budget people/luggage carrier

wazza

i am a lone parent with three kids under the age of 10. currently have a mondeo hatchback. kids have bikes which they can only cycle locally. they will not fit in the car with the kids in. often go to see family/friends up in yorkshire. when kids get there they sulk because they just have to stand and watch their friends playing with their bikes.

looking for a cheap vechicle. it could be a transit van with extra seats. it is just that i think the people carriers like zaferia will not oly be more expensive but will not accomodate 3 bikes. probably go for amondeo estate. rather have the bikes inside the car than on a rack

creature comforts is low on the list. have used and dont mind using those windy things on the doors that makes the glass go up and down and also i do only up to 5000 miles a year. image factor is not important.

being unemployed dosent help

FairyElephant_2

Have a look at Jap imports....we bought a Toyota Townace 2 years ago and have been really pleased with it.
B/f has 3 kids, and his dad (who sadly passed away earlier this year) and mum wanted to come on hols wiuth us, but his dad had given up driving. Also we were having probs fitting kids & camping gear & bikes into/on his Mitsubishi Charisma.

The Jap imports have a good level of 'luxuries (ours even has air con and a mini fridge which is great for cold drinks when you are out with the kids). It seats 8 - two roes of seats in the back can be turned to face each other, or even lay out flat and make a double-bed! If you want to take loads of luggage, the farthest back seats fold up flat against the sides of the car, which gives you tonnes of room!

Only thisng which may put you off is they tend to be all automatics, but you do get used to that in time.

It is quote econimical to run (diesel) and we've had no problems in getting bits (not that we have had anything major to do to it - fingers crossed!).

We paid £4k for it then, it is a K-Reg - but there are loads more being imported now so the prices have really dropped and you can pick a really good one for £2k or maybe even less. This is I'm told because the Japs have some tax rules about running older vehicles, and so when they get to certain age they get rid of them.

There is a website called somthing like Townace Nutters, which is really helpful.

Hope this helps,

FE

wazza

FairyElephant - thanks about the imports. Are't the insurnace higher on these nowadays? It okay as people carrier but what about the bikes?

FairyElephant_2

We insured with Lifesure - it cost about the same as his Charisma used to, but you need to shop around a bit as not all insurers do imports.

You would easily fit bikes in the back with the back set of seats folded up, and that is with 2 of you in the frint and room for 3 on the 'middle' set of seats. On ours we can also separately fold up one of the 'middle' seats, so carry 4 people and the kitchen sink too!
We have taken 4 bikes and 5 people with no problems.

There are several different models/seat configurations, so worth a look.

Now we have a brilliant bike carrier, as kids are 9,11 & 14 and we have 2 adult bikes too. It was a bit pricey but we wanted something that would take 5 bikes so we could fill the car with camping stuff. it also has a bracket which goes on the wall of the garage so all the bikes are up out of the way.

I'll post the make of it when I can remeber what it is called!....

It is by a co' called Pendle. We bought it direct as it was much cheaper than from the bike shop, even with the P&P. Like I said - not cheap, but we are really pleased with it.

Good luck!

FE

wazza

thanks for the info. will look into it

vansboy

The BEST cheap people carrier is...WAIT FOR IT... an LDV Pilot/200 postbus http://www.showbus.com/gallery/gpo.htm ...Here's why..

Costs nothing - under £3,000 including vat, for 4-5yrs old. One owner (several drivers) OKish maintained (expect body bumps n grazes) maybe under 50k miles.

You've no street cred, not the nicest thing to drive, VERY good seats, fitted high back, proper seatbelts, 3 up front & triple in rear - you don't want an old scrapyard seat just bolted into the back.

Plenty of space - actually MORE(only just) cubic capacity than old shape Transit.

It's a proper factory conversion, so more insurance friendly - just wait till you get quotes for minibus type vehicles!!

You look like Postman Pat & soon learn the words to his songs!!

VB

amsurfer

Toyota RAV4 2.0 D4-D XT3-R

if you type the above text into google and do a search, Then you can take Advantage of some great car deals!!

I'm thinking of a Renault Megane Grand Scenic 7 Seats you can do loads with this car the back two seats fold into the floor the back row of 3 slide up and down independently fold flat or you can even take seats some of the seats out.... Have a Look

They are on Contract Hire at the Moment it's £154.21 Per Month plus Vat for a Brand New £16,500 Vehicle... with 7 Seats Delivered Taxed and including Metallic Paint (Your friends will think you’ve won the Lotto!!)
You need to prove 3 things….
Income
Address
I.D

If you can do that, and you can afford £181.20 (inc vat) then you'll never look at buying another car again... No Hidden costs,

Have a look (Find the site by looking up the Rav 4 on Google the rest is easy to follow) Good Look!!