Which people mover...

[jetta2small]

Has anyone heard what the waiting periods are like for the new multi?

[The_Hawk]

Has anyone heard what the waiting periods are like for the new multi?

Not sure, but I am yet to actually see one in the flesh in the local VW dealership if thats any indication

That said, there always seems to be a couple of new ones listed on CarSales.

[Gti Dave]

Hey Aaron, I just bought my dad a Hyundai Imax and I must say I'm damn impressed with it especially getting the 2.5 turbo diesel auto. Massive thing with HEAPS of interior space and has 8 seats. Even with all 8 seats occupied, its still got probably the biggest boot/rear storage available. You do sit fairly high but at least that;s a plus for seeing over most other cars in a traffic to select the best lane. Another great feature is its got sliding doors on both sides too. All up it was around $43500 D/A. Hope this helps mate.

[The_Hawk]

It's still a question of what has child restraints in the back row.

Consider that with three rows, normally to access the back row you need to be able to fold the middle seat down (or move it in some way). If you put two child seats in that second row you just about completely block access to the back row (which in many cases don't have child restraints anyway).

Ideally you want to put two seats in the back, one in the middle and chances are you don't need more child seats than that since with two years or so inbetween each the eldest child would be old enough to sit without a seat by then (in our case he will anyway).

The T4 Caravelle definately has points in the back row, the T5 I haven't looked closely enough to confirm since I get mixed reports. Reality is you can always have something put in aftermarket.

I did look at the iLoad and it definately doesn't have restraints in the back out of the factory. The only real concern is that while the last Hyundai I had was a very good vehicle in itself, warranty support was great for the few little niggles it developed over time, the real issue was that at 5 years it had lost 80% of it's value

Really need to take a trip to one of the other dealerships and have a closer look at the new Multivans/Caravelles and see whats what. I'm still debating between new and second hand. Seems that there isn't a lot of second hand ones out there that aren't near 200,000km and even then they aren't all that far off the cost of a brand spanking base model Multivan :S

[Cousin]

Seems that there isn't a lot of second hand ones out there that aren't near 200,000km and even then they aren't all that far off the cost of a brand spanking base model Multivan :S

Hi Aaron, I've been watching the second hand Multis for the last 3 or 4 months, and they're moving very slowly, if at all.
I just picked one up, a 2006 Highline with a bit over 100,000 ks for under $33,000.
This was 9 thousand under it's initial asking price. I had been watching it for a few months, amongst others.
There were also a few I missed cos I didn't move quick enough, and they were mostly Comfortlines with around 55,000 ks and under 40,000 thousand.
There are plenty for sale with silly prices, and they just won't move.
If anyones looking at a second hand Multi, it does look like a buyers market at the moment, if you're prepared to watch for a bit and pick your mark.


M

[blaast]

Just to help you out with the car seat situation.
Our 2009 Caravelle has the 3, 2, 3, seat configuration, but only the middle two have anchor points.
However, I have anchored a Infa Secure Travale booster to the round bar at the rear base of the seat.
I did this by looping a long Safe'n'Sound extension strap around this round bar.
The two ends of the extension strap are then clipped onto the seats anchor clips, so all connections are genuine safety clips and straps, and there is no risk of the extension strap fraying, nor is the little side to side movement once properly tightened.
I'm not sure if all of that really makes sense.

I cannot see how this can be any different safety-wise to any other form of anchor point, ie. built into the seat, floor or roof, or even by the installation of a child restraint anchor bar (CRAB).
I am extremely vigilant in making sure my four kids are safely secured, and I wouldn't have done this if I wasn't 100% confident that it would be safe.
But please, if I have overlooked anything in doing this, please let me know!

Essentially, with this idea you can have four anchored seats, as it won't work for the middle rear seat.

We love the middle two seat bench as it allows us to open the door on the CURB side and the kids can pile in (or the baby carried in) without having to slide or tilt a seat.
It is then VERY easy access for us to make sure they are all secured.

Keep an eye out because there are still a couple of low km, late 2009 SWB Caravelle's being sold in Melbourne for ~$40,000 drive away. At this price they kill a Carnival or iMax, and it was the iMax we were going to purchase until I was lucky enough to come across the one we have now.

Cheers.

[Sharkie]

And I'll say it again, the iMax does not have Cruise Control .... even as an option !!!

This for me is a deal breaker as we do alot of long distance driving.

I'm aming for a new 132kwTT TDI in white with fogs and table as extras. Max legal black tint all round and 18" RS4 alloys in black.

RNS510 to be fitted aftermarket, as will be rear roof mounted DVD player.

Oh and yes .... an Oettinger (160kw/500NM) chip .....

still undecided as to 4Motion or sports suspension.

[The_Hawk]

Definately looking a VW over the Hyundai or the Kia, as for your child restraint, while it may be just as good and may very well pass all load rating test's that may be needed it's not legal. Same as the ISO FIX in many cars, sure the Euro standard exceeds the 34 year old Australian standard, but sadly that still doesn't make it legal.

Don't get me wrong, the people who use the ISO FIX are in the same boat, personally I'm just not comfortable using a non approved point. Even if it means I have to pay someone to install and/or certify whatever point I end up using I'd just rather do that.

What's going to make things very interesting is the new laws requiring child seats until 7 years old (in NSW at least), there really isn't a lot of options for vehicles with more than 3 points as standard

[_ds]

We've got a 2006 Multivan, and it has a restraint mounting point for each of the 5 rear seats. We have two baby seats mounted in the two centre row seats and two older kids seats in the back.

We've found that the doors on the van are wide enough that there's heaps of room to access the back row by getting in *behind* the centre seats, but there's no need because of the walkthrough. We also recently turned both centre seats rearward so the four kids face each other. They love this configuration and it gives acres of space for access.

We looked at the iLoad(Maxi?) but decided against it because it lacked 3 point seat belts in some seats (as does the Kia) and access was a pain with two baby seats in place. The VW is also a physically smaller beast, meaning easier to park and drive, but has the largest interior I've ever seen (I think it's the height that makes it seem so huge inside). The Kia ticked a few boxes, especially price, but was like driving a boat and the VW diesel is light years ahead of the Kia one

[blaast]

The_Hawk:
I know what I have done is not legal, but I don't see how it could be any less safe than an anchor point fitted in a similar position. I might drop into an engineer and ask where they would mount anchor points.

_ds:
The manual states that you CANNOT use an anchored child restraint on those seats if they are facing rearwards due to reduced safety!
Also, the iMax has lap-sash belts on all seats.