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Post by Grampa on Feb 23, 2022 12:47:27 GMT
I'm finding that more and more often I and other family members could do with a 6/7 seater car. Once I looked at hiring one, I found it's now incredibly simple to hire out your own car these days, so it got me thinking, "why don't I do it the other way round" - buy one and rent it out occasionally - yes I know it would lead it open to a bit of abuse, but I already have two cherished and carefully maintained cars so one with a few signs of use wouldn't worry me.
Number one choice would be a Citreon CX Familie - but that's just a pipe dream! - coming back down to reality, it would have to be something at least a little interesting so Zafira, Mazda and Galaxy are non-starters. The imported Toyota Estima and Nissan Elgrand seem to command much higher prices than a 10-14 year old S-Max and after seeing all the troubles a neighbour used to have with his S-Max, I'm thinking a Nissan or Toyota would be a lot more reliable?
Also, I guess the higher prices (typically more than 3x an S-Max) are due to being generally more desirable - they certainly seem to be in a lot better condition by the time they have a few years/miles on them. And that extra bit of 'specialness' might make it easier to hire out too (that's not an essential to the affordability of it, just a bonus if it worked).
Thoughts? Any other options I haven't thought about? (driving dynamics is not really a consideration - the Scirocco and Mini are going nowhere)
(And yes, I know it's a lot cheaper/easier just to take two cars!)
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Post by Tim on Feb 23, 2022 14:22:10 GMT
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Post by Big Blue on Feb 23, 2022 14:22:39 GMT
You’ll open up a can of worms with this! Ed will say you’re mad to consider an airport taxi; Chris will lament the passing of some ancient Honda; I’ll remind everyone that these things stopped being developed years ago so will all feel stodgy; someone will recommend a 7-seat SUV; the latest VW bus will be mentioned and you’ve already highlighted the take two cars option.
VW Touran is the one you missed, along with all the other VW group options of the same car with 7 seats. Oh, and a rear-facing back seats E Class Estate of some ancient vintage.
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Feb 23, 2022 15:37:15 GMT
The Elgrand and Alphard are much sought after by the Asian Brotherhood. Dacia Jogger would be my choice. Run it for a couple of years and you’ll get a good chunk of your money back.
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Post by PetrolEd on Feb 23, 2022 15:56:42 GMT
Get a v-Class and you can hire yourself out to do airport runs too.
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Post by Roadrunner on Feb 23, 2022 17:41:38 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2022 19:58:17 GMT
That looks like a decent price too and a heck of a lot of car for the money, mind you, fuel will be scary Mary.
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Post by Grampa on Feb 23, 2022 20:18:38 GMT
Thanks - there’s two cars I hadn’t heard of. Shame the Jogger hasn’t been around a bit longer - I like the look of that but rather more than I want to spend.
That Alphard demonstrates what I’m seeing with the Estima and the Elgrand - older ones seem to be in so much better condition than an older S-Max, and it’s about the level I was thinking - I bet it could be kept for three or four years and not lose more than £2-£3000.
The Touran falls into the same category as the Galaxy or Zafira for me.
E Class Merc is a good shout if only the third row wasn’t rear facing.
V Class is an interesting thought which hadn’t occurred to me - nice one on Autotrader for £5000.
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Post by Andy C on Feb 23, 2022 21:04:13 GMT
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Post by Andy C on Feb 23, 2022 21:05:51 GMT
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Post by LandieMark on Feb 23, 2022 21:09:05 GMT
I think the Alphard wins hands down IMO.
Mitsubishi still produce the Delica as an alternative. 8 seats.
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Post by Grampa on Feb 23, 2022 21:50:33 GMT
I like that Honda Freed too - the Mercedes is gorgeous but rear facing is a deal breaker.
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Post by ChrisM on Feb 23, 2022 22:31:16 GMT
I don't know how the Alphard drives but they are very popular in Malaysia and Singapore. We had one as our taxi from Changi to "central" Singapore in May 2019 after sorting my late father's stuff out with younger daughter and it was spacious and comfortable, plus took luggage for 3 of us without any hassle.
Shame you don't fancy a Galaxy as my 2001 version was certainly something that was a joy to hustle along country roads, although it could have done with more power; the V6 version (same engine as the Sharan VR6) would have been a lot more fun
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Post by rodge on Feb 23, 2022 22:43:45 GMT
I had an earlier S Max (2008) and it was very reliable.
You’ve also got the Mercedes R Class as an option or staying with German, an E70 X5 with the optional 3rd row although I found mine to be expensive and not anything close to as reliable as I expected.
Seat Alhambra is another option as it’s basically a cheaper Touran or whatever it’s called.
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Post by Big Blue on Feb 23, 2022 23:45:10 GMT
Having looked at that Alphard advert I’d recommend you just go and buy it or one like it.
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Post by Andy C on Feb 24, 2022 7:24:20 GMT
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Post by bryan on Feb 24, 2022 7:55:56 GMT
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Post by Tim on Feb 24, 2022 9:06:08 GMT
Aren't they a complete money pit? The reason Alphards are in such good nick is that they're all Jap imports. If you were to get one find out how long its been in the country and make sure its been properly undersealed. If you got one for £5-6k then I doubt you'd lose much. At the moment they're a very popular base for a camper conversion in the same vein as the VW Transporter, albeit smaller. |
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Post by cbeaks1 on Feb 24, 2022 9:43:21 GMT
A friend with 3 boys and a cycling habit swapped his S-Max (which they loved ) for a Kuga PHev but also wanted a 7 seater / van for cycling/camping.
After looking at the prices for double cab in van Transits and Transporters etc I suggested he look at Nissan Elgrands, Mazda Bongo, Ford Freda, Toyota Alphard etc.
Ended up with a £7k ish Elgrand from the place in Middlesbrough that do all the odd import stuff. Seats swivel and fold into a bed etc. He and the kids love it. I think it is a 2.5 petrol auto so is thirsty and a bit agri but suits what they need. They underseal them on Request.
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Post by chipbutty on Feb 24, 2022 10:08:51 GMT
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Post by Tim on Feb 24, 2022 10:36:54 GMT
A friend with 3 boys and a cycling habit swapped his S-Max (which they loved ) for a Kuga PHev but also wanted a 7 seater / van for cycling/camping. After looking at the prices for double cab in van Transits and Transporters etc I suggested he look at Nissan Elgrands, Mazda Bongo, Ford Freda, Toyota Alphard etc. Ended up with a £7k ish Elgrand from the place in Middlesbrough that do all the odd import stuff. Seats swivel and fold into a bed etc. He and the kids love it. I think it is a 2.5 petrol auto so is thirsty and a bit agri but suits what they need. They underseal them on Request. You can get the Elgrand with the 3.5 V6 from the 350Z (albeit detuned), not sure if they went to 3.7 after the 370Z was released. We considered one instead of the Alphard but the Elgrand is just that bit too ugly, not that the Alphard is a thing of beauty. |
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Post by cbeaks1 on Feb 24, 2022 12:22:42 GMT
Japanese Domestic Mingers. I quite fancied one when we got the dog, but the ugly van-ness was a step too far for t’other half.
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Post by Ben on Feb 24, 2022 12:49:17 GMT
Those are just the business. Supremely comfortable and plenty of space. A Honda Freed is actually pretty small. It can seat seven because Honda are pretty good at interior packaging but I doubt the third row will be comfortable for extended periods. |
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Post by chipbutty on Feb 24, 2022 13:17:59 GMT
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Post by rodge on Feb 24, 2022 20:39:43 GMT
Kia Carens or a Grand C-Max are other options.
Do Renault still sell a 7 seater?
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Post by ChrisM on Feb 24, 2022 22:31:19 GMT
Do Renault still sell a 7 seater? Yes but not in the UK :-( Espace canned when the current model was introduced, Scenic and Grand Scenic also culled from the UK a couple of years ago |
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Post by humphreythepug on Mar 13, 2022 20:36:41 GMT
Dacia Jogger?
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Post by Grampa on Apr 7, 2022 14:35:06 GMT
Deed is done - prices are all over the place - an 05 can be anything between £6,000 and £10,000. In the end it came down a metallic black (purple in certain lights) 57 plate 2.5 with black leather interior for £6,000 but not so well equipped and not quite in such good condition as the one I got... 54 plate 3.5 (which apparently is more slightly economical than the 2.5) with loads of FG including electric doors and a drop down DVD player - need the extra litre of engine to carry the FG! Amazing condition for an 18 year old car - even the underside is super clean - all but the driver's seat look like they're less than two years old - third row looks brand new. 55,000 miles and the build quality is top notch - the sides are laser straight - you don't see that on a VW. The drive is lovely in an armchair kind of way - the only thing that can beat the noise of a V6 through an auto box is a V8 - only downside (as with all the V6's Ive had) is it sounds so nice when you give it a little too much throttle. 
Excuse the bird poo! (the wing hasn't been resprayed like it appears to have been in the photo - or it's been done so well you can't see the difference in real life)  Grandkids love it which was one of the main objectives |
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Post by Big Blue on Apr 7, 2022 16:49:50 GMT
MEGA!
Well played - great extended family transport.
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Post by Ben on Apr 8, 2022 9:47:44 GMT
Nice!
These things are bloody comfortable. Looks like you got a good 'un.
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