Opinions please, buy a 3 or a 5 door car?...

pamelab21 · 7 July 2008 at 10:49AM

Hi all

I currently have a small high performance car...however with everything getting more expensive to run and high group road tax and petrol costs as they are it has got me thinking about changing.
Hubby and I have agreed we would like to try for kids in a few months and I am looking for a car to accomodate a child too,i have narrowed my choice right down to a VW Golf TDI.
However I like the 'sportier' looks of the 3 door but hubby thinks the 5 door would be more practical for access to the rear seats, I can see his point but just looking for others opinions as to how they manage (or not) with 3 or 5 door cars???

Thanks

Mrs_Pepperpot_2 · 7 July 2008 at 10:52AM

I'd go for 5 door every time.

I had a 3 door when we had DS1 and had had a c section - getting him in and out was completely impossible for me and would have probably been uncomfortable for about 6 months after the birth.

We were sooooo much happier with the 5 door that we bought!

miserly_mum · 7 July 2008 at 10:55AM

We've had both and a 5 door does have easier access if you are putting a small baby in and out of a car seat.

But with toddlers and older kids I like the 3 door because I don't have to worry about one of them opening a door or hanging out a window when we're bombing along a motorway.

Some kids (like my youngest)are like Houdini and can manage to escape from the straps on their car seats, no matter how tight you make them.

galvanizersbaby · 7 July 2008 at 11:23AM

Got to be a 5 door - I've got 2 children and it's hassle enough belting them in to the back without the added nightmare of having to lean over the seats to get them in and out!

spanner07 · 7 July 2008 at 11:27AM

Hi,
I would go for a 5 door everytime. Not just for getting kids, seats etc in and out of the back, but also for adults getting in and out and for shopping etc. I just can't think of a time when it wouldn't be easier to have 5 doors! If you are concered about escaping kids, then many cars have child locks on the doors that you can turn on, and also the ability to disable to window openers to the back, so that they can only be operated on the front. On the golf front, we have a 5 door 1.6 golf we love, and would without a second thought get a golf when we plan on kids (ours is P reg, and after 120k miles is beginnign to have some minor probs). Though would go for the deseil this time. If you haven't already, I would check out some of the reviews of the golfs and there seem to be a couple of 1.9 engines floating around, one is worth avoiding I think (accelerates like a tractor I believe!), so good to check that out first.
hth!

nadnad · 7 July 2008 at 11:32AM

we went through this dilemma a couple of months ago - baby is now 6 weeks old. i used to drive a coupe and couldn't bear the thought of changing to a 5 door "mummy car" (as i thought), and the more everyone told me you have to have a 5 door for children the more i put my foot down. Then i tried to get a child seat in and out of the 3 door and i soon changed my mind, its incredibly difficult and sore on the back. So we bought a subaru legacy and its so much easier, my husband has a mini and when we go anywhere in that (company car free petrol!) i leave him in charge of the seat and theres a lot of cursing and tutting involved every time.

Its a big change - and it took a bit of getting used to and i was a bit sad not driving my sporty coupe any more but the subaru looks kinda sporty and my back is thanking me for it!

katym79 · 7 July 2008 at 11:39AM

5 door every time. We had a 3 door when DD was born and even though i hadn't had a cesearian i just didn't have the strength to get baby seat in and out. I demanded DH get a 5 door and now i love my boring diesel 5 door mummy car!

BillScarab · 7 July 2008 at 11:55AM

miserly_mum wrote: »

We've had both and a 5 door does have easier access if you are putting a small baby in and out of a car seat.

But with toddlers and older kids I like the 3 door because I don't have to worry about one of them opening a door or hanging out a window when we're bombing along a motorway.

Some kids (like my youngest)are like Houdini and can manage to escape from the straps on their car seats, no matter how tight you make them.

The above is true, but then what happens if you have a crash and the cars on fire? It may be an unlikely event but I think it's better to have a five door as there's more chance of being able to get them out quickly in an emergency.

poet123 · 7 July 2008 at 11:57AM

If there are ever going to be more than 2 people in it then I would go for a 5 door,I never even look at a 3 door when changing my car.

pamelab21 · 7 July 2008 at 12:03PM

nadnad wrote: »

we went through this dilemma a couple of months ago - baby is now 6 weeks old. i used to drive a coupe and couldn't bear the thought of changing to a 5 door "mummy car" (as i thought), and the more everyone told me you have to have a 5 door for children the more i put my foot down.

:rotfl: Thats exactly how I feel. I have always had 3 door cars and thought of a 5 door car as a 'family' car (no offence meant to anyone by that). I feel with hubby saying a 5 door I am swaying towards a 3 door as I don't want to be 'sensible' but in my head I know it prob would make more sense.

I am looking at a 1.9 tdi se spec so has a few toys etc, I know we have a while until a child actually comes but I feel if I change cars now I could bank the difference as would get more for my car than a used Golf and then make the important savings before a baby come and turns life (and money) upside down!!

pamelab21 · 7 July 2008 at 12:04PM

poet123 wrote: »

If there are ever going to be more than 2 people in it then I would go for a 5 door,I never even look at a 3 door when changing my car.

There really would be me and child but then I guess there would be times when I would be picking up my mum etc and then that would be an issue I guess......looks like the 5 door is winning!

Opinions please, buy a 3 or a 5 door car?...

Comments

Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

🚀 Getting Started

Categories

Is this how you want to be seen?

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free