Help replacing the family bus (this weekend!)

[Rustybits]

Morning all,

I've had so many problems with the family bus over the last couple of months that I've just had enough of it now and want to move on.

Currently it's a 2012 Qashqai, and to be fair it's been brilliant for the last 5 years or so that we've had it, but it's too small for our family of 5 now and it's quite leggy with bits starting to fall apart.

Not many requirements, but ideally it needs to have 3 separate seats in the back to stop the kids feeling squashed, two are still in car seats and one in a booster. So I am thinking a S-Max, Galaxy or Grand C4 picasso or similar? It needs to be ULEZ complaint as well is possible.

I've got a hard budget of £8k.

I'll have my kids in tow this weekend so I don't really want to travel half way up the country for something that might not be suitable, there must be something localish to me?

Would any of the following be potentially worth a look?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025012784...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025021491...

Edited by Rustybits on Friday 28th February 08:07

Edited by Rustybits on Friday 28th February 18:01

[samoht]

The first car, the Galaxy, has Ford's "Powershift" dual-clutch automatic gearbox. Unfortunately these have developed a reputation for failing and being somewhat expensive to fix. At 105k miles with no service history stated, it would seem a bit of a risk on the gearbox front.


Does it need to be diesel? Petrols tend to be a little less problematic, and also ULEZ is a bit less of a constraint. But no good if you need to do mega miles on a budget.

[Rustybits]

Thanks that's good to know about the Galaxy's gearbox, thank you.

Diesel is not a requirement, in fact, a petrol would be preferable. There just seems to be less petrols around at our budget.

Edited by Rustybits on Friday 28th February 09:30

[edc]

Touran, Sharan, Alhambra are the others with 3 rear seats. Pretty much everything in this segment at this age and price is a diesel.

[DaveyBoyWonder]

Jap import Touran petrol - quite a few around with low miles etc.

[Matt_T]

How about a Toyota Verso...
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/18070210

[Vsix and Vtec]

Honda Stepwagon or stream would be my second choice after a Galaxy, they're easier to get with a petrol engine, and quite comfortable.

[Rustybits]

Thanks for the suggestions, I don't think the Toyota will be quite big enough in the back, and most Touran/Sharan and Alhambra's are not ULEZ compliant.

Although I like the stepwagon idea the seat layout isn't ideal and it might be a tad big for a daily.

I found a Grand Picasso in Swindon, but not sure about the oil leak listed on the MOT history, and the wheels look a bit scrappy.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024091440...

[samoht]

I think those Grand Picassos have an AdBlue system to pass Euro 6, which has been known to cause some issues. I don't know how high the overall risk is though.

[Matt_T]

How about a van-based family car? The value for money is good and the are delightfully utilitarian.
You need to check which engines are wet belt or dry belt.
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/16510372

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Matt_T said:

How about a van-based family car? The value for money is good and the are delightfully utilitarian.
You need to check which engines are wet belt or dry belt.
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/16510372

Off topic.

But, I've always wondered...car derived vans have car speed limits, do van derived cars have van speed limits?

[ZX10R NIN]

Rustybits said:

Thanks that's good to know about the Galaxy's gearbox, thank you.

Diesel is not a requirement, in fact, a petrol would be preferable. There just seems to be less petrols around at our budget.

Edited by Rustybits on Friday 28th February 09:30

Rhe main problem is that it's a dual clutch & these gearboxes have issues so most VAG & some Renaults have these boxes so they're best avoided.

The Grand Picasso is a good pick.

Look locally for a Santa Fe:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502018...

Grand Scenic:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405079...

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Friday 28th February 20:53

[edc]

I have a 67 1.6 diesel auto Grand Picasso. Bought blind with non documented history from a dealer 250+ miles away. Let's face it these and same class cars are not things to get excited by but this strikes the right balance of value, comfort and practicality. DPF is a potential issue on any car that has it, not unique here. Same for adblue. Is it the best handling mpv? Probably not but does it really matter. You are told to slow down way before you get anywhere near the handling limits. 7 up with roof box on I can still comfortably exceed the speed limits.

The things that make a difference as a young family like integral rear blinds, good glass area and visibility, hardy interior, wide opening doors, flat load rear, low lip boot, 3 middle rear individually adjustable seats are all there.

[weeve]

Not necessarily this one … just used as an example, but my local taxi driver has one and it’s been bomb proof for years with regular oil changes/servicing

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025011781...

[edc]

weeve said:

Not necessarily this one … just used as an example, but my local taxi driver has one and it’s been bomb proof for years with regular oil changes/servicing

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025011781...

You're not going to comfortably get 3 car seats across the rear seats in cars like this which are more realistically 2.5 seats or 2 decent sized seat and 1 temporary middle seat.

This is why there is a relatively small niche of cars that have 3 equal sized individually rear seats.

[weeve]

As you were. Nothing to see here.

[Matt_T]

I had a good friend who had 3 kids all in car seats (twins then third born 12 months later).
He found that the only cars that would fit the 3 seats were the Touareg, Discovery and Land Cruiser, however 7/8 seat cars worked well with the third car seat in the back row.

[Rob 131 Sport]

I’d be looking at something like a Vauxhall Insignia or Volkswagen Passat. They drive nicely are quiet, refined and roomy.

[Matt_T]

Can you really fit 2 car seats and a booster in the back of a Passat or Insignia? I doubt it.
The main issue being even if they fit, the middle kid will never be able to find the seatbelt buckle under the neighbouring car seat.

[ExigeNRG]

We ran a Grand Picasso to ~120k miles from new. A clutch and suspension bushes were the only non-routine service items required. Three adults in the mid row is easy and with the rear seats down the boot was cavernous.