BB FANS

Ok - I've a car-fever. I've been looking for so called family space-wagons (up to 1 + 6 people) - their prices are about the same over here, but I can't choose which one. Colour should be blue. I need it for my family, children and for their friends and their hobby-items. So, it's not sexy type of a car at all, but it's practical for many reasons at the moment. Or casual. Please help me to choose which one and let me know about other suggestions that you may have - here's only five alternatives that I give you at the moment!

I drive a Chrysler Grand Voyager Mari, which is pretty much like a womb on wheels, but although it is a bugger to park where I live, as the parking spaces here are so small and although I am always having to reverse down country lanes into peoples driveways to let other vehicles past, I would say it is a very practical car. You don't have to take the back seats out or put them down as the boot is massive. You can comfortable fit 7 people in, though I have had had 10 in without too much of a squeeze (sharing seatbelts ), the side doors slide back electronically which is great if someone has parked too close too you and it drives very smoothly. The problem with a lot of these big seven seater cars is that if you have all seven seats up, you generally have little or no boot space. My cars boot is enormous and if you need to, you can take out all the back seats, to move furniture etc.

Thanks, ellie! Actually a friend of mine, with five children, has that Chrysler, too! And another friend of mine has Volvo (they have five children as well). So I should consider them too. Eventhought that I have only two children.

Sliding doors are usefull over here as well, because our parking spaces are small, too (or cars has become bigger) and changeable seats and having enough boot is one of my requirements as well.

Nice poll Mari A - the Grand Voyager came tops in the large MPV category in the WHAT CAR Car of the Year awards I think.

The Grandis is a relatively stylish effort in this segment and a lot cheaper than most of its main rivals. The others are practical enough but not that exciting, so if you want a car to be relatively look-at-able I'd go for the Mitsubishi.

Have you considered a Renault Scenic? They are tops in the NCAP safety ratings.

I like the sound of the blue one...

Me too, CT!

Thanks, Cameron - I think that I'd better go to have a test-drive with that Chrysler (that ellie recommended as well) - but it costs 5000 to 30'000 € more than other models and marks over here. I bet it's cheaper over there! (Other marks, Renault as well, costs 25'000 to 35'000 €'s over here with taxes)

Actually Mari, Cameron has made a good point. I don't think the Chrysler comes very high in the NCAP safety ratings. The REnault Scenic is a lovely car to drive too, and has lots of things I like like cup holders and sill stuff like that. . I used to drive a Vauxhall Zafira and that was pretty good too, though if you had all seven seats up you had no boot space at all. IT was really easy to put the seats up and down and they disappeared completely into the floor. It was an easy drive and certainly the smallest seven seater car that I ever drove, making it easy to park.

Thanks, ellie! I think that safety with cars starts between the wheel and seat - the person who's between them. And I need a car that works fine at winter, too. Mazda has sliding doors, but there's no boot left with 7 seats. And I like Toyota's as well... (By the way my father has had two Vauxhalls by the 70's )