7 seater suggestions/Big Boot/Flexible seating

Lex Luthor

as title says, guy I know is looking for a big 7 seater, big boot with flexible seating. Budget of 20k

Is currently considering a 06 Voyager 2.8 Diesel Auto but I've shown him some reviews that don't give it much belief in its reliabilty.

Has ruled out the Galaxy due to the lack of flexible seating in the 2nd row. Any other ideas?

Cars&cars

VW Touran - lower cost, lower road tax on a 1.9l engine, 7 seats.

bf

Hyundai Santa Fe, should be able to pick up a good example for that kind of money

Ted10

Citroen C4 Grand Picasso 1.6 diesel. 7 seater, very flexible arangement, massive front windscreen.

crosstownk

Citroën C4 Grand Picasso 1.6HDi? Very flexible seating configurations due to individual 2nd & 3rd row seats. Tax band B with the EGS model if you can find a used one.

EDIT : Ted10 got there just before me!

Kartale

bf wrote: »

Hyundai Santa Fe, should be able to pick up a good example for that kind of money

+1 , should be able to pick up a 2007 model for that kind of money

Guy:Incognito

Lex Luthor wrote: »

Is currently considering a 06 Voyager 2.8 Diesel Auto but I've shown him some reviews that don't give it much belief in its reliabilty.

Probably best if they keep breaking, that way you cant crash one. They fold like a stood on coke can.:)

Loopsie

what about a dodge journey. 2.0 diesel 140bhp, manual or auto options, vw diesel engine. very flexible seating......seat config of 2,3,2 Back seats will fold completely flat for huge amount of extra space. Well speced as standard

Lex Luthor

I think he's looking for one that you can have one of the middle row seats facing rearwards? Is that even legal?

What about the Alhambra? Big enough?

Guy:Incognito

Lex Luthor wrote: »

I think he's looking for one that you can have one of the middle row seats facing rearwards? Is that even legal?

Dont know about legality but on the Renault site it says not to drive the Espace with the seats facing backwards (on the Espace section, not just randomly in the company history or anything :-) ). The seat belts are on the seats so it can be done.


Seems more of a recommendation though:)

unkel

Grand Espace diesel? Big bus that.

EPM

Alhambra are unreliable. At least they used be. Would they drive a Caravelle? Way better than you'd think being a van

richardsheil

Don't think they are unreliable.

We had a 99 Galaxy until 2008 and did 80,000 miles. A reliable car.

Have replaced it with a 05 Galaxy- similar reliability.

Note: Alhambra and Galaxy are same car. Just different badge.

pmq71

Might be too big for what you need but have a look at a Ssangyong Rodius.

If you can ignore how it looks on the outside (not so bad in black):

• 7 seats (middle row can face backwards and has lapbelts)
• Massive boot
• 2.7 diesel engine and automatic - needed for a car this size. I found the sub 2 litres options really struggled when loaded up and very noisy.

I've had one for 4 years now and found it very reliable. You can get a very low mileage 07 one for 20k looking at carzone.ie.
Good spec one here for €16.5k:
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ssangyong/Rodius/dsl-auto/200946195872818/advert?channel=CARS

Overall: Good if you need 7 seats permanently plus a big boot. Not so good if you need to park in the city a lot or worry about external appearances.

T-Maxx

VW Caravelle

E39MSport

pmq71 wrote: »

Might be too big for what you need but have a look at a Ssangyong Rodius.

If you can ignore how it looks on the outside (not so bad in black):

• 7 seats (middle row can face backwards and has lapbelts)
• Massive boot
• 2.7 diesel engine and automatic - needed for a car this size. I found the sub 2 litres options really struggled when loaded up and very noisy.

I've had one for 4 years now and found it very reliable. You can get a very low mileage 07 one for 20k looking at carzone.ie.

Overall: Good if you need 7 seats permanently plus a big boot. Not so good if you need to park in the city a lot or worry about external appearances.

Thanks for the review. Didn't know they have flexible seats. That is one ugly muthafcuka though...

Zonda999

Was in a taxi rodius there not too long ago and it wasnt too bad tbh, nowhere near as bad as i would have thought and the engine seemed to pull well, extremely ugly indeed though and i wouldnt want to have a crash in one, only 2 airbags afaik!!

pmq71

T-Maxx wrote: »

VW Caravelle

Agree - well worth a look. I was tempted to go for this before opting for the Rodius. I thought they were very expensive at the time but there are more available second hand now so you should get one for your budget. Lots used by taxis/chauffers so hard to get one with low mileage.

Couple of things to look out for:

I see lots of specced up VW transporter buses advertised as Caravelles so be wary. A proper Caravelle will have swivel seats in the middle row and not fixed seats and will have better seat trim. Sound proofing in the transporters is also very poor in comparison to real Caravelle and really feel and sound like the van it's based on to drive.

If you choose to turn the middle seats around you will need to slide the rear bench back a lot to allow for proper leg room for adult/teenage passengers which really cramps the boot space. There isn't a long wheelbase version of the proper Caravelle AFAIK (only in the transporter) so this might be an issue if boot space is a priority.

The 1.9 tdi with the 170 HP engine would be the best option for tax/power. The dash mounted manual gearstick is good to drive as well.

R.O.R

http://www.carzone.ie/search/KIA/Carnival/automati/200828189357671/advert?channel=CARS

Well specced for the money, but with all the seats up the boot isn't great.

Fairly well screwed toghether too. Probably won't be able to sell it on when he's finished with it though.

Lex Luthor

found a 07 Rodius on carzone for about 16.5k. has every conceivable extra so pointed him in that direction.