Approx budget approx £15k, but could be pushed to £30k.

 

£15,000 to... £30,000!?

 

Is the first budget the wife's and the £30K your target!?

My sister has twin girls and a toddler and up with a Citroen C4 Grand Picasso. Yes it is a seven seated but she doesn't really use the back row. The fact the three middle seats move independently so 3 car seats fit, or two children and an adult.

However it has a stupid electric handbrake and the heating system was designed by an idiot.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/new/touran-gp-ii/explore/dimensions

 

http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/new/touran-gp-ii/explore/dimensions

 

 

With the old Touran because of the shape of the back seat it wasn't actually any wider than my old Octavia, the position two kids seats end up in leaves not enough space in between for anyone with arms.

With the old Touran because of the shape of the back seat it wasn't actually any wider than my old Octavia, the position two kids seats end up in leaves not enough space in between for anyone with arms.

It's a little better than the mk2 octavia IMO.

 

We've had 2 isofix on the outer seats and a booster with back in the middle, which we couldnt do in the Octy.  The only way to get true 100% seats is a full MPV like a Galaxy or Sharan/Alahmbra which would be too long.

£15,000 to... £30,000!?

 

Is the first budget the wife's and the £30K your target!?

Lol.... If only.....

Some beemers (inc SWMBOs 1 series) have isofix points on the front passenger seat. No idea about other brands but that might be an option. Sprog in the front (airback off) one in the back and inlaw to the other side?

 

Have also seen it on an new style TT.

Some beemers (inc SWMBOs 1 series) have isofix points on the front passenger seat. No idea about other brands but that might be an option. Sprog in the front (airback off) one in the back and inlaw to the other side?

Have also seen it on an new style TT.

Quite a few Audi's do. My dads A3 has.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

That is a thought... Kids current up to 18kg seat doesnt fit well in the front of the scout, the seat belt buckle is at a funny angle... Not a good angle I feel for safety.... So front isofix would open up new options :-) Although maybe the next car seat up fits better up front....

Not to state the obvious. given the nature of this site but what about a Superb, either twin door or Estate?  I have had two large recaro kid seats in the back and it looked liked someone could easily fit in the middle.

 

Or use the front isofix and have two adults in the back.  tbh in your situation I would get something bigger if every journey someone is stuck in the middle bump.

 

The XC90 has a very useable boot. even with the back row in play and the Yamaha V8 engine car is cheap to buy and only marginally less mpg.  25ish for the derv, high teens for the petrol.

 

Good luck in your search, looks like you will need it.

 

P.S. What about an R class?

I am the same as you mate with 3 kids and I have been looking at the ford s max ecoboost which is a 2 litre petrol with 240 bhp.

Looks like quite a machine as it will remap to approximately 270 bhp and only £250 p/y in tax

I have a Volvo XC60 and we regularly have 2 child seats and an adult in the back. The kids sit either side, with a stage 2 mamas n papas isofix for our 3 year old, and an isofix maxi cosi pebble for our 6 month old. The wife fits in the middle, but we got to consider that once the wife is ensconced in the middle seat then I have to ensure the baby goes in and comes out safely before she can be released.

The XC60 is a brilliant family car. We have the 2.4d DrivE which is only 2WD but I would definitely choose 4WD if I bought again as the MPG is virtually unchanged. (Cheaper tax though)

You also can have the added benefit of Gucci fold out, built In booster seats for older kids.

Edited 1 January, 201412 yr by Royston

Umm XC90 out as only does 30mpg and thats on a good day....

 

Anyone tried 2 kids and adult across the back of an bmw x3?

what about a 7 seat mitsubishi outlander?

what about a 7 seat mitsubishi outlander?

Rear seat isn't that wide and 3rd row is a bench seat.... Also I tried one years ago and the seat shape didn't suit the taller man (6'3")... Also it only felt stable in 4wd on motorway.

So a good idea as they are cheap and I really like the stereo with sub, also the Citroen version looks awesome....

What about the Peugot 4007 father in Law has the Top spec One absolutley huge inside Cost him 9k 19" alloys Body kit sunroof 2.2 Diesel Engine do's Way over 40mpg. One Time he dropped the back seats ans stacked pallets in.definatley worth a Look.

What about the Peugot 4007 father in Law has the Top spec One absolutley huge inside Cost him 9k 19" alloys Body kit sunroof 2.2 Diesel Engine do's Way over 40mpg. One Time he dropped the back seats ans stacked pallets in.definatley worth a Look.

4007 is the ugly sister to the c-crosser, so same issues with out the good looks.....

Quite a few of these suggestions are indeed large cars and may have lots of room inside.  However, they don't have three seats across the back.  The Superb was off my list quite early on as the design of the bolsters meant that the children's seats sat too far into the car and therefore reduced the gap in the middle.  The XC90 is a massive car, but again only has two seats in the rear plus a narrow booster between them. 

 

I spent a lot of time and effort finding a car that would take three people, three children's seats or an combination of these in the rear and the choice is very limited.  If short journeys are the bulk of the driving then some of the suggestions are valid as they wouldn't cause too much discomfort. 

 

Until I started looking for a suitable vehicle I thought like a lot of you that there are plenty of cars out there that would do the job, but I was surprised at how many cars waste their internal space.  Even cars as big as the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Volvo V70 don't have enough room on the rear bench.  A lot of cars have door cards that come out a long way, or as mentioned the designs of the rear seats affect where the child's seat sits.  Even the barge that is the A8 wasn't designed to carry three people in the back apart from on occasional journeys.

 

Look into it and you'll see that l lot of the 7 seaters are impractical as you have to lose boot space to get people in.  Take three car seats to an Audi, BMW or Merc dealer and try to get them all in and fasten the belts.  You'll come away with less skin on your knuckles and a feeling of despair at yet another wasted afternoon looking at flippin' cars that won't do the job.

 

The Multipla was flawed in terms of build quality, but the concept was good.  Honda took this and made it work.  Don't confuse the CRV & FRV as most people do, they are very different. One of the few cars I can see that is new that will work is the Grand Picasso.  It looks like they have worked some design magic there as the seats are three good sizes.  It looks really well designed, but externally is very big. 

 

I'm waiting for the day when the two eldest are only in need of a booster and then it's back to a fast family car for me. 

With the Grand Picasso and similar lar cars either the rear (well middle row) seats sit either above or in front of the the rear wheel arches which gives more width. Thats why in cars like the Superb or a big Merc/BMW there aren't three rear seats.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

Peugeot 308sw 5 independent seats or 7 if u get that specification. I would assume the new model would keep this arrangement. Yes i know french but were onto grand picassos now....

If it's new & under warranty then it shouldn't be to much of a worry. 

No French car's, had to many crap French cars in my youth...

I have to say that frv is best suggestion so far, just might be to old and mpv for me.

Although it would be the wife's so I'd only drive at weekends, so with a cheeky remap things might be ok?

A remap takes it to about 170bhp.  The clutch might start to slip though, apparently it happens on the Civic, CRV, Accord & anything else that has the 2.2 diesel engine. It's a lovely engine though and does a good job of hauling the car around.  It handles quite well as it's wide but short and as we've got used to it we've learned to hustle it along at a decent pace.  The steering is not exactly numb, but it isn't full of feedback.  The thing that has impressed me though is the build quality.  I loved my Skoda, but this is better screwed together. 

It's grown on me as a machine.  I'll never love it, but I do respect it's ability to get us everywhere with little fuss and it's low running costs.  They aren't cheap by any means and retain their value very well.  Best thing to do is drive one and see what you think.  It's a great family car and anyone who has a lift enjoys the ride, especially if you sit them in the middle front.

Hi guys,

Update.....Well just bought a Hyundai Santa Fe Auto to solve our 3 across the back dilemma.

Plan was to keep Octavia scout and sale the Altea as the Santa Fe is wife's car.

But now been "told" that both cars should be auto and if changing smaller than Octavia.

Short list of good small diesel auto is (please suggest others).

2013 SEAT Leon se 2.0 dsg 13k £14,000

2012 VW golf mk6 match 2.0 dsg. £14,000 Inc packing sensors

2012 VW golf mk6 gt 2.0 dsg. £15,500 Inc leather but no parking sensors

2013 Skoda Yeti 2.o dsg elegance. £17,000

Something around £11k would be better,as that what our scout has been valued at. But i have tight requirements.

-Safe

-Leather interior - if possible

-Good for the dump run.

-it will do 20k+ miles a years low runing costs ie MPG,tax,ins,depreciatio,tyres & maintenance and finance costs.

What are your thoughts guys?

Audi A3 / Golf GTD/TDI