The Mrs is pregnant - does a 3 door hatch work?
Discussion
andy_s said:
Oh no, no disadvantages at all....no siree.
An interesting recurring theme of this thread is complaints of back problems. I wonder if that's because the age of new parents is getting older on average? If you're having back problems raising a baby you are either seriously unfit or "getting on a bit".
C.A.R. said:
I...I don't get it. Is that sarcasm?
An interesting recurring theme of this thread is complaints of back problems. I wonder if that's because the age of new parents is getting older on average? If you're having back problems raising a baby you are either seriously unfit or "getting on a bit".
What utter tosh. An interesting recurring theme of this thread is complaints of back problems. I wonder if that's because the age of new parents is getting older on average? If you're having back problems raising a baby you are either seriously unfit or "getting on a bit".
Try lifting up to what 20lbs bending in back twisted and stretching fully. Its really bad for the back.
Its really bad for he back to carry the child in one arm more so than sharing it between both. Same as if your a school kid carrying a school bag always on one shoulder its very bad.
TheInternet said:
AlmostUseful said:
Exactly, you've got enough crap to worry about with kid, you don't need to be faffing around playing tetris trying to load boot up with nackered back after leaning in to load baby.
I bought 3 series touring for imminent arrival and wife got Qashqai, to be honest I wish I'd bought myself X3/5 or even discovery - I hit daughters head on roof probably 20% of the times I load her, it doesn't happen with high roofs...
I bought 3 series touring for imminent arrival and wife got Qashqai, to be honest I wish I'd bought myself X3/5 or even discovery - I hit daughters head on roof probably 20% of the times I load her, it doesn't happen with high roofs...
FreeLitres said:
AlmostUseful said:
I bought a 3 series touring for our imminent arrival and the wife got a Qashqai, to be honest I wish I'd bought myself an X3/5 or even a discovery - I hit daughters head on the roof probably 20% of the times I load her, it doesn't happen with high roofs (or careful parents...)
What is the Qashqai like as a family car? How big is the boot? I'm currently choosing my next car and the Qashai is on the list but I am currently favouring a Passat/Mazda6 estate.
t but my wife loves it. It's probably more useful than my 330 but it's not as fast so generally when we go out we take my car anyway. I suppose it depends on your needs or wants, I'd rather a lower car for general driving so I'd pick the Passat (Not a fan of the rattly engine in the mazda) but if you wanted something similar to a qashqai with less of the japaneseyness then get a tiguan.
Sounds like Someone has made the great decision to have a family and then expects not to make any compromises .... Um yea good luck with that.
Its like saying you'll get enough sleep and it will not last that long... Um you could be lucky most are not and its YEARS of little/badly broken sleep night after night.
Prepare for sensible options and how you will operate ie maybe a night a week stay in a B&B do you can get quality sleep
Its like saying you'll get enough sleep and it will not last that long... Um you could be lucky most are not and its YEARS of little/badly broken sleep night after night.
Prepare for sensible options and how you will operate ie maybe a night a week stay in a B&B do you can get quality sleep
Welshbeef said:
C.A.R. said:
I...I don't get it. Is that sarcasm?
An interesting recurring theme of this thread is complaints of back problems. I wonder if that's because the age of new parents is getting older on average? If you're having back problems raising a baby you are either seriously unfit or "getting on a bit".
What utter tosh. An interesting recurring theme of this thread is complaints of back problems. I wonder if that's because the age of new parents is getting older on average? If you're having back problems raising a baby you are either seriously unfit or "getting on a bit".
Try lifting up to what 20lbs bending in back twisted and stretching fully. Its really bad for the back.
Its really bad for he back to carry the child in one arm more so than sharing it between both. Same as if your a school kid carrying a school bag always on one shoulder its very bad.
When my first was born I had a 3 door and my wife had a 4 door. It's perfectly possible to manage with a 3 door car but with a new baby there are plenty of other challenges going on in your life, having an awkward car doesn't need to be one of them.
AlmostUseful said:
FreeLitres said:
AlmostUseful said:
I bought a 3 series touring for our imminent arrival and the wife got a Qashqai, to be honest I wish I'd bought myself an X3/5 or even a discovery - I hit daughters head on the roof probably 20% of the times I load her, it doesn't happen with high roofs (or careful parents...)
What is the Qashqai like as a family car? How big is the boot? I'm currently choosing my next car and the Qashai is on the list but I am currently favouring a Passat/Mazda6 estate.t but my wife loves it. It's probably more useful than my 330 but it's not as fast so generally when we go out we take my car anyway. I suppose it depends on your needs or wants, I'd rather a lower car for general driving so I'd pick the Passat (Not a fan of the rattly engine in the mazda) but if you wanted something similar to a qashqai with less of the japaneseyness then get a tiguan.
My daughters just gone 4 months..
We've a newish Ibiza 3 door tdi on lease that goes back in July (weren't really considering kids when took it out) nice car and managed ok, space wasn't an issue but it was a bit awkward getting the car seat in the back - isofix made this pretty easy still.
So I went and bought *myself* a 550i (Touring as they're more cool)
The wife has now nicked the 550 and installed isofix base on the back seat and the pushchair lives in the boot! and now I run around in the Ibiza..
Think I've been done.
We've a newish Ibiza 3 door tdi on lease that goes back in July (weren't really considering kids when took it out) nice car and managed ok, space wasn't an issue but it was a bit awkward getting the car seat in the back - isofix made this pretty easy still.
So I went and bought *myself* a 550i (Touring as they're more cool)
The wife has now nicked the 550 and installed isofix base on the back seat and the pushchair lives in the boot! and now I run around in the Ibiza..
Think I've been done.
OK - my family fleet from when my daughter was aged 0-3 was basically an XKR and an MX-5. The XKR was the 'family car' and the MX-5 was used when only two needed to travel. Neither me nor my wife have experienced any back problems as a result.
The maxim is that the crap expands to fill the space provided. Go of a Maclaren buggy and a small infant carrier initially, or you'll wind up with a monstrous pile of scaffolding that you just don't need consuming space in your car, house, and any cafe or restaurant you bung up with your needless, shiny, big-wheeled contraptions (also known as 'travel systems').
Here's the thing; your baby doesn't care, and by the time they grow out of that infant carrier they can at least help themselves into that child seat, and by about 16-18 months my little girl was climbing in by herself (though the lower seat of a sports car made this easier for her...)
A good rule of thumb is to set out the stuff you think you need to have with you at all times, and then take half of it with you. You'll manage. Anyone who thinks you need some massive SUV just because you've got one or two kids is just being silly. If you've secretly always wanted one and want to use having kids as an excuse, then fine, but nobody 'needs' anything bigger than a Golf for family life of two small kids or less. Three doors is fine if that's what you want.
The maxim is that the crap expands to fill the space provided. Go of a Maclaren buggy and a small infant carrier initially, or you'll wind up with a monstrous pile of scaffolding that you just don't need consuming space in your car, house, and any cafe or restaurant you bung up with your needless, shiny, big-wheeled contraptions (also known as 'travel systems').
Here's the thing; your baby doesn't care, and by the time they grow out of that infant carrier they can at least help themselves into that child seat, and by about 16-18 months my little girl was climbing in by herself (though the lower seat of a sports car made this easier for her...)
A good rule of thumb is to set out the stuff you think you need to have with you at all times, and then take half of it with you. You'll manage. Anyone who thinks you need some massive SUV just because you've got one or two kids is just being silly. If you've secretly always wanted one and want to use having kids as an excuse, then fine, but nobody 'needs' anything bigger than a Golf for family life of two small kids or less. Three doors is fine if that's what you want.
So OP, congrats.
The issue is not whether the car has 2,3,4 or 5 doors, but more whether you can manhandle the kid in a car carrier into position than anything.
My wife is very petite so we bought a Peg Perego system consisting of a carrier, base and pushchair that took the carrier at birth and convert to pushchair when the boy got older. The Peg Perego system was very, very light at the time.
Practice using real weights. If you can manage a 2 or 3 door car, that's great, but now may be a good time to get a 4/5 door car and end the worries.
The issue is not whether the car has 2,3,4 or 5 doors, but more whether you can manhandle the kid in a car carrier into position than anything.
My wife is very petite so we bought a Peg Perego system consisting of a carrier, base and pushchair that took the carrier at birth and convert to pushchair when the boy got older. The Peg Perego system was very, very light at the time.
Practice using real weights. If you can manage a 2 or 3 door car, that's great, but now may be a good time to get a 4/5 door car and end the worries.
We had a small 3 door 107 as her car, as soon as we had bought the carseat and pram, it was obvious it was going to be a pain in the arse squeezing the car seat through the door and past the folded down seats. So that went and she bought a brand new 5door Aygo as she still wanted a small car. We are now finding that a pain in the arse with the pram and also the passenger seat need to be fully forward to be able to click the carseat in the isofix, then you can pull the seat nack a little bit.
She now wants to get rid of the car for something larger
She now wants to get rid of the car for something larger
PaulG40 said:
We had a small 3 door 107 as her car, as soon as we had bought the carseat and pram, it was obvious it was going to be a pain in the arse squeezing the car seat through the door and past the folded down seats. So that went and she bought a brand new 5door Aygo as she still wanted a small car. We are now finding that a pain in the arse with the pram and also the passenger seat need to be fully forward to be able to click the carseat in the isofix, then you can pull the seat nack a little bit.
She now wants to get rid of the car for something larger
Good point. In small cars ie Leon/Golf when we had one child if the seat was in place baby carrier for me >6'2" my knees we hard against the dashShe now wants to get rid of the car for something larger
Once we moved onto forward facing the problem got worse so that I simply couldn't sit in front of a baby seat due to no legroom up front. A bigger car makes a lot of difference in this respect.
Oh if you go for the what is soon to be compulsory rear facing into they are 8/9 yo that contraption is so large the front seat needs to be forward to its maximum in setting.
Had a 3 door Golf when ours was little. Didn't have any Tetris problems, just fold the front seat forward then step into the back of the car and sit on the back of the front seat. More comfortable than the bending I currently have to do with 5 doors.
Only problem was when someone parks too close and can't get the door open far enough, but I've had the same problem with the 5 door too.
As long as the boot is big enough, a 3 door Clio will do the job.
Only problem was when someone parks too close and can't get the door open far enough, but I've had the same problem with the 5 door too.
As long as the boot is big enough, a 3 door Clio will do the job.
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