7 seater cars

[BlondeMoment]

Hi there

Business is booming which is great! Up until recently I have only ever had as many as 4 children on any one day but I now have another starting in April.. So for the two days I have her we won't be able to use the car. It's not a major problem as the school isn't very far and we can get a bus to other destinations which is good fun. But it's got me thinking about getting a 7 seater car. My husband and I plan to have a baby next year so we'll need one then anyway.

Does anyone own one? Which ones are good and not too expensive to run? I don't mind one that has done a few miles as I can't afford anything really pricey.

Any advise would be great. I've only ever owned a Nissan Micra and a Peugeot 106 lol

[Daftbat]

I have a Vauxhall Zafira which lots of minders have - it's proabably one of the cheapest 7 seaters around and I have found it very good in terms of fuel efficiency, servicing costs and its easy to put the seats up and down in the back. You don't get much boot space but i can fit my mothercare double buggy in it. The boot seats are not good for adults but perfectly ok for kids.

[gegele]

i have a zafira and i don't like it as a 7 seater. if i didn't hav emine and spent so much money on it to keep it running i would buy a SEAT alambra. they have the best review on all car sites. i'll go for this as soon as i win money!!!:D

[~Chelle~]

I had a Zafira, which I loved.

Now have a Citroen C8, as I am hoping to put 8 seats in. I love it, it is very spacious and the seats are great for the kids, as they are all individual seats.

My advice would be take a few out for a test drive to see which suits you best.

The Zafira is quite easy to drive as it feels like a car but the C8 is a lot bigger and takes a bit of getting used to x

[Helcatt]

I love my VW Sharan

I went through loads of info about cars and checked out fuel efficiency, safety records, repairs/servicing costs etc and narrowed it down to a few.

I also checked out potential insurance costs too

I then test drove three or 4 that were in my price range

The only down side is that if I have all seven seats in use, I can only just squeeze my little maclaren double in the boot and nothing else. But its easily wide enough to have 3 large carseats in the middle row and have the back row folded down for extra space

Mine is an 03 model but low mileage

Quite a few people love their Toyota Previa!

HTH

HX

[Lorraine B]

I brought my Galaxy when i was expecting my son as I now have 4 of my own children (all older apart from baby) and I love it :)

I have now got to have 3 car seats in it for my mindees and they fit in lovely without taking up any more leg room from the back 2 seats.
Also I can fit in a double pram quite easily in the (boot) with bags on top.

Its also a diesel so its economic of fuel :)

Lorraine xxx

[francinejayne]

My advice is shop around, and take car seats with you when you try them!!! And your buggy too!

I have a Mazda 5, which is nice, but it's a bit too much of a squeeze as a 7 seater - I can't fit 3 car seats across the middle row which I would like to do. I would go for a slightly bigger car next time - I like the ford s-max!

[mushpea]

I love my zafira and am looking to replace it with another zafria when i can afford it but this is only because i have the older style where the middle seat belt is a lap belt and I dont particuarly like them and as i broke my only carseat that will go on a lapbelt and the children have grown out of this seat i thought it time to replace the car and also i want to update anyway.

there is small boot space with all the seats up but then you can always get a roof box which is also somthing i am looking in to.

[munch149]

I have a Mazda 5 which i bought second hand about a month ago. Been going great so far. Like the fact that the back doors are sliding so don't have to worry about opening them into traffic and easy to get on and out. Back seats fold down flat too but not much of a boot when they are up. Is a lovely drive tho and not huge as I went to this from a Chevrolet Matiz which is tiny. Does apparently drink fuel as mine is petrol version (do diesel too) but as o don't go far it's not really an issue. Hth

[linda2girls]

I have the Seat Alhambra - 10 years old now, 80,000 miles. It's fab for childminding, I can get the 3-wheeler double nipper in the back. Unfortunately the automatic gearbox has just given up so it's costing £2500 to get it reconditioned. I looked at other cars to replace it, but the other 7 seaters have smaller boots and we can't really afford anything decent, so going to spend the money and get it fixed. The Galaxy, Alhambra and Sharon are all the same body types, so all have decent boots.

Linda.

[Noomie]

I love my Grand Scenic. Comfortable and easy to drive. A bargain too at the time. Fits a phil and teds or out and about double in the back. Not much room for anything else and bags are stored all around the feet of the kids.

However, iIf I had a crystal ball when I bought it (business has been good and I now have an assistant), I would have got an 8 seater and a sliding door! Or a mini-bus - LOL!

[Noomie]

I love my Grand Scenic. Comfortable and easy to drive. A bargain too at the time. Fits a phil and teds or out and about double in the back. Not much room for anything else and bags are stored all around the feet of the kids.

However, iIf I had a crystal ball when I bought it (business has been good and I now have an assistant), I would have got an 8 seater and a sliding door! Or a mini-bus - LOL!

[Twinkles]

I don't really like my Zafira. I need a large double buggy with big wheels as we walk through woods and over fields most days.

I don't like having to take the car seats out and move the middle seat to access the two rear seats.

I have been driving my dh's ( very ) old Volvo recently and it is so much easier to just open the boot and the rear facing seats are readily accessible.

Just wish I could fit my double buggy in somewhere.

Maybe I should get a trailer for all the 'cargo' I feel the need to take around with me !!

[slkeating21]

I have a zafira and its the best car Ive ever had, very spacious inside, doesnt feel big to drive :) :thumbsup:

[Monkey26]

Renault Megan Grand Scenic :) Most of the childminders in my area have one :) x

[nicaukids]

Traded in rubbish Zafira for brand new Citroen Berlingo Multispace, with 7 seats and sliding doors.
Can fit 3 car seats accross middle, and enough room to access rear 2 seats from the boot (otherwise you'd have to remove 1 car seat to get to rear from the side door IYKWIM)
Boot space is a squeeze with only skinny Mclarens fitting - with shopping on top and in foot well.
Can remove all seats to make it van like - which is fab when you make a visit to IKEA :laughing:
Highly recommend it - and was the cheapest 7 seater at the time (14 months ago).
Good luck with search and decision.
nickyx

[snufflepuff]

We have a peugeot 807. I personally don't like it but only because It's too big for me, i'm always nervous driving it. It does have heaps of space though, even with all 7 seats up you still have a decent boot space. I usually have 6 seats in and then have extra boot space- makes it much easier to fit the jane powertwin in the back. You can easily fit 3 car seats in the middle row, and you can get to the back seats through the boot if you need to. The automatic sliding doors are a real bonus (as are the rear parking sensors!!!) Ours isn't good on fuel but thats because it's a 2.2l petrol- diesels are much, much more efficient.

[Carls]

Hiya
I have owned and certainly put to the test quite a few cars during my childminding time! The first 7 seater we had was a Sedona and it was amazing! Cheap to run, the seat lay out was brilliant and the boot space was certainly big enough!
We then moved to a Citreon C8 with 8 seats and it was ok but it was way to technical and so electonic, everything would go wrong and I would have flashy warnings gong off all the time and because the Peugeot 806 is basically the same car, my freind who owns one has exactly the same problem.We got rid of it asap!
We are now the very proud owners of a year ols Transporter with 9 seats and I love it so much and hope I never ever have to chang it for the rest of my childminding days!
Good luck!!!!

[Jacko81]

We are just about to buy a Toyota Corolla Verso after months of pondering over which one to get. id defo reccomend it x

[blue bear]

I am on my second vw sharan, it is so versatile, all seats are individual, the back ones all come out - great for transporting things and also when I have less children I take the middle seat out which makes it easier to get in and out. Mine came with two built in baby seats which convert to booster then adult seat, so no need to worry about fitting seats for different sized children.

Phil and teds fits in the boot but I have to take the wheels off. Front passenger seat swivels round, great for picnics!

I find the turning circle small and find it easier to reverse for parking.

[Newbie1!]

I have a Zafira and I do love it in terms of size etc but there are a few niggles that Id rather not have - it seems to drink petrol, maybe a diesel would be more economical or maybe its just because its getting on a bit now and so a newer one would be better, it is a bit of a hassle using the very back seats, if I have older ones they dont mind climbing in through the boot hatch but am sometimes a bit embarassed at putting children in through the "boot"!! In hindsight Id like something with a sliding door (for obvious practical reasons) but as we are totally skint Im stuck with the Zaffy for a good while and it does the job ok :)

[Ripeberry]

I have a Zafira and I do love it in terms of size etc but there are a few niggles that Id rather not have - it seems to drink petrol, maybe a diesel would be more economical or maybe its just because its getting on a bit now and so a newer one would be better, it is a bit of a hassle using the very back seats, if I have older ones they dont mind climbing in through the boot hatch but am sometimes a bit embarassed at putting children in through the "boot"!! In hindsight Id like something with a sliding door (for obvious practical reasons) but as we are totally skint Im stuck with the Zaffy for a good while and it does the job ok :)

Ha Ha! My own 6yr old goes in the boot and she loves it! She does paw at the back window though pretending to be a dog :laughing:

I think Zafiras are great if you have 6 kids aged over 4yrs old to transport then it's great as an after school car.
But I find that the middle bench just can't be moved if you have a baby seat as the seatbelt stops the bench sliding. The only way round I suppose is an ISOFIX, but do they fit them to old (02 plate) Zafiras?

[BlondeMoment]

Many thanks for all your posts!
I've been looking at the Renault Espace as I like the way all the seats are forward facing and there's still room in the boot for double buggy etc. It also seems to be more in my price range being not such a new car.

Does anyone have one and have you experienced any problems with it?
And how is it on fuel efficiency?

[Zoomie]

no one has mentioned the citroen C4 grand picassa, which i have.

it is lovely to drive, (diesel and manual gearbox - DH spec cos he works at citroen) and has isofix seats in front and all middle seats, which is a must for me as i am useless at fitting car seats and with isofix you can clip them in and out in a second.

2 back seats are great for children but impossible for adults and boot fits a single, but not a double, if using all 7 seats.

[BlondeMoment]

no one has mentioned the citroen C4 grand picassa, which i have.

it is lovely to drive, (diesel and manual gearbox - DH spec cos he works at citroen) and has isofix seats in front and all middle seats, which is a must for me as i am useless at fitting car seats and with isofix you can clip them in and out in a second.

2 back seats are great for children but impossible for adults and boot fits a single, but not a double, if using all 7 seats.

Thanks Zoomie I'll take a look x

[babyface]

We had to get rid of our kia sedona though loved the car it became very costly as gear shaft went. now in process of looking for a 7 seater too.
A family member works for AA he recomends a VW,Ford Galaxy or Seat Alambra as less breakdowns.

[Rosienufc]

Had nothing but trouble with mine since I got it. Including today when it cut out 7 times! Would love to trade it in for a Scenic (which is what I wanted when I got this but they were out of my price range), but not even partway through finance deal. Its not even three year old - never had trouble with any other car - hate it!:( :( :(

[birch24]

I have a Kia Sedona and its great for size and boot space. Can just about squeeze 3 car seats on the back row. Only down size I need a 9 seater not a 7 seater!!:D

[amanda1309]

I had a VW Touran which I loved had it for 6 years but just wasn't big enough for minding. Some days I was picking up 3 8 year olds a 5 year old and had 2 under 5's and a puschair or 2 and we just didn't fit so I reluctantly traded it in for a VW Sharan.

I really like the Sharan and find that its really good I have 2 integrated baby seats which really help and as all the seats slide back and forth I can get me and another minder in plus 5 kids and 2 single pushchairs and a whole load of bags, coats, wellies and other childming paraphanelia.:laughing:

[Helcatt]

A family member works for AA he recomends a VW,Ford Galaxy or Seat Alambra as less breakdowns.

The seat Alhambra and the VW Sharan are essentially the same, if you look around the SEAT can be picked up for a bit less - though I got a vw cos I liek the badge

Hx

[Mcgons]

We have a Ford S-Max and it's fab. I didn't want a full size people carrier and this was the only smaller one that fits my nipper double buggy in the boot with seats up. I can fit 3 car seats in the middle and each seat moves independently. Also not too bad for adults in the back. We'll get the same again when we need to :).

[cara1976]

i have had both the zafira and the galaxy, and i love the galaxy, so much more room and love the feeling of being higher up when driving xxx

[Chimps Childminding]

we had an older Renault Espace, and though I loved it from a minding point of view it was expensive on repairs (being older didn't help :rolleyes: ) We finally had to get rid and got a Zafira as that was really the only 7 seater we could afford, though I would have loved something like a Sharan or Voyager.

Hate the fact that you have to move the whole row of seats in the middle to put a child in the boot of the Zafira, and you can't move the seats which child seats fitted in :angry: Also if you are using both rear seats (which thankfully I don't have to do very often) you have practically no boot space left for anything :rolleyes:

[donnamarie2]

Hi, I have a peugeot 307 sw estate 7 seater, it's great.
It has 3 seperate seats in the middle row that can move independantly giving more leg room for the back 2 seats, and you can remove the back 2 seats /fold them down easily for if you just want to use as a car , i have my own 3 children so i do this when not minding.
When all seats up i can fit my buggy in the boot just about, but think this is the norm unless you go for the massive people carriers, but it suit's for what i need.
I managed to pick mine up really cheap!

[miss mopple]

We are just about to buy a Toyota Corolla Verso after months of pondering over which one to get. id defo reccomend it x

I have a previa at the minute which I LOVE!! But hubby has a verso and we have decided we no longer need 2 7 seaters so Im having the verso and selling my previa. I love the Verso too :thumbsup:

[BlondeMoment]

we had an older Renault Espace, and though I loved it from a minding point of view it was expensive on repairs (being older didn't help :rolleyes: ) We finally had to get rid and got a Zafira as that was really the only 7 seater we could afford, though I would have loved something like a Sharan or Voyager.

Hate the fact that you have to move the whole row of seats in the middle to put a child in the boot of the Zafira, and you can't move the seats which child seats fitted in :angry: Also if you are using both rear seats (which thankfully I don't have to do very often) you have practically no boot space left for anything :rolleyes:

Renault Espace is only thing really in my price range. Do they do well enough not to need to many repairs? Looking at one with 02 reg at the mo. There is one thats a 95 but worried that could be a bit too old

[karenandsmile]

over the years i have had a few "childminding cars"

omega estate with the back converted into 2 extra seats kids loved this as they got to look out the back window but storing buggies and things was a problem but got me out of a fix

galaxy with built in carseats worth looking for when buy second hand as they are a lot of money on a bran new model loved the car but found it hard to get the seats in and out when i didnt have a man around sort of ok for boot space

vauxhaull zafira brilliant for disappearing seats quick but no good for carrying buggies and stuff real strugle to get a umbrella buggy in the boot

and my final car well mini bus is a vauxhall vaviro 9 seater which is everything i want i can get loads of buggies in there double single and all my car seats if im not using them in the boot i can fit 8 children in there i wouldnt be with out it it also means trips out in the summer holidays we can pack all the extras for fun and games at the beaches parks etc and it also gets noticed all the time as im the only childminder with a mini bus in my area

[Deb]

I have a Grand Voyager and it's brill - I can get my double and two single buggys in the back easily. Loads of room inside - but I dont like the bench seat in the back.

I dont like the 7 seaters where the back two seats are essentially in the boot - doenst feel safe to me.

Anyway this is all academic because I'm selling it as I cant afford the 10 quid a day diesel is seems to get through.

[mumx3]

LUUUUURRRRVVVE my Ford Galaxy. Lovely and easy to drive, park and can get 6 kids in plus a double AND and single buggy in the boot. Fab car!

[claireLouise]

I have a Chrysler VOYAGER and it is very spacious. Next time I would go for the Grand Voyager with extra boot space and easy fold away seats.

[jibberjitz]

We bought an Smax in September and love, love, love it!

[Kelly]

I have a VW Touran and love it, all 5 seats in the back take a car seat or booster cushion. I traded in my Galaxy which I also loved, but it was petrol and was costing a fortune to run.

I went to the VW showroom with 3 car seats and a pushchair and tested it in the showroom! (I did have to buy a mothercare double buggy as it was the only double I could find which fitted in the boot with all 7 seat in use)

[buildingblocks]

i have a zafira and i don't like it as a 7 seater. if i didn't hav emine and spent so much money on it to keep it running i would buy a SEAT alambra. they have the best review on all car sites. i'll go for this as soon as i win money!!!:D

Would say the same as this. We have a Zafira but do not use it as a 7 seater very often (I don't drive) but useful in the holidays but no room in boot for my pushchairs. A friend has the Seat Alhambra and would love one of these eventually especially if hubby joins the business full time (he is registered but works full time elsewhere to escape me lol)

The one I wanted for a long while purely for selfish reason because it had built in car seats was a Galaxy - no idea what it was like as a car lol

[BlondeMoment]

I took all your opinions on board and have done loads of research. Tomorrow I'm picking up my a Renault Espace:) 54 plate. 54,000 miles. Paid £5,000 for it. It's an automatic and you can use the manual drive too. Gonna take some getting used to but it's going to be so great not having to cram everyone into my little peugeot 106 anymore. And I can take on some more kids. Just hope it pays for itself cos all my savings have gone on this baby:eek:

[keatingschick]

I've got a Citroen C8 with 7 seats. Its the second one I have had and a mechanic friend of mine dispairs when I take it in to him he hates citroens with a passion!!
I've had problems on BOTH cars with the seats getting stuck and not pulling forward to get to the rear seats, and also with my sliding doors (something I saw as an advantage when I got mine as opposed to the Galaxy which I really wanted but didnt want opening doors, on account of being bumped into other cars).
I do like my car, BUT if I was going to change it I'd probably look at another make.