If one was looking for a 6 or 7 seater, what would be the smallest option?

A 6 seater like a Honda FRV or Fiat Multipla? Or a not massive estate with pop up rear seats, isn't there a Pug 307/308 estate with 7 seats? Don't want to go up to E-class size. And needs to be an automatic. And reasonably cheap.

Looking to carry kids between the age of 4 and 12 on local trips.

Edited 25 November, 201510 yr by 'daiking'

VW Touran?

VW Touran?

A FRV is 100mm shorter and same width and a Multipla is 300mm shorter, although possibly 75mm wider.

If you find something suitable, let me know what you got. Re my post MPV and child seats, I'm looking for a suitable one for my daughter.

 

If it was me driving then no problem on size, maybe the bigger the better but my daughter is a newish driver and I don't think she can cope with anything like a C-Max, Touran, or even stuff like Seat Alhambra etc. I have been looking at the likes of Scenic and Picasso but she needs to fit three child seats across the back seats.

 

Looked at the Multipla, does look interesting but maybe too big for her

Do they still do a 7 seat e class estate?

Defender with bench seats ;-)

If you find something suitable, let me know what you got. Re my post MPV and child seats, I'm looking for a suitable one for my daughter.

If it was me driving then no problem on size, maybe the bigger the better but my daughter is a newish driver and I don't think she can cope with anything like a C-Max, Touran, or even stuff like Seat Alhambra etc. I have been looking at the likes of Scenic and Picasso but she needs to fit three child seats across the back seats.

Looked at the Multipla, does look interesting but maybe too big for her

I don't need 3 big child seats across the back, just the number of seats and that makes things a lot bigger than my wife's current car.

Do they still do a 7 seat e class estate?

A friend has a 14 plate e-class with them. Obviously I'm looking for something much less than £10k so needs to be older and an older e-class or equivalent volvo will be massive.

Edited 25 November, 201510 yr by 'daiking'

Defender with bench seats ;-)

Too expensive, too big, too uncomfortable and not at all safe.

Great, where do I sign?

I have been looking at these, would be after a 1.6 petrol version myself. Plenty of diesels about.

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201510238101426?page=1&onesearchad=used&model=308_sw&search-target=usedcars&sort=default&make=peugeot&postcode=de243as&radius=1500&logcode=p

 

Although it doesn't show the 6 and 7 seats in the one above, it shows them in the this one below. They are model dependant, ie the base models gets just split folding rear seats and on some the 6th and 7th seats seem to be extra spec.

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201510047493500?onesearchad=used&make=peugeot&postcode=de243as&sort=default&page=2&model=308_sw&search-target=usedcars&radius=1500&logcode=p

Vauxhall Zafira is a hot option at the moment,a good 5/7 seater if you get one with air con you should be ok

Edited 25 November, 201510 yr by Sad555

If you find something suitable, let me know what you got. Re my post MPV and child seats, I'm looking for a suitable one for my daughter.

 

If it was me driving then no problem on size, maybe the bigger the better but my daughter is a newish driver and I don't think she can cope with anything like a C-Max, Touran, or even stuff like Seat Alhambra etc. I have been looking at the likes of Scenic and Picasso but she needs to fit three child seats across the back seats.

 

Looked at the Multipla, does look interesting but maybe too big for her

 

May be worth getting her in a CMax and letting her drive it. I had one as a hire car in Spain when I'd booked a Fiesta. I was expecting it to be a nightmare (we arrived at midnight and they had nothing else) in the small villages but it really wasn't even sitting on the wrong side for the first time! Visibility is good and they tend to come with atleast rear sensors. 

I have been looking at these, would be after a 1.6 petrol version myself. Plenty of diesels about.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201510238101426?page=1&onesearchad=used&model=308_sw&search-target=usedcars&sort=default&make=peugeot&postcode=de243as&radius=1500&logcode=p

Although it doesn't show the 6 and 7 seats in the one above, it shows them in the this one below. They are model dependant, ie the base models gets just split folding rear seats and on some the 6th and 7th seats seem to be extra spec.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201510047493500?onesearchad=used&make=peugeot&postcode=de243as&sort=default&page=2&model=308_sw&search-target=usedcars&radius=1500&logcode=p

That's what I was thinking of too but they're still pretty big. I think the 6 seaters manage to be significantly shorter.

May be worth getting her in a CMax and letting her drive it. I had one as a hire car in Spain when I'd booked a Fiesta. I was expecting it to be a nightmare (we arrived at midnight and they had nothing else) in the small villages but it really wasn't even sitting on the wrong side for the first time! Visibility is good and they tend to come with atleast rear sensors. 

 

C-max now on the shortlist. It doesn't seem a bad choice, infact ideal. Again size is the sticky point and she will have to drive a few to see how she gets on.

For those who suggest the Touran, there are 5 automatice cars, NATIONALLY, for less than £10k via dealers according to Autotrader

And 61 Zafiras between £5k and £10k.

Edited 26 November, 201510 yr by 'daiking'

Corolla Verso looks intersting on size but has the horrid MMT gearbox.

Vauxhall Zafira is a hot option at the moment,a good 5/7 seater if you get one with air con you should be ok

 

a little too hot maybe ( in reference to zafiras bursting into flames)

For those who suggest the Touran, there are 5 automatice cars, NATIONALLY, for less than £10k via dealers according to Autotrader

And 61 Zafiras between £5k and £10k.

Yup, took us a while to find ours in 1.6TDI guise - quite a rare combo apparently as most people went for DSG with the 2.0.

 

Should be plenty of auto B/C/S Max about

Multipla is not as wide as it seems and it's dead short and easy to park.  Normal 7 seaters like the Galaxy are actually wider.

 

Multipla is much roomier than FR-V with staggered seats for more shoulder room.

 

Also the whole rear row can be set individually for kid legroom or limo legroom - you choose.

 

It's really practical and the diesel did 43 mpg everywhere, towns, motorways wherever.

 

However I didn't enjoy driving it and I did try to avoid doing so the whole 9 years SWMBO had it.

 

She loved it though and so did the kids.

Edited 26 November, 201510 yr by camelspyyder

Friend has an FRV, it's a good bit of kit. We have a mazda5 which is fantastic but I'm not sure you could get an auto easily.

I've found something that suits your needs perfectly. 6 seats, Automatic, reasonably cheap and fairly small.

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201509277281938?onesearchad=used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew&make=london_taxi%27s_international&sort=default&search-target=usedcars&page=1&radius=1500&postcode=dl94rj&logcode=p

We had the FRV for two years and it was a good piece of kit.  It was totally reliable, took a load of abuse and with the 2.2 diesel it was reasonably economical.  The handling was pretty good considering and the kids loved it.  Me & the wife however, disliked it because of the fact it was so unbelievably dull. We traded it in for the VXR in the end but to be fair to the car it was a great family bus.

I didn't think the C-Max had more than 5seats, from memory, its only the S-Max & Galaxy with 7.

 

I would look at the Peugeots you've already listed above or consider the Touran/Zafira.

After a week or 2 or driving the bigger car she will get used to it. An smax would be a great option, decent enough to drive and you can get front and rear sensors.

We have an FRV as a family car for 6. Our youngest loves the front middle seat, and there is plenty of room for everyone with the seats staggered, and still a respectable boot.

We had a Ford Galaxy before and haven't yet missed the additional space or 7th seat.

I highly recommend the FRV.