what car do you drive to get all of you around?

[alioops]

Even though I dont have 4 kids (soon to have 3) I have a SsangYong Stavic. I do like to pick up friends for meetups, and when we have family up visiting they don't always have access to a car, so I thought a 7 seater would be better for our needs. I have a 3 wheeler pram, which is about 60cm wide and I can lay that down width wise in the boot and still have room for everything else in my boot. I am fussy when it comes to boot space so that was the biggest selling point to me.

Mechanically they are very sound, they are basically a Mercedes with a cheaper price tag, and a mechanic friend who has worked at both Kia and Mercedes said to go for the Stavic because of all the things he has seen in his work.

Mine is Diesel, and I get close to 600km out of a 75 litre tank, so quite efficient, and most of that is stop/start driving.

I did have to have the extra anchorages put in for the 3rd row, but it was not too expensive to have that done (had to be certified for Qld Transport). For 3 anchorages to be installed it was $254.50. That was the only thing that I though was not the greatest with it, that I had to have the extra points installed, but in the scheme of things that was not a huge issue.

[*Ash*]

We have just purchased a 2006 Mitsubishi Grandis (7 seats). We are expecting our 3rd child in a month, so the car will have 2 baby seats and a booster seat. There are 5 anchor points in the car. The third row has 2 independent seats which means you can lower one for more boot space while using the other one. Petrol economy is approx. 10l/100km. It drives like a sedan and is, in fact, 15mm shorter than our previous car (camry wagon).

Has good reviews (see drive.com, and NRMA web site), and we still have 2.5 years left on the factory warranty.

Ally
DD4
DS2
D? only 5 weeks to go!

[Sequoia]

Does anyone have a Prado? What are they like?

[Meluchja]

We drive a Toyota Kluger, has 3 anchor points, 7 seater, fuel economy approx 11lt/100km. Absolute bliss to drive, the Reserve Parking Camera is fantastic.

[Lulu]

Hey Bon - Kia rightly had a terrible rep because of the motor issues, but it's ok as long as you buy anything over 2004+.

[christy]

We're looking into a bigger car... looking at a VW Caravelle (which I'm in love with) and a Honda Odyssey... which DH likes because our neighbour works for Honda & maybe able to get us a cheaper second hand one....

We can't afford too much, but we are tired of never being able to car pool because we are full up.

[bon]

Lulu - I actually don't mind the look of the Kias - they look so roomy inside, but DH will not consider one at all. He has read and heard too many horror stories of the earlier models...but I personally think it is mostly a 'look' thing with him - they look too much like a bus, therefore too daggy for him. He hated the Hyundai we had, he called it the trajedy. Unfortunately he was justified in the end. Sigh.

[Turkish Delight]

We have a Toyota Avensis.

It is a seven seater. It is compact version of a Tarago. Not many of them around, but i recommend the car. Hubby wants to upgrade but i cant sell the car! It has fold down seats at the back, so when the 6thand 7th seat aren't needed they get fold down and it becomes a boot. There is also another underneath boot section when 6th and 7th seats are in use. It is a great car. Highly recommeded. Feels like you are driving a 4WD as it is elevated too.
Good luck in car hunting.

[Oorki Galoorki]

we are just about to buy a kia carnival 2003... for 10k
but maybe this isnt a great deal.... ahhhh

[Mumeee]

We have a VOLKSWAGON CARAVELLE - it comes as an 8 seater but a bench seat can be added in the front making it a 9 seater. The great thing about it is there are anchors for babyseats for every seat so you can put carseats anywhere you want. We love it.

[Inertia]

Well, for the past 6 years, we have been using a 98 Jackaroo SE. Seven seater and we love it dearly. Even if she is a bit banged up thanks to an impatient commuter!

With #6 on the way we went into new car discussions, and we were aghast at the idea of replacing our beloved Jackaroo. If it were not an economical and environmental monster, we'd have considered a Suburban - which is basically a bigger Jackaroo, lol. But its city conditions fuel consumption is atrocious! 21L/100KM.

We ended up buying a Hiace Commuter. It has plenty of seating and if you remove some of the back ones, it gives you room to put the shopping or luggage - something we dont have with the Jackaroo. It also filled my one and only requirement. You can fit it in ONE parking space.

[bon]

Well we have signed contract to buy an 05 Honda Odyssey, luxury model. Low k's in great condition. DH and I were finally able to agree on a car lol. I didn't want a 4WD, he didn't want a bus. So now we are just waiting, waiting for the bank to sort out the finance for us. And thinking about what to do with our existing car...I want to just trade it in, but DH seems to think we should private sell it because he thinks a trade will be a rip off. I just want to get rid of it, and if we can use it to reduce the purchase price of our new car, all the better.

[helle]

if you can afford to wait for it to go, I would sell it privately.
I had a 2002 V8 Statesman that had just done 90,000k's, was in PERFECT condition (we were second owners, the previous owner was a fam friend who is very fussy with her car, and so am I!) and we got a 12,000 trade for it (Paid 21,000 for it, with 60000k's on the clock and had it for just over 2 years) When it was easily worth at least 16,000!

[bon]

Its funny you should say that, as our current car is a 2000 V8 Statesman. Its got fairly high ks though - about 172 000. We know a trade will get us at most probably 8k, but we would ask 12 if we sold it privately. Thing is, I am not convinced it would sell because of the current market - nobody is buying. Although, DH thinks that there is always a market for V8s, so not sure. I would be happy with 7 or 8k on a trade, as it would make the new car that little bit cheaper.

[New Dawn]

well I have a small run around for me and the kids when BHL is away but when he is home so need more room he drives a landcruser which is a fuel guzzler but we love her anyway....

Been a child from the 80's and one of 7 we were forst to drive around in a nissan nerd van never never never again cant bring myself to drive any type of van now...

if the door slides I wont ride

[nic]

bon, I have to agree with Teagz, that if you can sell privately, do it. We were looking at trading our car (we have it on lease) and we were offered 16k, when our payout figure is just over 31k... We are the second owners and brand new it was a 80k vehicle, so it was quite a big shock when we were told what the trade in offer was.. so its staying at our place for a few more years

There is a car website that is suppose to be free to sell on, it's called carbuddy

Nic

[alioops]

if the door slides I wont ride

You'd like mine then - The doors don't slide It has swing doors.

[mbear]

Well we have signed contract to buy an 05 Honda Odyssey, luxury model. Low k's in great condition

....sounds divine. We bought a 04 lux. odyssey in June last year, again, with low kms....it was such a lovely car to drive....the interior and dash are just unreal. Unfortuantely we had to sell due to bub #4 (4 kids in car seats just wouldnt fit), but we sold it privately. Car dealers will offer you nothing for your current car, and reap the cash when they will defn sell it for at lot more than what they have paid you for it.....