My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Find out all about large family cars, holidays and more right here.

Larger families

If you have 4 kids , what do you drive?

36 replies

FiveHoursSleep · 02/07/2014 08:10

We are looking for a new car ( not new new, but 1-2 years old) and are trying to work out whether to go bigger or smaller.
ATM we have a Previa, but things are starting to go wrong with it and we need something reliable.
We live on the edge of greater London, and do a lot of town/city driving, but also take road trips for our holidays, and like to take the dogs/bikes places too.
Everything I've looked at seems to be smaller than our Previa, so we are now starting to look at bigger passenger vans to give us the space we'd like.
Does anyone drive one of these as an everyday car? I'm wondering if we'd regret it when it's just me and the dogs going to the woods.

OP posts:
Report
lljkk · 02/07/2014 10:48

We did drive one like that for 2 yrs & I had to get a 2nd car in the end, something SMALL. Friends who drove transit van for almost every journey were quite happy with that, though. Other people seem to enjoy driving buses, but not me.

Report
FiveHoursSleep · 02/07/2014 10:59

Lljkk, what kind of passanger van did you drive? Am really looking for recommendations.

OP posts:
Report
ReadyisKnitting · 02/07/2014 11:05

We have a mazda bongo and love it. They're tricky to get parts for now, and a niche vehicle, but it's roomy enough for the kids, dogs, stuff....

One of the best features is the two bench seats in the rear slide backwards and forwards on rails so we can adjust boot space and leg room quickly and easily. Can also pack loads of stuff under them when we go away.

Downside is fuel consumption, but I remember reading a thread on fuel consumption a while ago and being really shocked that the bongo's consumption wasn't much worse than many modern cars. I think the thread was comparing actual vs published consumption figures.

Report
throckenholt · 02/07/2014 11:46

We have friends (2 sets) who have a VW caravelle. They seem to last for a long time (but cost a lot new). They are BIG - I wouldn't want to drive one all the time particularly on narrow roads (but they often do). Both have now got an additional small car because have kids learning to drive.

Report
FiveHoursSleep · 02/07/2014 15:53

I went to drive a Chrysler today. It had plenty of room but was a bit sluggish to drive and doesn't get great reviews.
I saw a Seat Alhambra yesterday which seemed a bit cramped but looked pretty swish. Not much room for dogs etc though...

OP posts:
Report
fluffydoge · 02/07/2014 15:57

Landrover Discovery 3. Bit expensive but really comfortable and spacious. We got ours second hand and part exchanged it with our old S Max so wasn't too pricey.

Report
Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme · 02/07/2014 16:12

A friend of mine has a VW Transporter. It seats twelve! Someone else I know has a VW Caravelle, I think it's called, and that easily seats seven.

Report
MultipleMama · 02/07/2014 22:51

We are upgrading to the 9 seater Peugeot Expery Tepee (long version) or current 8 seater can fit; the dog, ABC quad buggy, loads of shopping and large suitcases.

Report
Frikadellen · 04/07/2014 11:18

Ford SMax and I utterly adore it.

When children were small we drove a C8 from Citroen also highly recommend it inbetween those we had a Renault Quahquai and I hated it..

Report
pombearsforbrunch · 07/07/2014 16:14

We're on our 3rd VW Caravelle. (Long wheel base for the extra boot space). Brilliant. Family of 6, we got the 9 seat option. Brilliant always having an empty seat between the kids to stop fighting on long journeys!

Report
Sleepthief · 20/07/2014 22:37

Just picked up our seat Alhambra yesterday Grin. Not at all cramped, I have to say...

Report
FiveHoursSleep · 21/07/2014 09:08

I think we are going to stick with our Previa for now but have our eye on the Alhambra for when we do change.

OP posts:
Report
Sleepthief · 22/07/2014 09:44

Can't recommend it enough (day 4!)

Report
RUNNER0 · 22/07/2014 20:38

My ford smax is amazing I wouldn't b without it
And I only have two children

Report
CrispyFB · 23/07/2014 20:16

We have a Mazda 5 for our four - can't recommend it enough either as an MPV option. There's enough room in what is left of the boot for a Maclaren, there's sliding doors and the seats themselves easily fold down flat into the chassis. At a pinch we can fit three across the middle row (7 year old with a Bubble Bum booster in the middle) and fold down one of the back row seats if we need to.

It drives well, quite sporty for an MPV. And so far (touch wood) at six years old after three years of ownership it's never needed anything doing to it beyond the usual brake pad replacements. By all accounts Mazdas are quite reliable. And it is metallic dark purple

DH keeps talking about upgrading to a Caravelle eventually if we somehow come into millions of pounds, but I worry about parking the thing i.e. finding a space big enough!

Report
4littleones · 24/07/2014 15:45

we have a vw touran and are really struggling with space. both our youngest 2 are in buggies though. I think once they are out of the buggy stage it will be fine though.

Report
Panicmode1 · 29/07/2014 19:09

We are coming up to the same dilemma - currently have a Grande Espace which I love and hate in equal measure. I'd love a discovery but think we'll end up with a Galaxy....although all of the children are v tall so DH thinking Caravelle......not sure!

Report
peanutbutterandoreos · 29/07/2014 19:12

We also have a land rover. Only car we've had that can fit 2 adults, 4 big teenagers and a dog + all our stuff.

Report
BadRoly · 29/07/2014 19:16

We have a Galaxy (with the fold away to nothing seats) and a normal Espace (which we inherited when my dad died so can never get rid of)

The Galaxy is better for having one of the dc in the 'boot' as the middle row seat slides to get access. Much better legroom as well in the back.

However the Espace is just so much nicer to drive. It really is. But storing the seats is a PITA and because the seats sit on the floor, the legroom us crap for taller dc and adults.

I keep looking at converting a VW T5 (all the rage down here in Cornwall) so we have 3 in the front, a normal row then storage and a cooker/fridge at the back Grin

Report
SoonToBeSix · 29/07/2014 19:18

We have a Mercedes Vito traveliner extra long base with nine seats we do have six kids now. It's very much a van but so but space it's worth it.

Report
SoonToBeSix · 29/07/2014 19:20

With four dc we had a Renault grand scenic , great to drive and very comfortable but lots of electrical issues.

Report
HerRoyalNotness · 29/07/2014 19:23

What ages do you have? I saw a Volvo XC90 the other day, fit three in 2nd row, middle bit had a built in booster. Were also two pop up seats behind those and room for a big sized dog/suitcases.

If we could afford that, I'd look at that for our next car. They're not overly big like the people movers but still have good space. We have an XC60 now and they are wide cars so feel roomy too.

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

Panicmode1 · 30/07/2014 06:35

That's interesting peanutbutterandoreos....we are thinking of getting a dog (retriever) so would need space; currently we could manage with taking a seat out of the Espace, but with the children getting older (and taller), I am not sure how the legroom/space would work if we replaced it with the current plan of a Galaxy or Sharan/Alhambra. ( I do have a bit of an issue with having a 4x4 in a very urban environment so although I'd love a Discovery or XC90 I'd feel a total hypocrite.....even though we need the space!). If the Espace wasn't such a pile of expensive electrical, mechanical and other faults, I'd probably buy a newer one - I do really like to drive it - but it's been a disaster financially.

Report
GobbyHollins · 30/07/2014 06:57

We have a bongo too. It's not as big as it looks, normal width and not much longer than an mpv/large saloon snd much easier to drive.
Lots of space for teenagers as they were getting cramped in our scenic which was the worst car ever

Report
peanutbutterandoreos · 30/07/2014 11:05

Panic All the other cars we've had had those fold up seats in the back that would only really fit a child under 10 - far too small for a teenager or adult to sit comfortably for more than 10 minutes. In the discovery 3 the fold up seats are pretty much the same size as normal ones (maybe a bit smaller) and can probably fit an adult woman but maybe not a man. Also the boot is still large when you have all the seats up so the dog has lots of space. Our oldest two are moving out soon but we'll still keep the car because it's so great for ferrying teenagers/friends/animals/everything else around in.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.