Becoming a Dad + next car quandary
Discussion
Another one is Fords quick clear screen for winter - your late kids taken ages to get ready scrape or inside can and go.
Also kids can are are sick in cars ... Ours is a lot which means stopping changing cleaning up and then carry on - but you need wipe clean or covers over seats to protect them. So sups guard and leather is probably the smartest option.
Watch out for suncream on their hands and they put hand on cars paintwork...... Yep that isn't good.
Also kids can are are sick in cars ... Ours is a lot which means stopping changing cleaning up and then carry on - but you need wipe clean or covers over seats to protect them. So sups guard and leather is probably the smartest option.
Watch out for suncream on their hands and they put hand on cars paintwork...... Yep that isn't good.
Welshbeef said:
Joe M said:
Those of you with 2 kid seats, what car so you have and is the centre seat still useable?
Merc GLMerc ML
SMax
Galaxy
Seat Albramaha
VW Sharan
VW Touran
Volvo XC90
Renault Grand Scenic
Kia Careans
Hyundai Santa Fe
Citroen Grand Picasso C4
Land Rover Doscovery
Full fat Range Rover
Honda FRV
It's not a pretty picture is it!
Or what I'm really considering the Merc R class but it's 3 rows or two so two kids on different rows all the time I'm not sure I'll get away with that.
Edited by Welshbeef on Sunday 23 August 06:46
Edited by Welshbeef on Sunday 23 August 06:51
Smax probably the most sensible for us out of that lot, but wondering if a 2012 vintage e220 would have the space, there cheaper than the equivalent 5 series, which didn't quite have the rear seat space.
For daily running about our 2 electric cars have never been found wanting in fact the leafis huge in the back. If you need to take bikes to the park we go in 2 cars, if we need a bus we rent one it's rare.
Of course you need a 4 seat petrol car for emergencies - I've ordered a Mustang 4 seater rag top as the family petrol car.
Both electrics cost £7k total for 2 years
Of course you need a 4 seat petrol car for emergencies - I've ordered a Mustang 4 seater rag top as the family petrol car.
Both electrics cost £7k total for 2 years
DSLiverpool said:
For daily running about our 2 electric cars have never been found wanting in fact the leafis huge in the back. If you need to take bikes to the park we go in 2 cars, if we need a bus we rent one it's rare.
Of course you need a 4 seat petrol car for emergencies - I've ordered a Mustang 4 seater rag top as the family petrol car.
Both electrics cost £7k total for 2 years
You cannot put 3x isofix side by side in any Electric car in the rear which means an adult couldn't sit between two kids in child seats. Of course you need a 4 seat petrol car for emergencies - I've ordered a Mustang 4 seater rag top as the family petrol car.
Both electrics cost £7k total for 2 years
Lol a Leaf has enough space for a family with two young kids..... No chance.
Joe M said:
Pretty much the same cars I thought of, was hoping someone had a more inspiring idea, haha.
Smax probably the most sensible for us out of that lot, but wondering if a 2012 vintage e220 would have the space, there cheaper than the equivalent 5 series, which didn't quite have the rear seat space.
No chance sadly Smax probably the most sensible for us out of that lot, but wondering if a 2012 vintage e220 would have the space, there cheaper than the equivalent 5 series, which didn't quite have the rear seat space.
. The issue with the SMax is it hold its price really well & up until Jan 2015 Vauxhall offering the 100,000 lifetime warranty for 1st time buyers meant you could do a few k miles a year and have it totally worry free for 50years... Sadly they pulled the plug on that offer so it's now only 3 years....
The Kia Is a good option 7 years worry free motoring if it's a to b tool you are after.
Joe M said:
Pretty much the same cars I thought of, was hoping someone had a more inspiring idea, haha.
Smax probably the most sensible for us out of that lot, but wondering if a 2012 vintage e220 would have the space, there cheaper than the equivalent 5 series, which didn't quite have the rear seat space.
New shape Forester - bigger inside than you'd think, XT is fun too. Plenty of room for three kids seats across the back - middle is easily useble with two seats in place. Was on my hit list when PB3 turned up, but boot not quite big enough with three - plenty for two though.Smax probably the most sensible for us out of that lot, but wondering if a 2012 vintage e220 would have the space, there cheaper than the equivalent 5 series, which didn't quite have the rear seat space.
Welshbeef said:
DSLiverpool said:
For daily running about our 2 electric cars have never been found wanting in fact the leafis huge in the back. If you need to take bikes to the park we go in 2 cars, if we need a bus we rent one it's rare.
Of course you need a 4 seat petrol car for emergencies - I've ordered a Mustang 4 seater rag top as the family petrol car.
Both electrics cost £7k total for 2 years
You cannot put 3x isofix side by side in any Electric car in the rear which means an adult couldn't sit between two kids in child seats. Of course you need a 4 seat petrol car for emergencies - I've ordered a Mustang 4 seater rag top as the family petrol car.
Both electrics cost £7k total for 2 years
Lol a Leaf has enough space for a family with two young kids..... No chance.
kapiteinlangzaam said:
To be fair, you did get one of the most expensive to run cars out there (5.0 V8 wasnt it)?
Theres a balance, and its not really fair to be dismissing all '4x4s' on the basis that a 400bhp monster wasnt quite right for you!
We have a big family car (XC90), small 2nd car (MINI R56) and a weekend car (Alfa Spider) and it works well.
We take the MINI (sometimes) but its a squash and you can fit nothing else in besides the baby and the micro-buggy. Forget trying to fit a full pram system plus passengers.
We just throw everything in the Volvo and go, its brilliant.
I appreciate its entirely possible with something Golf sized - but lets not pretend its not a compromise... just in the same way a big 4x4 is also a compromise in other areas.
If the priority is comfort, ease of packing and load space - then BIG wins every time.
I had these great ideas about what cars we could have - IE sports cars the Mrs was spot on from day 1 XC90 or SMax Theres a balance, and its not really fair to be dismissing all '4x4s' on the basis that a 400bhp monster wasnt quite right for you!
We have a big family car (XC90), small 2nd car (MINI R56) and a weekend car (Alfa Spider) and it works well.
We take the MINI (sometimes) but its a squash and you can fit nothing else in besides the baby and the micro-buggy. Forget trying to fit a full pram system plus passengers.
We just throw everything in the Volvo and go, its brilliant.
I appreciate its entirely possible with something Golf sized - but lets not pretend its not a compromise... just in the same way a big 4x4 is also a compromise in other areas.
If the priority is comfort, ease of packing and load space - then BIG wins every time.
Big is great you literally throw stuff in no hassle about being great at packing instead all in kids in loads of kit IE rear entertainment seats an auto leather 4 zone climate massaging front seats.
Did you look at SMax? Would be interesting to hear the pros and cons XC90 v SMax (ignore purchase price and ignore new XC90 as both would be used). 4wd and big clearance would be handy for that 1 day in winter with snow but actually also for the rain we do get here.
I'd say you could try finding something like a Transporter with the 'conference style' rear seats, where you get 3 seats facing backwards behind the fronts, and 3 seats facing forwards in the back, coupled with the sliding doors, they'd make life so much easier for putting crying babies into it.
A family friend of ours had quadruplets (twin girls and twin boys) about 2 years ago, and the husband's immediate reaction was to buy a LWB VW Transporter and it's so big you can fit all 4 babies in their respective enormous child seats, and have plenty of room behind the seats to fit in the two twin buggies without any need to fold them up, along with all the "baby crap" that needs to live in the car.
They got one where all the seats face forwards, unfortunately, so the 2 boys are a bit of a hassle putting into the rearmost seats, but the two girls sit in the middle row and it's a dream to put them in.
I think it'd make life easier if you could find one with the conference style seats, as you could literally "walk" in and you'd have plenty of room in the middle to kneel and put babies into their seats without needing to be outside. Oh, yeah, and sliding doors, no need to worry about toddlers throwing a door open and placing their mark on the neighbouring car.
But of course, they're not going to be much fun to drive, and may be fairly uncomfortable since they're based on a van. Also, for the low mileage you're doing, you need a petrol and those van things only appear to come in diesel form.
Just my two-penny's worth.
A family friend of ours had quadruplets (twin girls and twin boys) about 2 years ago, and the husband's immediate reaction was to buy a LWB VW Transporter and it's so big you can fit all 4 babies in their respective enormous child seats, and have plenty of room behind the seats to fit in the two twin buggies without any need to fold them up, along with all the "baby crap" that needs to live in the car.
They got one where all the seats face forwards, unfortunately, so the 2 boys are a bit of a hassle putting into the rearmost seats, but the two girls sit in the middle row and it's a dream to put them in.
I think it'd make life easier if you could find one with the conference style seats, as you could literally "walk" in and you'd have plenty of room in the middle to kneel and put babies into their seats without needing to be outside. Oh, yeah, and sliding doors, no need to worry about toddlers throwing a door open and placing their mark on the neighbouring car.
But of course, they're not going to be much fun to drive, and may be fairly uncomfortable since they're based on a van. Also, for the low mileage you're doing, you need a petrol and those van things only appear to come in diesel form.
Just my two-penny's worth.
We have a 6 week old baby girl and our Audi A8L (D3) seems to be doing a good job as a family truckster. Tons of space in the back so no concerns at all with trying to fit in a massive baby carrier (I was surprised just how much space modern baby carriers take up). Big wide rear doors that open almost to 90deg so access is a cinch. Massive boot (501L) that is only a little smaller than an A6 avant (565L) but bigger than an A4 avant (490L) so easy to fit stuff in. Mum has taken to sitting in the back too and has realised that she prefers it as she can tend to baby and also luxuriate and lounge whilst ordering her chauffeur where to go next.
For me, I have plenty of V8 power, all wheel drive, super luxury air ride, tons of gadgetry, and I don't have to suffer the indignity or compromises of driving an obviously family orientated car.
In short any LWB saloon car makes for a surprisingly good and practical family hauler without being an obvious "family car".
For me, I have plenty of V8 power, all wheel drive, super luxury air ride, tons of gadgetry, and I don't have to suffer the indignity or compromises of driving an obviously family orientated car.
In short any LWB saloon car makes for a surprisingly good and practical family hauler without being an obvious "family car".
dvs_dave said:
We have a 6 week old baby girl and our Audi A8L (D3) seems to be doing a good job as a family truckster. Tons of space in the back so no concerns at all with trying to fit in a massive baby carrier (I was surprised just how much space modern baby carriers take up). Big wide rear doors that open almost to 90deg so access is a cinch. Massive boot (501L) that is only a little smaller than an A6 avant (565L) but bigger than an A4 avant (490L) so easy to fit stuff in. Mum has taken to sitting in the back too and has realised that she prefers it as she can tend to baby and also luxuriate and lounge whilst ordering her chauffeur where to go next.
For me, I have plenty of V8 power, all wheel drive, super luxury air ride, tons of gadgetry, and I don't have to suffer the indignity or compromises of driving an obviously family orientated car.
In short any LWB saloon car makes for a surprisingly good and practical family hauler without being an obvious "family car".
You cannot have 3 kids in the back row or two kids plus one adult for when one is ill or in a mood/strop. For me, I have plenty of V8 power, all wheel drive, super luxury air ride, tons of gadgetry, and I don't have to suffer the indignity or compromises of driving an obviously family orientated car.
In short any LWB saloon car makes for a surprisingly good and practical family hauler without being an obvious "family car".
Welshbeef said:
Merc GL
Merc ML
SMax
Galaxy
Seat Albramaha
VW Sharan
VW Touran
Volvo XC90
Renault Grand Scenic
Kia Careans
Hyundai Santa Fe
Citroen Grand Picasso C4
Land Rover Doscovery
Full fat Range Rover
Honda FRV
It's not a pretty picture is it!
Or what I'm really considering the Merc R class but it's 3 rows or two so two kids on different rows all the time I'm not sure I'll get away with that.
This is my current dilemma. Currently have a Volvo V50 estate which now that we have a new addition renders the centre seat useless. Merc ML
SMax
Galaxy
Seat Albramaha
VW Sharan
VW Touran
Volvo XC90
Renault Grand Scenic
Kia Careans
Hyundai Santa Fe
Citroen Grand Picasso C4
Land Rover Doscovery
Full fat Range Rover
Honda FRV
It's not a pretty picture is it!
Or what I'm really considering the Merc R class but it's 3 rows or two so two kids on different rows all the time I'm not sure I'll get away with that.
Edited by Welshbeef on Sunday 23 August 06:46
Edited by Welshbeef on Sunday 23 August 06:51
People movers aside (as I refuse to own one) what Euro estates can cope with two car seats in the back and still retain a usuable centre seat?
I was kind of hoping an circa 2006 BMW 5 series estate may cut it?
Geesus said:
This is my current dilemma. Currently have a Volvo V50 estate which now that we have a new addition renders the centre seat useless.
People movers aside (as I refuse to own one) what Euro estates can cope with two car seats in the back and still retain a usuable centre seat?
I was kind of hoping an circa 2006 BMW 5 series estate may cut it?
Nope not even the F10 5 series can do that and it's wider. People movers aside (as I refuse to own one) what Euro estates can cope with two car seats in the back and still retain a usuable centre seat?
I was kind of hoping an circa 2006 BMW 5 series estate may cut it?
When No1 son arrived I had a Cavalier SRi130 hatchback and Mrs Garvin had a Nova GTE (back when Vauxhalls were decent rides). The Cavalier was big enough for lugging around the buggy and travel cot etc.
When No2 son arrived (20 months later) the buggy morphed into a tandem double buggy and required something larger to lug it and all the other paraphanelia for two young ones around! No way on God's good earth was I going to become one of those emasculated males forced into a people carrier POS so I went the route of large comfortable barge. The Cavalier morphed into a series of Rover 800 hatchbacks which had an enormous boot, large comfortable cabin, lots of toys and did the job of transporting the whole family around for trips, visits and holidays where copious amounts of luggage was required. A much maligned car which was a lot better than most motoring journalists would have you believe!
For Mrs Garvin we elected for a four door hot hatch with big boot and good access - so a couple of MG Maestros followed. Up to the mark with hot hatches of the time in terms of performance but build standard was somewhat lacking and the engine that pulled like a tractor also sounded like one above 4k rpm! However, they did go and handle well!
As the lads grew and their sporting aspirations also increased the 800s morphed into a series of seven seat V8 Discoveries and the MGs into a range of smaller sporting hatchbacks when buggies et al were no longer required. The Discoveries had a boot big enough to swallow anything thrown at them including my set of golf clubs which stood upright with the rest of the holiday luggage packed around and also allowed the lads and a couple of their mates with full sporting gear (they both played County cricket at this time) to be hauled around to various matches.
The Dicoveries then morphed into a Range Rover and when the lads departed to Uni myself and Mrs Garvin indulged ourselves with a series of two seater sports car each, the RR being retained as the family bus.
In this way we managed to retain a semblance of petrolheadedness throughout our offspring growing up.
When No2 son arrived (20 months later) the buggy morphed into a tandem double buggy and required something larger to lug it and all the other paraphanelia for two young ones around! No way on God's good earth was I going to become one of those emasculated males forced into a people carrier POS so I went the route of large comfortable barge. The Cavalier morphed into a series of Rover 800 hatchbacks which had an enormous boot, large comfortable cabin, lots of toys and did the job of transporting the whole family around for trips, visits and holidays where copious amounts of luggage was required. A much maligned car which was a lot better than most motoring journalists would have you believe!
For Mrs Garvin we elected for a four door hot hatch with big boot and good access - so a couple of MG Maestros followed. Up to the mark with hot hatches of the time in terms of performance but build standard was somewhat lacking and the engine that pulled like a tractor also sounded like one above 4k rpm! However, they did go and handle well!
As the lads grew and their sporting aspirations also increased the 800s morphed into a series of seven seat V8 Discoveries and the MGs into a range of smaller sporting hatchbacks when buggies et al were no longer required. The Discoveries had a boot big enough to swallow anything thrown at them including my set of golf clubs which stood upright with the rest of the holiday luggage packed around and also allowed the lads and a couple of their mates with full sporting gear (they both played County cricket at this time) to be hauled around to various matches.
The Dicoveries then morphed into a Range Rover and when the lads departed to Uni myself and Mrs Garvin indulged ourselves with a series of two seater sports car each, the RR being retained as the family bus.
In this way we managed to retain a semblance of petrolheadedness throughout our offspring growing up.
Welshbeef said:
dvs_dave said:
We have a 6 week old baby girl and our Audi A8L (D3) seems to be doing a good job as a family truckster. Tons of space in the back so no concerns at all with trying to fit in a massive baby carrier (I was surprised just how much space modern baby carriers take up). Big wide rear doors that open almost to 90deg so access is a cinch. Massive boot (501L) that is only a little smaller than an A6 avant (565L) but bigger than an A4 avant (490L) so easy to fit stuff in. Mum has taken to sitting in the back too and has realised that she prefers it as she can tend to baby and also luxuriate and lounge whilst ordering her chauffeur where to go next.
For me, I have plenty of V8 power, all wheel drive, super luxury air ride, tons of gadgetry, and I don't have to suffer the indignity or compromises of driving an obviously family orientated car.
In short any LWB saloon car makes for a surprisingly good and practical family hauler without being an obvious "family car".
You cannot have 3 kids in the back row or two kids plus one adult for when one is ill or in a mood/strop. For me, I have plenty of V8 power, all wheel drive, super luxury air ride, tons of gadgetry, and I don't have to suffer the indignity or compromises of driving an obviously family orientated car.
In short any LWB saloon car makes for a surprisingly good and practical family hauler without being an obvious "family car".
dvs_dave said:
es you can, although with that many young kids there are better options overall. However a LWB saloon has a very wide 3 seat bench back there, all of which can take a child seat. The rear seat in a LWB saloon has more room in it than any other type of car or SUV. Trust me, I have researched this heavily, and nothing comes close to the rear bench space of a LWB saloon, inclusive of things like the R class, Cadillac Escalade ESV, and even full blown mini vans. Nothing comes close in terms of second row space apart from a LWB FFRR.
You do realise that a LWB A8 is no different in width to a SWb A8
XJ same
7 series ditto.
Infact I don't believe there is any LWB version of a car that is wider than its standard version. Happy to be proven wrong with the technical drawings confirming or not.
PomBstard said:
Joe M said:
Pretty much the same cars I thought of, was hoping someone had a more inspiring idea, haha.
Smax probably the most sensible for us out of that lot, but wondering if a 2012 vintage e220 would have the space, there cheaper than the equivalent 5 series, which didn't quite have the rear seat space.
New shape Forester - bigger inside than you'd think, XT is fun too. Plenty of room for three kids seats across the back - middle is easily useble with two seats in place. Was on my hit list when PB3 turned up, but boot not quite big enough with three - plenty for two though.Smax probably the most sensible for us out of that lot, but wondering if a 2012 vintage e220 would have the space, there cheaper than the equivalent 5 series, which didn't quite have the rear seat space.
What did you end up with?
Welshbeef said:
dvs_dave said:
es you can, although with that many young kids there are better options overall. However a LWB saloon has a very wide 3 seat bench back there, all of which can take a child seat. The rear seat in a LWB saloon has more room in it than any other type of car or SUV. Trust me, I have researched this heavily, and nothing comes close to the rear bench space of a LWB saloon, inclusive of things like the R class, Cadillac Escalade ESV, and even full blown mini vans. Nothing comes close in terms of second row space apart from a LWB FFRR.
You do realise that a LWB A8 is no different in width to a SWb A8
XJ same
7 series ditto.
Infact I don't believe there is any LWB version of a car that is wider than its standard version. Happy to be proven wrong with the technical drawings confirming or not.
Point I'm making: yes, ultimately there are more practical options out there (especially if you're a family of midgets), a minivan being by far the best but also the most un-PH. However a LWB saloon makes for a surprisingly good option for a couple of kids that people wouldn't normally consider, whilst still being very appealing to a typical PHer.
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