Proper comfy ULEZ MPV

[Macron]

What I'd like is one of those £200k Merc vans they put nice seats in, not least as I marvel someone can take a £40k van, put £10k's worth of seats in, and people are dumb enough to pay 4* that for them. I don't have 200k, I'll go to 20 tops.

Seating at least 6 adults, several old and decrepit, long journeys, so proper seats, must be ULEZ. Most likely diesel or hybrid. They are almost all vans I appreciate, but a van with decent sound deadening and comfort is what's required. So no Renault Traffic/ Vivaro.

Does the Merc GL have proper rear seats?

Are the Japanese randoms any good? Resale does make me wince somewhat.

Honda Odyssey does pop up, rears look reasonable, http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2022102711...

Toyota Velfire does just look like a 1990's previa with stick on chrome tat worthy of any flat roof pub car park. At least this interior does show the rear seats are good. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023051875...

What else is there?

[Krikkit]

Merc R class with the petrol V8? Rare but fits your bill with 6 proper seats, air suspension, slusher and good sound deadening.

e.g.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023062890...

Edited by Krikkit on Wednesday 5th July 08:49

[a311]

I quite like the Honda but not sure I'd be spending ~20k on a 7 year old import with >100k miles. I quite like the idea of these as load hauling family car.

I don't really know the ins and out of ULEZ's living put in the stix.

Nissan Elgrand maybe worth a look? http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023061083...

[Macron]

Krikkit said:

Merc R class with the petrol V8? Rare but fits your bill with 6 proper seats, air suspension, slusher and good sound deadening.

e.g.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023062890...

Edited by Krikkit on Wednesday 5th July 08:49

All true, but that really should be in the 1-5k thread not that money. It doesn't even leave 50p for a paper bag to cover your own head so no-one sees you driving such an utter munter. And yes, I appreciate the field these are in!

a311 said:

I quite like the Honda but not sure I'd be spending ~20k on a 7 year old import with >100k miles. I quite like the idea of these as load hauling family car.

I don't really know the ins and out of ULEZ's living put in the stix.

Nissan Elgrand maybe worth a look? http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023061083...

20 does seem steep, esp for something hybrid where let's face it, there won't be a lot of Honda expertise if that goes wrong. All Elgrands look to me like they should be £3k, the price variation between them seems wholly obscure- some people wanting heaps, others next to nothing, and of course all specs varying hugely.

[edc]

Galaxy, Sharan, Alhambra are the usual regular. On the van based side there are things like the Hyundai i800.

[Krikkit]

Macron said:

Krikkit said:

Merc R class with the petrol V8? Rare but fits your bill with 6 proper seats, air suspension, slusher and good sound deadening.

e.g.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023062890...

All true, but that really should be in the 1-5k thread not that money. It doesn't even leave 50p for a paper bag to cover your own head so no-one sees you driving such an utter munter. And yes, I appreciate the field these are in!

Even a crusty 211 500 is barely in that budget these days, never mind one of these. Not saying £10k is good value, but it's not window-licking money, especially if it's in good nick.

[Macron]

edc said:

Galaxy, Sharan, Alhambra are the usual regular. On the van based side there are things like the Hyundai i800.

I guess the rear seats are all adult friendly in these, and are they better than the Galaxy?

Krikkit said:

Even a crusty 211 500 is barely in that budget these days, never mind one of these. Not saying £10k is good value, but it's not window-licking money, especially if it's in good nick.

A fair point, it is somewhat of a post-Thames-Water-discharge pond in which to fish

[SteveStrange]

I've got a Kia Sedona. 7 seats, all full-sized individual recliners, separate rear AC controls, etc. Very comfy, diesel, auto, 200BHP so grunt enough. Not ULEZ (but then it's 10 years old - newer ones may qualify). Cost me £4k with 60k miles. st badge, but a great MPV, and super anonymous.

[Macron]

Looks like the Sorrento for Ulez, takes until pic 58 to get a rear seat shot and they are pop ups so not really full sizers, good intel though!

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304206...

[Macron]

Does this front seat look like 40k to you!?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304126...

Can I assume almost all Galaxy's will be clocked cabs?

[braddo]

Petrol S-Max?

Minicabs won't have been petrol so if you can a find hen's tooth Galaxy etc in petrol post-2004.....

[georgeyboy12345]

Macron said:

Does this front seat look like 40k to you!?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304126...

Can I assume almost all Galaxy's will be clocked cabs?

never, NEVER buy a car if the dealer is using that background. It's virtually a guarantee the car will be giving you problems.

[georgeyboy12345]

I apologise in advance some of these might not be the best of suggestions

If you want a grey import, then these Toyota Estimas look pretty good with a 2.4 hybrid auto and AWD. Roomy, comfy and refined - no wonder the Japanese love them. Should also be ULEZ compliant, but I'd check

2009 model for half your budget
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305067...

newer 2015 model
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301103...


Also worth checking out is the Honda Elysion - super comfy looking seats, all with armrests and a silky big 3.5 V6, so no panel van refinement here. You might pay for it at the pump though with mpg in the low 20s
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301153...


Other, non-Japanese stuff

This BMW 220d xDrive GranTourer in Luxury spec might be a bit on the small side, especially the rearmost two seats
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306208...


What about an actual ex-taxi? Here's a Mercedes Vito 114 CDI XLWB 9 seater. Absolutely tonnes of room! I wouldn't worry about the near moon mileage, the OM651 engine in this should be able to manage the same mileage again, providing you service it when it needs it.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/van-details/202306228...


If you don't fancy a clattery diesel, there's this smaller Viano 3.5 V6 for well under half your budget
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305026...


Finally, here's a wheelchair adapted Chrysler Grand Voyager 3.8 V6, so access shouldn't be an issue. Running costs might be though
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210190...

[Macron]

There are very few good suggestions with these requirements!

Elysion is a more palatable price than dropping 20 on the later Odyssey, given I suspect it will lose cash like a stone.

Viano taxi is not actually shocking either, nor is the 3.5 petrol, forgot about them!

Some great food for thought, thank you!

[Sir Bagalot]

georgeyboy12345 said:

Also worth checking out is the Honda Elysion - super comfy looking seats, all with armrests and a silky big 3.5 V6, so no panel van refinement here. You might pay for it at the pump though with mpg in the low 20s
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301153...

41K miles?

[Sir Bagalot]

georgeyboy12345 said:

2009 model for half your budget
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305067...

I can't decide if someone has wiped 100K or 200K miles off the clocks on this one

[ZX10R NIN]

Hyundai i800

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306299...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212012...

[Macron]

They're entirely sensible and meet most of the brief, but my gosh they really are dull.

Tempted to blow the budget on something stupid, this springs to mind. Will probably end up either with a GL and "tough, the seats are big enough", or a Poxy i800...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2021091373...

[georgeyboy12345]

Sir Bagalot said:

georgeyboy12345 said:

Also worth checking out is the Honda Elysion - super comfy looking seats, all with armrests and a silky big 3.5 V6, so no panel van refinement here. You might pay for it at the pump though with mpg in the low 20s
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301153...

41K miles?

Yeah, it’s fair to assume all Jap imports will be clocked to the max. Especially stuff like this