Mercedes family car? (7 seater)

[mb320cdi]

Hello,

I am wanting to upgrade my wifes family car to some type of 7 seater Mercedes, present car is Peugeot 5008,

My problem is as follows;

E class 7 seater, when all seats are employed there is no boot space for buggies, picnic, shopping etc.

R class, the middle row there is really only 2 seats.

G class, much to expensive to purchase and run.

Our idea of a family car is the new VW Sharan, 7 individual seats, very suitable for baby seats, boosters etc, plus still boot space for luggage.

Is anyone else in this situation?

 

[Troon]

Galaxy?

 

[SilverSaloon]

we have 2 E class 7 seaters.

when we use the extra seats shopping etc just goes in the footwell. but its a tighter squeeze with a pram too... we did it for a short while and it basically went in the footwell too and the kids in the back didnt mind as their legs are short

 

[coalville126]

What about a Viano? Getting on a bit now, but a capable people carrier.

 

[Peter DLM]

There's a new Viano out soon

 

[mb320cdi]

Viano is no doubt a good vechile but my wife thinks they may be biggish to handle and type of van like, similar to the VW Transporter!

 

[Peter DLM]

Smaller family?

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Excuse the personal question but how many children do you own?

 

[MOCAŠ]

Isn't MB due to bring out a replacement for the Vaneo this year, based on the Renault Kangoo? If that's too small/utilitarian, they may yet produce a badge-engineered version of the Espace/Grand Espace to satisfy those that must have a three-pointed star.

 

[mb320cdi]

Excuse the personal question but how many children do you own?

I'm the proud dad of 3 children so far, always need extra seats for neices, nephews, uncles, aunts, granny, grandad etc etc,

 

[coalville126]

Isn't MB due to bring out a replacement for the Vaneo this year, based on the Renault Kangoo? If that's too small/utilitarian, they may yet produce a badge-engineered version of the Espace/Grand Espace to satisfy those that must have a three-pointed star.

OMG! Really? Had a really bad experience with a Grand Espace - totally unreliable and unsuitable as a family barge, but I loved the futuristic design.

SWMBO regularly gave me grief for replaceing a reliable 11 year old Previa with an approved used year old car. Problems started when it wouldn't unlock - glitchy card key, then the 2.2 Dci engine, although great when it went, was a nightmare when it didn't. Even our local Renault garage had to admit defeat and sent it to Renault Leicester for them to sort. Not to mention wierd goings on with the door mounted heater control panel.

We soon got rid of it when the "free" extended warranty ran out.

 

[230K]

I'm the proud dad of 3 children so far, always need extra seats for neices, nephews, uncles, aunts, granny, grandad etc etc,

Hi

We have 5 kids ranging from 13 to 4 years old and E Class Estate is ideal for day to day trips and for the long haul to the continent in the summer time its perfect too.

Tried a 7 seater ML one weekend and kids hated it because the doors were too big for them open and close and the small ones had to be lifted in and out....

Just my opinion though

230K

 

[Deleted member 37751]

I'm the proud dad of 3 children so far, always need extra seats for neices, nephews, uncles, aunts, granny, grandad etc etc,

I was in a near identical situation about 9 month ago and bought a 7 seat S211 E320 CDi for 'family members and the friends of our children'.

Waste of time in hindsight, I went back to a W211, all three children fit in the back comfortably and if anyone wants to get where we're going they make there own way there... I'd either go the whole hog and get some sort of 6/7/8 seat crew cab sporty van or stick with a 5 seater.

 

[Remenham]

We have 4 children and use an s211 7 seater and a Citroen C8. For holidays we use the C8 taking out one seat making it a 6 seater with room for the luggage inside down the aisle and in the boot, and no need for a roof box.

Contrary to car mag reports etc C8 has been a great vehicle with no faults over last 3 years, having purchased at 2 years old at circa 40% list with 20k miles. Acceleration is leisurely but who cares when you are driving across Europe with the cruise set at 80 (mph) and it will run at 100 if you want to. Electric sliding doors are fantastic.

For day to day of course wife drives C8.

And not a spec of rust on the C8.

 

[HumberMart]

Buy a matching pair of A160's.

With current discounts, total cost for the pair will be £26K. You will have seating for 10 (or 5 if you don't need any hangers-on that day)

Running costs will be no more than for a new E Class, depreciation far less.

A no-brainer really !!!

 

[mb320cdi]

We were looking at a E220cdi 7 seater for her, but she likes the people carrier like family car (Galaxy,Sharan) wee bit higher up, individual seats, boot space etc, I guess you'll never please a woman! Lol. I'm happy with my E320cdi s210 I'm hoping to upgrade into a s211 at some stage! Thanks for all your help and comments!

 

[Bircham]

VW Sharan/Alhambra?
7 seats, diesel auto option and loads of space for the children.
Jon

 

[BTB 500]

Hello,

I am wanting to upgrade my wifes family car to some type of 7 seater Mercedes, present car is Peugeot 5008,

My problem is as follows;

E class 7 seater, when all seats are employed there is no boot space for buggies, picnic, shopping etc.

R class, the middle row there is really only 2 seats.

G class, much to expensive to purchase and run.

Our idea of a family car is the new VW Sharan, 7 individual seats, very suitable for baby seats, boosters etc, plus still boot space for luggage.

Is anyone else in this situation?

I doubt the Sharan has much boot space with all 7 seats in use. We had the previous version, and that certainly didn't.

As Scotty like to say - "ye cannae change the laws of physics Jim" If you want to seat 7 people and carry luggage (without resorting to a roofbox) you're going to need a big vehicle.

 

[MOCAŠ]

Perhaps one of these would make more sense...

 

[markjay]

On the continent, we have an 8-seat Previa (2+3+3), which is massive... but about the only car which is not a full-blown van and yet has decent rear luggage space even with all the set up.

Here we have a 5-seat Scenic II, which is very practical. If size is an issue, why not consider small 6-seater? e.g. Zafira, Grand Scenic 3? Rear seats are tiny but great for small kids. Luggage space is small with the rear seats up, but I don't think you get much more space on the Sharan/Galaxy.

That, or wait for the new Viano...