I was going to buy this one but the logbook has not came back yet, thats what he told me but he is willing to let it go for £2600 for a 05 car it is a bargain, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300589989736?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_820wt_1139mail him on ebay if you are interested

Feedback and time on site explains it all.

My wife drove a Mazda 5 that we hired for a couple of days and loved it. The sliding doors are a real bonus for getting kids in and out at car parks (see also the Kia Sedona for this).

Brother-in-law had a Mazda 5 company car- he liked it a lot. Reliable when he had (4 years, near enough 100k) it too.

We have a Verso now and this has been one of the cars I regret buying

I had an 08 Verso SR for 3 years and never had any problems with it. One of the few 7 seaters with a 0-60 under 10s whilst returning 48mpg (it was the 2.2 diesel).

hi hertsandminds,

You're on the Toyota forum too aren't you? There's some good buying advice on there but not anything like the technical help you can get here.

Martin

You're on the Toyota forum too aren't you?

Yes, but now I have replaced the Verso with a Roomster I don't spend much time there. I have belonged to a few car forums over the years and they all seem to have a character of their own. Have to say Briskoda is one of the better experiences

In terms of this thread the Verso (especially the older ones) will have the rear 2 seats as close, if not closer to the rear glass than most, as it's external dimensions are some of the smallest for a 7 seater.

Just get back issue copies of the Auto Express magazine Driver Power surveys. They had one in the last few months with all the results for the last decade. All the Renault Espaces are at the bottom of that list for reliability and the Sharalaxy triplets and the Citroën C7/Peugeot 807 not far behind. So too are any Discovery bar the latest one... I'd go through that list and pick the most reliable 7 seater regardless of looks.

My personal choice would be for the six seaters out there: either the Mazda 5 (its 7th seat is just a token as stated above, but with it out of the way you can walk from row 2 to 3 and have 2+2+2 seating) It also has sliding doors which is brilliant when parked up to strap kids in etc. My other suggestion will be the Honda FR-V. The latter a very handsome car to boot (to my eyes) and very distinctive and unique looking.

Also look up the Fifth Gear video where they smash a seemingly safe heavy old Volvo estate into a seemingly flimsy but modern Renault Modus. It was startling to see the damage on the older car and how effective a modern car's passive safety measures are. So always get the latest and most modern design you can (which again in my view excludes any of the Sharalaxy triplets as their core design is ancient).

Don't know if it would be in budget, but we found a Chrysler Voyager (think that's what it was) very comfortable as a hire car.

Don't know if it would be in budget, but we found a Chrysler Voyager (think that's what it was) very comfortable as a hire car.

Apparently they are good value for money, but terrible if you have a crash. So not an ideal family vehicle.

I run the ultimate budget seven seater - a Toyota Picnic. Its a 1997 car, and has cost us precisely nothing in repairs whatsoever in the past 20k miles. Its not the best drive in the world, but you have seven PROPER seats and access to the rear seats is great. Its not the biggest car in the world either, so its a doddle to park. Mine is a 2.0 petrol automatic and averages 34mpg, so no complaints there either. They seem to be bullet proof really. We got ours from a colleague who got offered a poxy part ex on his, so I offered him a bit more and was lucky to get it for £900 - a top spec, one owner car with full history in stunning condition - and the best colour too, green over green. Every single thing works, including the twin electric sunroofs, air con, auxilliary heater for cold mornings, the auto box is smooth and quiet etc etc. It pulls a 1300kg caravan a treat too.

OK some of the colour schemes are pretty dated, and the baby blue interior won't appeal to many, but for a cheap 7 seater its hard to beat. £1k buys the very best available.

The Honda Shuttle seems a good car, as does Mazdas cunningly named "MPV". I really think for the budget you need to go Japanese.

If you want to spend more though, its a toughie. I think you need to spend £3.5k+ to get a decent Galaxy/Sharan/Alhambra unfortunately. I personally wouldn't buy an older French car, but if you can get a late 2.0 DCI Espace in budget then they are the most reliable of the breed.

The Previa/Lucida could also be a good choice if fuel economy isnt a concern.

We had a £10k budget for our "other" 7 seater, and we looked at everything on the market, and decided on the new shape Galaxy. We really liked the S-Max but the difference in practicality is bigger than the reviews would suggest.

Let us know how you get on.

Well THE BIGGEST BIT OF ADVICE!?!?!?

WHY GET A CAR???

if you have a few kids, get a MINIBUS!

my friend did this as he has 5 kids at only 27yrs old, he's had 7 seater cars for years, including Disco, Sharan, Galaxy, PRevia and he said the best choice he ever made was getting a Minibus and how he would never go back.

My uncle with 3 kids has just followed in his stead and also got a MINIBUS and it absolutely chuffed with it.

try these

http://vans.autotrader.co.uk/price/1000/2999/bodytype/minibus/stock-item-id/at8a6bb95932af73600132c95727da6f8f/advert

or a lower mileage version of this

http://vans.autotrader.co.uk/price/1000/2999/bodytype/minibus/stock-item-id/at8a6a91933286c98c0132974be20e57b9/advert

WOW some very high milers here

http://vans.autotrader.co.uk/price/1000/2999/bodytype/minibus/stock-item-id/at8ab0ae8f31b3cc450131d52c67d64c09/advert

Edited 6 October, 201114 yr by Sonner

Ford Tourneo Transits are 8 seaters with proper seats & 3 point belts, an almost unburstable 2.5 diesel lump, and often have a/c & leccy windows, plus a boot in the back too. £2k should net a half decent one, and bits for Transits are plentiful and pennies.

The only trouble with van based people carriers is rust though. They aren't as well protected as cars. Merc Vitos are well known grot boxes and I know someone who has had their 51 reg one recently fully re-sprayed for the 2nd time, and it needed a bit of welding doing too. Reliability is an issue with the Vito too, especially in auto form. Gearboxes die, and they are an expensive fix. Merc went back to the trusted RWD format with the Vito2

Well THE BIGGEST BIT OF ADVICE!?!?!?

WHY GET A CAR???

if you have a few kids, get a MINIBUS!

I got a V class once as a rental when they did not have the Scenic I booked. This is way back in 1999 when it was still new. Briliiant car. Was an automatic V220. We were only four up but the best thing is the sliding doors ON BOTH SIDES. We'd stop to picnic on the side of the road, get out the front, open both sliding doors, get in the back with mum and dad who travelled right at the back, fold the table out and wham we were outdoors on our very only picnic table. I agree with this one, a lovely six seater this.

Fuel consumption was high but then it was an automatic.

Just posted this when I saw the post above mine........ oops. So Vitos don't last. Oh well. They are a good concept at least.

We had a old vito at work, syncro on the 3rd gear went but apart from that it wouldn't die! As much as we tried

Matt

YEah that Ford Tourneo is the car my manager uses for his kids and also the one my uncle went for.

YEah Vito's new aren't bad but they are more expensive to maintain that transits/toruneo of the same age.

GO TOURNEO

my friend did this as he has 5 kids at only 27yrs old,

He doesn't need a minibus, he needs bromide in his tea

Well today he has just bought a 2002 Sharan Sport (PD115), a little over budget at £3k but it has had a new clutch and DMF fitted a few weeks ago, recent cambelt, and is having a full set of discs/pads and 3 new Dunlop tyres fitted (to match the other new tyre) so he is happy with that

Now he just wants me to fit PDC and CC !

Well today he has just bought a 2002 Sharan Sport (PD115), a little over budget at £3k but it has had a new clutch and DMF fitted a few weeks ago, recent cambelt, and is having a full set of discs/pads and 3 new Dunlop tyres fitted (to match the other new tyre) so he is happy with that

Now he just wants me to fit PDC and CC !

Top choice.