Car that would fit 2 car seats and a largeish adult in the back??

taliwillow

Hello,
We are trying to find a car that will fit 2 childrens car seats and 1 largeish adult in the back comfortably for long journeys. We are aware of the Sharan and Alhambra and will go to look at them if we can't find anything smaller. We went to look at a Touran this morning but found that although we could fit an adult in the middle of the car seats, it is very tight in the shoulder area (due to the children being young enough to need the high backed seats) and this wouldn't be fun for a few minutes let alone a 4 hour journey (which is roughly how long it takes us when we go on holiday). We have considered the Renault Grand Scenic but most reviews we have read are awful in regards to it's reliability and we could do without the car conking out when you are out with 2 young children. Does anyone have any other suggestions or any good stories to tell about the Grand Scenic?
Thanks
Taliwillow

Kilty_2

Xsara Picasso should do it.

shop-to-drop

Have you looked at Ford S max?

Flyboy152

How large is "largish?"

taliwillow

Largeish meaning a size 18-20 lady.

Forgot to say that our budget is 4.5K ish so have considered the S-max but don't think you can get them that cheap.

rodenal

Does it have to be mpv style wise? I can understand if it's to do with the level the seats are at for putting seats in but other than that you are looking at vehicles based on quite a small car, generally shocking to drive and with little other real life benefits.

In terms of reliability the grand scenic is generally speaking far better than the xsara picasso (especially early ones) also mentioned, but as ever buy on condition and history rather than being set to one specific car.

I would consider an E class estate, bags of room in the front, back and the boot plus loads of them about at your budget, other thoughts more inkeeping with your original choices include honda FRV and the mazda 5.

blue_monkey_2

We have just bought a 2nd hand Ford Galaxy and it is like a bus!! We have bought it as a 2nd car but the kids want to go in it all the time, LOL. It has the same engine as the Sharan and Alhambra and they are really cheap to get hold of - likewise so are parts. We really struggled to get an Alhambra and a Sedona, they were snapped up as soon as they hit Autotrader because they are such good value.

Or something like a Freelander - go for the TD4 or newer as there there was a problem with the fiscous (sp) coupling before this model which means expensive repairs.

We have a Kia Carens MPV but you would struggle to be comfortable with 2 car seats and a large adult in the middle row to be honest.

Either way, go for a deisel, they are so much more economical. Look on Autotrader and look through the running costs and it'll give you the MPG./ I really wanted a 4 WD but they use so much fuel, we went for the MPV instead.

Also, buy from a trader and make sure they offer some sort of warranty incase it has problems when you get it. My friend has been stuffed with an 05 plate zetec that she has had to sepnd a fortune on because 'she knew the guy and could not take it back'. We also got stuffed with a Freelander that we bought - turned out to be modifed into a 2WD and the trader gave us a full refund, no questions asked. They will charge you a little more but you get some sort of peace of mind.

taliwillow

Thanks for all of your replies. We always buy diesels as we like how they drive and the economy although I am wondering whether they are much more economical than petrol but I still like my diesel.

I have just had a look to see what a Mazda5 is on autotrader. I really like the look of it but not sure if it will do what we need it to but think it is at least worth trying to find one that we can test drive and try the children seats in it. The Grand Scenic do seem to be the best priced ones about but is this down to the fact that they have a bad rep for being unreliable? I'd rather spend a bit more and get something reliable.

My husband has suggested that we look at a Touran again as he had forgotten that the seats move forward and back (so he says anyway) so he wondered if we move the childrens seats back then the adult shouldn't be cramped in the middle. One problem I do have with the Touran is that a lot of the ones we have seen (online and in person) seem to have a considerable amount of wear showing in various places particularly around the drivers door handle and it just gives the impression that they aren't very hardy. I am very surprised as we have had lots of VW's before and have always considered them to be a good solid brand but the state of the interior of the one we looked at yesterday really didn't give that impression. Unless other people just don't look after their cars like we do.

rodenal

Unfortunately any car that's been used to shuttle young kids around tends to look a bit "worn" inside and out after a few years, so I wouldn't read too much into that. Most VW's are built on one of only 3 or 4 platforms and are generally reliable(ish) and wear well enough. The main points tend to be cambelts, worn suspension bushes & links, abs sensors and turbo issues at about 150k miles on the diesels. I would avoid any CVT transmission like the plague too, as these regularly blow up, the regular auto is fine though.

There is nothing particularly wrong with the grand scenic, from my experience they arent particularly unreliable but can suffer from difficult to diagnose electrical niggles - I certainly wouldnt rate them much worse than any vw of the same age, whilst the vag group have a reputation of reliability, in recent times they have been no better than the mainstay of competitors.

davidjwest

We've a Grand Scenic and it's been nothing but trouble - £550 to fix the (electronic) hand brake for example. Would never buy another Renault again personally but that's just bad luck perhaps.

Outpost

davidjwest wrote: »

We've a Grand Scenic and it's been nothing but trouble - £550 to fix the (electronic) hand brake for example. Would never buy another Renault again personally but that's just bad luck perhaps.

Some say the bad reputation that Renaults and Peugeots have for reliability is unfounded, but to be honest I'm of the opinion that that many people can't be wrong. I had an 02 Clio and it was rubbish, always in the garage. A friend as a 53 Laguna, again never out of the garage.