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We’re a family of 5 (3 kids aged 5,7,9) and have had happy ownership of our T5 Kombi for 5 years but due to the Mrs new job and the requirement to drive to schools and meet people we’re thinking now might be the time for a change to something a bit more refined.
We’re looking at LR discovery 4 (these seem to require regular maintenance and work done), Nissan pathfinder, Toyota Land Cruiser (seem to cost more for than the others for comparable model year).
Has anyone experience of any of these? Any we’ve missed? Ideally looking for good reliability, loads of space in the boot for camping and bike gear, and 7 seats (5+2 fold down), as the kids get older they’ll need space between to them!
Thanks!
T5/T6 4motion Caravelle?
Why does it need the mild offroad bit?
T5/T6 4motion Caravelle?
forgot to mention, we don’t want to spend any more than £10k which is what we’re hoping to get for our van.
Caravelles seem to be pretty expensive for and it also feels like we’d be swapping for pretty much the same vehicle, albeit with more seats.
Don't buy a used Land Rover.
Expect anything Euro 6 to give you grief with emissions control systems.
My mate just replaced a van (3 seats up front) with a pickup as their daughter is growing up and getting a larger child seat in the front with mum was proving a pain. He hates it. With the exception of it being easy to put the kid in the back, the whole faff of loading and unlaoded anything from the rear load space (it is covered with a windowed canopy) and almost comical difficulaty of carrying a bike is enough to make him rue the day his wife insisted on the change. The only thing he says though is that for the money he gave for it he would not have been even able to contemplate a half descent combi type van. remember, proper 3x4s look big, but almost half their size is made up of a chassis and aunderfloor space for all the extra running gear and axle articulation space. They are surprisingly small inside. A van in constrast is designed to maximise internal space.
I must admit that the van has been a great vehicle for us and enabled many trips that probably wouldn’t have been possible / easy without it. We would like more refinement though but likely couldn’t afford to ‘upgrade’ to a T6, the prices have gone through the roof. So much so we could probably sell ours for close to what we paid for it almost 5 years ago.
Well noted on the land rovers, it’s what I thought.
Anything else we might have missed?
Sounds like you need a T5 Kombi and not to worry about refinement. I doubt anyone gives a stuff if you turn up in what you have, a Land Rover or a Land Cruiser.
Pathfinders are huge, but not exactly refined. Thirsty and high RFL too, especially if you wasn’t an auto.
the boot space on most things you've got on your list is tiny compared to a kombi. Do you need 4wd or more ride height? cashquai +2 might be an option (and cheap)? volvo xc90? i think peugeot have some offroady-styled 7 seaters too
Is this a stealth ad for a 10k T5?
but due to the Mrs new job and the requirement to drive to schools and meet people we’re thinking now might be the time for a change to something a bit more refined.
I've travelled to schools across the UK for 11 years, from Orkney to West Wales, London to Leeds. I've done 20k a year in the past, just to schools. I've a team of 22 people doing this daily across thousands of schools in the UK every year. (Do she work for us at LtL? 😂 )
Honestly I can't think of a school where off-road ability will help. If the weather is that bad, should you be travelling?
My team drive every conceivable car you can imagine - and the best ones seem to be cheap and not that worried about miles racking up, or having expensive tyres or servicing costs.
My 2017 Leon 1.4tsi estate is pretty perfect, three Volvo V70 before it did it with more style and comfort but more cost.
What's driving the change, other than a hope to have a more comfy drive?
might be the time for a change to something a bit more refined.
Go test ride the alternatives and then realise you prefer the van and you don't need to change it.
Do you have parking sensors / reversing camera installed on the van? Upgraded stereo?
Just spend a bit if cash on the van and make it more refined
Not a stealth ad! We’re not 100% decided on what to do yet, just weighing our options.
The only thing we’d need / like is 7 seats and some mod cons, the 4x4 off road ability is not vital but a ‘nice to have’ as we often find ourselves on rough rutted paths and such when off biking or hiking.
I really like the idea of a discovery 4 but as has been said, probably not the best idea.
It sounds like it’s a bit of a minefield so maybe we just keep the T5 for now and save up for a smart little run around for my wife.
Yeah, I’m not sure a pick-up is more refined than a T5 in many ways?
All the pickups I’ve been in have had horribly high floors which makes sitting in there as an adult uncomfortable. In contrast our T5 Kombi allows 3 adults to sit and stretch their legs out with room for bags and stuff as well.
I’m not sure I understand your need for change.
the 4×4 off road ability is not vital but a ‘nice to have’ as we often find ourselves on rough rutted paths and such when off biking or hiking
You would be paying a lot in purchase cost, maintenance, less mpg, expensive tyres, road noise etc all for a few rough paths...
Honestly, the T5 will be fine - other than it's not particularly efficient if she's doing lots of miles.
What’s driving the change, other than a hope to have a more comfy drive?
pretty much this ^^^ more comfy, quieter on the road, better economy if possible, generally a nicer place to be for us all! Appreciate this is a big ask given the budget.
Ford Smax, 7 seats, drives like a big car, heated everything huge load space with the seats down (fully flat) and I've never worried about taking it on "rough rutted paths"
pretty much this ^^^ more comfy, quieter on the road, better economy if possible, generally a nicer place to be for us all!
I think you could spend £££ and be worse off in every category except off road grip. Heavy noisy gas guzzling tyres and drive train. Cramped interior etc.
A ford galaxy would be a better bet. But even then you’d have less space.
I gave a Discovery owner and his mate a lift in my Peugeot Partner (Berlingo). Folded 2 seats and slung their gravel bikes in wheels on up right. He couldn’t believe how much space my van had inside compared to his Disco. Brother in laws Landcruiser the seats in the boot occupy all the space and are unusable by anyone with legs. They are a spec sheet joke
Ford Smax
👆 or a Galaxy is the correct answer.
Which come to think of it was the car I had when I did 30k a year, shipped three kids plus bikes and boats everywhere. Including some estate roads and forest car parks.
Just add winter or all season tyres for more grip...
Volvo XC90 - 7seat, monocoque construction so massive inside, £10k will get you a nice D5 engined model.
We have one and friends of ours have the newer shape. Good cars.
I like Landrover stuff but I wouldn't have a Disco3/4 - check out LRTime on YouTube. Nice German couple constantly tinkering with them.
Put some all season or winter tyres on your T5, will improve your off road ability and also be quieter (probably)
Worked for a guy who ran a LR repair garage. He said never buy one!
Also the point about sizes above - the footprint of your van is basically a mondeo if its swb. Some of these pick up vehicles are flippin enormous
I've had a Disco 4 for just over a year and it's been brilliant. We need the seven seats plus we tow a big caravan. Not really needing the the 4x4 bit so much anymore. It's also great for work with all the seats folding flat. Post 2012 versions have an 8 speed box plus a bit more power and better economy. My neighbour has his own Land Rover garage which is very handy, but apart from needing service and MOT, it's not been any trouble or that expensive. So far 🙂.
4wd Caddy maxi?
Transporter t6 shuttle? Like a velle but with fewer cows and a less sophisticated floor rail system. 4motion kombi would be good, but I suspect rare and £££
I agree with the comments about the interior space of pickups and SUVs. Our kodiaq’s back seats were a joke: designed for Douglas Bader or perhaps Yoda. The Navara and Rangers a mate had, had bolt upright back seats mounted about 5 cm off the floor. I’m not sure what creature they were aimed at, but I doubt it was humanoid. Amarok might be better, possibly.
Mild offroader? For me that starts with an 'xc' raised clearance version of a saloon or a faux SUV with all season tyres, or a 'all road' van with a limited slip diff like the Transit Trail or Despatch XTR. LR4/Land Cruiser etc is not mild in any way and OTT for a few ruts.
You could also look into EVs/hybrids as some of those will have 4 powered wheels without the bulk of a 4x4 drivetrain.
I'd look into a small-medium saloon for the school commuting (size depending on travel distances) and appropriate tyres for the winter if it's vital to get there during inclement weather. And keep the van.
Skoda Octavia Est, possibly the Scout if you can find one, but stick winter/all season tyres on it, job done. But it seems the OP wants a SUV for some reason, and people who " want a SUV" will often find a cheap one, run it for 6 months, it breaks down, costs a fortune to repair, regret the purchase for the next few years until they can flog it.
Get a Disco 4, it will break down in 6 weeks, bleed you dry within a year. It just speeds up the whole process.
Keep the Kombi, get a Caravelle interior from one of the camper conversion companies that take them out to convert the higher specced Caravelles to campers, get a lift kit and some decent off tires. Job done.
Honestly I would keep the van. Some AT tyres will help on the tracks, never been stuck yet in my T6 on a campsite or track. Plus the vans have good ground clearance.
I’ve driven the Toyota, Nissan and Ford crew-cab pickups, the Ford Ranger actually drove like a big car, like a Transit in fact, but the HiLux and the Navarra both need about half a ton of rubble in the back to be comfortable.
There are 4x4 versions of Octavia estates, which have loads of space, are reliable, and shod with some all-weather or Mud & Snow tyres will do everything a Land Rover can do, without the heartache and recriminations. I think there’s a Superb 4x4 estate as well, so enough room to host a game of tennis.
Mitsubishi Delica, though 'swampered' VW vans are pretty capable too.
Of course, if you’re looking at Volvo, there’s always these:
or its slightly bigger sibling, (and if they can’t get you where you need to go, you’re probably not going to get there anyway!)
My Disco 4, bought 2 years old on 35k and now 7 years old on 127k has been no more trouble than any other vehicle I've owned
Fuel economy is a bit poo though
the 4×4 off road ability is not vital but a ‘nice to have’ as we often find ourselves on rough rutted paths and such when off biking or hiking.
I've had a T5 for 13 years and put 100k miles on it. It's been up some ridiculously rough, rutted and muddy tracks and fields. Short of attempting stuff that you'd actually need a Land Rover for, lack of 4x4 has never been an issue. A T5 has all the biggish tyres, highish clearance and low down grunt that you need.
If you're only doing "mild" off road, just drive the T5 a bit slower?
We had one as a race base (when i still raced) and then for towing the caravan and we never got stuck, even going to some of the more, errr, remote race HQs or camping/caravaning in fields.
With winter tyres it was really good for driving in deep snow too, more ground clearance and wider track so it didn't sit on the polished smooth bits where everyone else had got stuck.
Family of 6 here, mine are a bit older than yours at 12 to 15
We’ve had a caravelle since they were small. I can’t conceive of doing the stuff we do with almost any other vehicle. I sometimes use it for work (I don’t commute that often so not worth having a dedicated car for that) and it’s perfectly civilised. The measure of that is that the car phone hands free works perfectly well at motorway speeds and when it’s empty, I get 40mpg no problem.
On its winter wheels with Michelin commercial cross climates it’s made it out of muddy fields that 4x4s on 20” rims have been scuppered by.
I wouldn’t however buy a 10k transporter under any circumstances tho so in your shoes, I’d keep what you’ve got, perhaps add some DIY sounds deadening and trim the back nicer? And maybe keep an eye out for a caravelle interior?
A set of Yokohama Geolanders or similar. Sorted.
not vital but a ‘nice to have’ as we often find ourselves on rough rutted paths and such when off biking or hiking.
Where? In 20+ years of campsites, festivals, riding and mtb events in the UK I've never needed a 4x4 (Golf estate then Caddy maxi life's) or even anything other than standard tyres. The SIL lives 500m down a rough rutted track in France and you just drive it slowly.
and big AT tyres will just worsen your handling and fuel economy. Ground clearance on T-vans and Caddy's is pretty good (I've never understood the fashion for lowering and sticking low profile tyres on camper conversions as it must surely worsen any off tarmac performance)
Bigger AT tyres may make a van a little less responsive but in terms of ride comfort, going from 225/65R16 to 225/75R16 significantly improved the ride on poor roads. I now need a decent pothole for the dashboard to try and shake itself off the firewall rather than just a sunken drain cover.
We've just bought a Ssangyong Rexton. We had a specific requirement that it had to be capable of towing 3 tonnes for a horsebox. It has 7 seats, 4 wheel drive, good ground clearance. Much improved driving experience to our previous Nissan Navara, which was a pig.