One Family Car, One Small Car or Two Small Cars?

anotheruser

There's two of us at the moment and both our cars need replacing.

We currently have a Ford Focus and a Ford Fiesta. We use the Focus when we're going away on long trips as it's bigger (and has cruise control), so we can fint a bit more in easier. I'm sure we could fit everything in the Fiesta, at a small push but we've never really tried it.

We're going to start a family next year, so will have buggies and all sorts of junk to start transporting around.

Should we look at buying another family car?
Or just stick with two smaller cars? I'm thinking a Vauxhall Vectra / VW Golf size, so not massively smaller than a Focus but if we're going to start carting buggies and such around, are they that little bit too small?

Thanks for opinions!

rich13348

They don't make vectras any more the replacement is the insignia which has a huge boot for buggies and bags.
Or the mondeo has a huge boot too as you are used to the Ford's already.

Rain_Shadow

I would go for one small car and one decent sized estate. Estates are so useful for all sorts of things of which carrying baby paraphernalia is just one.

rich13348

Rain_Shadow wrote: »

I would go for one small car and one decent sized estate. Estates are so useful for all sorts of things of which carrying baby paraphernalia is just one.

I agree with this.
Keep the cheaper to run out of the two for now and replace the other one with a bigger car.
Insignia estate has a flat access boot so no massive drop for heavy items to go over.

anotheruser

To be honest, I didn't think about an Estate.

We're still shying away from bigger than hatchback sort of cars but I think when we've moved house and look at all the baby stuff we have and how big the prams and such are, we'll realise we need something bigger.

Herzlos

Once your dealing with prams and stuff, you'll never regret getting a bigger boot.

One small car (Fiesta/Ka), one huge estate (Mondeo) seems to be the best option.

[Deleted User]

I'd be looking at a 5 seat MPV. Maybe a Ford Cmax. Plenty of boot space but not too big on the road.

walwyn1978

If you both need a car at the same time regularly, echo the 'big estate/Sportage or CRV or similar and small second car' thoughts of others.

BIL has an Insignia estate, the boot is cavernous.

Jamiesmum

Again for the Insignia. I could fit a pram, a toddlers bike and a bunch of bags of clothes and such. It's literally massive. The car is big but hatchback style. It's a great car to be honest.

Rain_Shadow

anotheruser wrote: »

To be honest, I didn't think about an Estate.

.

I've had them for about 15 years. First a Peugeot 405 and now a Mazda6. In that time I've brought up two children and having an estate has been invaluable on merits occasions.

Personally I think they give far more space and flexibility than an SUV.

Richard53

Deleted_User wrote: »

I'd be looking at a 5 seat MPV. Maybe a Ford Cmax. Plenty of boot space but not too big on the road.

My wife has just got rid of her C-Max. I wouldn't say it had plenty of boot space. You'd get a couple of folded buggies in, but you'd struggle with a pram or 'executive-style' push-chair. She's now got an Octavia hatchback, which has a huge and truly useful boot.