Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

This there such a mystical beast?

All the seven seaters are either boxes (like the Touran we already have), or if I wanted AWD there are only "SUV" type vehicles with the associated stigma of owning an "off-roader".

Hence the question, can you get people carriers with AWD?

Thanks

Jonto

Defender 110 !

joey_turbo

iTrader: (26)

What about the Toyota Estima/Previa/and al the other names they go by. I'm sure one of them has AWD. I think they are all imports though.

Dunk

iTrader: (1)

Vulva XC70 ?
Mitsubishi Outlander? (VW diesel engine)

D

Scooby Soon!

he did not ask for a 5 seater tractor!

Rescue Dude

iTrader: (11)

How about this?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2173639.htm

No problems with the snow in this!!

Devildog

VW do a van with I think 7 seats and AWD.

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

Problem is that my wife's friend has a Range Rover and has told my wife about all the grief she gets for having an "offroader", so something like the Outlander or Defender are out!

I'll check out the others.

Thanks

Andy M3

Caravelle 2.0 TDI 4 motion

http://www.whatcar.com/car-reviews/v...pictures/58993

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

There's a part of me that really wants one... maybe my repressed desire to be a van man!

Coffin Dodger

One day I'd like a little camper van based on the Mazda Bongo, the original vehicle is sold as an 8 seat MPV and can be purchased with AWD as well as having a fairly good 2.5L turbo diesel engine....

Only problem is they are import only from Japan and I think they stopped making them in 2001.

Matteeboy

VW Caravelles are brilliant but pricey.

A 110 is an obvious choice but your passengers will arrive deaf with no teeth still left in.

Which is why I love ours! And you get to stand on the bonnet and shout orders/insults down at poor people...

(ours actually has 5 seats as we wanted a huge boot - easy to fit two more):

hodgy0_2

Landcruiser LC100 seats 7 -- eats every 4x4 for beakfast & farts LR's


(Chuck Norris has one)

andy97

iTrader: (1)

Audi Q7
Andy

Matteeboy

Ahem...

http://wn.com/Landcruiser_vs_Defender

hodgy0_2

ahah vry good Mattee - I thought that might prompt a reply

although the next clip does show a Cruiser towing a LR out of the rough stuff

Love the LR btw - sheer british class

see you at Polzeath for a surf new years day!!!

Matteeboy

Hodgy - should be (might be further down)

Xmas to NY looking VERY good for waves - woo hoo!

richs2891

I really dont get what the problem is with 4x4's is, brilliant in snowy weather (when have right tyres on), nice and high up driving position, always give the feelijg that going to get to the destination regardless.
I reckon sales of 4x4's are going to go back up again after the slump of 2 1/2 years ago.
5 door shogun would fit the orig criteria in my eyes.

Richard

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

They did the Sharan with 4wd I think.

Jay m A

iTrader: (2)

Andy I had the very same dilema, plus it has to tow over 2 tons.

Bought an R reg Toyota Landcruiser 3 litre TD for £3300.

All the leather , toys, tow bar roof rails for the bikes, the lot. Got it cheap because it had minimal service history fo the past 4 years and the timing belt needed doing. Drove it straight to an independent specialist that changed every fluid and belt as well as the radiator (the only weak link on these things) and it has been awesome in the past 3 month we have had it.

Snow? what snow get out of my way

These things are bombproof, a bit agricultural compared to modern soft roaders but tell you what its the best money I have spent on a car. This thing does everything, gets me 22 mpg on the school run and 28-30 on the motorway fully loaded, I haven't towed the Impreza with it yet.

Luckily my wife and I DGAS about people who jdge others by the car we drive. TBH if we did them their estimation would have risen considering the school run used to be done in a stickered up MY95 TOTB chav charriot

Andy M3

The problem with the Defender, unless it is brand new, is the 3rd row seats are not forward facing. If you want 7 seats because you carry 7 people, I would have reservations about using the far rear seating.

Discovery's are more obvious in the Landrover stable, but access to the 3rd row and boot space is a big issue in all the 4x4's. The Q7 is not great as a 7 seat IMO, new X5 is even worse really tight for carrying 7. My favorite of those I have looked at [family of 7], was the XC90, easy operation into the 3rd row, 2nd row has built in boosters which helps as removing boosters every time you put someone in the back is a pain.

Caravelle FTW IMO

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

How about a b*****dised people carrier? What do you get if you cross a Mitsubushi shogun with a Mitsubushi Delicia?

An L400 Delicia Space gear: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mi...amonix_001.jpg



There is also the Delicia D5 which is AWD but a little less off-roadable: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carrevi...delica_d5.html

Andy M3

I quite like the look of that one, the seats aren't that clever though.

http://www.automobilesreview.com/img...lica-d5-06.jpg

Compare it to the XC90. Independent seating, easy 3rd row access.

http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/cro...-7_1600x0w.jpg

Disco 3/4 7 seat - I like

http://www.privateguide.co.il/data/9...20interior.jpg

X5 7 seat geared more for 4 people with an option to carry 7 briefly

http://www.bmw.ca/ca/en/newvehicles/..._roominess.jpg

The cosy Q7

http://www.audi.co.uk/content/dam/au...C2_F301_HF.png

The fairly basic transit tourneo is fantastic for rear seat passengers, lots of elbow room, easy access with wide sliding doors

http://www.hsminicoaches.co.uk/user/cimage/TOURNEO2.JPG

Mercedes Viano 7 seat [available in 6, 7 & 8 seat] is tighter than the tourneo but flexible with the seating, sliding doors make access easy

http://images.compucars.co.uk/104793...el_2584669.jpg

Similar to the merc, the caravelle is flexible and sliding doors are very convenient.

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/imagecac...elle%20(2).jpg

Matteeboy

The problem with the Defender, unless it is brand new, is the 3rd row seats are not forward facing. If you want 7 seats because you carry 7 people, I would have reservations about using the far rear seating.

A major reason for getting the current shape (2007 onwards) is the "proper" rear seats with headrests. We opted for no far rear seats but they are also "proper" now. Definitely wouldn't be happy trying to stick a baby seat (or kids) on the bench seats that the pre 2007 ones had.

Landy just came in very handy for getting down our snow covered 1 in 3 driveway!

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Sorry, but a Land Rover Defender as a family car ?

Great as they are, in most departments they are really quite awful compared to any of the alternatives, if you have to have one then far enough but used to drive one occasionally and quite enjoyed it but would imagine it would get tiresome very quickly.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

I shudder at the thought of driving a 5 speed Defender when cold; Double clutching the R380/LT77 geabox to make it co-operate whilst wearing icy wellies and numb feet was somewhat of a chore in stop-go traffic.

Not driven a 6 speed Defender. I guess they are massively improved from the older 5 speeders which essentially used a 'box based on a sixty year old design.

Matteeboy

We have a family (and a dog). We have a Defender. It's brilliant.
For long distances we use the BM. Defenders are no good as an ONLY car but coupled with something good and mile munching, they are brilliant.

Reffro

Mercedes R-Class, deffo a 6 seater, can't remember if it had a 7 seat option. But its definitely 4wd also.

SimonD

Despite my original reservations, the wife's Tribeca is growing on me. It has been surprisingly good in the snow and I've been using it to ferry several kids around when friends get stuck.
The rear seats are only useable if you shift the middle row forward but there's enough space for kids. I wouldn't put adults in the back row for anything other than short runs though. The engine is lovely (but heavy on the juice) and because people don't know what it is and it is lower than most, you don't get tarred with the same "mum's Chelsea Tractor" brush that afflicts other SUVs...........if that matters to you.
They're cheap too because of the fuel consumption and non-premium badge.
Not for everyone but ours has been great family car with lots of toys and not a single fault in four years/40,000 miles.