Hi, I am looking for suggestions for 7 seater estates, as I am looking to replace the escort in the next few months anyway and am finding that 2 or three times a month I could really use the extra seats, as we end up taking two cars, which gets expensive in fuel, or at other times making 2 trips.
Ideally I'd like something like a Renault 21 estate, where all the seats are forward facing, as I would prefer the separate boot, rather than having the rearmost passengers share legroom with luggage.
As these Renault 21's are quite rare now, has anyone got any other suggestions?
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Mitsubishi Space Wagon - a few around, check Ebay, should be in your price range.
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Peugoet 505 - although they are mostly all in Nigeria now.
I actually saw a remarkably clean one last week.
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I woudn't recommend an Espace. Old ones can become unrivalled at emptying your bank account.
A 21 would be a better bet - simpler to maintain and quite competent.
Possibly a 406, although not many came with seven seats and you may have trouble finding one for your budget.
It's a shame you won't consider rear facing seats because that would open up more possibilities including the Volvo 240, 700 and 900 models and if you were really desperate a Montego, although most of those have rusted to oblivion and beyond by now. For extra storage space you could consider a roof box and a lot of these older cars have sensible roof gutters so you can fix a roof rack without the expense of roof bars.
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I woudn't recommend an Espace. Old ones can become unrivalled at emptying your bank account. A 21 would be a better bet - simpler to maintain and quite competent.
I agree that old Espaces do not have the best of reputations, but don't they share most of their oily bits with 21s?
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Yes they do but accessibility is difficult on the Espace. The V6 is a particular nightmare. 21 engine bay layout far easier.
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Late M Perkins diesel engine Montego best bet, not all are rusted
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Or Citroen CX they have a big boot as I can remember. Built them upto a G Reg I think
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If you can run to another £500 and buy with care I would go for a Volvo or a Mercedes. Both these cars are virtually everlasting if maintained regularly.
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I'd second the Spacewagon, we're currently 'running one into the ground'. Parts can be a bit pricey, but it does seem to keep on going and going despite very little love and attention.
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volvo 740 did a 7 seat conversion kit for boot area.
laguna mk1 had a 7st version as well
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Avoid the CX as to get a good one you need to spend atleast 2 grand - I bought one for £700 and while it was superficially good in many ways, the problems that it did have were all big bucks to fix.
The Pug 505 is a superb old thing, far tougher than modern Peugeots - just avoid the bigger engined ones as they are more complex with more toys and more to go wrong as a result ( at this age thats more than likely ).
A basic 2.0 estate, which is what the majority that I see round here are, is a good buy. If you can find a non-turbo diesel, they are also tough, if rather slow.
Despite what some might say, these cars are still around in numbers high enough to give you some choice, just cast your net wide and look in small ads aswell as online.
Renault 21 isnt as bad as a CX, but tend to come with lots of niggles and its not a patch on the 505.
If you dont care what the thing drives like, seek out a Toyota Space Cruiser - just check carefully for rust as many are VERY tatty now. Mechanically, take loads of abuse.
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If you intend kids to use the rear two seats you need to be aware that the new child seat legislation makes many 7 seaters no use. The seats in many are not child seats and the car makers recommend against putting child seats on them. check before buying.
last year I was told that eg the merc e-class 7 seat conversion is *not* approved as a child seat. (told by the guy at the ministry responsible btw, not just a bloke in pub - merc volvo audi were useless when I asked them)
You need there to be a specific reference label on the seats if children are going to use them. E44.03 or E44.04 I think
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Toyota Camry estate?
But the rear seats do face back, and share the luggage space. However, there is a footwell for them.
The V6 engines can have problems with the HG, but are otherwise tough. The 2.2 4 cylinder is also a tough engine.
These go very cheaply on ebay now (particularly the 2.2) but do look bland.
hth
Ian
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Other than avoiding having to climb over the luggage to get out, one of the reasons I would prefer the back row of seats to be forward facing is that in the cars I've seen with this setup the last row of seats appear to be proper seats. Some of the rear facing seats on the other hand... well I could probable do better myself in half an hour with plywood and a bit of fabric.
Does anyone know if the back row in the R21, the peugeots, or the mitsubish are proper seats that can be used with booster seats and by adults?
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Your £1K limits it rather drasically to the real banger market with few safety features.
Even Volvos will be very old and they do wear out, my lad had one I mended too often.
There is a limit on what you get for your money.
It'll have to be a (very old now) R21.
If only you could afford a super VW Caravelle - a real people carrier , and their luggage!
And for ever!
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Does anyone know if the back row in the R21 the peugeots or the mitsubish are proper seats that can be used with booster seats and by adults?
As a teenager I spent many a day in the third row of a 504 Familiale estate, no problems, and I'm sure the 505 is the same. I believe the 21 and the Mitsu are the same.
Of course this was in the day when seat boosters were not an issue, but my point is there was a fair amount of headroom, so I am pretty sure they could be used with boosters and (not too tall) adults.
The problem with rear facing seats is that in use the passengers feet virtually fill what is left of the boot.
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Is it too late to question the requirement for seven seats at all? The OP says that the extra seats would be required 2-3 times a month - or else take two cars 'which gets expensive in fuel'. But not as expensive as changing cars for this reason alone, I'd have thought - assuming the second car is readily available. And as others have said, looking for a specialized vehicle on a very small budget opens up all sorts of potential problems of reliability, safety and so on - even if you can find one, who knows what a seven-seat banger will cost to keep on the road?
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Is it too late to question the requirement for seven seats at all? The OP says that the extra seats would be required 2-3 times a month - or else take two cars 'which gets expensive in fuel'. But not as expensive as changing cars
Yep - the OP is changing cars anyway, so he's just looking for something that suits rather than changing for this reason alone (mentioned it up front in the OP).
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...the OP is changing cars anyway...
So he is. Even so might it not be better to settle for a solid, reliable five-seater - shouldn't be hard to find a sound Mondeo estate for £1000 - and accept the need to improvise occasionally, than to risk something tatty and suspect just because it has seven seats?
Autotrader's car finder gizmo seems to be broken today, so I've not been able to check my theories on prices, but my impression is that even very early Galaxies sell for £1500 or more, while I simply can't remember when I last saw any of the French 7-seat estates. (And didn't having the third row take away the option of folding the second in the CX and 504?)
This isn't meant to sound negative - just that I have a theory that most of us buy more car than we really need, just to have capabilities that we use only occasionally, and cost ourselves a lot of money in the process.
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"Does anyone know if the back row in the R21, the peugeots, or the mitsubish are proper seats that can be used with booster seats and by adults?"
In the Spacewagon, (they fold flat btw) yes they are ok for kids and booster seats but are only suitable for shortish Adult journeys.
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Did any of the Toyota Picnics have 7 seats? The prices for the older models seem to be in the 1 - 2 000 pund range.
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KIA carens
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The R21 has proper adult seats on the back row - although you will struggle to get two 14 stone 6 foot men in the back. Whether they take booster seats, I do not know.
I'd get a R21. I had one with a 1.7ish engine. A few minor niggles - particularly with the electrics - but a Volvo engine. Mind the rust, though. Mine eventually failed an MOT on account of a long list of minor niggles, and I gave it away. Avoid electric windows if you possibly can (even the manual ones were prone to disintegration).
Otherwise, for rear facing seats, a MB W123 or W124 or an Audi 100. Both available at well under £1000.
Have you thought about a Transit? seriously.
What about this, on Autotrader?
1992 Renault 21 Manual, 64,500 miles, 7 SEATER (forward facing seats) FAMILY ESTATE CAR. 8 Months MOT. 5 Months TAX(worth £75 included). 1721cc Economical Petrol Engine. New Cam Belt & Shaft and Cylinder Head. Ideal to carry 7 people and/or Lots of Large Loads or Luggage. Power Steering. Electric Windows. Very Good Condition. Sorry unable to do Photos. Prefer no emails please. Please phone home on 85278550(Walthamstow) or office on 73321948. Low Milage. £475
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LDV Pilot?
Cheaper than a Transit and you'll never be short of space.
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But surely pretty awful on the motorway?
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"but a Volvo engine"
Renault engine. The Volvos used the Renault engine.
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A totally different alternative would be an old limo. A friend ran one for a number of years and it was utterly reliable having been regularly serviced during its working life. It towed his caravan with absolutely no problem. The only occasional negative was its length when parking. But if you use the fringes of the supermarket car park and don't mind the occasional walk it?s not a real problem.
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well I've had most if not all of the cars mentioned in this thread and, if you can find one, my vote would be for the Pug 505, I've had 3, my favourite being the 2.5 turbo diesel family estate - takes 7 adults (one of mine actually had a central lap belt in the third row making it an 8 seater) and a bigger boot than a Galaxy (personal experience). The Renault 21 is almost as good but has a smaller interior - ok for small children getting to the back row but not adults. The Mitsibushi has far less versatile seating - the two rows don't fold flat and a small boot. The Galaxy is only good if you like visiting mechanics - often.... Had a K- reg Caravelle - 5 cylinder diesel, drank more oil than diesel even after being rebuilt by VW speciallists 3 times and rusted like there was no tomorrow. Currently on my 3rd Previa (genuine UK not a smaller Emina/Estima) , cost less than £1k, very comfy and still does 25-35 MPG
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