I am looking for a people carrier,(7 seats) due to the new babies in the family I really do need a bigger car, any advice.  I had a Volkswagon Touran as a hire car (7 seater) and I hated it, had a permantly sore back for the 2wks I drove it, so something that has comfortable seating for the driver.

Renault la Grande Espace! :D
7 seater, smooth ride, captain seats at the front that swirl round to face the passengers when parked. You can remove ALL the seats if not needed.  Each passenger seat can be reclined indivdually to suit the person seating in it and I just think they are a fantastic MPV!!

Have to agree - loved my Espace!!!  with panoramic sunroof!  Just loved it!!

We went for the Mercedes V Class - second hand it was cheaper than the Chrysler Voyagers and Renault Espace - we love it...

Maxine

The new model Citroen Piicasso - 7 seater version is great and they have solved the visibility problems of the earlier models :)

My step mum and also one of my friends used to have Vauxhall Zafiras.

I drove my friends but not far but travelled as passengers in both and they were always very comfortable.

Got a hyundai Trajet and its great.  We have had a zafira, galaxy and Izuzu Trooper in the past and nothing compares to the Trajet.  Really economical too.  Have travelled in the very back as well as the middle and they are really comfy and loads of leg room compared with the galaxy.

Maxine - do you have the dualiner?

It depends on how much you want to spend! I agree the renault grand espace is fabulous, I've owned an espace in the past and loved it - the grand gives you a bit of dog/luggage space behind the last row of seats. But it is expensive, even second hand.

I've had a galaxy - and like the touran didn't like it.

The Fiat Ulysse/Citroen Synergie/Peugeot 806 are great people carriers at the bargain basement end of the scale. You can get a pretty good second hand one for a couple of grand :D

Edited to add - I looked at a Zafira but don't like it's style at all, apart from being smaller allround you can't completely fold down the middle row of seats so isn't nearly as versatile.

I'd go for the Galaxy, just love mine. The Seat Alhambara and VW Sharan are  the same just different prices and badges.
Karen :-)

I'm looking at people carriers myself for my next car. I think I will probably go for the Citroen Synergie as it is the only car I can travel in the back and not feel sick in :D I quite often have my grandson with me and he suffers from car sickness too so I know that he should be ok in it ;)

Ford Galaxy every time!!  Reliable, comfy (even on long journeys).

Sorry, but I always felt sick in the back of the Galaxy :( It's something I have to take into account. Mind you, a friend swears by hers :)

I only have the 2 front seats in mine (rest full of dog cages!! ), so have never had that problem!

My OH has a VW Sharan and loves it

I feel sick in the back of any car!
I can only look out as well, if I try reading or anything similar it's just as bad, I use the travel bands to wear on my wrists they work really well. Funnily enoughit's okay if I do the driving.
Karen :-)

I am the same, :rolleyes:my son gets a bit like that in the back of our Mondeo, he was okay in the Shogun.  OH is looking to get a new car, couple of years old not brand new.  Looking at Volvo and that sort of thing.
Yvonne 

Oh, the Volvo was the worst for feeling sick I even felt sick driving that one ;) I'd always wanted one, too :(

We like our Galaxy, it can have 7 seats, or you can take out the back 2 and make a big 5 seater with room for 2 crates, or you can take out any of the middle 3 seats for an even bigger boot. I've sat in the very back without feeling sick, and I do suffer somewhat from car sickness. :-)

I am really looking for something that the seats fold away, preferably into the floor space, to give extra space, as I am not strong enough to remove seats, not too keen on the Zafira it doesn't look that big or comfortable, one thing about the Touran, it had super space and back seats folded away neatly with plenty of boot space, been checking on "Parkers" and other Car sites.  Did not know Mercedes did a People carrier, do the seats fold away into the floor.?

The renault grand scenic has two fold down seats in the boot but i think they can just be used for kids, but it does give you 7 seats.  We have an espace and I love it I must admit.

espace and similar are ok if you are able to drive a HUGE car (and park it) most women cant! i have a spacewagon which has 7 seats but not even as long as an estate so easy to park and not 10 feet off the floor! all seats come out etc as usual with people movers.

The Ford S Max was car of the year last year and gets a very good right up.  We went to see it when I was looking for a car (about a fortnight ago) and it was very nice and roomy inside, but I don't really need a car with seven seats.

I love the S Max don't need one at all like you Earl but couldn't resist having a look either.  Hubby wants an Audi estate now anyone got Audi's??

I've just got rid of my Audi TT and I loved it.  It was a really lovely car.  All pukka inside, lovely to look at and drove like a dream, but not practical with a baby on the way.

Its actually easier to drive the espace than a lot of cars because you are higher up it gives a better view of the road. I had no problems, can park it even in the multi storey, only problem is when car park planners plan for miniscule cars and make spaces too narrow :-( . With power steering most cars are easy to drive once you get used to it.  Now if you want easy parking - my daughters Ka is the one to go for, can't fit much in but a fantastic wee car and can park on a sixpence :D.

most women cant are you a man masquerading as Sara? :D :D :D

Zafira is a suberb car to drive and comfortable. I did 90,000 miles in mine in just over 2 years. So my bum knows :-)

Hvae done 1000 mile round trips without stopping had never had one bit of trouble.   It is actually one of the most econimical MPV in fuel also. 55 MPG out of the diesel no problem. If Fuel is important to you. It was with me doing that kind of high mileage.    I have the mondeo top spec estate which is a dream to drive but I actually miss my Zafira.   The Zafira seats fold away as well as the back seat if required.  I have had 3 adults and . 6 dogs including boxes in mine at one time.

Think you will struggle to find any sites knocking the Zafira for space and comfort.  Like for like it is very competative in price. 

My hubby has one for work Blue, it has ladders in, paint in, all his tools it is so roomy better than any van he ever had plus we unload it and use it for a dog car!  or mainly to ferry all his fishng tackle about.  I agree that his Zafira his reliable and he does lots of miles everyday and it is diesel and very ecconomical.

I just got a brand new Renault Scenic, and can get my two greyhounds in the boot section behind the dog guard I had fitted by them no problems. Mines only the 5 seater as I don't have any small people yet but I'm really pleased with it and have decided that my next car will be the Grand Scenic, by which time I hope to have small people!!! Saying that I hope to have just 2 kids and so the 5 seater scenic would fit everyone in perfectly. The storage you get in the scenic is amazing - a really well thought out car for families with four legged members!