[sargeantmajor]

I'm thinking about buying a Mitsubishi Chariot Grandis on my arrival in Auckland, but I'm having trouble getting any information on that model of car. In particular I'm interested in the seat layouts and how the seats can be folded or removed. As far as I can tell, only the rear most seats fold down, but I can't be sure. We want the car to hold two adults, two children and still have space for a couple of bikes. Has anyone got a Grandis and can advise me?

Thanks

PS If anyone has any pictures of their car with the seats down, I would be interested in seeing them.

[willowshouse]

We have one!!! Bought it for $10,000 when we arrived.

Now, seats ... Well certainly the middle two (three with seatbelts) do fold down as well as the back two. But when you say fold down - they don't fold into the floor like some I have seen. The back of the seat folds flat to the seat (hope that makes sense!). Also, the position of the seats in relation to the floor can be shifted .. front to back.

I've never tried to fit in bikes but I think you might struggle to get two in there. Best thing is .. I'll have a try and take some photos tomorrow (it's midnight now!) ..... watch this space!

[Soon2baKiwi]

Hello. My husband works for Mitisubshi on the North Shore and he says you won't fit the bikes in the Grandis. He also says that you won't get any vehicle to do that without spending a lot of money. BUT, most people here have or get a tow bar and then you just put a bike rack on it, and you're sorted :nice1

[sargeantmajor]

willowshouse - Thanks for you help, I look forward to the pics. At least I will be able to see how the interior looks.

Soon2baKiwi - Thanks for the insider info. I've been offered a couple of Grandis with Japanese SatNav/TV units in the middle of the dash. Obviously they are no use in NZ. Does your husband know if there is a way of resetting the system for NZ?

[willowshouse]

Right ..

You can fit - 2 adults, 3 kids (as the middle row has a lap belt in the middle) and still have room for 2 kids bikes! I tried it with my girls bikes (11 and 7). The 11 year old's one is 155 cm long and the 7 year old's one is a small bike but not one of the tiny, tiny ones. Anyway - I measured the space you get in the boot if you fold the seats as in the picture and it is 90cm deep (from the boot towards the front of the car) and 135cm at it's widest point down to 105cm at it's narrowest.

Re: Sat Nav .. Ours has this TV screen in it and our dealer said you could not get it reprogrammed (we weren't bothered so didn't look into it ay further). We had ours disconnected because otherwise it comes on every time you start the car.

Just to re-iterate about the way the seats fold ..

Both the back row of seats and the middle row of seats fold down (in two parts, left and right).. that is the backrest of the seat goes right forward to lie flat on the seat. This is useful if you want to move a piece of furniture of something.

Both rows also can be moved forwards and backwards along the floor of the car.

Both rows have seats which will fold up .. like a cinema seat.

[willowshouse]

Here you go:

[willowshouse]

And another one:

[sargeantmajor]

willowshouse - Wow, thanks for the photos! I haven't been able to find anything online. You've given me a much better feeling for the size. I would just like to check one thing, to make sure I understand. Can both sets of back seats slide forwards up to the front seats, as in seatsincar.jpg, to give a large space in the back? It looks like they might, but I just want to make sure. Also, have you had any reliability problems with the Grandis, or any driving niggles?

Thanks again for your time so far.

[Hannah]

An essential book, which we found out about too late, is called "The Dog and LEmon" - this strange title refers to a book that gives guide prices, reliability/safety/etc. guidance, recall information etc. for all cars in NZ. IT's the size of a telephone directory. Would suggest you do a search and find out where you can get one (we borrowed it).
good luck
hannah

[willowshouse]

Yes .. you can do that with both rows of seats so you effectively have a 2 seater with a huge boot. That would probably add another 30-40cm to the depth .. so : 125cm ish deep x 135 wide.

My girls absolutely LOVE the car .. their favourite trick is to lay down the middle seats, push them back towards the rear seats, recline the backs of the rear seats and make a 'bed'.

We have only had the car since October but have had no problems with it at all and it has been declared the new Bluesmobile (car has a lotta pick-up!).

If you need anything else you know where I am..

Dawn