Baby on the way - need a different car!

Yoga_Girl

Definately a car with 4 doors.

We changed to a Vauxhall Zafira when baby no 2 arrived, I've been chuffed with it, so easy to get baby's in and out due to it being higher - I really notice the difference if I've had to put them in a "normal" car as you have to bend down much more and I get some back problems.

Being able to have 7 seats and change the seating arrangements has been great for those trips to Ikea when we've needed to juggle furniture and babies!

Boot space is a must, for buggies, bags plus all your shopping.

Worth going on a few test drives and pretending to haul baby plus baby seat (not the lightest of things!) in and out of the car.

Savvy_Sue

But the website to go to for all things car is http://www.honestjohn.co.uk

It's brilliant. Bit like this site really, main pages have articles and FAQs, but there's a forum called The Back Room where you have to register to post. If you search you may find the kind of answers you're looking for, if not register and post!

If you're used to a small sports car, I wouldn't necessarily leap to an MPV just for one baby. It will be a very different driving experience! If you are the kind of people who are prepared to change your car fairly regularly, then get what you need NOW. If you'll be seeing lots of doting relatives who will need lifts, then you need something you can fit four adults and a baby into. If it will be just the 3 of you usually, then a small car will be fine. If you know that whatever you get you'll keep until it dies or is nicked, plan ahead.

Likely to be selling a Saab myself quite soon, wouldn't necessarily recommend it for just one child but the boot is HUGE and it's a lovely comfy car. ;D

baked_beans_lady

Congratulations!

From my personal experience that I find Renault Scenic is excellent.

Main reasons:
1. 3 individual back seats which allow you to position them in different positions as required.
2. with normal four door car, you still need to bend down to put baby in the car and fasten the seat belt. With Scenic, the car is slightly higher, so you won't need to, and believe me this will save you from those terrible backaches.
3. the car boot is huge, it has plenty room for my double buggy and other stuff so it will definitely enough for your need when your baby comes.

John_M_Business

I'd echo most of the comments made here. Although I don't 'own' a car - this means I get to drive a range when I hire.

Superminis (Fiesta-sized) are 'out' - they are too small. For an overnight trip you'll need: travel cot, toys (including mobile), baby-changing paraphenalia, bottle steamer, baby clothes, pushchair/pram, your clothes, car seat and baby ;D

Compact (Focus/Golf-sized) are a squeeze with one, impossible with two.

Small saloons (3-series sized) are also a squeeze with one, impossible with two.

So - go for anything larger than that... and I'd recommend either a mini-MPV (Scenic, Picasso sized),or a large one, if you prefer to have enough space... or a mid-large estate car.

Don't go for a saloon, the pushchair always gets in the way >:(

KK

Congratulations. I have one child and my advice is definitely a car with 4 doors - 2 doors are a pain, and central locking (but I think that is pretty standard now). I have a Peugeot 306 which was fairly new when I discovered I was pregnant and has been great. The rear seats fold and split which makes it into a 2 seater with a large boot. And I can fit 3 kids in the back. The boot has a hatchback and easily takes my buggy plus shopping. My hubby has a Volvo V40 estate which is heavenly and the leather seats are easy to keep clean unlike my upholstery ones. I guess the advantage of an MPV over an estate is the length but the Volvo is easy to park and doesn't take up significantly more room than my Peugeot. I swore my car wouldn't become a rubbish dump and my child wouldn't eat or drink in the car - but... as time goes on it is full of empty crisp bags and drink bottles. Of course if you are really thinking ahead, how about a car with a DVD player/one that you can plug a playstation into in the back for those long journeys. Or even a car where the kids can listen to different music/tapes in the back than you are listening to in the front. Kiddy tapes have never been allowed in my car, as it's the only time I get to listen to the radio - my poor child! Still she knows red wine is good for you, 'cos she heard it on the radio! so she tells me. She also thinks bollo**s is OK to say as she heard that on radio 4!

bylromarha

Lots to type so stick with me here! ;D

Had a C3 Pluriel when I fell pregnant. Fab car but as the bump got bigger getting anything in and out of the boot was hard work as the boot folds down, not up. So we started looking for another car...

However when baby was born we still hadn't got one (through sheer idleness!) and my once lovely Pluriel became the bane of my life...2 door hell with a baby that got heavier by the day...boot that could only fit a pram through exact positioning and a passenger seat that made your knees brush against the dash as the baby seat in the back meant that the room was needed elsewhere

Thankfully the car fairy waved her magic wand and we got a Citroen berlingo which is a dream! Once you get past the van-ness of it, it is great. It is really easy to drive...a high position means you have much better view. I could easily fit 3 prams in the boot...with room for shopping...and the sliding doors in the back mean that I don't have to use parent and child spaces for the extra "need the door as wide as possible to get the seat out". I still use P + C spaces...but they aren't always available

The overhead and underfoot storage in the Blingo is more than you could wish for and the aircraft style tables on the back of the front seats will keep junior amused as he grows. We did think about 7 seaters, but they were more expensive…and when do you actually need 7 seats? The berlingo seemed to have the best of everything we wanted in a new car and to top it all off it is only 20cm longer than my Pluriel…I kid you not!

My discoveries led me to a range of dealers who were willing to negotiate a good price…so PM me if you want more info.

Few final bits “What car” website lets you compare cars, so you can see features which you feel are important in different makes.
The Citroen forum referred to above seems to have been offline since before Christmas…shame as it was very useful.
4 door, preferably sliding doors, is the way to go. Make sure you take your pram and car seat when you go to test drive anything as seat belt length, curvature of seat etc all need to fit your car seat safely.

And to finish…we part-exd hubbys car…so I still have my Pluriel to play with in the summer. Nothing like open top driving…and junior WILL like the wind in his hair!!!!

Milky_Mocha

You don’t mention your budget but I have a silver Audi A4 Avant (that’s an estate) which I got simply because I wanted an automatic and I loved the look and feel as well as the six-disc changer (I lurve music). It is roomy without being bulky and v easy to park.

Now I need a smaller car with diesel as I’m doing 95% long motorway journeys. I’m about to list my Audi for sale at just over 6 grand so if you are in the South East and are interested you are welcome to get in touch.

manic

Thanks for the replies so far.

Seems that MPVs are a popular choice. My brother has a scenic for his family of 3 (18 month old daughter). My other brother has a Chrysler Grand Voyager for his family of 5 plus dog (11,10 & 6 year olds). So I'm not short of vehicles that I can borrow for holidays etc.

I will keep looking around for suitable options, but the advice so far has narrowed the choices down a bit.

Milky_Mocha :

Thanks for the offer, but I won't be deciding for a couple of months yet. Have to move house first!!

marco_79

Hi Manic

We changed our car from an MX5 to a Renault Laguna.

Find the Laguna very comfartable, lots of room and it won most of the safety awards in 2004. Prices are pretty good too just now.

All the best

Marco

Milky_Mocha

Milky_Mocha :

Thanks for the offer, but I won't be deciding for a couple of months yet. Have to move house first!!

You're welcome. Good luck with the house hunt if you haven't already found the house and good luck with the move. Hope you find the car that's right for you too