Car with 5 proper seats - Around the 4k mark

[Mechanicalman]

Afternoon,

I am after a car for a family member. They have 3 youngish children, so the car must have at least 5 proper seats.

The 2 that are on my shortlist are....

Toyota Verso (around 2009, 100k)
Ford C-Max (around 2011, 100k)

I was also considering a Mazda 5, but there are not many around.

Is there anything else I am missing? With the age of car I was not keen on going french, and I am not keen on Vauxhalls!

Thanks,

James

[mat205125]

Which are those funky hondas with a multipla style 3+3 seating?

[GreatGranny]

mat205125 said:

Which are those funky hondas with a multipla style 3+3 seating?

FR-V

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112300...

Or the Fiat Multipla

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202012...

OP, how old are the kids? Do they all need seats?
Verso isn't exactly wide so room in the back may be tight.

S Max is a great car, just wondering at that budget you may be looking at a few issues and not great condition.

The FR-V IMO is a great shout if you don't need 7 seats but need 3 decent seats in the back.
It's also a Honda so will be pretty reliable.

Edited by GreatGranny on Wednesday 2nd February 13:58

[Shabaza]

Mercedes R Class, otherwise a Touran/mazda5 etc as above

[dundarach]

For £4k I'd be buying a scenic

Cheap and crap so no one will pinch it.

Cheap and crap so you'll not have to worry about it.

Cheap and crap so no one wants one.

Which means that:

They're as cheap a (and crap) as chips!!

We've owned 2, lasted years and years and years, cost very little, totally forgettable, however for £4k just what you need!

2010, 50-80k miles, petrol or diesel, sat nav and half leather, £4k easily!!

[Mechanicalman]

Thanks for the replies.

Kids are 5 (twins) and 9. Honda is a good shout, forgot about those.

The Scenic, Renault's are not famed for being reliable, how is the Scenic?

One other question, would you go Petrol or Diesel? Diesels around 100k strike me a risky with the cost of DPF's and injectors.

[Skyrocket21]

My choice at 4k would be a Toyota Verso, I would be very wary about the d4d engine issues, so maybe a reliable petrol version. There's also a VW Touran and maybe a Seat Altea XL, not sure if they have 3 propers seats. The older Honda FR-V has 3 seats in the front and back! The Verso is quite a bargain, there are different versions, the older one is called a Corolla Verso, then it was changed to just Verso and it has a sharper face lift etc. They are probably less roomy than a Touran or C-MAX Ford, Japanese cars tend to be more compact, might be worth measuring the seats and legroom etc.

Verso:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353852128840?hash=item5...

Pre-facelift Corolla Verso:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384307790285?hash=item5...

[georgeyboy12345]

Don't get a diesel, it'll be troublesome.

The Honda HR-V that greatgranny suggested is a good one, I picked that exact one out of sale too until I saw they had posted it.

Why the hate for Vauxhall? An Insignia 1.8 SRi would be ideal. This one has a long, blemish-free MOT
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111229...


This Mazda 6 2.0 TS2 doesn't have long left on it's MOT, get the dealer to put a new one on
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201091...


Nissan Note 1.6 Tekna
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202022...


Ford C-Max 1.6 Zetec
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109117...


Mercedes B160 Sport
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201171...

[ZX10R NIN]

Mechanicalman said:

Afternoon,

I am after a car for a family member. They have 3 youngish children, so the car must have at least 5 proper seats.

The 2 that are on my shortlist are....

Toyota Verso (around 2009, 100k)
Ford C-Max (around 2011, 100k)

I was also considering a Mazda 5, but there are not many around.

Is there anything else I am missing? With the age of car I was not keen on going french, and I am not keen on Vauxhalls!

Thanks,

James

I'd say your family should look at rep mobiles they're spacious roomy & reliable:

Insignia SRI

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201181...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201311...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201251...

1.4T

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111079...

Mazda6 TS:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201151...

[Mechanicalman]

Unfortunately it needs 5 proper seats. The younger 2 are still in boosters, which makes the middle seat unusable in most cars.

[talksthetorque]

Have a look at the C4 Picasso as well.

[ZX10R NIN]

The Mazda5 doesn't have a proper middle seat so that may not work for them.

[chrisch77]

Citroen Berlingo Multispace or Peugeot Partner Tepee

[SlowV6]

Another vote for the Honda FR-V here. Either with 2.0i or the later 1.8i petrol engine. As said this is a 6 seater arranged in 2 rows of 3 seats with the front middle one flipping up and down.

Our C-Max (2.0TDCi Ghia) was great for 15yrs so I would also recommend those too. You should be able to pick up a late mark 1 in top Titanium spec with the 2.0i petrol engine for the budget. They drive really well.

Both the above are going to be at least 10yrs old so you may not need to spend your whole budget. I would avoid any temptation for the diesels at this age/budget, despite the fact that the low-end lugging power suits family MPVs perfectly.

[ZX10R NIN]

Not a looker but the Fiat Multipla fit the brief:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202012...

[Mechanicalman]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

Will get on Autotrader.

[Jonny_]

Depends if they're willing to live with a full size MPV, but a Galaxy or S-Max does have three proper seats in the middle row.

Pic is of my Galaxy, S-Max is very similar but lower roofline:


Outer two have Isofix for the child seats, and they can all be adjusted back and forth independently to give a bit more shoulder room and easier access for the middle occupant. We've found that 2 kids in bulky child seats plus one adult will fit in the middle row of the Galaxy quite comfortably, leaving a giant load area with the rearmost seats folded flat.

Downsides: very few petrols around, budget would mean 10+ years old and close to six figure mileage, and autos at that age are best avoided.

Petrol S-Max: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111269...

One with the old Focus ST's delightful but thirsty 2.5 litre 5 cylinder engine: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201061...

Diesel Galaxy: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112160...

[Tyre Smoke]

Mechanicalman said:

The Scenic, Renault's are not famed for being reliable, how is the Scenic?

Can you actually back that up with hard evidence? Because it's rubbish.

I have a 1.5dci Megane 64 plate about to click over 200k. I have had many diesel Renaults. I even had a 1.8 petrol Laguna that did over 200k.

As with any car, neglect the maintenance and they'll not like it. Renault are a bit plasticky inside, but they just do what they say they will. They're not uncomfortable to sit in for long periods either.