Estate Car or People Carrier

[Icy Gull]

Calling a mini bus a car is stretching it a bit IMHO !

I hired a Mercedes Vaneo on holiday a couple of years ago. That is basically a van with windows but once I got used to the size I found it drove just like a car. Liked it and if I had the need for a big car I'd consider it.

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

If mini-bus/vans are the route you're going to take then a Volkswagen Trsnsporter (T5) is a wise choice. Fantastic spec, uber reliable and same size chassis as a Passatt, so not too long or wide.

 

[00snook]

So you've got a decent budget then?

Nah.

I can dream tho.

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

Nah.

I can dream tho.

Ha, then I recommend the Galaxy again

 

[Paskman]

I''ve got one of the last TD5 Discovery's. 7 seater, brilliant in bad weather etc, kids love it. Performance not exactly sparkling! Mind you we live in the sticks, tow horse boxes etc, so can accept the many compromises you have with a genuine off broader. Great fun to drive though.

 

[00snook]

I hate people carriers but needed a car with at least 3 proper size seats in the back ( not that pathetic half seat in the middle ). Looked at both the Peugeot 5006 and the Mazda 5 - both decent cars. Brought the Mazda 5 in the end - the sliding back doors are a god send ! It looks and feels very much an estate car but with the benefits of a people carrier.

Mazda 5 looks great after doing some looking today.

Thanks 4 the tip

 

[huge]

Don't get a people carrier. You're effectively telling the world your giving up. Next stop caravan. Also people carriers come at a premium, you always pay over the odds for them for what your getting compared to an estate for example. But if you need to seat 7 what you gonna do

 

[Max Paper]

Mazda 5 looks great after doing some looking today.

Thanks 4 the tip

I've been looking myself for a few weeks mate, ideally I need 3 PROPER seats in the back an after ruling out Renault who make nice looking cars that don't work I'm kind of drawn to the Honda FRV which has six seats, 3 in front and 3 in back. The other I've been looking at is the citreon c4 Picasso although I'm wary of French diesel cars and I think the petrol version might be a little juicy. I'm gonna check out the Mazda 5 right now, also for the low budget option, a Honda Stream is quite interesting, a few years old but essentially a 7 seat estate car!
Keep me posted if you spot any alternatives? Good luck!

 

[Gordon Bennett]

If you aren't worried about badge snobbery and performance then my sister bought a nearly new Kia Carens and loves it. Its a 5 seater estate with 2 proper seats that pop up to create a third row. Its perfect for her with 3 kids as they occasionally want to take one of the mothers-in-law with them but couldn't do that with a conventional estate. The car itself isn't much of a looker but has the advantage of not being overly large and has the remainder of the 7 year warranty.

 

[hybrid_x]

second hand mondeo estate.....reliable, go for years.....ticks the boxes......super cheap.

 

[upthealbion1970]

Chuffed to bits with my zafira, with 5 seats the boot is mahoosive as its essentially an Astra estate on steroids although the boot is tiny with 7 seats. Myself +5 did liverpool away last season and all were comfy. Get about 45mpg around town out of the 1.7 125ps diesel and around 55 on a decent run

 

[lizard]

Downgrading from a Golf GTI to a people carried I'm pretty sure you'd feel it a tad 'lumpy' to drive. I'd advise looking more towards a Volvo T5 estate, they are pretty bullet proof and cheap to pick up second-hand. If you have a little more to spend maybe a Range Rover would be a good compromise.

 

[CheeseRolls]

I had a diesel Mazda 5 and loved it, until about 70,000 miles when the independent garage I use, told me to get rid quick. Basically they told me they would not have believed the mileage if they had not been servicing it themselves.

I switched to a petrol Ford C-Max which has the same seat configuration and sliding doors. The big plus so far is the parking sensors, which really make parking a bulky awkward shaped car a doddle.

 

[jameswestport]

peugeot 406

 

[Pat McCrotch]

I have a 2010 A6 Avant for sale if interested. Its the nuts.

 

[tinycowboy]

Nah.

I can dream tho.

We had a Zafira. Not very interesting, but bags of room and not that expensive. Now changed to a Honda FRV - six seats.

 

[fozzie's paper boy]

We're a family of 6, so people carrier was the only option. Had an old model Galaxy for years, which was fine - had loads of space, took a battering over the years, but ended up with increasingly expensive service costs.

So got a new model Seat Alhambra 6 months ago and love it, doesn't feel like you're driving a bus (compared the the Galaxy), in fact handles more like the Audi A4 I had before the kids arrived. Good sized seats throughout, and decent enough boot space even when seating 7. Diesel Ecomotive model seems to be very economical too. It's not sexy, but hey, it'll do until they leave home.

 

[The Modfather]

Happy with my Zafira, seats 5 comfortably. Reasonably priced as well.