7 Seater Suggestions?

dolly_dimple_2

Hi there,
We need a 7 (or 6!) seater as we've got 4 young kids (aged 1-8). Our budget's under £4000 unfortunately - any suggestions? I know the Zafira seems reliable enough but the Grand Scenic looks like a nice car too.

If anyone has any experience / suggestions I'd be hugely grateful!
Thank you!!
Dolly

slyracoon

Mazda 5.

You'll get one on a 2006 plate for around £4000.

We got one on a 2008 plate for £6000 a couple of months ago and we love it. One useful feature we like is the sliding rear doors, less risk of the children smashing the doors into things, most other similar cars such as Zafira etc. do not have this.

Its a well built Japanese car which I'll bet will drive better, cost less in maintanence costs and last longer than any Zafira of similar age.

devizes18193

Kia seddona or a chryslier voyager Both are huge capable to taking adults so will grow with your kids . I had a kia for 5 years recently bulit like a tank parts where not cheap though .

Mr_Thrifty

kia sedona seems to be designed for midgets. if you're more than 5'10" tall, your head will probably touch the roof and you'll have to bend your head in order to see through the windscreen (as opposed to being blocked by the sun visor). no room in the passenger footwell either, the wheel arch gets in the way.

chrysler voyager is nice but bit of a gas guzzler and very, very slow.

what about a ford galaxy? the 1.9 diesel gets OK fuel economy

Arfa__

We have a Zafira A (the old shape, prior to 2005). It's a decent car, been reliable and cheap to run. Sharing the same chassis as the Astra, its size is deceptive and is easy to manoeuvre. When my wife passed her test, she had no trouble driving/parking it.

However even though its a 7 seater, the back boot seats are a pain to get into. You can't squeeze between them to get in via boot, you have to fold down middle seat and clamber over. Kids will probably manage this, but its hassle, especially if you have car seats on the middle row (ISO fixing only on left/right middle seats). Once in, they are reasonably comfy and accommodating.

With the boot seats up, you have little room in the boot behind them. Unlikely to get a buggy in there.
Lastly, the middle row, although it has three seats, it's too narrow to put three kids seats in a row.

Note: models prior to 2003, had no ISO fittings, only a lap belt for middle seat and the middle row only folded in two halves.

The seating arrangement on the later Zafira Mk2 / B models is pretty much the same.

Realistically, I'd be looking at something like a Ford Galaxy.
Chrysler Voyager's have a naff NCAP safety record (particularly right hand drive ones).

mikey72

slyracoon wrote: »

Mazda 5.

You'll get one on a 2006 plate for around £4000.

We got one on a 2008 plate for £6000 a couple of months ago and we love it. One useful feature we like is the sliding rear doors, less risk of the children smashing the doors into things, most other similar cars such as Zafira etc. do not have this.

Its a well built Japanese car which I'll bet will drive better, cost less in maintanence costs and last longer than any Zafira of similar age.

Hope you got a good one.
Common faults to watch out for are noisy suspension, excessive front tyre wear, uneven tyre wear, turbo problems, and the gearing doesn't suit all drivers. Servicing can be expensive as well.

buscape

Citroen C4 Grand Picasso
Fiat Ulysse
Ford Galaxy
Mitsubishi Grandis
Peugeot 807
Seat Alhambra
Volkswagen Sharan

devizes18193

Mr_Thrifty wrote: »

kia sedona seems to be designed for midgets. if you're more than 5'10" tall, your head will probably touch the roof and you'll have to bend your head in order to see through the windscreen (as opposed to being blocked by the sun visor). no room in the passenger footwell either, the wheel arch gets in the way.

chrysler voyager is nice but bit of a gas guzzler and very, very slow.

what about a ford galaxy? the 1.9 diesel gets OK fuel economy

Not in my experience i'm 6ft 5 and dd not have a problem driving it .

photome

there you go

not a proper 7 seater but he is struggling to sell

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4079087

dolly_dimple_2

Hmmm lots to think about there, thanks everyone. Not had a lot of luck choosing cars in the past so it's useful to hear other people's experience.

Running costs and the price of repairs is more important than space for us (we're all quite wee) so I'll have a look at all the suggestions.

Thanks!
Dolly

warehouse

We have a grand scenic, and as my wife is a childminder it gets a battering. Great car for us, very economical.