options for a growing family

goldspanners

sidawson wrote: »

any of you thought about the mercedes vito, we hire one when we go away as can't all fit in the likes of espace, galaxy, sharon, zafira.....well not if we want to take luggage or anything with us, the newer models have a good size boot on them and are 8 seaters so can still be driven on a normal licence for all those who passed after 1997.

try actually running one, they are poor (understatment).
rubbish to drive, expensive to fix,which needs doing a lot. and a bit thirsty on the diesel.
and rust like hell. and merc dealer back up is shocking.

sidawson

goldspanners wrote: »

try actually running one, they are poor (understatment).
rubbish to drive, expensive to fix,which needs doing a lot. and a bit thirsty on the diesel.
and rust like hell. and merc dealer back up is shocking.

is that the new shape too, i know the old shape was bad for that, but heard the newer ones where alot better.

durham05

hi, we are thinkin of changing our fiat ulysse, no pobs with it, but fancy a different motor, so have looked at the i800, merc benz vito, transporter shuttle, van type mpvs, looking for an 8 seater if were going to change.any one have any comments bad/good, or any other suggestions of motors.

Hintza

Interesting thread, I remember the days before seat belts when you used to see families all crammed into a Ford Cortina estate, 5 kids all in the back seats.

Now we are so safety concious that you are really stuffed if you have 3 kids or more and virtually need a bus.

One car that isn't mentioned here but I would have thought would come heavily discounted might be a Dodge Journey (OK the depreciation will be horrific bit if the initial price is low enough might work for some). At least it's different.

Or how about this (unfortunately not available in the UK) Toyota Quantum

Inactive

Hintza wrote: »

Now we are so safety concious that you are really stuffed if you have 3 kids or more and virtually need a bus.

Indeed, strange thing is the " bus " doesn't need to have any safety features or seat belts.;)

AdrianHi

I actually quite like the butch styling of the Dodge range, the Avenger is my kind of car for looks and they actually have colours in the range to choose from instead of 10 shades of grey like the Germans.
The case for a Dodge falls apart when you look at performance vs. fuel economy (and so emmissions). Performance that is often ponderous and they are thirsty. Next to European average they are a decade out of date, next to technologies like BMW efficient dynamics, VAG Bluemotion etc. they are statistically bankrupt (just like their finances).
It's a shame, they are a bit different
http://www.dodge.co.uk/avenger/gallery.html

babybimbles

lol - I remember being squashed with 3 others in the back!

I've convinced dh to take me to car giant this evening. I've shortlisted the following to look at:

VW Touran
SMax
Galaxy
Citreon Grand Picasso
Citreon 8
Renault Grand Scenic

anything else?

Armengar

My advice to you is to take the car seats to a dealership and try them in the cars. Look at how much room there is after putting a pram in the boot with imagined shopping. I didnt want a galaxy as it felt like a bus. I'll never buy a french car again after the nightmare time in my laguna (but this is my personal unfounded opinion so dont take that as gospel!) The VW was too small, as was the zafira (IMHO)

I went for the SMax as the two rear seats are foldable and felt ok. The mid row seats could fit 3 seats fine and the car had a decent trim level. I can fit a pram and a double buggy in the boot with weekly shopping. With arrangement I can also have a single rear seat up too but I would prefer a load net in there too if it was a child sat in that seat. Look at the width of the car too, the smax is near as damnit the same size as a mondeo estate.

That being said it wasnt the cheapest option and a lot of people prefer the cheaper qashqai +2. Look at the blind spots near the A pillars, me and my wife are tall and these arent a problem but it may be for you. The lack of a spare wheel may bother some people. I use punctureseal although you COULD go for runflat tyres if you dont mind the extra costs.

code-a-holic

I love my citroen grand picasso! I have 4 children ranging from 4 weeks - 6 years.

I go through cars quickly - i have owned a Sharan, Galaxy and a Ulysse, So im on the smallest at the moment, but dealing with it!! I would recomend each car, all were roomy enough to carry kids and luggage. The picasso fits in our family of 6 and pushcair but not much else. But it is the most economical.

Beware of not having a spare wheel - i had one pop last week and the puncture seal stuff just ran out of the tyre so had to go home on a lorry after a few hours wait - and then no car until one was ordered and fitted - grrr. With the other 3 i could have replaced and driven away with 15 mins!

babybimbles

Just to add some more detail - out of the Touran, Galaxy, SMax and Citreon Grand Picasso, which comes out tops with an automatic gearbox?

:j