Pregnant Wife, need a new car!

Exemplar

OK,
Some of you know me, I work at a car dealer (Specialist).

Mrs Alex now has a lump and finally I am realising that she hasnt just 'put on a few pounds'.......

Little Alex/Alexis is due in August so the roadster has to go and get replaced by (Sigh) the family car.

I have narrowed down to the following (As I can get them cheap!!!)

Ford Focus C-Max 1.6 TDI Ghia

Renault Scenic 1.5/1.9 TDI high spec

Jeep Cherokee LTD Diesel Auto

Freelander 1.8 Serengeti

Has anyone out there got one and if so comments please? All cars will be 04/04, 04/54

Thanks

Alex

ArsenalFC

I quite like the 4wheel drive myself.

Dont think the scenic will be what u would like out of the 4 as having a roadster currently. Focus is quality but boring. The Jeep would be my choice, but if too big then the freelander is a very good alternative.

Congrats btw.

Throbbe

Take a friend with a baby to test them and make sure you can get all the associated paraphernalia (sp?) in.

I don't think you'll have many problems with any of your choices, but for comparison purposes a weekend away for us fills a current model Toyota Corolla, and that includes one small bag for myself and Mrs Throbbe!

jackieb

My OH has a 1.9 diesel Renault Scenic for his work. I think it would be easy to get a baby seat in and out of. It has a low boot sill - easy for getting buggies in and out of. The build quality isn't the best though. Feels a bit shoddy to me. It has built in window blinds but it's easy to buy window blinds to put in any car so i wouldn't base my decision on that lol. It has plenty of storage and wee cubby holes too for all your baby stuff.

bylromarha

I don't have any of the cars listed, but would like to add i love the following features of my berlingo...so if the cars you're looking at include any of the following, it's a huge bonus.

1)sliding doors-you have to open car doors wide to get baby seats in and out and sliding doors negates the need for parent and child spaces(which are mostly taken up with lazy people/care too much about their car people as you'll soon annoyingly find)

2)massive boot space- all baby stuff +dog + christmas pressies + 2 adults + baby all fit into the car with space to spare.

3) higher seats- far far easier on the back as can strap in at a comfortable level rather than bending down all the time.

4) 4 doors goes without saying I guess!

Exemplar

Thanks for the replies so far, any more?

ooo000ooo

Before even considering a renault i'd suggest you have a look at the Parkers ownership problems forum.
What ever you decide i'd recommend getting the rear windows limo tinted to keep the sun out of the childs face.

angelfire

alcot33uk wrote:

OK,
Some of you know me, I work at a car dealer (Specialist).

Mrs Alex now has a lump and finally I am realising that she hasnt just 'put on a few pounds'.......

Little Alex/Alexis is due in August so the roadster has to go and get replaced by (Sigh) the family car.

I have narrowed down to the following (As I can get them cheap!!!)

Ford Focus C-Max 1.6 TDI Ghia

Renault Scenic 1.5/1.9 TDI high spec

Jeep Cherokee LTD Diesel Auto

Freelander 1.8 Serengeti

Has anyone out there got one and if so comments please? All cars will be 04/04, 04/54

Thanks

Alex

My boyfriend and I were in this exact same predicament last year, in the end we bought a new shape Mondeo because of the boot space, amount of car for money, safety, price range etc.

In hindsight and as soon as my baby arrived, I hankered after an estate! The CMax may be high up and have many pros but ultimately the ease of loading an estate with a buggy/shopping/whatever wins hands down every time and I still wish to this day (baby is now 13 months), that I had one.

I definately would avoid a scenic - and really any small MPV unless you're planning or have a lot more children. They sound good on paper but believe me, (and it isn't just during the first few months with a new baby), trying to lift even a light pram over the 'lip' of a hatchback boot on a daily basis AND fit in a week's shopping is a nightmare. The same goes for a small MPV - about as much use as a chocolate fireguard when it comes to fitting in a pram, changing bag and even a few bags of shopping. Similarly witha Jeep or Freelander - the height at the back would be a nightmare for a new mum heaving a pram and various baby paraphenalia into the back.

You also need to think about transporting your baby's belongings for an overnight stay with grandparents etc. Recently our daughter went to grandma's house and the travel cot, pram, highchair and changing bag would only just fit into my Mondeo and the boot space in it is massive!

hope this helps - it's so hard to make these sorts of decisions before baby arrives and i wish someone had given me this advice eighteen months ago! i know that an estate isn't exactly the coolest mode of transport, but I have to say I'm very image conscious and ultimately knowing what I know now, I wish I had one!

Good Luck with the baby,

Dee x:beer:

jackieb

Btw, never, ever get a Capri if you're having a baby. That's what I had when my now, 17yo was a baby lol. I used to stand in the back and bend over to strap him into his seat. Once, I got out, tripped over the front seat belt and landed on my knees on the pavement, with my feet still in the car. My underarm caught the door on my way down and I had to get new pins into the door.

vansboy

Ford Capri...memories...mine could have resulted in babies appearing, from the fun I had in mine!!

Anyway, from the list, I'd think CMax.

Wonder why you left off Zafira, Picasso & if you can find a nice one, Multipla.

The forst 2 are readily available at sensible ish £$£$

VB

Exemplar

Because......
Zafira, Awful awful car that holds it's future value like a lemming going jumping!

Picasso, Oh god no!