Smallest 6+ seater.

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Mon 25 May 2009 10:49
Smallest 6+ seater. - Happy Blue!
OK I know this is going to shock you, but SWMBO has decided that she loves her A-class but we need a car with a minimum of six seats. We are a family of five and like to go on trips with children's friends etc. So will be looking at the Honda FR-V, but is there anything else I should look at. Needless to say I may be replacing the Outback [sigh] so would like something automatic, good to drive, and quick.
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Mon 25 May 2009 11:49
Smallest 6+ seater. - Alby Back
Have a try of an S-Max. Get one with all the toys and the 2.5 petrol engine for fun or the 2.0 diesel for a good blend of economy and performance. Surprisingly good to drive.

Edited by Humph Backbridge on 25/05/2009 at 11:49

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Mon 25 May 2009 18:57
Smallest 6+ seater. - Happy Blue!
Humph - that wouldn't happen to be the Volvo T5 2.5 by any chance would it? That I could happily trade in the Subaru for - it makes a lovely sound
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Mon 25 May 2009 19:20
Smallest 6+ seater. - Alby Back
I believe it is the same one or very similar. Dadmobile with attitude......

I had a T5 850 estate a while back. Quite a good thing as I remember. Quickish.

;-)

Edited by Humph Backbridge on 25/05/2009 at 19:21

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Mon 25 May 2009 22:08
Smallest 6+ seater. - Brian Tryzers
You'd hardly call the S-Max small, though.

I confess I don't get the FR-V; it may be fine if most of the six, including the driver, are small and slim - but even then the driver has to put up with pressing one shoulder against the door pillar. For a driver of even average dimensions, having an extra body in the middle seat would verge on intolerable. The seats are awful too. I understand the chief designer is Japanese, and I think you'd need to adjust to the Asian idea of personal space to like it.

If the sixth seat is only for occasional use, I think a better choice would be a small three-row MPV, which means Touran, Verso or (slightly bigger) Grand Picasso. Automatic may be a problem - the C4 Picasso offers an awful, slow-witted robot manual thing, while the Verso's best offer is something called MMT, which comes only with the 1.8 petrol engine and seems not to be widely liked. Not sure what you can have in a Touran.

But if you can consider an S-Max, you could also consider a Mitsubishi Grandis, which is bigger than the compact MPVs but is very commodious and (to my eye) genuinely stylish - far less bus-like than the S-Max, especially from behind. You can have a full automatic with a 2.4 petrol engine, which may not be T5 fast but is nicer than the awful (and manual-only) VW diesel option. It's also an uncommon sight, which might please a Subaru enthusiast.
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Tue 26 May 2009 17:45
Smallest 6+ seater. - Pizza man
I believe it is the same one or very similar. Dadmobile with attitude......
I had a T5 850 estate a while back. Quite a good thing as I
remember. Quickish.
;-)


and you can have 7 seats in an 850 :)

Fiat multipla is fairly small and 6 seats. i'd rather have a volvo.

Edited by Pizza man on 26/05/2009 at 17:46

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Tue 26 May 2009 00:47
Smallest 6+ seater. - Avant
So Espadrille is now choosing your car as well as hers.....Oh dear.

Bowing to the inevitable as you must, I suspect you may need 7 seats so that you can take 2 friends if needed. Also the big problem with the FR-V (and the Fiat Multipla, which also has chronic ugliness against it) is that with six up there will be one bambino crying out 'Are we nearly there?' directly into your left ear.

I'd also go with the S-Max unless it's too big for you use everyday (and I'm not sure which engines can be had with automatic). Or try a VW Touran with DSG - would have to be a diesel to get DSG, and it looks a bit like a minibus.

Renault Grand Scenic? Plenty of power from the bigger engines but I found it too wallowy to be fun. I've never tried a Zafira so can't comment directly - but I've never seen one referred to as 'fun' in a road test.

Picasso and Verso - both have horrible semi-automatics. Mazda 5 and Nissan Qashqai + 2 - not sure what's available as an automatic.

Final thought - does your budget run to a Volvo XC90?

Edited by Avant on 26/05/2009 at 00:48

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Tue 26 May 2009 01:58
Smallest 6+ seater. - Lygonos
www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?md=991

If you can't get 15 grand off list, you aren't even trying.
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Tue 26 May 2009 04:20
Smallest 6+ seater. - Dave_TD
Taking the thread title literally:

www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?md=1045

Dave TD.
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Tue 26 May 2009 09:48
Smallest 6+ seater. - turbo11
Mazda 5 will take 2 adults and 4 little ones. We are very happy with ours. Sliding rear doors are great. We got our new 09 reg sport for £15K.
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Tue 26 May 2009 09:58
Smallest 6+ seater. - Happy Blue!
I didn't realise the Tribeca was so cheap. I am very tempted..... Will keep you posted.

Regretfully Espadrille threatens divorce everytime I think about changing cars, so this way - with her initiating the discussion - she can't grumble
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