What 7-seater car do you have?

[EmmaReed84]

Looking about at some new cars and wanting your opinions.

What do you drive and what are the pros and cons? Tax, space, cost, ease of moving seats etc...

[mrs robbie williams]

zafira - don't like it :mad: im forever moving around car seats, cant get three seats on the middle seats so have to use one in boot and then cant safely put double buggy in - even at weekends if we all go out - there are six of us with dd boyfriend, so ds15 and ds9 end up in back seats but there isn't much leg room and its not comfortable, I used to have a Chrysler grand voyager and absolutely loved it - had to sell it as could no longer afford to run it, it was a 4 and half litre petrol :( if I win the lottery I will definitely get another one :thumbsup:

[tulip0803]

Zafira - As above - I don't like it. I had Galaxies before and loved them. Told DH I wanted a Diesel Grand Espace and got apetrol zafira:rolleyes:.

I struggle to find pushchairs to fit the Zafira. When all the seats are up there is very little room in the boot. Have had to buy a new pushchair (good excuse) and even that does not fit in boot and has to go across foot well. I sometimes struggle to push seats back and forth to get LOs in the boot seats.

I am saving for my Grand espace!!!!

[munch149]

Mazda 5 love it except cant fit three car seats across back so have to climb in boot to get kids in. Love the sliding doors tho as no banging them into other cars

[adedwards68]

Chrysler grand voyager ! I used to have one years ago and I'm now looking for another one. You can get them in engine sizes from about 2.5 -3.3 I think
They have loads of boots space even when using all 7 seats and models from about 2005 have seats that fold into the floor

[Tunja]

Looking about at some new cars and wanting your opinions.

What do you drive and what are the pros and cons? Tax, space, cost, ease of moving seats etc...

I have a Renault Espace Grande. Lots of boot space and legroom, three seats fit easily across the middle, room to climb in to do up seat belts in the rear seats and I love it.

Cons: only get 30 to the gallon on school runs, best for longer trips. High car tax.

I have a loan Zaphera and hated it.

[rickysmiths]

I don't have one and would never get one. They are soooo expensive, use more fuel, cost more in road tax and insurance. You have to have a lot of your own children and minded children to make it cost effective.

I have had a Skoda Octavia for 14 years now. I can get 3 car seats across the back seat and one in the front (I can isolate the air bag if needed). It costs £100 road tax, £300 insurance and does at least 50 miles to the gallon even on the local trips. It has a huge boot, I can get a double and single buggy in plus a months grocery shopping!

It does limit me to a max of 4 children but if I were to get more what is to say I could keep them all the time and if not then I am left driving a bus in the evenings and weekends for me and my family and we don't need that or the expense of it.

[EmmaReed84]

I see what you are saying RS and would love a nice 5 seater again. Seen so many lovely cars I wouldn't mind having but we have such a big family and go out a lot of big day trips so when I am not minding I have an extra 3 seats available. Plus DH loves taking his Nan and Grandad out so... 7 seater is has to be LOL.

[adedwards68]

If I didn't have 2 of my own children to take to school each then a 5 seater would be fine, but with 3 under 5's as well it would be impossible. Plus I do have 2 older children as well, who both drive, but it does mean we can go out as a family
Yes the tax and insurance can be more expensive but that's something I can't avoid and I have drive all types if cars but always feel safer when I'm sat up higher, that's a personal opinion and not necessarily a proven fact before someone tells me either wise

[smurfette]

I have three kids of my own .. Age 7,9 and 11,

So for us a 7 seater is a must for minding
Especially as I have to drive them to school and back.

At weekends we fold the back seats flat and have a large boot, ideal
For the dog/weekends
Away etc.
On a day I don't have three little ones I often have the girls friends home to play. However would love a mondeo or similar!

I have a Renault grand scenic and while it is economic I much preferred the Hyundai trajet and ford galaxy we had before but they did guzzle the fuel ..Both were unleaded rather than diesel so That makes a difference,

With both of those the seats were in or we had to take them out to make a bigger boot, so I guess the scenic is more flexible, but each seat was individual and full sized plus it was higher so I feel like I have trouble getting into the back, and my girls complain there is no leg room in the boot, my phil and ted fits in ..
Just ..
But I have to put it upright

[Tazmin68]

I do have a zaf. Yes the seats can be a pain but I easily manage with two big seats in the very back, if needed another big seat in the middle row to one side and booster seats in other two if needed. I have a double buggy which fits easily in the boot no problem. I have two children so at weekends easily converts to normal car with big boot. For what I need it for it s fine. I don't see the point of paying even more money for a larger 7 seater when it does the job. I will change it in a few years and the next one will probably be the last 7 seater as by then my own boys will be in senior school and won't want to spend time with me during holidays on trips out.

[Bumble Beez]

My list lol!!

I've had a Ford Galaxy...it was ok...
Then I got a Vauxhall Zafira...no end of problems and quite cramped...
Then I got a Ford S-Max...loved this car...
Then I had a Renault Grand Scenic...loved it and traded it for...
My beloved Renault Traffic Passenger mini bus which has 9 seats, loads of room and is soooo economical :)

Sarah x

[k1rstie]

I have a Citroen grand Picasso. Much better than my old Zafira.

Loads of Citroens around on the school runs at the moment!

[Greengrass74]

Chrysler grand voyager ! I used to have one years ago and I'm now looking for another one. You can get them in engine sizes from about 2.5 -3.3 I think
They have loads of boots space even when using all 7 seats and models from about 2005 have seats that fold into the floor

We also have the grand voyager, I wouldn't change it for any other 7 seater, it has electric sliding side doors which are great for tight spaces. You can easily fit 3 car seats in the back and strapping in the LO's is easy due to being able to walk through the middle and stand. We have the model where the seats all fold flat making it like a mini van.
There is also loads of boot space even when all seats are up, we can easily get a phil and teds plus a fold down buggy in there, I can also fit a large wheelchair in the boot.

I would say go for a diesel as we did have a petrol before this one and the fuel consumption was poor.

[adedwards68]

I don't have a zafiria but my sister does. She has 2 toddlers and a 14 year old, who is on the small side. With 2 toddler seats in the middle row the eldest had to sit in the front, there isn't enough leg room for her in the rear. By putting one toddler in the rear older one can sit in the middle
It's probably depends a lot of what your finances are, if you feel confident about driving a larger car

[loocyloo]

I have a Toyota verso corolla. It's a 5 seater with 2 pop seats in the boot. I love that it's not too big and when only family with the 5 seats it looks like a 'normal' car!
I can squeeze a single umbrella buggy in the boot with all seats up and then we have to have bags around our feet!
Had it 5 yrs and would have another tomorrow.

[Tinkerbell1979]

I have a Peugeot 807, love it, 3 car seats fit across back, can isolate passenger air bag and even with all 7 seats up can get double buggy in and it has electric sliding doors :-)

[FussyElmo]

We have a Zafira and it suits our needs maybe in a few years we will need something slightly bigger.

Most people who I know have a 7 seater because they need it if dh could he would have had a polo but unfortunately we need the seats :D

[pinklady756]

Mazda 5 love it except cant fit three car seats across back so have to climb in boot to get kids in. Love the sliding doors tho as no banging them into other cars

Snap!! I love my mazda too but it's only a 6 seater really.

What car seats do you use in 3rd row? Can you fit a double pushchair in the boot with all seats up?

[munch149]

Snap!! I love my mazda too but it's only a 6 seater really.

What car seats do you use in 3rd row? Can you fit a double pushchair in the boot with all seats up?

I have a britax and a mothercare car seat in second row and a baby start 123 seat in third row as always put oldest in the back as more able to climb in and out themselves. My double pushchair I put in the middle row footwell as fits better there anyway and with car seats it doesn't get in childrens way. Umbrella single stroller will fit in the boot. I did once get three across the middle but can't remember what seats I had. The ones I've got now must be wider as I can't do it again.

[pinklady756]

I have a britax and a mothercare car seat in second row and a baby start 123 seat in third row as always put oldest in the back as more able to climb in and out themselves. My double pushchair I put in the middle row footwell as fits better there anyway and with car seats it doesn't get in childrens way. Umbrella single stroller will fit in the boot. I did once get three across the middle but can't remember what seats I had. The ones I've got now must be wider as I can't do it again.

Thanks for your reply, I have a single in the boot but from September need a double too.

[Daisy De]

Read this thread with interest, how can you all afford all these posh cars! :laughing:

I have "Trev", he is a Toyota Previa, he has 8 seats but is soooooooooooooooooooo old and battered but just goes on and on. He is huge, wide with a sliding door and fits 8 adults in comfort, hundreds of car seats, a mountain of Ikea furniture, two big dogs stretched out as far as they can and has many a time delivered 8 drunken 18 year olds safety home from a night out on the town! He has hit walls and posts :blush:, is easy to park due to a goldfish bowl amount of windows and gives a wonderful view over hedges, into peoples gardens for a nose and makes me feel safe on the motorway.

He does guzzle petrol, has high road tax, never has a bath and is not too pleasing on the eye but he is Trev the Prev and we love him :clapping:

Oops I mean 7 drunken 18 year olds as I would be the driver and therefore sober and definitely not 18!

[smurfette]

Read this thread with interest, how can you all afford all these posh cars! :laughing:

I have "Trev", he is a Toyota Previa, he has 8 seats but is soooooooooooooooooooo old and battered but just goes on and on. He is huge, wide with a sliding door and fits 8 adults in comfort, hundreds of car seats, a mountain of Ikea furniture, two big dogs stretched out as far as they can and has many a time delivered 8 drunken 18 year olds safety home from a night out on the town! He has hit walls and posts :blush:, is easy to park due to a goldfish bowl amount of windows and gives a wonderful view over hedges, into peoples gardens for a nose and makes me feel safe on the motorway.

He does guzzle petrol, has high road tax, never has a bath and is not too pleasing on the eye but he is Trev the Prev and we love him :clapping:

Oops I mean 7 drunken 18 year olds as I would be the driver and therefore sober and definitely not 18!

Ha I was wondering about the 8 18 year olds!! Sounds like a great reliable car. Go Trev!!

[adedwards68]

That is the downside to having a large car and teenagers! Lol

[ktdg85]

Argh!! I am in the same predicament, I'm looking into leasing as I can't afford to buy outright,new or used.

Was looking at the Qashqui+2 with 2 car seats in the back and car seat and small boosters in the middle?? Any thoughts?! Anyone else got one?!

Only issue is I'm not sure my phil and teds double will fit in the boot even without no wheels?!

[Bumble Beez]

When I had my grand scenic...I bought an extra single and double umbrella folding buggy from kiddicare. Simply the cheapest buggies I could get that folded as small as possible...they worked a treat and I still use them now as they're just easy to get in and out of the bus now ;) perfect for school runs and trips out!!

Sarah x

[pinklady756]

Read this thread with interest, how can you all afford all these posh cars! :laughing:

I have "Trev", he is a Toyota Previa, he has 8 seats but is soooooooooooooooooooo old and battered but just goes on and on. He is huge, wide with a sliding door and fits 8 adults in comfort, hundreds of car seats, a mountain of Ikea furniture, two big dogs stretched out as far as they can and has many a time delivered 8 drunken 18 year olds safety home from a night out on the town! He has hit walls and posts :blush:, is easy to park due to a goldfish bowl amount of windows and gives a wonderful view over hedges, into peoples gardens for a nose and makes me feel safe on the motorway.

He does guzzle petrol, has high road tax, never has a bath and is not too pleasing on the eye but he is Trev the Prev and we love him :clapping:

Oops I mean 7 drunken 18 year olds as I would be the driver and therefore sober and definitely not 18!

Lol brilliant, your post did make me laugh.

[Gem wright]

We have a Zafria and we love it. We got it from motor point and was less then a years old. At weekends we drop seats down and have a big boot. We have 3 children and its a must for us. Really really easy to pop seats up and down. Why don't you go to available car where all the cars are unlocked and staff leave you alone, have a sit in and a play with the cars. Then go else where to buy one that's cheaper lol.

[EmmaReed84]

Thank you so much,

I am currently going through all the cars, although I really love the Chrysler Grand Voyager!!

We bought our car outright and although it is a good little runner, it is old and we recently found out it had been in TWO right offs which the garage failed to tell us! Also, it is starting to require quite a bit of work which is going to cost more than the car is worth.

[adedwards68]

Good luck with your search.