If buying a car suitable for a new baby...
Discussion
I have £10k to spend and currently drive an R53 Mini Cooper S.
I have looked into travel systems and car seats that can fit and based on the amount I will be using the car its starting to look like an impractical option to keep the car.
So if you were buying a car specifically with the requirement of being suitable for baby (no other children) would you stick to looking at 4x4 type cars such as the Tiguan/Freelander or X1 for the increased access height or would a Leon / Golf / Guiletta type car be just as suitable?
Ideally I want to keep it for 3-4 years minimum.
I have looked into travel systems and car seats that can fit and based on the amount I will be using the car its starting to look like an impractical option to keep the car.
So if you were buying a car specifically with the requirement of being suitable for baby (no other children) would you stick to looking at 4x4 type cars such as the Tiguan/Freelander or X1 for the increased access height or would a Leon / Golf / Guiletta type car be just as suitable?
Ideally I want to keep it for 3-4 years minimum.
thanks! thats great to know.
We are in the process of buying a house (pending the current threat of a higher offer to gazump us doesn't happen), so money will be a bit tight for swapping, so keeping to a mid range hatch back would be better. Guiliettas seem best value for money for age and mileage so will start looking in that direction...
We are in the process of buying a house (pending the current threat of a higher offer to gazump us doesn't happen), so money will be a bit tight for swapping, so keeping to a mid range hatch back would be better. Guiliettas seem best value for money for age and mileage so will start looking in that direction...
Anything with 4 doors and reasonable boot space will be fine. My wife drives an estate with isofix blah. I drive a knackered 4x4 with no isofix. The extra height of the 4x4 helps a bit. The isofix is a bit easier than monkeying with seat belts, but how often do you actually move the seat's base and what difference does a few inches of height really make? It's marginal. Neither is going to make singing "horsey f
king horsey" for the nine thousandth time any less painful.
king horsey" for the nine thousandth time any less painful.mangos said:
ATG said:
Neither is going to make singing "horsey fking horsey" for the nine thousandth time any less painful.
Is that what Ive got coming?! haha! king horsey" for the nine thousandth time any less painful.ATG said:
Anything with 4 doors and reasonable boot space will be fine..
Anything with 4 or 5 doors and a bit of boot space is fine.
Top tip: get a car with with factory tinted rear windows, gives the child protection from summer sun- saves faffing about with those stick on shade things.
Edited by hyphen on Thursday 3rd November 08:59
We are currently looking into replacing my wifes car, its a 3 door Polo Sport. Its a nice little car but as our daughter no four months and is getting heavier by the day she is struggling to get the car seat in and out of the back of the car. So looking at getting a newer Polo or a Skoda Fabia.
One thing to check is the size of the travel system, especially the width, one thing that really hacks me off is that we have to remove one of the wheels to get the pram base in the boot of the polo.
Good luck with the new arrival (baby not the car!)
One thing to check is the size of the travel system, especially the width, one thing that really hacks me off is that we have to remove one of the wheels to get the pram base in the boot of the polo.
Good luck with the new arrival (baby not the car!)
schmalex said:
A mid sized estate is all you need at maximum. When we had our lad in 2003, my wife traded her Audi cabriolet in for a Subaru Impreza WRX. It was everything that we needed for the first year or so. She then traded it for an Audi S4 Avant
This. When our little lotus thief was born we thought the current 1 series would be fine, and it was. The travel system fitted into the boot, but not much else. Weekends away become a game of Tetris trying to fit all the baby gear in. Changed to a Octavia estate which seems to swallow just about anything.Don't underestimate how boring it quickly becomes rearranging the boot to get the pram base out, particularly in the rain.
mangos said:
I have £10k to spend and currently drive an R53 Mini Cooper S.
I have looked into travel systems and car seats that can fit and based on the amount I will be using the car its starting to look like an impractical option to keep the car.
So if you were buying a car specifically with the requirement of being suitable for baby (no other children) would you stick to looking at 4x4 type cars such as the Tiguan/Freelander or X1 for the increased access height or would a Leon / Golf / Guiletta type car be just as suitable?
Ideally I want to keep it for 3-4 years minimum.
Just a summery:I have looked into travel systems and car seats that can fit and based on the amount I will be using the car its starting to look like an impractical option to keep the car.
So if you were buying a car specifically with the requirement of being suitable for baby (no other children) would you stick to looking at 4x4 type cars such as the Tiguan/Freelander or X1 for the increased access height or would a Leon / Golf / Guiletta type car be just as suitable?
Ideally I want to keep it for 3-4 years minimum.
3-4 years minimum
You run a Cooper S right now
1 infant
Why not use your new member of the family as a reason to upgrade? 1 child won't force you into a Mercedes Viano, a small estate will be more than fine and I see no reason why you need to give up a fun car for an X1. A car I can suggest for a good price you really should consider is the BMW X3 3.0SD. It has the 535D engine in the X3 body. They're monsters, especially mapped. A good friend had one and it was blisteringly quick. The look on a Corsa drivers face never gets old
. http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
vanvan said:
Don't underestimate how boring it quickly becomes rearranging the boot to get the pram base out, particularly in the rain.
We went with an Octavia estate for that reason. You could get a pram or push chair in length-wise and then put other stuff to the side. My previous Leon hatchback required the pram sideways taking up the entire width meaning regularly rearranging everything.I had an abarth 500 for a few weeks after my son was born it was hell on earth! i did manage to get the baby, partner, 2 dogs and the pushchair in it once though! Upgraded to an M5 which is now easy to throw baby stuff in the boot and get him in and out with ease. Parents with 3 door cars i salute you!
What you need to do is visit every dealer in a 50 mile radius at 1545 on a Sunday and ask to look at and test drive 7-seaters, simply because your mrs is expecting................
There is no need for an SUV/4x4 type car just because sprog. A Golf/Focus etc would be sufficient, however it's purely down to personal choice
There is no need for an SUV/4x4 type car just because sprog. A Golf/Focus etc would be sufficient, however it's purely down to personal choice
I am 46 so perhaps old but can we just clarify that "travel system" is a new pretentious name for a pushchair/car seat thing?
Can I also just highlight based on extensive experience, that a 9Lb vomit and poo machine isn't:
a) The centre of the world
b) In need of a 4x4 /MPV style of car unless you are actually going off road and/or advertising to the world that you managed to pro create and something fell from your partners lady bits.
c) Needs very very little to survive
d) Has zero concept of brands or advertising
Thanks
Okay - so with all that noted I would go buy a car. Spend £5K and spend the other £5K on a really nice holiday when your spawn will actually remember it in years to come. In fact save loads of money by not falling for the commercial guilt trip that comes with having a kid. Save the money for its later life. Your child will thank you more for that time you went up Mount Etna and watched the volcano more than buying a *insert expensive brand name* babygro or size one timberland booties or getting a pointless car.
This being PH you need, in fact demand, a car choice though.
So get a Golf. Easy. Classless and boot space for the pram and changing bag, isofix rear seats and tells the world you're sensible but not willing to surrender your soul to the likes of the life crushing Vauxhall Zafira et al.
(Yes I am a bit grumpy today but seriously - travel system? Have a word with yourself)
Oh congrats BTW
Can I also just highlight based on extensive experience, that a 9Lb vomit and poo machine isn't:
a) The centre of the world
b) In need of a 4x4 /MPV style of car unless you are actually going off road and/or advertising to the world that you managed to pro create and something fell from your partners lady bits.
c) Needs very very little to survive
d) Has zero concept of brands or advertising
Thanks
Okay - so with all that noted I would go buy a car. Spend £5K and spend the other £5K on a really nice holiday when your spawn will actually remember it in years to come. In fact save loads of money by not falling for the commercial guilt trip that comes with having a kid. Save the money for its later life. Your child will thank you more for that time you went up Mount Etna and watched the volcano more than buying a *insert expensive brand name* babygro or size one timberland booties or getting a pointless car.
This being PH you need, in fact demand, a car choice though.
So get a Golf. Easy. Classless and boot space for the pram and changing bag, isofix rear seats and tells the world you're sensible but not willing to surrender your soul to the likes of the life crushing Vauxhall Zafira et al.
(Yes I am a bit grumpy today but seriously - travel system? Have a word with yourself)
Oh congrats BTW
We had a son in January so swapped a Fiesta ZS for a Focus Estate. Been great so far and plenty room in the boot for the travel system etc.
Depending on what you want from the car you could go for a ST. Ours is a diesel Titanium which then allowed me to have something less sensible instead of going jack of all trades.
Any car that size will do so just pick your favourite one / best spec / best price.
Depending on what you want from the car you could go for a ST. Ours is a diesel Titanium which then allowed me to have something less sensible instead of going jack of all trades.
Any car that size will do so just pick your favourite one / best spec / best price.
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