Three cars and a baby (Aygo/C1/107)

pumpkinstew

Me and my wife are expecting our first child in April and so it's time for me to change to a 5-door car. I am currently looking at an Aygo/C1/107 (all the same car for those who don't know) for their low Road Tax and high MPG. I am just wondering about practical, real world experiences people may have had with these cars and a baby.

I know that the cars are small but size isn't an issue for me and my wife as we are both pretty small and my car of choice is a classic Mini, so anything else is pretty much a size upgrade for us.

The only potential issue I can see is boot size but I have done some research on the issue and found quite a few buggies that will fit. I assume that the rest of the stuff you need for a baby can just go on the spare seat next to the baby.

Most of my driving is to/from work (40 minutes or so of A roads and city) and sometimes to my parents who live 30 minutes away (her parents live within walking distance) and I rarely ever use motorways.

Also while I'm here, does anybody else have any other suggestions for cheap to run 5-door cars I should look at? I'm not looking to buy new and ideally don't want to spend more than £4,000 unless the run costs are cheap enough to make it more economical in the long run.

glitter_fairy

pumpkinstew wrote: »

Me and my wife are expecting our first child in April and so it's time for me to change to a 5-door car. I am currently looking at an Aygo/C1/107 (all the same car for those who don't know) for their low Road Tax and high MPG. I am just wondering about practical, real world experiences people may have had with these cars and a baby.

I know that the cars are small but size isn't an issue for me and my wife as we are both pretty small and my car of choice is a classic Mini, so anything else is pretty much a size upgrade for us.

The only potential issue I can see is boot size but I have done some research on the issue and found quite a few buggies that will fit. I assume that the rest of the stuff you need for a baby can just go on the spare seat next to the baby.

Most of my driving is to/from work (40 minutes or so of A roads and city) and sometimes to my parents who live 30 minutes away (her parents live within walking distance) and I rarely ever use motorways.

Also while I'm here, does anybody else have any other suggestions for cheap to run 5-door cars I should look at? I'm not looking to buy new and ideally don't want to spend more than £4,000 unless the run costs are cheap enough to make it more economical in the long run.

I have an Aygo, its great, my kids are no longer in car seats but my friends babies have travelled in it. We looked at all 3 and the aygo has better views and more extras. The boot is bigger than you think (im a mobile hairdresser so have to fit a lot in).

sammyjammy

I had a 107 as a hire car this weekend. Never again, it is ok on the flat and seems quite nippy but show it a hill (I live in Sheffield and was travelling to COrnwall) and it just dies. I swear it went from 80mph to 25mph in a matter of seconds. I had to go up the hill near my parents at 25mph, so embarrassing, I could have read a book in the time it took to get to the top!

glitter_fairy

sammyjammy wrote: »

I had a 107 as a hire car this weekend. Never again, it is ok on the flat and seems quite nippy but show it a hill (I live in Sheffield and was travelling to COrnwall) and it just dies. I swear it went from 80mph to 25mph in a matter of seconds. I had to go up the hill near my parents at 25mph, so embarrassing, I could have read a book in the time it took to get to the top!

really? my Aygo made it up the yorkshire mores with 4 people in it

lovecake

Don't know much about cars, but OH and I have a Fiat Panda and are expecting a baby. There is loads of room in the back and the boot is a decent size. It is so cheap to run too. They don't look that pretty - but they are practical so we aren't going to bother changing cars. I think we'll manage fine with the Panda. I've had my sisters kids in there with their car seats (they are 6 and 9) and there was plenty room for them so a baby should be no bother.

Good luck with the search!

alec_eiffel

We used to have an Aygo and it was great. We lived in East Lancs - so plenty of hills to get up and down, no problems. We did a lot of motorway driving and it was fine, so no worries if you ever do have venture onto one. Great for nipping out and about. Cheap enough to run too. No experience of a baby in one but we had grown people in the back and they were fine!

andi2

Hubby had the 107 in September (lease hire from work) our family car is a people carrier (4 children).

Anyway we'd never buy one - it's frankly awful, never mind fitting a baby in or not.... (it will fit the baby, not sure you'll have much choice of buggy - the boot is tiny).

bluenoseam

Aygo will hold it's value slightly longer than the 107/C1 as well.

What about a Kia Picanto, 7 year warranty brand new, 5 door & now they've given it a face lift it doesn't look like a shoebox on wheels, should be the same tax & around the same fuel efficiency.

psychopathbabble

C1 ones are horrible cars to drive, and I could barely fit my work bag in the boot... let alone a buggy or any other bits kids need with them.

I'd have the same concern with the Aygo as well though I've never driven one.

ETA: i drive a yaris and love it... a small car but still big enough for what you need. My friends drive a fiesta, not the new version, the one before and that is perfect for them with a 9month old, and occassionally a 15yr old even driving across the country visiting family.

Nicki

I personally wouldn't scrimp on boot space if it is the only family car!

Some thoughts to consider - when your baby is not yet walking but quite heavy to be carried in a sling, how will you cope with the following:

a large supermarket shop (you'll need to fit in all the bags, plus buggy)
Christmas shopping
visiting family and friends for a short stay (you'll need room for the buggy, a travel cot, and overnight bags for the 3 of you)
holidays (you'll want the buggy and suitcases in the car, and maybe the travel cot too)

other issues will be if you have a second child, how will you get a double buggy, or even a single buggy if you have one child in a sling, plus any baby paraphernalia in the car if the back seat is full of car seats. You may not want to have to plan for the expense of replacing your car again before you can choose to complete the family.

peachyprice

You do know those three cars are the exact same car, all built in the same factory with different badging, don't you?