Contradiction - Seven seater driver's car

Contradiction - Seven seater driver's car

Author
Discussion

drpep999

Original Poster:

7 posts

123 months

Wednesday 20th March
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Hi Everyone,
I've never posted on here before, but I'm a long time petrol head, I drive an E39 530i sport manual touring and have been thinking about my future family situation.

It is highly likely that if we have another sprog that I will need to get something with 7 seats. Now I realise that something with a high C of G and soft suspension isn't going to be the last word in driver feedback, but I would imagine that some 7 seven seaters out there are more involving to drive than others.

Usual things I would like to avoid are lifeless steering, over assisted brakes, must have a manual gearbox ULEZ compliant. I'm asking for a lot, and may even be impossible, I know compromises will have to be made.

So, does anyone here who considers themselves a driving enthusiast own or previously own a 7 seater that didn't disappoint and deflate them every time they got in it? There's not a lot out there if you search for 'driver's car 7 seater' as it's such a contradiction in terms.

Ideas welcome.

Glenn63

3,098 posts

91 months

Wednesday 20th March
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Surely there’s only one, the mighty Zafira VXR.

ThunderSpook

3,713 posts

218 months

Wednesday 20th March
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Presumably it’s going to be things like an X5M or SQ7.

Simon_GH

396 posts

87 months

Wednesday 20th March
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The Ford SMax is rated as an MPV for keen drivers.

LimaDelta

6,948 posts

225 months

Wednesday 20th March
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Define 'driver's car'?

Do you mean purely dynamic performance, or could it be defined as a unique and interesting driving experience? In which case, there are some interesting 7-seat classics, big Volvos, large SUVs/4x4s, VW-type buses. Many classics are ULEZ exempt so tick that box too.

The obvious answer is MPV daily + weekend car though, if driving fun means that much to you.

tomsugden

2,287 posts

235 months

Wednesday 20th March
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There was a V8 Volvo XC90 but not sure if it came with a manual box.

the-norseman

13,336 posts

178 months

Wednesday 20th March
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tomsugden said:
There was a V8 Volvo XC90 but not sure if it came with a manual box.
Manual MK1 XC90 are very rare, I dont think they did the V8 in manual.

I have the 215PS D5 version with Polestar tuning, it handles OK for a big bus.

tog

4,622 posts

235 months

Wednesday 20th March
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https://www.multimac.com/

A friend of mine had one of these in his Impreza so he could carry all three daughters and a friend. Worked well. The kids are bigger now, so he just doesn't take their friends as well.

We have two kids and only four or five seater cars. This means we don't have to do the runs to football, clubs etc where there are multiple families sharing lifts and one parent is expected to take five or six kids.

Jamescrs

4,855 posts

72 months

Wednesday 20th March
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Would be an Smax for me, preferably with the Ford/ Volvo 2.5T engine

ThunderSpook

3,713 posts

218 months

Wednesday 20th March
quotequote all
tog said:
https://www.multimac.com/

A friend of mine had one of these in his Impreza so he could carry all three daughters and a friend. Worked well. The kids are bigger now, so he just doesn't take their friends as well.

We have two kids and only four or five seater cars. This means we don't have to do the runs to football, clubs etc where there are multiple families sharing lifts and one parent is expected to take five or six kids.
How is that legal? I thought cars were approved to only take a certain number of passengers?

jimmytheone

1,544 posts

225 months

Wednesday 20th March
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Jamescrs said:
Would be an Smax for me, preferably with the Ford/ Volvo 2.5T engine
Seconded, a good steer for a bus, and decent space.

We had the biTdi 2 litre with 240bhp (?) and although it shifted it i wouldnt want a diesel now - although it had a slushbox not a DSG so thats some complexity taken out at least!

Lester H

3,046 posts

112 months

Wednesday 20th March
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Brother in law has an S Max. Diesel, manual 2.0 ( or is it 2.2?). It seems very good for that type of vehiche, handles in a fairly car-like manner and copes with tight bends on lanes. The small jump seats are cramped and effectively in the boot and imho the car is no beauty. The Galaxy is more roomy but far more van like/ clumsy.

Graeme_Bangor

10 posts

8 months

Wednesday 20th March
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Ford SMax would probably be a reasonably solid choice. The Mondeo underpinnings are well proven as good to drive and a manual 2.0T or 2.5T wold be lively enough. If you can get the Titanium X Sport they even look good

Lester H

3,046 posts

112 months

Wednesday 20th March
quotequote all
Glenn63 said:
Surely there’s only one, the mighty Zafira VXR.
As dealers love to say ‘ when did you last see one?’.

Bobupndown

2,146 posts

50 months

Wednesday 20th March
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The Galaxy is a surprisingly nice car to drive. Do they even still make them?
The old Galaxy, Sharan, Alhambra trio were very popular in their day.

blue_haddock

3,850 posts

74 months

Wednesday 20th March
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Simon_GH said:
The Ford SMax is rated as an MPV for keen drivers.
Especially with the 2.5T engine out of the focus ST

trevalvole

1,270 posts

40 months

Wednesday 20th March
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Jamescrs said:
Would be an Smax for me, preferably with the Ford/ Volvo 2.5T engine
Presumably a Galaxy too if the OP wants a bit more space?

drpep999

Original Poster:

7 posts

123 months

Wednesday 20th March
quotequote all
LimaDelta said:
Define 'driver's car'?

Do you mean purely dynamic performance, or could it be defined as a unique and interesting driving experience? In which case, there are some interesting 7-seat classics, big Volvos, large SUVs/4x4s, VW-type buses. Many classics are ULEZ exempt so tick that box too.

The obvious answer is MPV daily + weekend car though, if driving fun means that much to you.
A very good question. I was initially thinking about it just in dynamic terms, but now you mention it, as long as its interesting I suppose it passes. Lots of chuck ups for the S-max.

Thanks all for the suggestions.

ingenieur

4,216 posts

188 months

Wednesday 20th March
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It's an ugly car but the Mercedes is available as R500 and I think there might be an AMG model?

fflump

1,758 posts

45 months

Wednesday 20th March
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ingenieur said:
It's an ugly car but the Mercedes is available as R500 and I think there might be an AMG model?
Yeah the R500 would be a suitably left field choice and definitely a Q car.
I imagine 10-15 year old V8 7-seaters like a drink though.

There was an R63 which is frankly bonkers. Did it make it to the RHD market?