Family car with 6+ seats in Europe, what to get?

"duurtlang" (duurtlang) 09/24/2013 at 08:08 • Filed to: None

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A friend's brother is getting his fourth kid next year, so his Volvo V70 isn't going to do anymore. He'll need a roomy car with seats for at least 6, and storage space behind the last row (so no Mazda 5). Due to his budget the vehicle has to be 10+ year old. What vehicle should he get?

Goshen, formerly Darkcode > duurtlang 09/24/2013 at 08:11

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Early 2000s Sharan/Galaxy/Alhambra? They carry 7 people and luggage, and the 1.9 diesel is reliable.

Anon > duurtlang 09/24/2013 at 08:13

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What car is that pictured?

Mikeado > Anon 09/24/2013 at 08:14

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Looks like a Renault Espace.

Mikeado > duurtlang 09/24/2013 at 08:16

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IIRC an Espace is very expensive to service. A Forlkseat Shalhambralaxy would be a safe bet but it looks pretty fucking dreary, ditto a Toyota Previa. Did he impose the age limit or have you decided based on the budget?

505Turbeaux > duurtlang 09/24/2013 at 08:17

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Volvo 264TE fits the bill...

Tom McParland > duurtlang 09/24/2013 at 08:17

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Hmmm I don't know enough about European cars to help but I love to play this game here in the US. I am curious to follow this thread to see what other say.

Vin > duurtlang 09/24/2013 at 08:22

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A diesel LWB Mercedes G-class? Fair amount of storage in the back with the jump seats, plus a whole host of roof rack storage options.

(Or their R-class, though that's newer, but seats exactly six)

Honda Pilot?

duurtlang > Mikeado 09/24/2013 at 08:22

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His first suggestion was a mk3 Espace (97-03 I believe) as the newer Espace is crap. The only other vehicle he could think of was the Voyager, but he considered that so horribly dreary it could only be a last resort. I thought there should be more options.

His budget is a few thousand, which generally means 10+ years old here. A nice 9 year old is worth considering too obviously. He's owned a mk1 Espace before, and I believe he currently uses an old Cherokee as a work vehicle, so he knows his expensive to maintain vehicles.

As you probably know second hand vehicles aren't as dirt cheap in continental Europe as they are in the UK, so it might seem a little counter intuitive to you.

duurtlang > 505Turbeaux 09/24/2013 at 08:24

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He'd love that. Or an old extended 6 door Benz w124 or w126 or something like that. Good luck finding a decent one though, most have been trashed as taxis. I'm going to put this on the list, I hadn't thought about it before.

davedave1111 > duurtlang 09/24/2013 at 08:25

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A six-seater, you say?

duurtlang > davedave1111 09/24/2013 at 08:32

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I doubt it's practical seating six including a kid seat and trunk space and all, but it's certainly going on the list. Even if it's just for a laugh.

getchapopcorn > duurtlang 09/24/2013 at 08:34

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two up front, ample room for 4 children behind +1 in the rumblerocker if they're feeling the need, and clearly plenty of storage space. Yes, I'd say this is about perfect.

BTW, Europe?

Lawsohard says "bro, move away from there"
Says "Californy is the place you ought to be"
So load on up that truck and move to Beverly!

505Turbeaux > duurtlang 09/24/2013 at 08:36

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245T For Sale

Also if he doesnt want to give up a wagon. That one looks ok. Those are dogs but reliable

Goshen, formerly Darkcode > Vin 09/24/2013 at 08:38

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Good luck finding a G-class for decent money, let alone an R-class.
The Honda Pilot was never sold in E-markets AFAIK.

Vin > Goshen, formerly Darkcode 09/24/2013 at 08:47

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You're absolutely right about the Pilot. And while the R-class was admittedly a stretch, G-class is wicked old...I figured it wouldn't be so hard to find a good one.

davedave1111 > duurtlang 09/24/2013 at 08:47

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I've never tried, but from what I heard at the time the Multipla was actually much more practical than most MPVs of the era when it came to having it fully loaded, because it doesn't have a third row of seats taking up the boot space.

The seven seaters of that generation were all (that I remember) cars that could take seven passengers, or five/six and their luggage, but not one passenger per seat plus luggage. The Multipla could do a pretty decent job at carrying six-plus-bags, despite being the best part of a metre shorter. Still, no MPV is actually good at it, and all will be pretty cramped with the car full for family holidays or some such.

Another MPV of that gen that I have slight experience with is the Honda Shuttle - a friend's parents have had one from new. Was a company car, so came with top-spec, including six captain's chairs instead of 7/8 bench seats. Set up like that, it's genuinely spacious and comfortable for long-distance cruising even with luggage on board.

Fred (FreddsterExprs) > Goshen, formerly Darkcode 09/24/2013 at 08:52

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This. They actually have their issues but are really cheap to get, especially the Galaxy and Allhambra.

Klaus Schmoll > duurtlang 09/24/2013 at 08:53

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Thank god that he needs actual luggage space behind the rear seats! This takes the ugly elephant in the room a.k.a. the Opel Zafira out of the equasion. As others have already mentioned, the Shalambraxys are probably the safest bet. But there are two other options: The Kia Carnival

and the Hyundai Trajet

Both should be in his price range, but don't know anything about them.

duurtlang > 505Turbeaux 09/24/2013 at 08:58

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Brilliant! It's probably too expensive, but I'm sure it can be talked down. Located in the Netherlands is nice too, though not mandatory.

505 - morphine not found > duurtlang 09/24/2013 at 09:00

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The perfect solution is a Multivan, the only drawback is that they are expensive when new, so i guess the servicing might cost too. Only pick one with the second sliding door option added.

505 - morphine not found > duurtlang 09/24/2013 at 09:06

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The Espace should fit the bill but one thing of note - i seem to recall the seats are pretty heavy, so its not that straightforward to get them out of the way if he vants to load up. Better get something with huge trunkspace even if all seven seats are used / in there. That doesn't work with the Espace and the Galaxy and its ilk, in 7-seat config not a lot of the trunk remains, though of course still much more, than in a smaller MPV, like the Mazda 5 or the Scenic.

As i said in the other reply, Multivan, or maybe Transit Tourneo is where it's at, when it comes to ultimate family barge.

Mikeado > duurtlang 09/24/2013 at 09:27

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I see. I would suggest something van-based, but I'm assuming he doesn't hate himself.

What's it like for imported JDM people carriers in NL? I imagine the appeal is limited slightly by their being RHD, but they can be cheap, reliable and interesting 7-seaters.

duurtlang > Mikeado 09/24/2013 at 09:33

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There is no imported JDM market here. I never see RHD vehicles ever, unless it's got a plate of one of your countrymen. I'm sure importing can be done, but I doubt it's worth the hassle and, considering his budget, the money.

Bluecold > duurtlang 09/24/2013 at 09:56

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Ford Windstar The interior is woeful, the engine barely adequate, the ride not up to european standards and it weighs 1888 kg empty. However, the seats are good, it's good looking for a minivan, it's large, and it is damn comfortable when just eating the miles on a highway. This in contrast to the Chrysler Grand Voyager, which is just terrible.

Another option would be a limo. They're cheap right now since student society/fraternity management (bestuurtjes) sometimes can't sell their limo before the new bestuurtjes need their limo in september (every bestuurtje worth a damn has a limo). They're then stuck with a money pit they have trouble selling and you could land yourself a stretched Lincoln Town Car that seats 8 people in comfort for 6k euros or so.

duurtlang > davedave1111 09/24/2013 at 13:22

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Reply from his brother (my friend); "I think he'd rather his kids walk than having to own one of those." His loss.

duurtlang > Klaus Schmoll 09/24/2013 at 13:35

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I'm not a fan of the Zafira, but those two sheds you just suggested are besides perfectly adequate for the job beyond horrid. So I've suggested them right away.

I hope I'll never have more than 2 kids.

davedave1111 > duurtlang 09/24/2013 at 21:55

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What is it about Chris Bangle designs? :)

Seriously, though, if he can be persuaded to look past the exterior (or embrace it, and get the kids to love the way they would a crippled puppy), from everything I've heard the Multipla was by far the best car of that kind of age at transporting a family around. Get him to test drive one, even if just for the laughs.

Oh shit, I think I've turned into a Fiat fanboy.