vans for family of 6

Mistermeaner

Would appreciate opinions and advice anyone may have

We have a family of 6; me, the missus, and 4 boys currently 12, 10, 2 and 1

We want to get a vehicle that can fit us all in; both transporting us (so need min 6 seats) and our piles of luggage… we are very outdoors and active – bikes, camping, climbing, kayaking as well as just the day-to-day stuff like prams, shopping, school bags, luggage for a weekend away etc. Also doing a lot of work around house and garden so space for tip runs etc is useful.

Have looked at and ruled out all the MPV’s (Sharan, Galaxy etc.) as too small and also the big SUV’s (Q7, discovery etc.) as too expensive and small.

I have kind of narrowed down to looking at Ford Transit Custom (with crew cab), ford Tourneo, VW Transporter and VW caravelle

A few rambling thoughts that makes me indecisive at the moment and where opinions / experiences may be helpful:

- Ford appear better value for money, but VW I think have a better rep for quality (I’ve driven lots of VW cars)

- The ‘crew cab’ type configuration (2 rows of 3 seats) appears great for luggage space as the ‘boot’ space is much bigger; however the double front passenger seats feel cramped and wonder how this will be on a longer journey. Also like that the boot space is partitioned off. Could easily throw 4 bikes in the back plsu a load of other stuff.

- I’ve seen a number of Tourneo’s where the 2nd row of seats faces backwards, such that the 6 seats in the back face towards each other – this seems very space efficient and leaves a decent size boot – however this is more seat space than we need and the boot is both smaller than the crew cab configuration and also open into the cabin. While we could creatively pile luggage around we definetly couldn’t put 4 bikes into this (I think). I was wondering how reconfigurable/flexible the seats are so that we could shuffle them around to create space as required. E.g. fold/ remove the back 3 entirely to make more boot when required or remove 1 of each of the 2 back rows to create a long thin space for a kayak etc.

- The VW transporter is very tidy looking, but expensive – appear to be less roomy than the fords, particularly the boot – how flexible is the seating in these?

- The VW caravelle looks to be the bets in passenger comfort etc. but I very expensive and I don’t think offers much in the way of luggage space at all (compared to the fords)

Thanks

AdrianC

Have you considered buying a trailer for the times when you most need all the luggage space...?

VW vans are expensive - partly because of that "quality" reputation, whether deserved or not - and partly because of the "scene tax". You don't say whether you're buying new or used, but the lower VW depreciation means that a new purchase may lean you that way, while used is more likely to go the other way.

There are, of course, other vans on the market which may well meet your needs, with plenty of badge-sharing - Citroen/Peugeot/Toyota/Fiat/Vauxhall, Renault/Nissan/Fiat/Vauxhall and Mercedes are the main choices.

(New Vauxhall Vivaros are now the same as the Citroen/Peugeot/Toyota trio, but used vans would be the same as the Nissan/Renault/Fiat trio. Fiat went the other way - the older Scudo was the Citroen-Peugeot van, the current Talento is the Renault/Nissan.)

daveyjp

If you can stomach the running costs have a look at Japanese imports. Nissan Elgrande etc.

facade

Avoid Ford. They are so popular that they are stolen all the time for spares. If you park anything transit based on your drive round here, it won't be there in the morning.

Mistermeaner

Thanks all

Had a look at some vans in various dealers today

Very much leaning towards tourneo 8 seat version : 2 big front seats and massive flex with back 6 seats - each of the 6 can be individually folded flat to form table , removed completely or turned to face other way

Even with all 6 in a decent boot space (in long wheel base version)

Looking at 2018 version with less than 10k on clock comes in at 28k which seems about benchmark as far as I can tell (not many around)

Nebulous2

I've nothing positive to offer, other than I'm also considering a crewvan type vehicle. We're thinking ahead to retirement and touring Europe. I cycle and don't like my bikes being outside.

We've considered a motorhome with a big garage for bikes and a fixed bed, but think a caravan and tow vehicle provides more flexibility. It could also be cheaper. So a van with racks and tools in the back for bikes, towing a caravan would seem like a likely option.

How do these vehicles drive nowadays? I've driven people carriers for many years, but my experience of vans is much less recent, driving hired vans and minibuses fairly regularly many years ago, They were quite rough, noisy agricultural even. Have they moved on, with more confort, less noise and better handling?

pinkshoes

We have a Mercedes Vito which has 3 seats in the front, 3 in the back, then a huge amount of space in the boot for luggage.

Very reliable despite the high mileage!

Begsey

6 of us, looked at vans when we became 6, ended up with a Chrysler Grand Voyager.
Seats fold flat for tip runs, and can take an 8x4 sheet for diy.
Can seat 7 adults in comfort, and still have good boot space. Go for a top of the range one and it'll have a DVD to keep the kids amused

RichardD1970

Roof box or trailer (or both!). Then you can have a normal(ish) size car for everyday use and the extra capacity when needed.

VFR

Honda FRV has six seats (nice vehicle as well) with a trailer when needed ?

Mistermeaner

facade wrote: »

Avoid Ford. They are so popular that they are stolen all the time for spares. If you park anything transit based on your drive round here, it won't be there in the morning.

Out of interest where is here ?

Van will be on drive but no gate or garage