Reliable MPV's (7 seat minimum)

[passmethegun]

Hey shitehawks!

 

I'm going to the south of France in July with my family (wife, child, grandparents and me) and need a suitable whip. Gotta be reliable, capable of long distance and not gonna lose me too much money in my projected 2 months of ownership.

 

Considered a Grand Espace, but I've heard the Renault horror stories. Don't know much about the jap import offerings (estima's, legrand's bongo's etc.)

 

Any advice?

 

Got about £2k to spend.

 

 

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[Asimo]

If you need repair help in France, you will find it for an Espace but a broken rare or unknown Japanese jobbie will have your family walking home.

[Hendry]

Wouldn't touch a £2K Espace with a barge pole, what about a Citroen Synergie/Pug 806. or a mk1 Ford Galaxy. Maybe even a Hyundai Trajet or Kia Sedona.

 

I'm guessing stuff like Zafiras will be too small, and it seems Jap import 7 seaters seem to hold money really well, £2K is 1994 model Mazda Bongos etc where it'd get 2000 model "European" MPVs, not to mention IMO JDM people carriers look odd and ugly IMO.

[EssDeeWon]

Toyota Previa for me hands down for space and reliability.

[Honey Badger]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201405094079919/sort/default/usedcars/model/shuttle/make/honda/postcode/nn84sa/page/1?logcode=p

 

Depends when you go away, mot till end of June £395

[DVee8]

That shuttle looks mighty fine,and for the price WCPGW.

[passmethegun]

Not going until July!

 

The Honda looks like a bargain but I really need 3 seats in the middle row. The plan would be to remove the rear seats for baggage room leaving space for 5 in the front half.

 

I'm not overly bothered about petrol or diesel. It'd be worth the difference in fuel costs if reliability was an issue.

 

 

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[Junkman]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1991-OLDSMOBILE-CUSTOM-CRUISER-STATION-WAGON-LONDON-SAME-AS-CAPRICE-CLASSIC-EST-/121343657533

 

And it'll run perfectly fine with E85.

[Honey Badger]

Not going until July!

The Honda looks like a bargain but I really need 3 seats in the middle row. The plan would be to remove the rear seats for baggage room leaving space for 5 in the front half.

I'm not overly bothered about petrol or diesel. It'd be worth the difference in fuel costs if reliability was an issue.

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Some seem to have 3 across the back and some don't, must have been a spec I suppose, few other ones there on autotrader all with the 2.3 mill that came in the rover 600 as well.

 

What about one of these

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201405164241029/sort/default/usedcars/make/honda/postcode/nn84sa/radius/1500/page/1/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/price-to/1000/model/stream?logcode=p

 

I think the stream is just a fat civic, they seem to have 7 seats though

[Micrashed]

 

Ive said it before and I'll keep saying it till someone listens to me, the Eurovan 2  is bloody brilliant.

 

Remember, this thing was designed to cart a family of Frenchies over some pretty naff roads - its durable and if you switch off the Electronic Stability Control it handles too.

 

2.0 HDi in 136bhp flavour sans FAP and change the belts at 40K, It'll be right.

 

Sub £2K will land you anything from 2005 upwards.

[forddeliveryboy]

I would avoid any Vauxhall or VW, on the basis of you want your holiday to start off on the right note as well as arriving without high blood pressure.

 

One of the most comfortable, economical trips - as relaxing as boarding a cruise liner in the 30s and total and utter de-escalation - would be in something like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CITROEN-CX-2-5-DIESEL-ESTATE-FAMILI-/251525758248?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3a901a7d28 - you'd need a roof box, but an engine with no cambelt to shred (gears) and other robust simplicities would make for total piece of mind.

 

Otherwise an Espace, carefully chosen, should be fine. I'd look for a well-serviced 2.2 indirect turbo-diesel. Check the radiator and replace the belt and water pump if there's no recent proof.

 

A Merc 7 seater diesel estate might be worth considering - again you'd need a roof box, but with a good ride and silky engine returning around 40 on such a trip. I'd make sure it had aircon, German machines can get very oppressive in French heat.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-E300-estate-TD-turbodiesel-W210-E-Class-7-seater-leather-long-MoT-/271477788858?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3f355650ba

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-E300-Turbodiesel-Estate-/271494987770?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3f365cbffa

[dollywobbler]

My mate recently got rid of a C8 because it had been nothing but an entire world of pain. His experiences don't seem unusual. Better to go for the earlier Synergie. A proper boxy shape, good old-fashioned engines.

[mouseflakes]

Peugeot 505 Family

[Micrashed]

My mate recently got rid of a C8 because it had been nothing but an entire world of pain.

That they can be if you follow Citroens service schedule.

 

If on the other hand you throw that away and actually look after them, they are not that bad. Timing belt and tensioners at 40K rather than 100K, blank off the EGR, oil changes every 6k, coolant every 3 years and Roberts yer mothers brother.

 

Local taxi firm has one with clocking on for 300K on the odometer now which they use for the airport runs.

 

EDIT - Oh and go for the non FAP if you can find one that hasnt been taxi'd.

[passmethegun]

Wish I had the balls to buy that olds or the CX! Unfortunately I don't

 

 

 

 

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[dollywobbler]

It's the electrics that are the model's undoing. Sometimes they're fine, other times, they're very French/Italian.

[Lukas]

Realiable MPVs are almost impossible to find, especially if made in Europe or the US. Always the worst cars in every german TÃœV-statistics, always the worst in every reliability-survey, MPVs seem to be quite shit. Especially the big ones (Euro-Van, Espace, Voyager, Sharan, Carnival/Sedona etc.).

 

Get a Toyota Previa petrol or maybe a Mitsubishi SpaceWagon. But there is the troublesome 2.4GDI in the last ones... Argh, that´s a hard to answer question.

 

L

[Micrashed]

How about this wildcard then:

 

7 seats, rear bench can be removed to leave big boot.

2.7TD with gear driven cam (as used in London Taxis dontyerknow)

Bosch SVO friendly too

 

Lots of them about for less than 2 bags - watch out for rust (everywhere)

[Honey Badger]

Old rav4 or mk1 crv might be an option as well, or just let the grandparents look after the kids and buy a 2 seater for that continental GT feel.

[Squire_Dawson]

Toyota Previa for me hands down for space and reliability.

 

Absolutely fantastic cars. I rue the day we traded ours in for a Nissan Note. They're gas guzzlers alright, but it never gave any trouble apart from some sort of wheel alignment problem in its twilight months. Great quality, comfortable and loads of space.

[anonymous user]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JAGUAR-STRETCH-WEDDING-LIMOUSINE-LONG-WHEEL-BASE-/171333961575?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item27e44cc767

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[anonymous user]

or if you're quick

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1982-MERCEDES-BENZ-250-LWB-49K-MILES-8-SEATER-12-MONTHS-MOT-STARTS-/261477595234?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3ce1477862

 

and you should have enough left over to sort it out before the trip

 

Bang on budget

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-960-LIMO-NOT-HEARSE-1-OWNER-DIRECT-FROM-CO-OP-FUNERAL-SERVICES-PRIVATE-PLA-/121316655089?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item1c3f093ff1

My choice would be the Volvo. Sorry if these are a bit left field but at least it would make the holiday more memorable, you'd have a proper boot for luggage and a division to block out the "are we there yet?"

[Negative Creep]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1991-OLDSMOBILE-CUSTOM-CRUISER-STATION-WAGON-LONDON-SAME-AS-CAPRICE-CLASSIC-EST-/121343657533

 

And it'll run perfectly fine with E85.

 

 

Left hand drive as well

[EssDeeWon]

Absolutely fantastic cars. I rue the day we traded ours in for a Nissan Note. They're gas guzzlers alright, but it never gave any trouble apart from some sort of wheel alignment problem in its twilight months. Great quality, comfortable and loads of space.

 

We had an old 1990 H plate 2.4 petrol years ago, used it from 120k to 200k and never went wrong, quite comfy too and loads of space, I like em.

[anonymous user]

Alternatively, if you want a holiday of unspeakable grimness, so you never get asked to do it again, why not go for something like this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LDV-Van-Minibus-/261475987650?pt=UK_Commercial_Trucks&hash=item3ce12ef0c2

 

Just take out the extra seats

 

This is a no reserve auction as I believe ebay will achieve the true value

I think it's already got beyond it's true value

[dieselnutjob]

806 HDI

ours has 230,000 miles on it and has been pretty good

the only weak spots really are the DMF and intercoolers that burst.  Neither will stop you from reaching your destination.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Having 4 kids and Fatha Norfolk having a house near Gibralter meant that for many years my summers involved caning an mpv across France and Spain. Fastest- 130tdi Galaxy/Alhambra. Favourite- 2.0hdi mk1 Ulysee . (. 1.9 was ok but slower and thirstier,also no a/c). Worst- Grand Voyager 2.5td, made kids sick and tiring to drive at high speeds.

Espaces are great but unreliable pieces of merde,don't be fooled by Froggy blacksmiths fixing them for a glass of pastis and a baguette either. I had a 1300 euro bill for an alternator once and had to fly back and get the fucker,because it took 2 weeks to get the part!

[gary_davidson]

one of these would be my choice, a proper people carrier should be easier to shift when your done though.

£900

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-E200-CLASSIC-KOMPRESSOR-7-SEAT-ESTATE-MPV-PEOPLE-CARRIER-2-OWNERS-F-S-H-/151292469548?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item2339bbe12c

[forddeliveryboy]

Espaces are great but unreliable pieces of merde,don't be fooled by Froggy blacksmiths fixing them for a glass of pastis and a baguette either. I had a 1300 euro bill for an alternator once and had to fly back and get the fucker,because it took 2 weeks to get the part!

 

That would have bought a lot of big batteries - driving in daylight, you'd have got away with buying just one big battery if you'd disconnected/switched off any unnecessary electrical oddsnsods.

[Cavcraft]