picked up cheap....volvo v70 estate? with rear facing seats (not very comfy for the people in the boot)..toyota previa?

then you have all the 'smaller' 7seaters like Zafira, Corolla Verso, Grand Scenic, Touran etc

tanith · 3 June 2006 at 11:18PM

I can't recommend the Zafira highly enough I am on my second one now and its just so versatile... the two extra seats fold completely flat into the floor thus giving an enormous boot area when not in use... also even though it looks small on the outside its very big and spacious on the inside, I carry my grandkids around and they much prefer to travel with me than in their own car....

oldMcDonald · 4 June 2006 at 7:37AM

We have just had to sell our Galaxy in favour of a mini bus. There are 7 of us so obviously it is a different situation, however it is worth noting that if you buy a 'people carrier' and need to use at least 6 seats at any point, then a people carrier is all it will be. If you want to add a dog, shopping or luggage then forget it!!

The back seats in a people carrier type car are usually only suitable up to a young (small) child, there is little leg room for anyone over 4 1/2ft to be comfortable. Its also worth noting that a lot of these cars are similar body designs - a Galaxy and a Sharon are identical. Our Galaxy was a 1.6L and it guzzled petrol. Our diesel mini bus is actually cheaper on fuel!

We had a Savvanah before and that had better luggage space, although I found it harder to get to the kids when they were in the rear seats. Our old Austin montego and 7 seat volvos were not much use as the last row of seats face the back so not only could you not put luggage in the back (if braking sharply it would be very dangerous) but you also had travel sickness in the younger ones and had to keep stopping to swap everyone around!

I have no experience of the larger 4x4 types so cant comment on them. All I would say for sure is to get a diesel, I can't believe how much cheaper ours is to run.

Frugal_Fox · 4 June 2006 at 9:26AM

Wow -

Thank you all for your replies. Was looking at Parkers last night - but wasn't terribly easy to locate which were 7 seaters and which were just big 5's so many thanks for this. I'm not too bothered that the rear seats (ie third row) are suitable only for children. Our current eldest is only 8 still and all foster children are going to be younger than this, so currently that isn't much of an issue.

Interesting comments regarding the People Carriers and lack of luggage space - looking at the photos on Parkers I had come to this conclusion myself!

Thinking realistically - I don't really want to face shopping with ALL children - so could have room inside to bundle shopping - also fortunate that we will be keeping DH estate, so could borrow that. As for luggage / holidays - quite happy to pull a trailer. Dog - not so sure on that angle!

We expect to be fostering by October this year - so have plenty of time to sort this out - thus avoiding rash buying! So whilst it may look daft me driving a people carrier with just the two children in currently, least I'd know the bigger picture.

Currently cars/mpvs are -

Renault Savannah
Vauxhall Zafira
Renault Grand Scenic
Peugeot 307 SW
Mazda Premacy
Honda Stream
VW Touran
Ford Galaxy
Seat Alhambra
VW Sharan

AND - Just to be really picky - and having suffered from car sickness myself - I don't want rear facing seats!!!

I wanna: car to seat up to 7

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