Room for a family of 8?

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G'day everyone. I am after your honset opinion here please.
I have 6 kids and wondering if a 120GXL will fit a family of 8, with all kids under 10 years of age? All seats will be taken up. Is life going to be too squishy for the kids?
My wife and I are looking at Prado at the moment over a Tarago...

regards,

John

[vx05 Member Find all posts View Profile Close vx05]

Jeez John
6 kids under 10? That's commitment.

We currently have across the back seat a booster, a capsule and a toddler seat. They fit, but only just.

If you need to fit child restraints to the very back seat I believe the prado is out for you. I think that someone else on here enquired about restraints for the 3rd row and came away unhappy. Try a search, you may get lucky.

Also with the 3 car seats in the middle row, access to the rear through the side doors is limited.

If you can swing it, you won't be disappointed with the prado, it is a great car, but it may be a bit tight.

You may also want to update your profile and include your location.

Good luck
Steve

[whiteman Member Find all posts View Profile Close whiteman]

Taragos are built for families that big. The first thing I do is take the rear seats out of the Prado so I can get some room in the back. You wont be able to carry strollers, etc, etc in a Prado AND kids. Maybe a stretch HUMMER?

[Guest Close Guest]

The Tarago is the better bet with that many people. It will be easier to get them in and out of as well.

[Up The Creek Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Up The Creek]

Had some friends go through problems in finding a vehicle that will accomodate 8 & have some useful space behind the 3rd row seat to store a pram , shopping etc...

Even if the Prado suits you, you will have no space behind the 3rd row, even a LC 200 will not help you here.

Your options would be a vehicle from Sssany Yong (can't remember what its called) and a Hyundai iMax. You've still got a good 700mm in the rear with all seats employed.

Besides you & your family can go overseas on holdays a few times on the money you'll save in the price variance between an iMax and Tarago / Voyager.

[Guest Close Guest]

Keep them responses coming please.
I'm thinking one baby seat in the middle/middle row (need the anchor for it) two older ones in the middle next to the child seat and the three little ones in the back row. No other booster seats needed.

With the rear seats in use, how much space is there really behind it and the rear door?

Cheers.

[Jacto Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jacto]

Child restraint anchors are incorporated into each of the middle row seats so in effect has provision for three child booster seats. Ours regularly has three booster seats in the middle row. As far as the room behind the rear seat, there is not a lot, although you can get a cheaper brand stroller in there.

I have had two adults, 2 x 4year olds, an 8 year old, a 10 year old and a 14 year old on a day trip to Barrington Tops in the snow but didn't need strollers and managed to tuck bags, clothes, food etc in behind the seats to suffice. I wouldn't want to go on extended trips though. My choice as a people mover would probably be the Kia Carnival (about $20K cheaper than Prado)

[Steptoe Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steptoe]

I currently have 6 kids and find the Prado great. You will have no problems at all.

The short answer to how much is there space behind the 3rd row seat is not much. Having said that you can manage just fine. You can fit a Phil & Teds sport buggy double pram behing there and a few bags. Dont forget you will also have the space on the floor in front of any car seats you put in. The space in the back is actually bigger than it looks because you can pack right out to the rubber seal.

Going away causes no problems either, I have a Rhino rack up top with a Rhino Luggage bag on it. They are great!, completely water and dust proof and you can just put your stuff in, zip it up and be on your way in no time. The prado works especially well for this compared to others like the LC200 because of the sideways swinging rear door. You can very easily stand in the back of the car and the roof rack is right there, no standing on wheels and trying to reach.

My overall suggestion is that you will not be dissapointed at all with the Prado. I would definitely suggest that you budget in a full set of Sandgrabba floor mats and Michelles Sacs Canvass seat covers. This combination makes the back of the car nearly bomb proof as far as mess goes. I have also fitted an extra bit of carpet under the middle row seats so that the original carpet is protected when the kids are climbing in and out. It turned out really neat, I did take photos as i did the job and I plan to put them on Pradopoint, I just haven't had the time yet (but hey with 6 kids i'm sure you know all about that as well!!!)

[dustie Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dustie]

You may also want to factor when the kids grow up. As I say they grow too fast like the weeds

[pradopete Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close pradopete]

Hi there
We too have six kids 10 down to 9 months and we find the Prado terrific. My wife finds it easier to drive than my disco and with the rear camera fitted it is even manageable at the supermarket carpark. There are some limitations behind the 3rd row, however we could not find anything much better when you consider the all important safety aspects of the Prado.

If you compare the safetly specs for this vehicle you will find that nothing else comes near it in this price range and perhaps at any price. The reviews at the release of the 120 series all noted the superior level of protection in the design of the vehicles shell and I would think that there is no 'vatican van', even Toyota, that will match it.

We opted for an older Grande rather than a newer VX, GXL or GX, on the basis that this model comes with all the safety extras including curtain airbags, traction control and upgraded brakes - and of course the leather stands up to kids better than cloth and although not that big the onboard fridge is very efficient and most useful for those necessary drinks.

We also find that the need for space is often met because not all of the 6 kids are in the vehicle when eg we need to go to the supermarket - and who unless it could not be avoided would take 6 kids to the shops ?

We have also just purchased a second hand camper trailer that will sleep all 8 of us in 2 queen size and one double bed. The Trak Shak is also limited in carrying extra stuff so we are also in the process of purchasing an alloy 1500 (so it will not cover the sun roof) rhino rack on two cross rails to fit the standard Grande rails (Quoted $900 at present). That is rated at 90kg using the HD bars and assembled it is supposed to only take about 15minutes to remove or fit, therefore apart from its being needed for distance travel I am hoping I can use it around home when we have the need for extra luggage such as the pram, stroller etc. Apart from the extra diesel consumption, I do not intend leaving it there because of the height limits for carparks etc.

Having realised that this number of people is at the outer margins in terms of the usual vehicles etc, we have accepted that we have to look at making the most of what is available and in this case we think the Prado is the best compromise.

Ps

[pradopete Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close pradopete]

Ps
... and in terms of the seats we managed with the capsule (then toddler seat) and another toddler seat on the second row and the booster on the 3rd row. That way (provided your toddler seats are the narrower rather than wider variety) you can still fold the roadside second row seat down and the three in the 3rd row are able to enter and exit.

PPs

the roof mounted DVD is able to be viewed by all 6 at once and is a blessing to M and D in the front. Wth the wireless headphones on we can even manage to have an adult conversation !

Peter and Alexandra

[pradopete Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close pradopete]

PPs

If you would like to come and have a look we are not that far from you - about 45 minutes.

[Shell Member Find all posts View Profile Close Shell]

Jacto suggested a Kia Carnival. Don't touch it, it's cheap for a reason. They are horrible to drive, have the turning circle of a large truck, suffer road noise. Have no guts, no matter how hard you kick it. We had one of the first ones, maybe they have improved, got rid of it after about 6 months, i absolutely hated driving it. The only good thing about it was that I could seperate the kids if they were fighting.
Prado is great to drive, feels safe,is safe. Storage behind the third row of seats is limited and that is the only real drawback that I've found.

[lofty Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close lofty]

Jman, sounds like you should give it a go and enjoy it while you can, before to many become teenagers.

[Guest Close Guest]

Its a step up price wise, but the 200 series will give you a lot more room. The middle row of seats can be adjusted (slides back and forward) so you can give the third row more legroom. More shoulder room, also more room behind 3rd row for prams etc. All depends on how much you are able to spend.

My sister in law has 6 kids and they're on their 2nd Tarago and are happy with it.

I have 4 kids, 3 under 3, and its the booster seats etc that chew up the room and I find the Prado a bit of a squeeze for 3 child/booster seats, where a 100 series or better still, 200 series, better accomodates such a tribe, purely through size advantage. The 200 series is a nice ride too by the way.

If you're kids are a bit older and you pack smart, 120 series should be fine. A roof rack or basket would be a great investment.

Good luck with it all which ever way you go.

Cheers

Mark