Family cars / enough for one newborn?
Discussion
Currently I own an F type which of course is not possible to keep with a child on the way, it’s only 2 seats and has minimal boot space.. looking for something that has reasonable boot space, 4/5 seats and is reliable! Ideally something sub 20k. Of course priorities have changed so I’m not too fussed on performance in terms of speed/fun anymore, more so on something suitable that won’t cost a stupid amount to run like the F type does! Considering a 3 series at the moment as I loved my 4 series but curious to hear suggestions, the kind of car I’m now after is not something I’ve really ever had to think about / look into up until now!
Kids - especially little ones - destroy cars.
From the vomit, the food that gets shoved into seat crevices, to the scuffing that comes from putting car seats in and out and their kicking feet, "nice" cars are largely wasted on them.
Not only that, but having a large enough interior for the front seat passenger to be able to climb back to calm / catch the vomit in a sick bag is essential.
Keep the sports car, buy a family bus SUV you don't mind wrecking.
You dont want something that handles anyway, take a corner too fast and BLEUUUURRRRRRGH you're cleaning puke out the rear carpets.
From the vomit, the food that gets shoved into seat crevices, to the scuffing that comes from putting car seats in and out and their kicking feet, "nice" cars are largely wasted on them.
Not only that, but having a large enough interior for the front seat passenger to be able to climb back to calm / catch the vomit in a sick bag is essential.
Keep the sports car, buy a family bus SUV you don't mind wrecking.
You dont want something that handles anyway, take a corner too fast and BLEUUUURRRRRRGH you're cleaning puke out the rear carpets.
I have just been through this exact thing myself, our little one is 4 months old now. Im taking a couple of months of parental leave soon so the GT86 wasn’t going to cut it.
For reference my partner has a 2014 Audi A3, the pram and bassinet completely fills the boot!
I looked at a few cars (including the 4 series gran coupe as suggested, which was excellent) I inevitably ended up with an estate though! A 3 series touring is basically the same weight and size as the GC but with a bigger boot.
For reference my partner has a 2014 Audi A3, the pram and bassinet completely fills the boot!
I looked at a few cars (including the 4 series gran coupe as suggested, which was excellent) I inevitably ended up with an estate though! A 3 series touring is basically the same weight and size as the GC but with a bigger boot.
I would say to hell with your dislike of estates and get one. When my first child was born I bought a newish Skoda Octavia. The boot was cavernous and the car itself was utterly reliable. A good estate will become a trusted family workhorse. You will be astonished at the amount of crap you’ll need to take with you on holidays or trips to see friends.
Also, as has been mentioned above, kids destroy cars. They will throw up in there, leave crumbs that will never fully be found or cleared up, they will wipe grubby fingers everywhere. Don’t buy a car you’ll be overly precious about. It’ll end in tears.
Good luck!
Also, as has been mentioned above, kids destroy cars. They will throw up in there, leave crumbs that will never fully be found or cleared up, they will wipe grubby fingers everywhere. Don’t buy a car you’ll be overly precious about. It’ll end in tears.
Good luck!
Recently picked up a used Tesla Model 3 as the family hack. If you can get over the Tesla design, it’s a fantastic family car. £3.85 for 200 miles and no servicing required. Big boot, lots of rear and front seat space. The kids love the panoramic roof and the ability to precondition the cabin is a real winner in the summer and winter. It’s also one of the safest cars money can buy. I’ve owned a few 3 series, the Tesla goes and steers better in my opinion.
AC43 said:
I don't get all the comments about puke and food. I chopped in my 200SX for a C43 AMG saloon when the first sprog arrived. And swapped that for the estate version when the second one came along. The interiors were fine.
You can have both kids and a car you want.
Depends. As a family who regularly frequent sandy beaches and muddy trails, I’m glad it’s my wife’s car that takes the brunt of family duties. Dog mess all over the pram at the weekend was You can have both kids and a car you want.
This is Pistonheads, somebody will be along shortly to question why you'd want kids and / or proclaim that a Caterham is perfectly adequate.
However, I'd both agree and disagree that kids wreck car. Just like kids both do and do not wreck the house. Or your life. Car rise, I think with the filters you've applied... the list is vast so really, it comes down to how much you (or the missus) is willing to compromise day to day.
Also it's really on you. Ard you going to be up all night pacing in a nervous sweat that said child may get a finger print on the glass or are you the type that won't care if the buggy scrapes over the bumper during loading and unloading.
My observations having survived two early years scenarios... air con is an absolute must. Do not underestimate how big car seats are. Do not underestimate how quickly a perceived large boot space disappears with a buggy / travel bag etc on board. Stiff suspension / intrusive exhausts are not conclusive to getting a 3 month old to stay asleep.
We're all different. You'll figure it out as you go but I'd strongly suggest the car doesn't become more precious than the baby... or the missus! Certainly not in the early stages.
However, I'd both agree and disagree that kids wreck car. Just like kids both do and do not wreck the house. Or your life. Car rise, I think with the filters you've applied... the list is vast so really, it comes down to how much you (or the missus) is willing to compromise day to day.
Also it's really on you. Ard you going to be up all night pacing in a nervous sweat that said child may get a finger print on the glass or are you the type that won't care if the buggy scrapes over the bumper during loading and unloading.
My observations having survived two early years scenarios... air con is an absolute must. Do not underestimate how big car seats are. Do not underestimate how quickly a perceived large boot space disappears with a buggy / travel bag etc on board. Stiff suspension / intrusive exhausts are not conclusive to getting a 3 month old to stay asleep.
We're all different. You'll figure it out as you go but I'd strongly suggest the car doesn't become more precious than the baby... or the missus! Certainly not in the early stages.
We bought a Range Rover Sport when our second was born, and it has been absolutely brilliant.
It has a big boot, the back seats are at a good height for messing around with car seats and there is plenty of space back there too.
The low window-line, glass roof and good view out the front are very good for avoiding travel sickness, as is the relatively firm ride.
Oh, and the leather is quite easy to clean.
It has a big boot, the back seats are at a good height for messing around with car seats and there is plenty of space back there too.
The low window-line, glass roof and good view out the front are very good for avoiding travel sickness, as is the relatively firm ride.
Oh, and the leather is quite easy to clean.
JAMSXR said:
AC43 said:
I don't get all the comments about puke and food. I chopped in my 200SX for a C43 AMG saloon when the first sprog arrived. And swapped that for the estate version when the second one came along. The interiors were fine.
You can have both kids and a car you want.
Depends. As a family who regularly frequent sandy beaches and muddy trails, I’m glad it’s my wife’s car that takes the brunt of family duties. Dog mess all over the pram at the weekend was You can have both kids and a car you want.
And mud; I've always used a boot protector, though. And these days I have some rubber over mats for those days we go hiking.
When the kids were in their car seats, the most important things were the seat protectors which contained all the crap they dropped.
The other thing was regularly cleaning the car out. My wife never did that to hers and It used to get pretty minging at times.
Things to consider that won't occur to non parents.
1 boot aperture. Big capacity is all well and good but if the aperture is small like on most saloons it will get annoying.
2 door aperture and opening angle of rear door. The wider/squarer the better. I found the 3 series bad for this
3 rear leg room. Once kids get a bit older and face forward their legs stick straight out. Having your seat constantly kicked is annoying. I had hard backed sports seats in one of my cars and gritty little toddler shoes scratched them to buggary.
5 while nobody really needs an SUV for 1 or even 2 babies the height really helps with loading the sprog. They also usually nail 1&2
6 an mpv will be the least popular choice but they are by far the best choice. One with a sliding side door is basically the ultimate parent car and will leave you wondering how you lived without one for so long.
1 boot aperture. Big capacity is all well and good but if the aperture is small like on most saloons it will get annoying.
2 door aperture and opening angle of rear door. The wider/squarer the better. I found the 3 series bad for this
3 rear leg room. Once kids get a bit older and face forward their legs stick straight out. Having your seat constantly kicked is annoying. I had hard backed sports seats in one of my cars and gritty little toddler shoes scratched them to buggary.
5 while nobody really needs an SUV for 1 or even 2 babies the height really helps with loading the sprog. They also usually nail 1&2
6 an mpv will be the least popular choice but they are by far the best choice. One with a sliding side door is basically the ultimate parent car and will leave you wondering how you lived without one for so long.
AC43 said:
JAMSXR said:
AC43 said:
I don't get all the comments about puke and food. I chopped in my 200SX for a C43 AMG saloon when the first sprog arrived. And swapped that for the estate version when the second one came along. The interiors were fine.
You can have both kids and a car you want.
Depends. As a family who regularly frequent sandy beaches and muddy trails, I’m glad it’s my wife’s car that takes the brunt of family duties. Dog mess all over the pram at the weekend was You can have both kids and a car you want.
And mud; I've always used a boot protector, though. And these days I have some rubber over mats for those days we go hiking.
When the kids were in their car seats, the most important things were the seat protectors which contained all the crap they dropped.
The other thing was regularly cleaning the car out. My wife never did that to hers and It used to get pretty minging at times.
Reading some of the comments above you'd think people were transporting wild animals.
AC43 said:
The other thing was regularly cleaning the car out. My wife never did that to hers and It used to get pretty minging at times.
Agreed. I’m a little OCD so it’s always me cleaning both cars (I use them both to be fair). Avoiding food is also a big help, I’ve seen some bio hazard rear seats in friends cars who let their kids eat away. Pushchair is a bigger factor than you would think, my wife took to buying them for cheap on facebook marketplace as a sport.
I had a F31 touring, some pushchairs would take half the boot with the baby carrier, others would take up the entire boot! Dull but the mamas and papas occaro was the most compact one by far.
The extra height in the boot really helped to just pile stuff in there if needed.
I had a F31 touring, some pushchairs would take half the boot with the baby carrier, others would take up the entire boot! Dull but the mamas and papas occaro was the most compact one by far.
The extra height in the boot really helped to just pile stuff in there if needed.
As others have said, you'll be amazed at just how much stuff you end up taking with you and how big a pram is and how little boot you have left.
I went from a 3dr Audi S3, when my wife was pregnant to an A3 Sportback, and then when No.2 arrived to an A4 Avant, and then to an XC90 / Discovery 4 when No. 3 came along...
The Estate / Avant / Touring is definitely the way to go and personally I think they are a better looking car..
Just get one of the seat protectors as they catch a whole load of stuff and also protect your seat fabric from the child seat.
Nowadays the size of the rear facing child seats are huge and the front seat passenger can end up with very little room
I went from a 3dr Audi S3, when my wife was pregnant to an A3 Sportback, and then when No.2 arrived to an A4 Avant, and then to an XC90 / Discovery 4 when No. 3 came along...
The Estate / Avant / Touring is definitely the way to go and personally I think they are a better looking car..
Just get one of the seat protectors as they catch a whole load of stuff and also protect your seat fabric from the child seat.
Nowadays the size of the rear facing child seats are huge and the front seat passenger can end up with very little room
MDT said:
Sounds like you are looking for a bmw 4 series gran coupe ?
not a bad looking car, good size boot and you can pick the engine to suit your needs?
This is what I have for family duties and it works well. Hatchback boot is very useful and is a good solution if you don't like estates. not a bad looking car, good size boot and you can pick the engine to suit your needs?
I now have 2 small children and it's big enough. I only really yearn for a bigger boot when heading to the airport for a family holiday with big rigid cases. The rest of the time it's fine.
I've owned a Giulia as well, it's certainly the better steer but the saloon boot is that bit less practical.
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