Which car is best?

first78

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

fusion wouldndt have the boot space.

OP, ive got twins, i made do in a little fiesta but most small trips was taxing, we had a double buggy, didnt fit in it unless i squshed it in and took the shelft out. the foot wells were filled with baby stuff and yes you do carry twice the baby stuff.

the biggest problem we faced was car seats, forward facing ones are horrible as you need a long seat belt to wrap around it and seat space inbetween if you cant get to the clips effectively then in an emergency seconds are valuable and fumbeling for seatbelt clips costs time.
does the OH intend to go shopping, because in a small car, will be next to impossible double buggy, changing bags, and where does the shopping end up! in the rear footwells, piled on another wich could hamper forward facing child seats if piled too high.

i often had to make 2 trips in the fiesta, if mum was having them over for the night because most of the stuff didnt fit in the fiesta.

and think long term as i can tell you when they get to walk and talk your car will be brimmed with extra clothes, coats, shoes, stroller buggy's x2, dummies, wetwipes, toys, endless mud stains and your car get soaked interios when it raining as the doors are open longer, you get soaked, OH gets soaked, its like the krypton factor every trip.

Thanks for the info Wow, I take my hat off to you managing with a Fiesta...that must have been a bit like a game of Tetris fitting everything in?!

My OH won't be doing the shopping, that will be one of my jobs

Out of interest what car would you go with?

penthouse89

Astra/Focus Estate or similar. Not too big, but big enough...

atrixblue.-MFR-.

i have a rover 75 now that is much better in terms of space and needs.

when the twins were younger and we then had my youngest daughter who is now 5 i managed fine on a mondeo but would have been better in estate form as i would have had space for the large amount of shopping and could have done monthly shops, but we had to resort to 2 weekly shops due to the boot space.

if i were to recommend a car for a now expecting twins family it would be a octavia or the superb by skoda. i know you not after a big car, but youll save money in the future by not having to change it once theyre in booster seats.

i went from saloon to hatch back to small hatch then back full circle again to a saloon its much more easier to hope the kids in and out of my 75 than it was to fumble around in my megane 2 having to squish things up. 75 deisels are very sought after cars these days, bmw powered loads of room and comfort i dont have to slide my seat or the wifes forward to carry a friends 12month old in a car seat in the back and carry one of the twins and my five year old on boosters with no problems in having the boosters overlapping and causing squishing up in the rear, can carry the buggy in the boot, my shopping, and have enough room for extra. i have the 1.8 petrol version that has the renowned K series engine, but i know what to look out for with them i know the engine inside and out. 2.0 Kv6 is a v6 engine from rover thats solid, and the 2.5 v6 is another powerplant that rocksteady on them, i want the 4.8 v8 mustang powered one, but expensive peice of kit is that beast.

but for your imeadiate needs and to be practical yet last for the future, octavia or superb.

albionrovers

Weird_Nev wrote: »

We ran a Fabia 1.4TDi (2006 model) for 4 years/50k miles and would heartily recommend one. It was completely realiable, very efficient (60-65mpg) and good to drive.
However, I do think that space would be an issue with twins! The rear seat space isn't massive, so with 2 rear facing baby seats you might find that the front seat position is compromised. The boot is also pretty small. You'd struggle to get many normal single baby buggies in the back of it, so seeing as you'll need a double buggy of some sort, I think you'd be out of luck.

Having had just one child, I'd say go for an estate. You will never be annoyed that you have more space. By the time you have 2 travel cots, changing bag, buggy and accessories plus your own stuff i nthe car for a family visit or trip away, you can only need MORE room.

I'd look at Skoda Octavia Estates, VW Passat estates, Honda Accord 2.2 Diesel estates, cars of that size. You will really need the room.

==

Having been there with 2 young uns, agree strongly.
Also consider a Volvo V40/50. Although when my missus copped on with regard to the boot space in our V40, those frequent trips to Ikea became a pain in the rear end.

Lucyadams184

Rav 4 is nice, they are actually smaller than a lot of estate cars. It's obviously 4 wheel drive so good in the snow and the boot is massive and the door opens out rather than up which makes it easier for women. I got a double pushchair in mine no problems and still had space for shopping.

Hintza

RAV4 has a funny rear door that doesn't open fully.

Crikey if you are going to have to start measuring things to see if they will fit, you really need a rethink.

My list would include, thinks like Quashquai, Sportage, etc

Nagme

Perhaps if your OH test drove a larger car, she may be able to come around to the idea? I know they're no fun, but something like an older Renault Scenic worked well for me, I loved mine, and that would be well within budget.

When the children are older and out of buggies she could always downsize, but otherwise, she may find herself struggling with something smaller and upgrading when the twins are young therefore spending more money on changing the car in a relatively short space of time.

steve-L

first78 wrote: »

Thanks for all the comments. My partner isn't really keen on driving an estate car and has always opted for small cars. I have a Honda Jazz which we use on holidays, day trips etc. So all she really needs a car for will be taking the babies from A to B...just small trips.

I have tried talking her into getting a bigger car but she doesn't want to unless it's a necessity. I think maybe we'll have to look at buggy's and measure them and then decide whether they'll fit in the boot of something like the Fabia.

My OH insisted on a Focus having learned to drive in one and insisted the Honda Accord Estate was "impossible"

The focus died after a month or so and we ended up in a near year long battle taking the dealer to small claims (which we eventually won) .. after about 2-3 months she was totally converted to the bigger car (and the Accord Estate is HUGE) .. buggies and everything fit in the boot (often without taking down) and 4 years or so on bikes, shopping .... you name it.

On occasions you visit relatives it fits buggies, travel cot .. etc. etc.

Now she vows never to have a small car again and hates driving her mothers which she says feels like a tin box.

Unless you need to park in a restricted space I'd say go for a big estate. Mondeo, Octavia .. etc. (Though out of the choice I'd be on the Fabia)

Dongleboy

Buy your double buggy first - something compact like a fold-up MacLaren as the fashion-victim ones are massive even when folded down - and see what's the smallest 5-door car you can fit it into. Simples!

Alice_Walls

Scoda Fabia is good.