Our beloved Citroen Picasso is about to cost us a lot of money so the time has come to trade it in . I've been quite taken with a Peugeot Partner Combi 2.0 HDi at the local garage - particularly as it comes with a towbar. I'm sure someone has one on here & wondered if it was any good. There's 5 of us including 3 children in booster seats, we have a trailer and filled the Picasso to the roof last trip.
I LOVE the slidey doors, but hate the almost constant rattle from the mod-u-top (I think that is what the aircraft type storage things in the roof are called)
Sorry, this is not a very technical reply. Hopefully someone else will be able to offer more info.
We had a Berlingo and it's a perfect camping car. I reakon there's more useable space in one than in a Picasso and it has 3x 3 point belts in the back. The flat loading bay is a plus, as is the rubber boot mat that can be hosed down. You can fit the roof racks designed for the van version which are cheaper than standard car ones.
------------- Current tents in use: 5m Bell, Obelink Palamos 6, Vango Tornado 300 Vango Force 10 Mk3, Hypercamp Eldorado & Orange Raclet
My husband drives a Partner and loves it - he uses it as a kind of portable shed for all his wildlife conservation gear(also dead animals not allowed in the house). Sliding doors are great with kids and boot is great shelter for changing into wellies & waterproofs. Boot isn't as big as on my Zafira but is very tall, if you're filling it to the brim might be worth putting a net across for safety. Loads of internal storage including cubbies in passenger footwells which I wish my car had! Can be a bit noisy to drive but brilliant fuel comsumption. We usually take the other car camping simply because it's newer and more reliable but would be quite happy with the Partner for camping trips apart from that. My Dad has just bought the latest version, the Tepee which is slightly bigger but more expensive as it's not been out long - we're hoping to inherit it when he decides to change cars again!
------------- Rachel
Sept 07 - Middle Woodbatch Farm
Aug 08 - Langdale / Middle Woodbatch Farm
July 09 - Camusdarach / Auchindarach
April 10 - Hadrian's Wall
May 11 - Drumroamin
July 11 - Drumroamin
July 12 - Drumroamin
July 14 - Sands,Gairloch
August 14 - Drumroamin
I loved my Berlingo and would have another one any day (if I could afford it). Mine was one of the 1st ones made so didn't have the aircraft overhead storage but did have lots of net pouches for keeping things.
Boot FAB with it's rubber liner
I've got a Picasso now and to be honest if given the choice between the 2 I think the boot on a Berlingo would win it even if my friends say it's a Sooty van
Hi. As others have said the Berlingo is a great load carrier. A friend of mine who has a young family and lot of musical instruements to move around swapped his Berlingo for a Picasso last year and really felt he'd made a mistake.
I think the back of the Berlingo would work really well for three children. Three proper seat belt positions, excellent access and height for parents reaching in, lots of space at and above shoulder and head height for the passengers giving a more relaxed and less claustrophobic feel than most conventional cars. I've never had littlies in the back of my own Berlingo (or Kangoos before that) but have had plenty of teenagers in there,and it is surprising how often they've commented on how spacious it feels which I am sure is all down to the square shaped shoulder space, internal height and loads of windows.
------------- Tackling life the Western District way
I love my Berlingo. Its the Desire style not the Forte that has the Mod-U-Top I think. also it has the 12v hook up in side the rear seat head boxes. so it has 4 cig lighter things to attach all your gear while travelling. I plug in my fridge box behind front passenger seat and if a child is in the car they can have the DVD player plugged in and I can have my sat nav plugged in at the front of the car leaving a spare one to keep my cup of coffee warm ....
Thanks for the feedback - particularly ValBarley for the photos. I'm trying to convince DH now, the 4 12v hook ups is most appealing now we have an electric coolbox, DVD player & the kids have a DS each.