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We have come to the point where we can downsize from our Peugeot minibus, and will be in the market for a new-ish people carrier (ideally 8-12 seats). Think a budget of up to £6500.
Anyone have any experience of the Hyundai i800? I generally hate the upstart Korean and Japanese vehicles to being ugly and having no soul, but the prospect of owning a significantly newer Japanese vehicle for the same amount as I would spend on a 12-14 year old vehicle of more reputable marque, has its appeal.
So please, comment on the Hyundai, but equally feel free to offer suggestions of good vehicles that might fit the bill.
NB. I owned 2 W-reg T4 Caravelles, and liked them, but there doesn’t seem to be the same number of T5s available matching the criteria above,
You might have a similar problem getting hold of an i800 minibus. There's not many around.
How many seats do you need?
I generally hate the upstart Korean and Japanese vehicles to being ugly and having no soul
Mate, you're buying a minibus!
<p> but the prospect of owning a significantly newer Japanese vehicle for the same amount as I would spend on a 12-14 year old vehicle of more reputable marque, has its appeal.</p>
<p>Hate to tell you, since you last checked (approx 1970 I'd guess) Japanese marques have come on in reliability. I'm guessing you're looking at Toyota Proace?</p><p>Anyway, I've driven the Hyundai i800 for a few days (got it as a courtesy car whilst mine was being repaired) and it was nice enough. End of the day it's a van but was better fitted out than my dad's Vivaro ex-minibus.</p>
Want me to pick this up for you? 🙂
I hired an i800 for a week over the summer.
My daughter thought it most amusing that Jeremy Clarkson described it as not just the worst car in the world, but in fact the worst thing in the world!
I liked it. Drove 7 of us all round the south of england in reasonable comfort and with a huge amount of space. Nice driving position - I normally drive a Yeti and the i800 was much higher. Takes up a fair bit of a parking space, but by the end of the week I was doing fine with it.
IMO had enough power for hauling all of us around, cruised along at 70 okay (took a while to get there).
We all thought it pretty good!
Or, this! Stretched 8 seater Merc:
I saw that T4, molgrips, and actually put it on my “consider” list.
A stretch Mercedes, though? I imagine it would fit a bike or two...
A stretch Mercedes, though? I imagine it would fit a bike or two…
Room for at least 2 roof racks - could look like a TdF team car...