View Full Version : Another recommend me a car thread - MPV
It's time to get Mrs T a new car. I have less than no interest in the things and the thought of trailing round garages looking at them horrifies me more than I can say. Even worse, it probably needs to be an MPV so it's at the most dull end of boring.
So why don't you lot tell me what's good and I'll just go and buy one? :)
The main requirement is we need to get 4 kids in it. Two in forward facing baby seats and two in booster seats. The only adult in the car will likely be the driver so we can put one in the front passenger seat but you really need 3 proper seats in the back to get 3 car seats in so most family cars are out.
It also needs a decent sized boot to get a double buggy in.
Max budget is £8-9k.
Economy and reliability will score higher than driving thrills. :rolleyes:
The only idea I had that vaguely interested me was a Land Rover Discovery but that has been rejected out of hand.
All other recommendations appreciated.
We've got an old Renault Scenic. It's like the tardis. 4x car seats + driver + boot and they are cheap as chips. Made of plastic and tin-foil but good n-cap ratings etc. Just keep some spare ignition coils in one of the many storage pockets.
Look for individually adjustable rear seats then you can stagger the rears which makes multiple car seats easier. Be wary of rear-facing 7 seaters as not only do you loose boot space for buggies etc but I'm not sure the n-cap extends into the boot based seats.
i have a ford grand c-max with a family pack and its great at what i does. very roomy with a huge boot can be quickly turned into a 7 seater. only downside to the one i have is the engine which is a 1.6 petrol and only gets 30mpg but i have heard the diesel is much better.
lovely to drive and munches up miles with ease.
maviczap
25-10-12, 05:43 PM
I like my Zafira for its practicality, but less for its build quality, super big boot and genius rear seats that fold completely flat, to convert it from 7 seater to 5. Big access to rear seats, makes buckling little ones in a doddle.
I wouldn't buy a diesel again, to many problems with the EGR valve and unlike the petrol ones it can't be blanked off, maybe the new ones are better.
I'd like to try a Mazda 8, again a petrol model, as my boss had a diesel mazda and no end of problems doing short journey's messing up the electronic engine management sensors
We have an S-MAX, Very roomy, can move the rear seats back and forward. Canto comment on the ability to take car seats as we dont have any :)Diesel give good MPG and very easy to get in and drive long distances (easy 300 miles without a stop)
widepants
25-10-12, 08:35 PM
watch out for the 06 to 61 plate Zafira .The A pillar is so massive it makes a brilliant blind spot for you.I found myself leaning across the passengar seat to see the roads on long right handers
yorkie_chris
25-10-12, 09:06 PM
Scabby old vito travelliner or transit 7 seater :)
Reliability, nah, economy, LOL, however it's easy to whip the seats out to go to trackdays with the bike in back...
but I'm not sure the n-cap extends into the boot based seats.
He didn't say whose kids they are... :-P
Tim in Belgium
25-10-12, 09:40 PM
VW T4 :thumbsup:
A trackday van eh? Now I'm getting interested.
Mrs TamSV is a registered childminder so not all the kids are ours. However, according to our H&S policy, none of them are expendable.
Joe Marcon
26-10-12, 12:34 AM
My mum got a VW touran= absoulute beast but doesnt last long . Spent £4000 on new things . And other parts keep going . ****e engine . Too expensive . On other hand my uncle has a ford connect high roof with extra seats . Very fast with remapp. He been to france and lot says its brill on fuel and everything . All my family moving to fords as parts are cheaper + won van of year for like 7 years running. And better quality now. Very cheap.
daveyrach
26-10-12, 12:24 PM
Got a Citroen C4 Grand Picasso, looks nice and are tardis like. All seven seats move independently and the second row also fold into the floor to make it more van like.
Loads of cubby holes as it has 3 glove boxes, one either side on top of the dash and one where you would noramlly find one.
Visibility is excellent due to the A pillar being split in two and have a massive triangular window there, also the panoramic windscreen which is standard on all C4's makes the visibility even better.
I got mine when it was just 3 years old had less than 20k on it and it cost me less than 7k from a main dealer.
Have done nearly 40k now and apart form servicing has been fine. There are 6 of us in my family and it is plenty big enough.
Build quality for a french car is very good, they have come a long way from Citroen of old.
Funny you should mention that. The BIL has phoned my wife seeking to offload his C4 Grand Picasso so she's going to have a look at it.
Obviously this thread has moved on now, so the important question is...can you get a motorcycle in it with the seats removed? :)
daveyrach
26-10-12, 12:33 PM
I think you'd struggle, the seats don't actually come out they just fold into the floor creating a flat cargo area.
Give you an idea my sons full size BMX will stand up in the back just, so a MC would be a squeeze I think.
Obviously this thread has moved on now, so the important question is...can you get a motorcycle in it with the seats removed? :)
If you take all the seats out, push the passenger seat right forward and put on a loading ramp then, with a big enough run-up, I'm sure you'd get most of it in. Getting it out again once it's embedded in the dash may be a tad tricky but I'm sure you can work on that.
She now agrees that a sliding rear door would be handy, and it would be great if it had a decent load space with the second row of passenger seats still in place.
I reckon if I play this smart, she'll soon come to the independent conclusion that what she really needs is a van. :thumright:
daveyrach
26-10-12, 01:48 PM
Cars with sliding door are normally expensive. VW do the Sharan, there is the Chrysler Grand Voyager, nice but expensive.
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The best selling MPV on the market is the Citroen Picasso. However, ANY of the mpv's will suit. As much as i dislike Vauxhall, the Zafira is probably the best out there. Get a Diesel Auto and job done. You can also fit a bike in the back if you take the mirrors off, which is always handy :)
-Ralph-
27-10-12, 09:19 AM
If you're going for a van type MPV.. .
I forget what they are all called, but Nissan, Renault and Vauxhall all share the same van with a rounded roof on the cab, I think Nissan call it a Primastar? They are very refined and as vans go very car/mpv like to drive.
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-Ralph-
27-10-12, 09:35 AM
Ps: Our childminder has 4 kids of her own plus the two she looks after and uses a merc vito van. The sliding door onto a flat floor means the kids step up and walk to their seats to sit down. I dont think an MPV where kids were climbing over it to get to the third row of seats, then more kids climbing in and shuffling over the back seats day in day out will last very long. A van is absolutely the way to go for a child minder regardless of track day use.
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yorkie_chris
27-10-12, 10:55 AM
But avoid older merc CDI vitos... the common fail injection is worse than most because they adopted it early.
daveyrach
27-10-12, 03:30 PM
The best selling MPV on the market is the Citroen Picasso. However, ANY of the mpv's will suit. As much as i dislike Vauxhall, the Zafira is probably the best out there. Get a Diesel Auto and job done. You can also fit a bike in the back if you take the mirrors off, which is always handy :)
Zafira's are awful, swapped ours for the C4 after a few months, build quality was atrotious, bits literally fell off including engine under tray and window master switch in door, not to mention 2 alternators in the few months we had it.
Citroen has been great.
maviczap
27-10-12, 04:07 PM
Zafira's are awful, swapped ours for the C4 after a few months, build quality was atrotious, bits literally fell off including engine under tray and window master switch in door, not to mention 2 alternators in the few months we had it.
You must have got a Friday Zafira, because all ours has needed is consumables. Apart from a broken suspension spring.
I agree the build quality isn't great, not like my previous Cavalier, but 59,000 miles and nothing major (touches head) so far.
Its 9 years old now.
The only faults I know it has, is probably one or 2 glow plugs aren't working properly, so its a pig to start in really cold weather. But trying to change them might snap them off in the head, so a big job to replace them. So I'll put up with the cold starting.
Mine was the red paint that faded, but it doesn't bother me that much. Its only a car, its job is to get me from a - b.
daveyrach
27-10-12, 05:49 PM
You must have got a Friday Zafira, because all ours has needed is consumables. Apart from a broken suspension spring.
I agree the build quality isn't great, not like my previous Cavalier, but 59,000 miles and nothing major (touches head) so far.
Its 9 years old now.
The only faults I know it has, is probably one or 2 glow plugs aren't working properly, so its a pig to start in really cold weather. But trying to change them might snap them off in the head, so a big job to replace them. So I'll put up with the cold starting.
Mine was the red paint that faded, but it doesn't bother me that much. Its only a car, its job is to get me from a - b.
We wnt with it coz the quality of our old R reg Astra was brilliant.
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maviczap
27-10-12, 05:59 PM
We wnt with it coz the quality of our old R reg Astra was brilliant.
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Yep, same reason we went for ours was the great car my L reg Cavalier was.
I really regret scrapping that car, as I'd bought a camper van that turned into a money pit.
That was only two years ago, so that Cavalier was 17 years old. It failed the MOT on rear silencer, one tyre and it needed a small bit of welding doing. I'd bought the camper van by then, so I decided to scrap it, made me sick to do that :pukel:
widepants
27-10-12, 06:15 PM
Now dont shhot me down but how about the peogeot expert /fiat scudo . There are loads about and I dont know anyone who,s had trouble with them.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/Peugeot_Expert_white_front.jpg/800px-Peugeot_Expert_white_front.jpg (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/Peugeot_Expert_white_front.jpg)
mine has 2 sliding doors, power tail gate and built in rear blinds if you fold the rear seats down its mahsoooof rear seats slide back and forward 2 additional rear seats fold away to give more room for a boot centre rear seat can be folded away so easier access when the other 2 rear are up which gives you a 6 seater.. you might just get one for 9k second hand. http://www.ford.co.uk/Cars/C-MAX/InteriorDesign
-Ralph-
27-10-12, 06:30 PM
There should be no such thing as a Friday car. My old man was in automotive manufacturing his whole life and reached director level. There's a few of his friends and colleagues I know, recently retired from director level in the British automotive industry, who will ONLY buy Japanese. What does that tell you? Being management of or suppliers to the likes of Honda Swindon, Toyota Derby, Nissan Sunderland, etc, they know how much emphasis goes on quality in those places, compared to the likes of Jaguar Land Rover, Vauxhall, Ford, etc.
If theres a quality issue at one of the Jap firms, production stops, the suppliers phone rings off the hook, the fault has to get rectified pronto and they'd spend the next 2 weeks writing explanatory reports and apologising in meetings.
The same quailty issue at one if the British firms, production carries on regardless with the dodgy parts going info customers cars (they are under warranty right) and the first the supplier knows about it is when the next order is placed.
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yorkie_chris
28-10-12, 09:43 AM
Now dont shhot me down but how about the peogeot expert /fiat scudo . There are loads about and I dont know anyone who,s had trouble with them.
#shudder#
We've got a scudo van at work, apparently the cars are better BUT it's horrible.
Fair enough it does what it's meant to without much fuss.
The engine's horrific, it's a gutless 1500 turbo diesel, no torque from tickover and has to be revved. Despite this it still gets 33mpg, same as a 2 liter transit with a proper bloody engine. The brakes are overly assisted and grabby... yet lacking in power if you need to haul it up from speed. The handling is vague and floaty. The handbrake is on the wrong side and to top it off it's on those spastic fashionable wide low profile tyres so it's CRAP if it's slippy. And the seat gives you a bad back.
After about 9 hours in the bloody thing the other week going up to Aberdeen I decided that despite the rust, I'd rather drive a transit or a vito... or even a bloody LDV!
widepants
28-10-12, 09:55 AM
how strange , I love mine .I find the seats are comfy , the two sliding doors are real handy and mine has a 1.9 nom turbo . Ok its a bit gutless but bloody amazing on fuel .I also get the idea that someone has tooched the body work with a magic stick .Everyone Ive seen is in real good condition.As for the hand brake , you soon get used to that.
Horses for course I suppose , but Chris , you're just wrong."flicks the finger":)
Edit: what year is yours mate
joshwalker094
28-10-12, 09:56 AM
Renault espace! Can't fault them, we love ours
widepants
28-10-12, 09:59 AM
Renault espace! Can't fault them, we love ours
fat car :-D
joshwalker094
28-10-12, 10:02 AM
It's spacious :) I do have 6 younger sibling who have to fit in it, well 5 do with luggage, the other one comes on my bike
The Basket
28-10-12, 10:04 AM
Kia Venga.
Fits exactly although small.
No driving thrills.
Can even buy new for 10k.
yorkie_chris
28-10-12, 10:06 AM
how strange , I love mine .I find the seats are comfy , the two sliding doors are real handy and mine has a 1.9 nom turbo . Ok its a bit gutless but bloody amazing on fuel .I also get the idea that someone has tooched the body work with a magic stick .Everyone Ive seen is in real good condition.As for the hand brake , you soon get used to that.
Horses for course I suppose , but Chris , you're just wrong."flicks the finger":)
Edit: what year is yours mate
04.
Other guy at work has driven the car version and says it's loads nicer.
If you've got the 1.9 fair enough but diesels should not be 1500cc. 1500cc is bike territory!
Try set off up the hills around here with it and it's just nasty, the boost doesn't start right from the bottom like it should on a van engine. It's very annoying.
dizzyblonde
28-10-12, 10:21 AM
Yorkie Chris......the expert in ferrying families of children in cars, when he has none! :lol:
yorkie_chris
28-10-12, 10:39 AM
Yorkie Chris......the expert in ferrying families of children in cars, when he has none! :lol:
And long may it continue.
You had anything useful to add?
dizzyblonde
28-10-12, 10:42 AM
Nope, just popped in to see if there was anything interesting, seeing as I'm a parent with specific criteria when looking for s new car, which will be happening shortly.
I wouldn't ferry children around in a rusty old Vito, you might lose them through the floor, might be quite messy ;)
suzukigt380paul
28-10-12, 01:22 PM
like all things car and mpv related,if you buy new and sell at 3 years old then most will be trouble free,but the way i look at it,(with there past history)i would aviod french and italian mpv's and cars,go for a vw,seat audi,skoda group mpv,ford or any of the jap manafacturers,
Thanks for all the input folks.
The big van based MPV's are out - my wife doesn't want to drive anything that big. She drove an 08 Citroen C4 Grand Picasso on Saturday and seemed to like that. The seat layout on it would certainly work for us.
That Picasso's well under budget so that might leave some change for my next dastardly plan. :smt077
i would aviod french and italian mpv's and cars,go for a vw,seat audi,skoda group mpv,ford or any of the jap manafacturers,
My wife seems drawn exclusively to French or Italian vehicles for some reason. Probably because she's not the one lying under them in the ****ing rain. :rolleyes:
timwilky
29-10-12, 09:52 AM
how strange , I love mine .I find the seats are comfy , the two sliding doors are real handy and mine has a 1.9 nom turbo . Ok its a bit gutless but bloody amazing on fuel .I also get the idea that someone has tooched the body work with a magic stick .Everyone Ive seen is in real good condition.As for the hand brake , you soon get used to that.
Horses for course I suppose , but Chris , you're just wrong."flicks the finger":)
Edit: what year is yours mate
I have a 2003 1.9 naturally aspirated. all of 71BHP. As you say gutless but for fuel economy great. My only issue is one of the side doors is not sealing properly. The locating pin plastics were missing. now replaced for a couple of quid but it is still leaking in. I guess I need to try realigning the pins to pull the door in. I also have a seat in the back to make it a 4 seater.
Sell the kids and buy a 2 seater :)
Nobbylad
30-10-12, 11:23 AM
Renault espace! Can't fault them, we love ours
Worst advice I've ever read on this forum...and trust me, there've been some whoppers in the past!
Sorry Josh!
We had a 2.2tdi Espace for a few years, nothing but trouble. Lots of issues with the fuelling and it going into limp mode all the time. If you go on the renault forums, you'll see the issues.....
-Ralph-
30-10-12, 11:49 AM
Worst advice I've ever read on this forum...and trust me, there've been some whoppers in the past!
Sorry Josh!
We had a 2.2tdi Espace for a few years, nothing but trouble. Lots of issues with the fuelling and it going into limp mode all the time. If you go on the renault forums, you'll see the issues.....
I could say the same about BMW.
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