Advice needed - baby car seat questions (merged)

winnie81

HI there,

Congratulations! We have 4 kids and used to have a Honda FRV which fits the 3 kids seats in the back and was great for a large family although we now have a Chrysler Grand Voyager and I wouldn't have any other car now

bylromarha

Alias_Omega wrote: »

bylro,

im trying to stay away from a minibus whilst im still young...

(the car we get will be shipped overseas with our move you see, expensive abroad)

:rotfl:

Don't knock it till you've tried it! Lengthwise it's only 2 inches more than the fiesta we part ex'd for. only 5 seats, so not trying to balance 2 extra seats/boot space conundrum. Sooooooo much room for baby equipment in the boot-one Cmas we went to rellies with highchair, booster seat, travel cots, large Cmas pressies + luggage and dog in the boot. All the many storage pockets overhead and under foot are jammed full of juice cartons and snack bars and blankets and wet wipes and spare pants and all those other things you have to carry around with the under 5's. Adult sized leg and head room in the back-hope the car lasts to teenage years.

And the head room means you can even give birth on the passenger seat as we found out in July 2006 Again, don't knock it til you've tried it!!!!!

Shipping abroad, ok, that's a good reason to not, but it really is a great family car-and the 2l turbo diesel shocks many a driver at the lights.

Ruby_Moon

Isn't it really awkward that the seatbelt laws in this country mean that people have to buy bigger cars to fit carseats in a time when we are being encouraged to drive smaller, more fuel efficient cars?
It really is about time someone came up with a way of safely seatbelting children into cars without the need of buying extra carseats.

claireac

We had a Volvo V70 until recently, and it was just the best and roomiest car I've ever had!!

In the summer of last year dh and I took dd (2 yrs at time in Maxi Cosi Priori seat), his dd (aged 10 and small adult sized) and my ds (16 large adult sized!) to Cornwall. That's a 5-6 hour drive, and they all had plenty of room. It also has the bonus of the arm rest in the middle adapts to a built in booster seat. You'd def get 3 in it, plus all the boot space.

Was gutted when it went, but we really don't need the space anymore. I'd have it back in a nano-second!

helend

Congratulations!

We had the same situation 2 years ago, we bought an X-reg Citroen Picasso (used prices are v. reasonable), we have 2 MaxiCosi RodiXR in the back plus a Chicco Key1 Isofix (obviously when dd was born we had a baby seat with base). They do fit in properly because they are all full-size seats (with 3point seatbelts) in the back. There is tonnes of room in the boot, we are really happy with it.

Gingham_Ribbon

I'd go for a berlingo too. It'd be my next choice if we needed to upgrade from a fabia. (We can fit a tent and all our camping equipment in the fabia as well as the 4 of us but there's definitely no room for another person in a car seat.)

Alias_Omega

Thanks all,

But im trying to convince myself that i should still remain young. I went from a 2ltr Clio 182 to the Megane II on the birth of our son, well he was 1 when we swapped. But now the extra little one really forces the issue.

Maybe a Zafira GSi or something

In the real world, i think we need to get the car thing sorted as soon as if we take it with us, as overseas cars are in Euro's and im paid in £, so the exchange rate is not worth it.

Will cost ~£800 ishy to ship the car, but will be worth it in the long haul.

bylromarha

Alias_Omega wrote: »

But im trying to convince myself that i should still remain young...

Mental attitude- you are young. Doesn't matter what car you drive!

Or you could get a roof rack for a Clio 182 :rotfl:

mum26

Pmsl at remaining young! Honestly, why not move back home with your mum and dad and have a noddy duvet cover (tempting though somedays...)

I would just get a car that fits the requirements of your family, think about the stuff you will want to fit in - not just in the short term with buggies etc but in the longer term 3 lots of school kit, coats, wellies etc or holiday gear, better to go for something slightly bigger and not have to change again for a while.

And congratulations on the new baby

Alias_Omega

Ooh, i would love to move my family in with my mum, no more washing, no more cooking..and would have a live in baby sitter.

I guess we will have to go car shopping..