Vehicle advice to fit 3 car seats
Discussion
Good morning gents,
Mrs BB and I have recently found out we are expected kid number 3.
Current situation is a 4 year old and a 1 year old. baby will be due in May roughly so these 2 will be nearly 5 and about 18 months by then.
We currently have a 67 plate VW Arteon which is perfect for us at the moment. But I am thinking we will either need a 2nd car to go along side this one or look at getting a larger car to suite.
I have been looking at Discoverys, looking around 67/68 plates
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310183...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310052... - new engine in 2022 - is this a good sign or a bad sign
I have seen some Q7's but the mileage seems to be higher - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310163...
Would you recomend a 7 seater or are there bigger SUV's which could fit 3 car seats? The issue I have found in a lot of cars is the middle seat doesn't have ISOfix .
Budget would be 25k tops.
Mrs BB and I have recently found out we are expected kid number 3.
Current situation is a 4 year old and a 1 year old. baby will be due in May roughly so these 2 will be nearly 5 and about 18 months by then.
We currently have a 67 plate VW Arteon which is perfect for us at the moment. But I am thinking we will either need a 2nd car to go along side this one or look at getting a larger car to suite.
I have been looking at Discoverys, looking around 67/68 plates
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310183...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310052... - new engine in 2022 - is this a good sign or a bad sign
I have seen some Q7's but the mileage seems to be higher - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310163...
Would you recomend a 7 seater or are there bigger SUV's which could fit 3 car seats? The issue I have found in a lot of cars is the middle seat doesn't have ISOfix .
Budget would be 25k tops.
Another option here is to fit a 3-seat carseat which typically are more compact and fit more vehicles rather than three individual seats which are problematic and require something very large.
Eg https://www.multimac.com/p/multimac_1000_3_seater
(just found with a quick google, I'm sure there are others).
That one particularly is not cheap...but cheaper than a new car!
EDIT: Also, while obviously ISOFIX is desirable it's not the be all and end all at least with a young baby. Using a belt with a baby seat is an utter pain (as is a fixed seat that you have to lift potentially sleeping baby into and out of) so you'd really want a base anyway and just clip the car seat in.
When ours were babies we used a base system that could be used with either a seat belt or ISOFIX, due to the way it locked in place on the belt it was equally secure with ISOFIX or the belt.
Eg https://www.multimac.com/p/multimac_1000_3_seater
(just found with a quick google, I'm sure there are others).
That one particularly is not cheap...but cheaper than a new car!
EDIT: Also, while obviously ISOFIX is desirable it's not the be all and end all at least with a young baby. Using a belt with a baby seat is an utter pain (as is a fixed seat that you have to lift potentially sleeping baby into and out of) so you'd really want a base anyway and just clip the car seat in.
When ours were babies we used a base system that could be used with either a seat belt or ISOFIX, due to the way it locked in place on the belt it was equally secure with ISOFIX or the belt.
Edited by Fastdruid on Friday 20th October 15:58
The answer is a Peugeot 5008. 3 individual seats on rails in the middle row, so even if the car seats don't quite fit you can slide one of the seats forward/back. We had 3 Cybex Solutions in ours with the middle seat slightly forward. GT spec comes with ALL the toys (inc seat massage) and they are lovely places to be.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310042...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310042...
Fastdruid said:
Another option here is to fit a 3-seat carseat which typically are more compact and fit more vehicles rather than three individual seats which are problematic and require something very large.
Eg https://www.multimac.com/p/multimac_1000_3_seater
(just found with a quick google, I'm sure there are others).
That one particularly is not cheap...but cheaper than a new car!
EDIT: Also, while obviously ISOFIX is desirable it's not the be all and end all at least with a young baby. Using a belt with a baby seat is an utter pain (as is a fixed seat that you have to lift potentially sleeping baby into and out of so you'd really want a base anyway and just clip the car seat in.
When ours were babies we used a base system that could be used with either a seat belt or ISOFIX, due to the way it locked in place on the belt it was equally secure with ISOFIX or the belt.
We got one of these. The missus wasn't completely convinced when I first showed her, but she absolutely loves it now. Very well made product. Plus yes of course no need to get a new car, and we'll simply transfer it over to a new car when we upgrade in a few years.Eg https://www.multimac.com/p/multimac_1000_3_seater
(just found with a quick google, I'm sure there are others).
That one particularly is not cheap...but cheaper than a new car!
EDIT: Also, while obviously ISOFIX is desirable it's not the be all and end all at least with a young baby. Using a belt with a baby seat is an utter pain (as is a fixed seat that you have to lift potentially sleeping baby into and out of so you'd really want a base anyway and just clip the car seat in.
When ours were babies we used a base system that could be used with either a seat belt or ISOFIX, due to the way it locked in place on the belt it was equally secure with ISOFIX or the belt.
Edited by Fastdruid on Friday 20th October 10:27
A multimac solves the problem but isn't the safest option as quite simply you can't for the safest car seats into them.
As sad as it sounds the best value way to do this is either get a car with 3 individual seats, generally 7 seater MPV, and while you may never need the rear seats they are useful for occasional friend or grandparent ferrying too, plus the larger boot means you can fit buggies, balance bikes trikes etc plus shipping no problem. Alternatively you go for one of the latest and biggest SUV eg XC90 or Q7. C4 Grand Picasso and VW Touran are quite compact for a 7 seater but will work if you don't regularly use the rear seats and carry luggage. S-max a bit bigger still but Sharan and Alhambra bigger again. As for the handling as good as the Smax maybe it just isn't a consideration. Driven sensibly they all handle perfectly well.
As sad as it sounds the best value way to do this is either get a car with 3 individual seats, generally 7 seater MPV, and while you may never need the rear seats they are useful for occasional friend or grandparent ferrying too, plus the larger boot means you can fit buggies, balance bikes trikes etc plus shipping no problem. Alternatively you go for one of the latest and biggest SUV eg XC90 or Q7. C4 Grand Picasso and VW Touran are quite compact for a 7 seater but will work if you don't regularly use the rear seats and carry luggage. S-max a bit bigger still but Sharan and Alhambra bigger again. As for the handling as good as the Smax maybe it just isn't a consideration. Driven sensibly they all handle perfectly well.
I have 4 kids and previously I had a XC90 and then a Disco Sport, both 7 seaters. At the time, 3 of the kids were in car seats, one of which was rear facing ISOFIX. Despite the Disco being one of the widest cars on the road I struggled to get 3 car seats across it. In my opinion, something with 3 individual seats is a must. The 6/7th seats were also really impractical and wiped out the boot.
I ended up swapping the disco for a Volkswagen Caravelle. Ok it drives like a van that weighs the best part of 3 tonnes but it’s great never having to worry about space. Might be worth considering.
I ended up swapping the disco for a Volkswagen Caravelle. Ok it drives like a van that weighs the best part of 3 tonnes but it’s great never having to worry about space. Might be worth considering.
Edited by riskyj on Saturday 21st October 00:17
If looking at 5008 you might want to stay away from the 3 cylinder versions which have the timing belt sitting in oil, seems to cause a lot of issues.
The 4 pot, if possible, go with a main dealer serviced one only, they are sensitive to the right oil. Timing chain tensioner and chain seems to be the main issue, might want to allow changing it in the near future if not already done (£700-1000)
I've a 5008 1.6 THP automatic, drives well after first 1-2 mins (pretty sure I've timing chain related issue).
You might want to look at Skoda Kodiak also but doesn't have 3 isofix in second row.
The 4 pot, if possible, go with a main dealer serviced one only, they are sensitive to the right oil. Timing chain tensioner and chain seems to be the main issue, might want to allow changing it in the near future if not already done (£700-1000)
I've a 5008 1.6 THP automatic, drives well after first 1-2 mins (pretty sure I've timing chain related issue).
You might want to look at Skoda Kodiak also but doesn't have 3 isofix in second row.
I was in the same situation as you and ended up with a q-7 etron. I liked it but I think with any car you end up filling the boot with buggy(s) and really don't have much room for much else. Now we have a T6 Caravelle (I took the two individual seats out) which we use like a massive 5 seater. Recommended for a simple life until you can get rid of all the buggies.
1.2 puretech in one of the Peugeot Rifter / Citroen Berlingo / Vauxhall Combo Life.
They are all the same van MPV with 3 proper seats in the back (or 5 if you go for the 7 seater version) and huge boots you can put kids bikes or prams in without having to fold them down.
They come in 2 body types, the XL is better if you go for a 7 seater version.
The beauty of these van MPVs is adults can fit in to all the seats, lots of storage space and low insurance groups
They are all the same van MPV with 3 proper seats in the back (or 5 if you go for the 7 seater version) and huge boots you can put kids bikes or prams in without having to fold them down.
They come in 2 body types, the XL is better if you go for a 7 seater version.
The beauty of these van MPVs is adults can fit in to all the seats, lots of storage space and low insurance groups
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
some numbers there, showing that MPVs are the annoyingly sensible choice
some numbers there, showing that MPVs are the annoyingly sensible choice
MPV is the way if you want the space and decent running costs.
I wouldn't touch any LR product out of warranty.
5008 is a good shout or S Max/Galaxy/Alhambra etc...
XC90 if you want a 4x4 type car.
Not sure if centre seat is big enough or has isofix but child seats are perfectly safe with belts.
I wouldn't touch any LR product out of warranty.
5008 is a good shout or S Max/Galaxy/Alhambra etc...
XC90 if you want a 4x4 type car.
Not sure if centre seat is big enough or has isofix but child seats are perfectly safe with belts.
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