OMG, I may have to sell my S2 for a people carrier

[Mcstiff]

So did you ever try 3 across in the S2A? I have physically fit 3 across in my CQ but I am thinking about a urS6A or a D2A8 (or 1991 V8 5speed with a 4.2). I'd love to do a B4 90 with an I5 but I dont think it will work until the kids are all in boosters.

[Tap Towers]

Ive worked through this very problem myself, with a similar car setup too, once kids started coming along, felt like needed more room, even though i had an A8, and the wife has a clio
So, i persuaded her to chop the clio in for a A6 avant, which was awesome, and served well, until kids got bigger, and more room was needed, Id already got rid of the A8 as a daily driver fuel was starting to be an issue, i was pottering around in my coupe, so looked at the MPV thing for a good year or so.
Having a father who Taxis/ chauffers people about, the general consensus we have is-
Kia trajet- tragic
Chrysler voyager- V bad accident rating/ unreliable
Fiat multipla - other than hideous, soon as it hits 70-80,000 miles, worn out.

Generally, they are all 5h1te, but the Vw sharan/ford galaxy/seat alhambra is the best of the 5h1te. All the room, loads of seat and trim options, far easyier than an XC90 for shopping (lower tailgate) brilliant as the 1.9 tdi, id defo recommend one, We have a 2004 Sharan 1.9TDI SE 130, about £5k, 65,000 miles, and very familiar to work on. Just dont show it a corner like you would an audi!

Let the breadknife drive that most of the time, leaving you to pootle about in whatever you want

[Acidburn]

Generally, they are all 5h1te, but the Vw sharan/ford galaxy/seat alhambra is the best of the 5h1te. All the room, loads of seat and trim options, far easyier than an XC90 for shopping (lower tailgate) brilliant as the 1.9 tdi, id defo recommend one, We have a 2004 Sharan 1.9TDI SE 130, about £5k, 65,000 miles, and very familiar to work on. Just dont show it a corner like you would an audi!

Let the breadknife drive that most of the time, leaving you to pootle about in whatever you want

I've had a few of them, the galaxy's rust for fun and rare to find one with all the speaker grills insisde intact, wiring's start going quickly. The sharan wasn't too bad but common problem is the box's die quickly (we had autoboxes with the 2.8vr6 and in the ford just the 2.8) I've heard the 1.9tdi's kill them as well. Sharan sounded brilliant, and pulled like a train but fuel economy was rubbish.

[Tap Towers]

Agree with the speaker grilles on galaxys, easy to catch with feet, and brittle. Dual mass clutch does have its problems dealing with torque and the load, prob will need one on ours soon. As long as they have been looked after, a good buy, but still poo, just the best poo thats available unfortunately!

[macspring]

My tuppence,

Sell the cabrio, keep the S2, and buy a black VW Touran with a 2.0L 16v Diesel engine with a DSG box. Keep the A6 as a spare car for when the S2 breaks.

Maybe sell the Manta if you can get a half decent price.

Sell both boats, you're not taking this B4 addiction thing seriously for starters.

The above won't help a bit.

Kind regards.

[Ian Simmonds]

we'e managed for the last 6 years with an a6 avant and the s2....now the S2 is only for day trips and when both kids are out of the proper baby seats as the depth of the rear bench means you can't mount them safely. Now they are both in the infants seats which work with the standard seat belt we are truely able to utilise the car as a family motor again and the kids love it :-) Of course if you are bloody mined about keping the S2 like i was, then th full baby seat will go easily into the front seat.

There's a ton of space in the a6 and with a roofbox you should have no problems!

Totally agree, you'll be surprised what you can do with an S2 Avant too, we've got a Thule Top Box, 2 kids and a border collie, and we've all been away for a weeks' holiday in a cottage like that. The trick is to pick the 'best' set-up of seats/travel system for the car, not the most fashionable/must have accessory. Same goes for a pushchair, make sure it folds up sufficiently to go into the boot without 'blocking' everything else. (eg changebags, babywipes, bottles, etc). You stand far more chance of accommodating 3 kids and two adults in an S2 Estate than a B6 A4 Estate. (BTDT).

Likewise with letting the missus drive it, don't be silly man!, far better she drives it and you get to keep it on the drive rather than lose it completely, you'll lose a shed load of money on the people-wagon, you'll resent it because you lost your S2, you'll blame the missus, you'll squabble as to who's driving, because nobody will want to. The S2'll do all you need if you plan it out, and, with a recession on, you'll be keeping your £££ in the bank.

Keep it....

VBR
Ian

[S2 EDS]

I think it's about time you tied a not in the "old jimmy!"


I got rid of my Zaffy GSi to get a Honda Accord (when in NZ). Don't get a people carrier, don't do it!

[macspring]

Forgot to mention is that our compromise with the vehicles is that when we are going away down the country for say a weeks break, we take both cars, the S2 and the Touran, which gives us loads of room, I get to drive the car I want and unfortunately for my wife she has the hassle of having to drive her car, but the compromise works, also we don't go away that often so when we do any double fuel issues, double driving duties etc. are negated by the year round position of us both having the daily drivers we each want.

We have three children under nine.

Kind regards.

[Mcstiff]

Forgot to mention is that our compromise with the vehicles is that when we are going away down the country for say a weeks break, we take both cars, the S2 and the Touran, which gives us loads of room, I get to drive the car I want and unfortunately for my wife she has the hassle of having to drive her car, but the compromise works, also we don't go away that often so when we do any double fuel issues, double driving duties etc. are negated by the year round position of us both having the daily drivers we each want.

We have three children under nine.

Kind regards.

This is, kind of, where I am at but with one fairly huge SUV (Honda Pilot) that works for family trips. If I could get my wife to take my CQ when she is alone then I'd be golden. That would take softening the suspension a bit and making it a little more pretty and, in her eyes, reliable.

[anthonys2]

Simples - buy an RS6!!

[bluequattro]

I ve the same problem, 3 kids car seat just dont quite fit in the Disco, so we don t go out all at once!
Seriously, its started to p me off that we have to do two cars, so a persuading her ( as 2 of 3 kids are hers!) that she needs a people carrier
Vw T4 van sounds best, am looking for a 2.5 petrol one.

Side and rear facing seats I think cant have kids under 12 in by law, so check before you buy.
Pathfinder sounds good idea, our plumber has 3 kids n says its great ( he ha the chop so no more kids!) but I dont earn as much as my plumber...