I need a new 'big' car

[DanceswithUnix]

I'm 38 and have a lotus elise.

Am I in crisis?

No, you are in a very nice little car

[walibe]

I have four children and a dog (medium sized lab). We've had seven seaters for ages. Grand Scenics, Espaces and Grand Picassos. It wasn't the number of kids that forced me to move up a size but the dog who as you said takes up the whole damn boot. You can have a cage made that only takes up half of the boot but that could be quite limiting for the dog on longer journeys. Custom cages are also very expensive.

I nearly ordered the S-MAX Titanium X before some work colleagues had one on hire on a job and complained about the boot with even just one of the rear seats in use. I then discovered the whole world of VW T5s, Mercedes Vianos and the Hyundai I800. You get tons of space for loads of activities, particularly if your an outdoory family. I didn't think just before I turned 30 I would own what is effectively a van but I ordered a Hyundai I800. If your in the armed forces or one of a number of companies Hyundai deal with you get 20% discount on all new prices (so do Ford). Mine arrived at the docs today from Korea so should be with me at the start of October.

A custom T5 or Caddy Max might just be what your looking for. If you look on the T5 forums you''ll find a lot of owners with your 2 kids + dog. Some have the dog crates then a storage area above them. It works very well in these van type vehicles.

[Rave]

If you want a 'nice' car then as a leftfield suggestion how about a Merc R-class? Remarkably expensive new; rather more affordable at 3-4 years old!

If you just want a large and practical vehicle then Citroen Berlingos / Peugeot Partners are quite ridiculously volumninous inside. Or a Hyundai I800 as already suggested. Ford S-Maxes and Galaxies are also apprently surprisingly nice to drive, plenty about in top spec trim with leather and all the toys.

[Biscuit]

i know its not a 7 seater but what about he skoda yeti? Thats pretty spacious inside even though it is 3 in the back and 2 in the front. Its been a big seller since its release!

[alpha channel]

And are really tough if the one that took out a solid, foot wide wooden telephone pole at my old place is anything to go by. It left a splintered stump and only took, externally anyway, a trashed bumper, knackered radiator and a dented bonnet.

[Phage]

+1 Blingo - Amazing amount of crap can be stuffed into those boxes.

[Tumble]

Mate of mine just bought a Renault Espace for £4k, not a lot of miles on it and only a couple of years old - despite it being French, it's remarkably nice to drive, and bags of space in it. 3 child seats across the back with no bother.

[walibe]

Mate of mine just bought a Renault Espace for £4k, not a lot of miles on it and only a couple of years old - despite it being French, it's remarkably nice to drive, and bags of space in it. 3 child seats across the back with no bother.

Although the Espace is one of the best cars I've ever owned it was also one of the worst. I had a 3.0 dci v6 initial Grand Espace which was a money pit. It ate through its 18" tyres in under 10,000 miles despite re alignment. The engine ha to come OUT for a head gasket issue, it also has to come out for a Cambelt change on that model. The sunroof had issues, stereo and sat nav would often freeze. The rear pop window in the boot didn't like to close. It like to kill its coil springs and liked to pop into limp mode for giggles. The 2.2 is even worst and the 1.9 eats it turbo it's just a question of when.

Lovely car, just best avoided unless you want to bankrupt yourself. Read more about it on the Renault Forums.

[Smudger]

I know someone who gets his 3 kids into the back of a Subaru Outback, they're pretty solid and you can get a diesel/petrol. He also has a dog, albeit quite small at the mo...

[scaryjim]

Seat Alhambra?

Once my sister had kids (she worked for Seat UK!) her company car was rarely anything else. Plus I've never seen anything as funny as a blinged out Focus ST (or something similar) pulling up beside her at a junction, and her utterly mincing it in acceleration and leaving them eating her dust Plenty of space for three adults in the back, and they look pretty good too.

[BurningFeetMan]

Have you considered an Audi, perhaps the A4 Avant or A6 Avant? They look like lovely cars and big enough for everyone i'm sure.

Alternatively, take a look at a Honda Accord Tourer.

Hope it gives you some ideas

Whatever you buy, I hope you enjoy it

[b0redom]

@smudger - it's not fitting 3 kids that's the problem, it's 3 car seats.
@scaryjim - I'll take a look at the Seat - ta for that
@burningfeetman - the A6 is about the same size as my Passat. I think I need an MPV more than an estate, it's the space for the car seats I'm lacking, otherwise I'd just stick with what I have.

[Smudger]

@smudger - it's not fitting 3 kids that's the problem, it's 3 car seats.

This is 3 car seats - Aussies make you put a kid into a car seat up to quite a late age...

[Biscuit]

Talking of Aussies... why not look at a Vauxhall Monaro

Other 'muscle' cars will probably also have quite a wide space for car seats.

[BurningFeetMan]

Oops, totally ignored the fact you already had the Passat

how about;

Chrysler Grand Voyager?
Citroen C8?
Mitsubishi Shogun?
Peugeot 4007?

Honda FRV (2 rows of 3 seats, similar to Multipla)

I'm really just reeling off 7 seater cars now, but they all look quite nice. I've had personal experience with Honda they were/are great so I would certainly at least consider one

All the seats in the FR-V are separate, that might make it easier to install 3 car seats?

Edit; look at the FR-V 2.2 EX, it has leather seats, I imagine that will be a godsend with kids and McDonald's/chocolate/etc

[Funkstar]

Honda FRV was canned after a short time, and it's not that large a car. 2x3 seats, but significantly smaller than the Multipla.