Mx5 Nc and a baby, can they be mixed?

Mx5 Nc and a baby, can they be mixed?

Author
Discussion

gazzarose

Original Poster:

1,159 posts

132 months

Sunday 2nd August 2015
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My wife and I are thinking about having a baby, and she's been making noises about changing her Mx5 Nc Rc for something more practical. I've said that I'm sure we can find a seat and buggy that will fit in it. I've got a Honda Accord Tourer for the time were together, but the day to day stuff when it's just her and her she would only need 2 seats so I'm trying to cling onto the 5.ultimately is her car so it's up to her what she drives, and unfortunately we can swap cars because I do the most mileage so need the diesel economy of the Accord.

Does anyone (or partner) use an Mx5 for baby duties and what's it like to live with?

At the moment if the Mx5 goes the lead runner is a Kia Soul, and whilst it's funny it won't drive the same!

VladD

7,853 posts

264 months

Monday 3rd August 2015
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Don't have a baby. Simple.

MX-5 Lazza

7,952 posts

218 months

Monday 3rd August 2015
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Swap cars.

hornetrider

63,161 posts

204 months

Monday 3rd August 2015
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MX-5 Lazza said:
Swap cars.
This.

MX5 totally impractical to cart a baby around with. There's just not enough room for the stuff you need.

gazzarose

Original Poster:

1,159 posts

132 months

Monday 3rd August 2015
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I was hoping it wouldn't come down to swapping cars. I do 15k a year back and fore work so the fuel difference between hers and mine will make a difference. When I'm in work she won't be going far day to day, and if she needs the big car for a couple of days here and there. I know it'll have to go if /when we have a second baby but I was hoping it would have a stay of executing for a bit.

CubanPete

3,630 posts

187 months

Monday 3rd August 2015
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Hold onto it for as long as you can.




When I was a kid my parents had a spitfire. Perfect for a family of five, (times were different and it is a bit bigger than the MX). Me and my brother used to sit behind the seats, and my sister used to sit on my mums lap in the passenger seat. (They also had a maxi, but that was only driven in emergencies, such as when we had friends over...).

Itsallicanafford

2,759 posts

158 months

Monday 3rd August 2015
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IMO, this could work. It's all down to the type of buggy you go for. Pop along to John Lewis, park up and get them to bring out a couple and try it out. Some will fully fold and you can remove wheels, I presume the NC has isofix on the passenger seat for the baby seat base? If not, look for a non isofix base which works off the seatbelt, this will need to be rearward facing to start with. Also check, can you disengage to passenger airbag (apologies for not knowing, my NA doesn't have airbags).

An NC has decent enough crash protection which is the other thing I would be concerned about.

Remember, after a couple of years, they actually start to have much less stuff when they are in a mcclaren type buggy, my boys nearly 3, he hasn't even been in a buggy since 2 and now he walks/scoots everywhere.



gazzarose

Original Poster:

1,159 posts

132 months

Monday 3rd August 2015
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Yeah the NC has got isofix in the passenger seat and you can disable the passenger airbag. A buggy that will fold into the boot will be fine, if we go out for the day well have my car, but to be honest looking at how much my friends with kids seem to drag about with them, I either need a small bus, or just not take so much stuff. People seem to have too much stuff in all areas of they're lives. An Mx5 is a good excuse not to have too much stuff.

Thanks for the replies. They've been shown to Mrs Gazza and I think, for now at least, the Mx5 is staying.

Cheers

VladD

7,853 posts

264 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
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I think keeping the MX5 will help you keep things sensible. As has been said, so many parents drag round so much stuff for their kids. I used to work with a guy that told me he needed such a big car for his child as he had two bin bags of toys that they'd take with them if they went to see friends or go away for the weekend?

hornetrider

63,161 posts

204 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
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gazzarose said:
Thanks for the replies. They've been shown to Mrs Gazza and I think, for now at least, the Mx5 is staying.
I see what you're saying and applaud you for wanting to keep your 5. Mine lasted about 10 months after our child was born, then got sold through lack of use. It was a 3rd car though.

The thing with a smaller buggy like a Chicco London is you'll wake the baby transferring it from the car seat to the buggy. Trust me, you don't want to wake a sleeping baby. The beauty of travel systems on an isofix base is you click the car seat off the base and onto the buggy itself.

There is so much st to organise with a baby, the less faff you have the better. Your mrs won't want to be clicking wet muddy wheels on and off a normal size buggy thing each time she gets in and out of the car. She'll also need room for baby stuff which will include a bag for wipes, nappies and stuff. Bottles, food, napkins, spare clothes etc.

Oh, and she'll also need room for any shopping while she's out.

Cyder

7,045 posts

219 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
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We've got a sprog on the way and I currently have permission from management to keep the MX5 (NA). She has an A3 which will be the child chariot while the MX5 is my only car(nuts) and is used for Autosolo's, sprints and trackdays.

It seems like a happy arrangement at the moment.

sandys

207 posts

245 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
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Not to put a downer on things but if you are only thinking about it, you quite a way away for needing to swap, reconsider when she is pregnant, but things to think about is that she probably won’t have the mobility to get in and out of a 5 when she is, so you will be looking to Swap or ditch the 5 ultimately, you do need to carry crap about, unfortunately when you get to places kids do like to be entertained, play mats, toys etc, with a buggy in the boot a changing bag etc, there will be no room for shopping, or anything else she might want to pick up on or days of swooning around shops etc baby in tow with the mothers from her baby group. Also kids like to see stuff out the window on a journey, my daughter at 7 never wants to go in my 5 because it’s boring as she can’t see as much as she can in the other cars I have.

Also as the little buggers grow they like to do stuff so whilst baby stuff reduces other things can take place, kit bags, scooters etc also the mothers like to be social, kids like to play with other kids etc so the buggers start bringing other kids home to stay over etc, so you might have a spare car seat in the boot for example, the 5 is not a very social car, there is not a spare seat, you can’t strap kids to the boot rack unfortunately, even if they enjoy it. Going out with granny becomes a chore of transporting stuff between cars etc and back again, just a faff.

You used to get by with much smaller cars but with the need for big child safety seat etc, the days of mum throwing 5 kids on the back seat are over, it can be a struggle to put more than two in the back of some cars and the space you can loose with rear facing seats etc, is shocking.

So can a 5 and child be mixed, yes, but only if you have a very big blender wink

Edited by sandys on Tuesday 4th August 10:25

VladD

7,853 posts

264 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
quotequote all
sandys said:
Not to put a downer on things but if you are only thinking about it, you quite a way away for needing to swap, reconsider when she is pregnant, but things to think about is that she probably won’t have the mobility to get in and out of a 5 when she is, so you will be looking to Swap or ditch the 5 ultimately, you do need to carry crap about, unfortunately when you get to places kids do like to be entertained, play mats, toys etc, with a buggy in the boot a changing bag etc, there will be no room for shopping, or anything else she might want to pick up on or days of swooning around shops etc baby in tow with the mothers from her baby group. Also kids like to see stuff out the window on a journey, my daughter at 7 never wants to go in my 5 because it’s boring as she can’t see as much as she can in the other cars I have.

Also as the little buggers grow they like to do stuff so whilst baby stuff reduces other things can take place, kit bags, scooters etc also the mothers like to be social, kids like to play with other kids etc so the buggers start bringing other kids home to stay over etc, so you might have a spare car seat in the boot for example, the 5 is not a very social car, there is not a spare seat, you can’t strap kids to the boot rack unfortunately, even if they enjoy it. Going out with granny becomes a chore of transporting stuff between cars etc and back again, just a faff.

You used to get by with much smaller cars but with the need for big child safety seat etc, the days of mum throwing 5 kids on the back seat are over, it can be a struggle to put more than two in the back of some cars and the space you can loose with rear facing seats etc, is shocking.

So can a 5 and child be mixed, yes, but only if you have a very big blender wink

Edited by sandys on Tuesday 4th August 10:25
Which goes to prove my point that MX5s are fun, but kids are nothing but stress and aggravation. wink That's why I don't have any (well that and the restriction order from the government)

feef

5,206 posts

182 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
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I bought my MX5 BECAUSE I was becoming a father. I can't take him on the back of a motorcycle, but I can take him in the MX5.

It's a second car, so works fine for just me and him. When his mum and I were still together, it worked fine as a second car. If we needed to all go out, we'd take the (then) Alfa, if it was just me and him, I'd take the MX5

No problem at all

If you want a really compact buggy, look at the Quinny Zap

Itsallicanafford

2,759 posts

158 months

Saturday 8th August 2015
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I actually bought my MX-5 for my daughter when she was born, she's now 5 and I am just looking after it for her (and tracking it!) until she can drive...

SmilerFTM

829 posts

149 months

Sunday 9th August 2015
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If it's lack of boot space that worries you then get a boot rack, job done. Getting kids in and out of child seats and keeping then asleep isn't as hard as some are making out unless you are completely uncoordinated. I've never had a problem with it in the past. My niece and nephew love having a ride in mine now as well, the roof down aspect and the fact the seat is put in next to the driver instead of behind and they love it.

gazzarose

Original Poster:

1,159 posts

132 months

Sunday 9th August 2015
quotequote all
Thanks for all the replies. I think we'll just go with the Mx5 for now then see how things pan out. If we do decide to change it, it's won't be til next summer so we've got plenty of time. I have been looking at a few other options, from GT86 (still a bit too much) down to Honda Crz. Something a bit different and fun. My brother had a baby on Tuesday so we'll have a try of his seat and pram in the 5 so see how it goes.


gazzarose

Original Poster:

1,159 posts

132 months

Sunday 19th June 2016
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Bit of an update!

After I originally started this thread we got pregnant, but unfortunately if all went tits up after the first scan (basically spinal bifida causing the spine/skull not to form properly) and we lost the baby in October. Was a bit of a st time and the MX5 fitting a pram was the last of our worries. But since then things have just got better and better! The Mrs is now 22 weeks pregnant and all scans have been good and checked by consultant so were good to go! As a bit of a celebration we went pram shopping in a local shop and looked at a couple of prams thats looked like they might bit and the Mrs liked one in particular. Unfortunately we were in my car, so we went back to the shop in the afternoon with the MX5 and tried the pram frame in the boot........... and it fits. Its an Oyster 2 that the car seats clicks onto so only the frame goes in the boot. So for now at least the 5 is safe, at least until next spring so we can get this summers use out of it. After that I have been weighing up the possiblity of keeping it as a 3rd car, even if it sits in the garage off the road for a bit. I'll update again at the end of October when mini me can have its first ride in a 5.

Cyder

7,045 posts

219 months

Monday 20th June 2016
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Sorry to hear that, as you say it does put car choice problems into perspective rather. Good luck and enjoy the last few weeks of sleep. Apple Juice was 6 months old yesterday and sleep is a lottery.

In car news, I held on to the MX5 until September when the wife decided it was too dangerous to keep. So I sold it and bought a far more practical and sensible 350Z. She even test drove it at about 30 weeks pregnant. hehe

feef

5,206 posts

182 months

Monday 20th June 2016
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gazzarose said:
I'll update again at the end of October when mini me can have its first ride in a 5.
Don't forget the sunscreen and hat when you put the roof down, especially for rearward facing seats which point the small people conveniently at the sun smile