[Gnomon]

I have been researching cars for our arrival next month and at the moment we have Subaru Outback and Subaru WRX Wagon (just sold) We have 3 kids 6, 3, and 1. Three child seats in the back are just unwanted hassle in a normal car and I would like to have 3 ISOFIX seats. We would also like to facilitate 7 people( Us and my wife's parents) for day trips. Citroen C4 Picasso reviews well but there only new to NZ market and the Toyota Previa is out outdated and ugly, Mitsubishi Grandis is only available as import which I just don't trust their history, I like the Landrover Discovery 3 and great reviews but my wife does not like the idea of driving SUV type vehicle.

Any ideas?

[Silverwing86]

Have you considered a Honda Stream ?

Hubby has one; a 7-seater, oodles of space, reliable and a very comfortable drive (even for me and I generally don't like driving bigger cars, but somehow this one doesn't feel that way, quite amazing actually :nice1 !), cheaper for parts than a European car and plenty of them around (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/SearchResults.aspx?searchType=0001-&searchString=honda+stream&type=Search) (that's just a quick look on TradeMe, but of course there are loads of other places to look as well).

Cheers,
Silver

[sizzlingbadger]

You could also have a look at the Mitsubishi Delicas as well. We've got an older one and it's just great :D We looked at the new model of it and it's pretty impressive but way too new inside for us, it would end up ruined in a week :exit Not sure about the ISOFIX seats though. We've got three kids all still in car seats (9,7,5 years old) and we can move them about easily when we need to plus take a couple of extra people with us.

[James 1077]

I would like to have 3 ISOFIX seats.

Very few cars in NZ have ISOFIX as there is a different system involving straps and tethers on the car seats here.

We just bought Maxi-Cosi Tobis for our kids as they are really easy to fix (we had to get them shipped over from the Netherlands though as you can't get them here and postage from the UK was rediculous). The car seat selection here is a bit poor as well - all browns, greys and blacks and generally velour covered!

[kzn2nz]

Renault Grand Scenics are available and should suit your requirements, as long as you are nearish to a dealer for the servicing.

[NikT]

You need to do the Kiwi thing.;)

Buy a Toyota Hi-ace minibus/van and drive the whanau around in that.:nice1 :laugh

Nick.:cheers

[grady bunch]

We bought a Mitsubishi Grandis when we got here, 1 yr old, only 8k km on the clock, top of the range loads of gismos and lovely to drive for $25k, just sold it and swapped for Honda Odyssey, pretty good too, but got older high mileage one and a Toyota Hiace campervan, also 7 seats. We realised life here more laid back and need to be Kiwi travellers. We are now born again students and have great fun touring at the weekends with our 4 small kids!

There's a few for you!
The Gradys

[janrzm]

Don't know about the isofix seats but we have a an Estima [jap equivalent to the Previa] and have 4 kids to transport around.
It might be 'ugly' but it does the job.
And we had what you might call 'nice' new cars in the UK.
Can't fault the Estima it's 7 years old & it's fab - it does the job nicely.
We've also had a Honda Stream and I really liked that - especially if you don't need the 7 seats all the time.
The one we had was also a Jap Import , 6 years old & immaculate.

[Familyofmonkeys]

We've had a Mitsubishi Grandis for the last 2 and a bit years.....very happy with it :) It fits all 3 car seats across the middle, with two extra seats in the rear when we have visitors staying......and there is still room for a pushchair etc in the boot! Other selling point for us was that it is more efficient on fuel than a lot of the other 7 seaters on the market.

[Gnomon]

When I wrote my last post the shippers were packing all around me and off went the desk top computer, and since we have gone on a grand tour of Ireland before we go to Chch and the mobile Internet reception is quite bad here in the west of Ireland ( Connemara ) hence my delayed reply. Thank you for all your feedback and lots of research, Honda Stream, Mitsubishi Delicas, Renault Grand Scenics. My wife is fixed on a Grandis but she has never sat in one and I'm fix on the Land rover so it should make for an interesting shopping experience when we arrive.

Dave

[Familyofmonkeys]

When I wrote my last post the shippers were packing all around me and off went the desk top computer, and since we have gone on a grand tour of Ireland before we go to Chch and the mobile Internet reception is quite bad here in the west of Ireland ( Connemara ) hence my delayed reply. Thank you for all your feedback and lots of research, Honda Stream, Mitsubishi Delicas, Renault Grand Scenics. My wife is fixed on a Grandis but she has never sat in one and I'm fix on the Land rover so it should make for an interesting shopping experience when we arrive.

Dave

I know a couple of people here with Renaults.....and they have both complained that they are really expensive to get serviced here in terms of both parts and labour costs as some engine/car parts not easy to get to for fixing so it takes longer. Not sure how true this is, but have heard a number of similar complaints about other european cars.......maybe othere here may know more about this :confused:

[Gnomon]

I'm sure it does make perfect sense to buy an Asian car, but the lack of MPV choice make it more difficult to pick. When we were last in NZ we drove a 20 year old Toyota and it was went like clock work. I understand European cars are expensive and to keep, but they ave quite different driving styles that I quite like where your Asian cars are a bit more bland to drive I think there is going to have to be some compromises somewhere!

Dave

[92Immigrant]

In my opinion.....It's best to buy Toyota. Forget bland, buy quality .

European cars just aren't as reliable. Many of my workmates have regretted buying European.

Dave.

[Gnomon]

I would agree that the reliability of Toyota and Honda is outstanding. Far superior to European manufacturers. Toyota have a larger range of MPVs here in Ireland than in NZ. MPVs do not seem to be in as much demand in NZ, even trademe don't have a MPV category.

Dave

[IanW99]

I would agree that the reliability of Toyota and Honda is outstanding. Far superior to European manufacturers. Toyota have a larger range of MPVs here in Ireland than in NZ. MPVs do not seem to be in as much demand in NZ, even trademe don't have a MPV category.

Dave

You could check out AutoTrader (http://www.autotrader.co.nz/), they have an MPV category.

Ian

[Gnomon]

It seems when the car details are put in on auto trader mpv is left out. When I searched for mpv on auto trader 22 results with no real choice in the results, I think with auto trader you have to look up the exact type and model.

[IanW99]

It seems when the car details are put in on auto trader mpv is left out. When I searched for mpv on auto trader 22 results with no real choice in the results, I think with auto trader you have to look up the exact type and model.

To search for MPVs you need to browse...

on the left hand pane, select 'more' from categories...
then select 'MPV and campervans'...

This gives me 701 vehicles...

Then you can narrow down your search even more by selecting another category e.g. automatic etc.

Ian

[Gnomon]

Thank you Ian that worked well. And I thought I was handing on the Internet!

[James 1077]

Only buy a European car if you have lots of cash to splurge on servicing and repairs. If you don't then get an Asian car!

[batgirl1001]

We have a Grandis 2003 model and the car is a pleasure to drive. As an mpv it has loads of space and fits 7 adults comfortably. It also handles very well especially on winding roads, which we experienced it ourselves after a trip to the Coramandel. As for fuel economy it is comparable to other mpvs like estimas or odysseys. a grandis is a good family car but i think some men find it too much of a mommy's car and not masculine enough.

If you find the estima too ugly, you can consider the ipsum which is also a toyota make and quality. the ipsum is a 2.4l 7-seater car that is a bit more boxy. there is also the wish which is also a 7-seater but only 1.8cc which you may find to be underpowered but great on fuel economy. apparently a wish averages 12l per 100kms.

as for streams, i think it is better to wait a while until the new stream model comes out to nz which i suspect is next year. tendency is when new models are available on the market, the older ones experience a good price drop.

[Gnomon]

Thank your batgirl1001 for for comments on the Grandis all very helpful. Your wright out going model is a great time to buy a car. Ncap rating is also high on our requirments. http://www.euroncap.com/home.aspx

irishR1 unfortunately I am unable to reply to your PM as your setting are not to receive PMs but: Where to live in Christchurch is a difficult question to answer, it really depends on what your after, section/garden size and what you can afford, but we are thinking somewhere along Papanui Road which includes Fendalton, Merivale and Papanui, as our eldest 6 years in enrolled into St. Andrews College which is on Papanui road and my wife's parents live in Papanui. We have lived a quite rural life(Carbury Co. Kildare) for the last 10 years and now we want to live right in the city. Thanks for the advice and easy to park is a good selling point for my wife.

[IanW99]

Thank your batgirl1001 for for comments on the Grandis all very helpful. Your wright out going model is a great time to buy a car. Ncap rating is also high on our requirments. http://www.euroncap.com/home.aspx
...


Would suggest you also check out RightCar (http://www.rightcar.govt.nz/) for car choices available in the NZ market.

Ian

[Gnomon]

Would suggest you also check out RightCar (http://www.rightcar.govt.nz/) for car choices available in the NZ market.

Ian

Thank you again Ian!

That site really give you the details of every vehicle, just what I'm looking for. The annual running cost and co2 emissions is a very interesting. I will be spending some time on that site.

Dave

[talisker]

If your kids are 6,3 and 1, surely the older two will be in booster seats? Booster seats aren't fixed to the seat in any way (as all they do is put the child in a position so that they can use the adult seat belt), so you don't get ISOFIX ones ASFAIK.

[Gnomon]

Yes the two older kids have booster seats with backs on them so the seat belt goes down their shoulder and not their neck. As we only arrived last Monday we will be looking for a ISOFIX for the youngest as there so easy to remove and put in about 5 seconds. We have hired a basic child seat from from "plunkett" and it seems alot of people hire the for their kids as it cost an unbelievable $10 for 6 month excluding the deposit.

I started this post looking for information on MPVs and I ended up putting a deposit on a new Land Rover Discovery 4 due in January as it is the only vehicle that ticked all our boxes and has fantastic reviews.

Dave