Member Since: 28 May 2005
Location: Ibstone Bucks
Posts: 999
croyde wrote:
If anyone knows a car no longer than the Landrover or any other SUV/MPV that has luggage space with all 7 seats up, please let me know
Yes the Nissan Pathfinder, but the third row is foe kids only!
Also just could not bring my self to buy one!D5 HSE Waitona Grey 2015
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19th Sep 2005 10:31 am
10forcash
Member Since: 09 Jun 2005
Location: Ubique
Posts: 16534
Think you'll struggle for luggage space with any 7 seater, roof bars & a roof box?
19th Sep 2005 10:33 am
Pelyma
Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Patching, Sussex
Posts: 15496
Nickhearne wrote:
[Yes the Nissan Pathfinder, but the third row is foe kids only!
Also just could not bring my self to buy one!
Described by a journalist as, " Yes, the Pathfinder is significant. It's a perfect example of how not to make a family four wheel drive vehicle." DS3 TDV6 HSE - Silver with Alpaca (old one) Gone
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19th Sep 2005 11:21 am
Nickhearne
Member Since: 28 May 2005
Location: Ibstone Bucks
Posts: 999
Pelyma wrote:
Nickhearne wrote:
[Yes the Nissan Pathfinder, but the third row is foe kids only!
Also just could not bring my self to buy one!
Described by a journalist as, " Yes, the Pathfinder is significant. It's a perfect example of how not to make a family four wheel drive vehicle."
A bit harsh, for that it is & value for money, it ant that bad!
If I had bought this car with my sensible head on then it would have been the pathfinder!
Seats 7
can tow my boat up & down slips no probs
comfortable on the road (if a bit noisy)
all the toys of a HSE for £30,000
Nissan reliability
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19th Sep 2005 11:34 am
BN
Member Since: 18 Mar 2005
Location: Here
Posts: 6463
On the basis that the LWB Defender is configured as a 9 seater (and thereby avoids Ken's congestion charge), I'd volunteer that as the closest 'car' to give 7 seats and luggage space without resorting to trailer/roof rack. Otherwise it's van conversions aplenty.Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana
Member Since: 18 Mar 2005
Location: Here
Posts: 6463
DrLex wrote:
On the basis that the LWB Defender is configured as a 9 seater (and thereby avoids Ken's congestion charge), I'd volunteer that as the closest 'car' to give 7 seats and luggage space without resorting to trailer/roof rack. Otherwise it's van conversions aplenty.
DrLex, noooo the 110 Defender has less space than the D3 in reality. The side seats at the rear leave no space when all seats are filled and it is very friendly for all in a Defender without luggage, let alone with.
Defender only carries 5 to give good rear space. 7 leaves less than the D3 and it is not a comfy ride, got them, done it, suffered for it.
Fair enough - it's not like the driving experience of the 110 around town is fun. I did once drive a 205 Pug with seven people and 6 rucksacks and that was friendly (and stoopid, illegal and a long time ago etc).
For the school run, most 7 seaters appear satisfactory. For the airport run, I guess it's a van-cross or a roofrack/trailer addition.Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana
If anyone knows a car no longer than the Landrover or any other SUV/MPV that has luggage space with all 7 seats up, please let me know
Seriously though, there is a certain London cab co that runs a fleet of Fiat Ullysses that have 8 seats and a little luggage space behind the 3rd row, but would you want to drive one
I looked at lots of options for 7 seats plus luggage.
All internal configurations are compromises.
For 4x4s, the only vehicle with greater capacity was the 8-seat LandCruiser- but without the fold flat seats.
MPVs can offer similar capacity to the D3- Grand Espace, Kia Sedona or Grand Voyager. They are bigger longer cars, and have the advantage of sliding rear doors. However the Espace seats don't fold flat; the (Grand) Voyager's are in the wrong configuration (2 in middle; 3 in rear) (same problem for the Kia Sedona).
The D3 is bigger inside than my old Galaxy or (nonGrand) Espace; bigger by far than the Ulysse/C8/807 with the added advantage of full size adult comfy seats and fold flat. I can fit a double buggy behind the 2 rear seats, in the same way as I could behind the Galaxy rears.
I know I keep banging on about the fold flat seats but they are marvellous, flexible and save marital dischord if you don't have a garage to store removable ones in.
The only 2 truly bigger cars are the VW Transporter or Merc Viano. Both longer / much longer, depending on whether you go for swb, med or lwb. Both can fit 7, 8 or 9 seats with large boot, but inflexible seats (there I go again!). You can still buy new 'old' type-2 VW transporter vans (the 1970's versions) which can be configured as 7 seater whilst having a smaller footprint than a Touran. Lovely but very slow and dreadful crash-wise.
As you may have gathered if you've stayed with me until here, I have spent quite some time looking at the different options! For me there was no real choice- stretch to the base 7 seat D3.Discovery 3 tdv6 7 seat Buckingham Blue
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19th Sep 2005 2:36 pm
Mellowman
Member Since: 18 Sep 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 5
kevinlally wrote:
croyde wrote:
If anyone knows a car no longer than the Landrover or any other SUV/MPV that has luggage space with all 7 seats up, please let me know
Seriously though, there is a certain London cab co that runs a fleet of Fiat Ullysses that have 8 seats and a little luggage space behind the 3rd row, but would you want to drive one
I looked at lots of options for 7 seats plus luggage.
All internal configurations are compromises.
SNIP...
As you may have gathered if you've stayed with me until here, I have spent quite some time looking at the different options! For me there was no real choice- stretch to the base 7 seat D3.
Thanks for the comments - keep 'em coming! I'm surprised no-one's said anything about Ford's other killer family-sized 4x4, the Volvo XC90...
Had a quick look at that this afternoon and it knocks the Discovery into a cocked hat for space utilisation (in my wife's opinion!). Yes, the third row seats are smaller than the D3's, but they are adjustable for position and my children are still at the rather small stage
However, it does not drive as well, but the seats are more comfortable to me, and it it'll be pretty so-so in demanding conditions. Plastics and finish are far better, but it lacks the Tonka feel of the Disco.
I will still need to test both cars over at least 500 miles - does anyone know a LR dealer who'll oblige - I'll happily pay a reasonable fee for this, otherwise Guy Salmon car hire may be the answer.
I'll let you know how I get on!
Dave
19th Sep 2005 5:18 pm
Dom Harvey Lord of the Four Fingers
Member Since: 15 Apr 2005
Location: Dorset
Posts: 7458
Bottom line is are you going to offroad, if so get the D3 there is nothing better, otherwise its horses for courses - or depends who wears the trousers 2004 Discovery 3 - gone
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19th Sep 2005 5:24 pm
BN
Member Since: 18 Mar 2005
Location: Here
Posts: 6463
Dom Harvey wrote:
Bottom line is are you going to offroad, if so get the D3 there is nothing better, otherwise its horses for courses - or depends who wears the trousers
Spot on Dom (go and enjoy your birthday ) the D3 is a tool for everything especially people carrying across country. The Volvo (same company now) does not even come up to the D3's wheel arches in capabilities.
You really have to want a Land Rover to own and drive it. It is a special kind of person who buys them for what they really are. Often people buy them for the completely wrong reason.
The majority of guys and gals on this site I bet didn't think twice before buying or had one before anyway.
I test drove quite a few 4x4's, the Volvo XC90 has a good write up from people at work, so i tried it.
I found it uncomfortable, my parents who are old could not get in the seats at the back, they are old and frail remember. The satnav is no where near as good and the diesel is truly dreadful for just pulling.
To be honest my remit was 4 people and 2 children in comfort and that was what the D3 gives me, 1500 miles into ownership.
The XC90 i did 400 miles over a weekend and could not wait to give it back.
19th Sep 2005 6:52 pm
graemem
Member Since: 31 Jul 2005
Location: Borders
Posts: 86
BN wrote:
You really have to want a Land Rover to own and drive it. It is a special kind of person who buys them for what they really are. Often people buy them for the completely wrong reason.
The majority of guys and gals on this site I bet didn't think twice before buying or had one before anyway.
Here Here there was no other vehicle for me, no decision to make, just needed to buy it and have absolutely made the right choice.
and the diesel is truly dreadful for just pulling.
not only that, but the gearing/engine/weight combo makes it the XC90 a nightmare to accelerate from rest - coming out from a side road onto a busy main road is tough when going left and almost heart-stopping when going right. The latest version (now in the dealers) is slightly better, but watch out for it on a test drive.Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana
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warts and all
) the D3 is a tool for everything especially people carrying across country. The Volvo (same company now) does not even come up to the D3's wheel arches in capabilities.
