I know, I know. I really should have listened to all of the advice from the various people I asked and not bought the Scenic, but I did, it's crap, we're changing it now lets move on.
In the market for a family car, have twins so need something with a large boot to get the buggy into, the wife would prefer not to have an estate so it's MPV territory for me. Was wondering if Citroens Picasso's are as bad as Scenic in terms of reliability or would I be better looking at a Touran or C/S-Max?
I've got a 307SW which I have had from new. Its over 4 yrs old and done over 120k faultless miles! It has all the toys and is a really good drive and returns 55+ on a long run, vey spacious and a huge boot. Getting a bit rattly now and as I get a good allowance and mileage from work I will change it soon.
Just my tuppence worth!
We have got a Seat Altea XL, its a bit different really spacious inside for relatively small car. The boot is pretty big too, especially with rear seats on their furthest forward seating position and false floor taken out.
Sounds daft but one of the most useful things we like about it is the built in sun shades which retract in to the doors!
Other than that the 2.0 TDi we went from is plenty quick enough and it handles extremely well for what it is.
Thing is you can get a bad car from any manufacteurer. Plenty of people have good Scenics too. Citreon have as bad a reputation as Renault so might not be the best way to jump.
I'd be looking at Volvo or Skoda but even then you can get a bad one. There's plenty of reliability surveys online to get a good idea.
Modern common rail diesels also have a bad reputation, especially if you do a lot of short journies. Petrol may cost most but is less likely to go wrong. I've gone down the diesel Mondeo route and although I like the car I'll be making sure I always have an extended warranty or change once this one runs out.
We have a Citroens Picasso, I love it, if I won the lottery tomorrow I would just go and buy another one. We have had no problems with it in the 3yrs that we have owned it, plenty of space in the 7 seater version and the fuel economy is good and tax is low.
Scenics are a bit crap i will admit (as a scenic owner).
However they are very practical and i have found nothing that has the same sense of space inside it for similar money.
C Max might be the way to go - i have always found fords a bit basic but reliable.
Wife has a C Max, it's been pretty reliable in the 4 years we've had it (petrol 1.8). Only issue has been a failed alternator during the really cold snap 18 months ago. Several people at work with C Max's also had their alternator fail at the same time, so maybe a bit of a weakness.
Looks like Postman Pat's van, but it drives quite nicely.
We had a look at Scenics but in the end settled on a Golf Plus (1.9 TD).
We love it...suits us perfectly with 2 kids (6 and 8 years old). Its our only car and we use it for everything; it can be a bit of a squeeze on holidays but we didn't want to be driving around in a van-esque car for the rest of the year for the few car holidays we go on.
Seat Altea XL here aswell...... I don't have kids but I can easily get my bike in the back (seats down) with the wheels still on. Sliding rear seat is excellent if you need extra space in the boot but want to keep it hidden away. Even on the furthest forward we can still get the nieces/nephew into their car seats with leg room....
1.9tdi pulls well and I get over 50+ mpg on a long journey and 45ish around town etc!
S-Max all the way for me, although I've yet to see if I can fit a bike in without taking wheels off, I'm sure you can. It's the only MPV that I've found, so far, that has the driving position of a car, not a van ie not upright position, not gear leaver in dashboard and with a centre console etc.
They also get great reviews on performance and reliability. And have the heated windscreen thing, which is invaluable in winter.
Just to add my usual contribution to a car thread, but with a new twist - there is a 7 seater MPV version of the Prius due out soon 
I know, I know. I really should have listened to all of the advice from the various people I asked and not bought the Scenic, but I did, it's crap, we're changing it now lets move on.
I've just laughed so hard a little bit of wee came out.
Thing is you can get a bad car from any manufacteurer. Plenty of people have good Scenics too.
No, with Renault you occaisionally get a good car, my first Scenic for example that suckered me in. The second Scenic and CLio were total money pits, as was more brother inlaws Laguna and my bossess Laguna (which started itself in the carpark despite the key card thingy being several hundred yards away.
Touran for us, been very pleased, so far very reliable, excellent fuel economy, bags of space, nice to drive, bit boring but very good family car. Won't touch another French car again (unless it's to push it into the crusher).
Surely everyone should by buying German cars by now? Or what used to be Swedish cars!?!
We bought a C4 Grand Picasso 4 years ago to replace a Mazda Premacy. It has been great for kids and bikes. We have been to the Verbier 3 times with it fully loaded inside and 4 bikes on the tow bar. All the 5 rear seats fold flat to the floor and its like a Tardis inside. The 2 criteria we wanted when looking around was that Kevins SX Trail [180mm 66 forks] could go in the middle with just the front wheel off and it needed to be an auto. We demoed the S Max but the bike wouldent go in without compressing the forks, the sales lady told us we had the wrong bike as the brochure showed one in it.
The added advantage that the Picasso has is that the rear suspension self levels so that when its fully loaded the car is still level.
4 years and 70000 miles later we have been so impressed that even after looking at what is available we have just replaced it with a newer one
replaced wife's 54 Scenic with an 08 CMax. Scenic was bigger inside and funkier, but crap electrics. CMax was bought exmotability at 6 months old with 2.5K miles, now 25K. Quite reliable, poor economy but only short journeys (1.8 petrol, 28mpg) recently smells of petrol when starting for a few mins so something needs fixing, which is about right as it's 4 months out of warranty...
will replace with a Polo 1.4SE later this yr hopefully as kids now 5 and 8 and it's not the main car
Mercedes V Class - tons of room, the kids love it and it's got 7 real seats - not a couple of extra fold up jump seats. 40+ mpg with an automatic and bodies and bikes all go inside
Had look around today and there's not much on the Guernsey used forecourts apart from a lot of Scenics! Been doing a bit of research about the problems we've had, battery draining if you leave the door open or the card in the slot, steering lock failure, airbag problem, rear right door lock not engaging etc etc.. and it seems that there's a lot of them out there. Shame because I really like all the space and storage, even the funky (ish) styling, I've just got no confidence in it any more.
I bought an S-Max in 2007 which has only done 25k and the interior trim is getting pretty tired. Otherwise has been fairly reliable but not sure I would buy another one.
Gulp. We're going through the same process and are seriously considering the scenic/grand scenic, thought Renault had upped their game. Are you talking about the new shape, post 2009, one?
Normal C-Max would be too small, Grand C-Max OK but Pug 5008/Touran probably better.
Or how about a Seat Alhambra?
@Bimbler - It's a 2006
I also had a Picasso and was extremely pleased with it. Of course it is the most unfashionable car in the universe, but it drove better than the Scenic I tested, and was extremely comfortable for long drives to the Alps, loaded with family and bikes and camping stuff.
The new model Berlingo with the xtr spec would give you what you require.
It's a pug 307 estate/picasso underneath i.e. it has decent suspension and brakes and handles better than older Berlingo models.
It's not intended for pulling babes at the traffic lights, it's a car and it does a job.
The 1.6hdi is a great mile eater and usually gives good all round economy.
Critically you can get three proper adults in the back if you really want to. The afforemention xtr model has removeable individual rear seats like a scenic, and would allow more flexibility.
Bimbler, I got the newest Grand Scenic with 1.5 dCI and dual clutch automatic even after somewhat mixed experience with previous models. It has about 12000km after November but I think it's improvement over previous model, in most though not in all features. I think in the II -version I had better driving position and the car was bit comfier to travel due softer suspension. There has been two problems with car so far, some engine warning lights during long drive in -31C and gear box requiring software update (sigh). It is 2 problems too many but about the same experience on friends any new cars lately.
I originally wanted the S-Max but much higher price and imcompetent Ford dealers ended that pretty fast.
C-max here - 1.6 diesel. Roomy, comfortable and economical. Not bad to drive either, if a little sluggish.
I've just had a Pug 5008 on longish term hire, 5500 miles in a month!
I liked its sportiness, but couldn't believe how such a big car couldn't carry 4 adults easily!
If I had the drivers seat set for how I like to sit, then no one could sit behind me!
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