7/8 seater suggestions for 4-child family

nanker

I guess the AA got it wrong then scotsman;

http://www.theaa.com/allaboutcars/ncap/ncap_car_results.jsp?make=Chrysler&modelYear=Grand%20Voyager:2001&publicationDate=2007-01-01

Jo_R_2

scotsman4th wrote: »

With 4 kids, you'll go a long way to beat the Grand Voyager (dont get the normal Voyager).
Do your research, shop around, for £2000 you should be able to pick up a 2.5TD (2000 and older).
As your husband likes to tinker (convert a transit) he may like the idea that this one will run on vegetable oil saving a fortune on fuel. It will also return around 35 to the gallon as well.
A friend has 3 seats added to the back of his transit and I believe it led to insurance problems.
When we were looking (4 kids too) we whittled it down to the caravelle, grand voyager then a minibus. The voyager was the first one that came along at the right time and the right price.

Vegetable oil? Wow will mention that to OH!

OH phoned up our current insurance company to enquite about insurance re: converting a transit and they didn't have any probs quoting; however I suspect should he actually do it it would be a different matter!

delain wrote: »

I have a friend with one of those toyotas and it spends more time in the garage being fixed than out being driven, plus around here they are known as 'chav-mobiles'

They are (apparently - I've never had one but the broken ones on ebay speak for it!) really unreliable and prone to overheating and major engine issues.

ROFL @ "chav-mobiles"!!!:D

You've right put me off!

mcjordi wrote: »

what about a mitzi pajero ( sp?) im sure some of these are 7 seaters

Ah my dad had his eye on one of those before he bought his current one - I don't know much about them personally though will inspect Autotrader to have a look.

AdrianHi - we're planning to sell our Vectra and use the proceeds and some savings towards a secondhand vehicle - so it partly depends on how much we get for the Vectra though we have a rough idea. I could plough in a bit more but tbh 2.5k would be the most at a push.

However after a series of somewhat old but well-meant cars bought for us as presents by family members which have plagued us with trouble (standing joke how many cars we've got through in the past few years!) as well as bargain buys on our part:eek: we're going to find what we can to get something a little more new and economical than we have had previously.

Rolandtheroadie

nanker wrote: »

I guess the AA got it wrong then scotsman;

http://www.theaa.com/allaboutcars/ncap/ncap_car_results.jsp?make=Chrysler&modelYear=Grand%20Voyager:2001&publicationDate=2007-01-01

Wrong car, thats the 2001 crd, not a 2000 td. And the 2 stars (one with a red line through it due to something or another) doesnt have a line through it for the 2000 model.
So I stand corrected, it's 2 stars.

nanker

I never said I looked at a 2000 model - it was the 2001 model I looked at. You posted after me and said 2000 onwards. Last time I checked 2001 was after 2000.

That is NCAP 1 star. The second star was struck through because, "However, its peformance in the frontal impact did not meet the minimum level for that rating and the car was awarded two stars. The driver's chest struck the steering wheel and distorted its rim and the chest compression measured by the dummy indicated an unacceptably high risk of serious or fatal injury. As a result, the final star in the adult occupant rating is struck-through. Several structures in the dashboard presented a potential hazard to the driver's knees; the dummy recorded high femur compressions and the protection offered to this body region was rated as poor. The passenger compartment became unstable during the test. The footwell ruptured during the impact and rearward movement of the accelerator pedal was 288mm which, combined with dummy readings indicating a high risk to the tibia resulted in a 'poor' rating for protection of the lower legs, feet and ankles. In the pole test the curtain airbag didn't deploy as intended, becoming trapped between the dummy's head and the B-pillar. The car scoreed no points and was awarded no stars for the protection it offers to pedestrians."

It also drives like a shed is one of the most expensive MPVs to run and came 2nd last in the J.D. Power Customer Satisfactio Survey.

Rolandtheroadie

nanker wrote: »

I never said I looked at a 2000 model - it was the 2001 model I looked at. You posted after me and said 2000 onwards. Last time I checked 2001 was after 2000.

2000 AND OLDER. So last time I checked, 2001 would be newer?

nanker

I stand corrected I misread that Scotsman.

I was, however, referring to the 2001 model that I drove. Your post was after mine. To clarify for the O.P. please don't buy the 2001 model unless you want to orphan your kids.

jemz0001

Think this might help:

Chrysler Voyager Se Plus Crd, 2499CC Diesel, 5DR, Manual - great car not sure of the price range tho!

Jo_R_2

Thanks all.

Oh I'm very taken by the Caravelle spacewise... Unfortunately even secondhand are way out of our price range so will just have to leave that option:(

Think we have been spoilt by the roominess of the Largo we had. I must confess that despite the problems we had with ours, I have been browsing for them again... I must stop!

I have found some Grand Voyagers within our price range, though with quite high mileage. I notice these don't have the slidey doors:D - how have people found access to the back seats
- with our Largo I used to chuck the older kids in at the back, fasten the baby into one of the middle seats then fasten up the older ones so they weren't running about whilst I sorted baby out first IYSWIM. Is there much room for leaning in and over and fastening kids up at the back - I ask because my belly is only getting bigger and it's big enough now LOL! Plus I envisage in that sort of car putting the youngest two in the middle seats, so thinking how that would work as I'd need to pop one in first then dash round the other side...

Still browsing so any other input welcomed!

Dave_Z

Jo_R wrote: »

Thanks all.

I have found some Grand Voyagers within our price range, though with quite high mileage. I notice these don't have the slidey doors:D - how have people found access to the back seats
- with our Largo I used to chuck the older kids in at the back, fasten the baby into one of the middle seats then fasten up the older ones so they weren't running about whilst I sorted baby out first IYSWIM. Is there much room for leaning in and over and fastening kids up at the back - I ask because my belly is only getting bigger and it's big enough now LOL! Plus I envisage in that sort of car putting the youngest two in the middle seats, so thinking how that would work as I'd need to pop one in first then dash round the other side...

Still browsing so any other input welcomed!

I'm fairly certain all Chrysler Voyagers/Grand Voyagers have sliding doors. Certainly since they started selling them over here.

My aunt who lives in the States had a Dodge Grand Caravan (same as the '96-'00 UK Grand Voyager) and even as a 6-foot teenager i coped pretty well in the back row. The middle row in hers seated 2 and was located to the driver side of the car, leaving a nice gap by the sliding door on the passenger side for people to access the rear seats.

feclmum

we have a kia sedona which we are really pleased with, it has the sliding doors and our four fit in very comfortably.