The Mrs is pregnant - does a 3 door hatch work?
Discussion
Before you decide, go and buy your pram/travel system. See how it fits in the boot.
We specifically bought one that folds nice and small. Yes, the pram fits nicely in the boot of the Golf, but it leaves no room for shopping/luggage/bags etc. You end up having to put bags in the cabin space, which would make all kinds of mess if a crash was to happen.
Even a large saloon can be tight for boot loading, as the boot opening can be tight and prams are big!
I'd look for either a mid-size estate, or a large hatch/estate.
We specifically bought one that folds nice and small. Yes, the pram fits nicely in the boot of the Golf, but it leaves no room for shopping/luggage/bags etc. You end up having to put bags in the cabin space, which would make all kinds of mess if a crash was to happen.
Even a large saloon can be tight for boot loading, as the boot opening can be tight and prams are big!
I'd look for either a mid-size estate, or a large hatch/estate.
Yes, absolutely.
Common misconception that a tiny baby necessitates a minibus to transport around. I've had a few cars since our little one first arrived (she's now 2 and a half)
Toyota Celica 190 (fuel was...expensive)
Focus TDCi Sport (3dr)
Peugeot 306 DTurbo (3dr)
Still have the 306. Love it. It's worthless, fun to drive, quick enough and more frugal than a really frugal thing.
The 3 door thing isn't a problem at all. Doors are bigger, so the loading aperture is actually more accessible. You can physically stand front-on to the child seat which makes strapping them in really easy (and you don't get wet if it's raining). No struggling to reach across them to get to the seatbelt etc. I'm no spring chicken either - and we aren't talking about gigantic modern cars. There genuinely is no disadvantage to having 2 fewer doors - especially if your situation is like mine and you use your car primarily for commuting and occasionally for transporting the family. Why drive a crap looking 5-door when 3 doors isn't a compromise?!
Common misconception that a tiny baby necessitates a minibus to transport around. I've had a few cars since our little one first arrived (she's now 2 and a half)
Toyota Celica 190 (fuel was...expensive)
Focus TDCi Sport (3dr)
Peugeot 306 DTurbo (3dr)
Still have the 306. Love it. It's worthless, fun to drive, quick enough and more frugal than a really frugal thing.
The 3 door thing isn't a problem at all. Doors are bigger, so the loading aperture is actually more accessible. You can physically stand front-on to the child seat which makes strapping them in really easy (and you don't get wet if it's raining). No struggling to reach across them to get to the seatbelt etc. I'm no spring chicken either - and we aren't talking about gigantic modern cars. There genuinely is no disadvantage to having 2 fewer doors - especially if your situation is like mine and you use your car primarily for commuting and occasionally for transporting the family. Why drive a crap looking 5-door when 3 doors isn't a compromise?!
Butter Face said:
My first is due in July, my CTR is going nowhere.
Though, to be fair, my wife has a 1 series which is the family car.
Good luck with that.Though, to be fair, my wife has a 1 series which is the family car.
To give you a visualisation, here is a pram in the back of a 1-series;
You now have your supermarket trolley at the back of the car loaded with boxes of nappies, wipes, weekly groceries, bog rolls, etc. Where do you put it?
The next day, you are going on holiday or visiting your family/friends for a few days and you have a couple of small suitcases to take.
See where this is going?
Congrats!
We use a MINI Clubman S as family transport for the last 4 years (we have a two year old and five year old). We have a roof box for holidays/ visiting family. Kids soon grow up enough to plug themselves in. As others have said, it can be a little back breaking at times, but not too bad.
Mike
(we do have a Nissan Note (wifes car) and a VW T25 camper too.)
We use a MINI Clubman S as family transport for the last 4 years (we have a two year old and five year old). We have a roof box for holidays/ visiting family. Kids soon grow up enough to plug themselves in. As others have said, it can be a little back breaking at times, but not too bad.
Mike
(we do have a Nissan Note (wifes car) and a VW T25 camper too.)
Its a pain with a baby. Once they are 3 or so its much easier as they can climb in themselves.
A 4door saloon is so much easier.
Also with your most prized, valuable and fragile possession in the back seat a 3door hatch is likely to be less safe if a car drives into the back of you which is the most common car crash scenario. My legacy was a wreck when someone went into the back of it at 20mph, luckily no kids in the back. In a clio the offending car would have been in the back seat. That made me buy a Volvo.
A 4door saloon is so much easier.
Also with your most prized, valuable and fragile possession in the back seat a 3door hatch is likely to be less safe if a car drives into the back of you which is the most common car crash scenario. My legacy was a wreck when someone went into the back of it at 20mph, luckily no kids in the back. In a clio the offending car would have been in the back seat. That made me buy a Volvo.
As always, you have to apply common sense.
Can you manage with a three door car? Yes of course.
Will it be easier with a five door? Obviously.
When my lad was born, wifey had a three door Corsa C, and at the time we were not in a position to change it, so we made do and managed just fine.
At the time, I had a e90 3 series, and to my amazement, the pram that we bought that fit in the Corsa (just) would not go in the BM because of the shape of the boot opening, so be aware that bigger is not always better.
Can you manage with a three door car? Yes of course.
Will it be easier with a five door? Obviously.
When my lad was born, wifey had a three door Corsa C, and at the time we were not in a position to change it, so we made do and managed just fine.
At the time, I had a e90 3 series, and to my amazement, the pram that we bought that fit in the Corsa (just) would not go in the BM because of the shape of the boot opening, so be aware that bigger is not always better.
FreeLitres said:
Butter Face said:
My first is due in July, my CTR is going nowhere.
Though, to be fair, my wife has a 1 series which is the family car.
Good luck with that.Though, to be fair, my wife has a 1 series which is the family car.
To give you a visualisation, here is a pram in the back of a 1-series;
You now have your supermarket trolley at the back of the car loaded with boxes of nappies, wipes, weekly groceries, bog rolls, etc. Where do you put it?
The next day, you are going on holiday or visiting your family/friends for a few days and you have a couple of small suitcases to take.
See where this is going?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AEaRIcUZT80
Boot space is saved!
And shopping is done online anyway!
As always, you have to apply common sense.
Can you manage with a three door car? Yes of course.
Will it be easier with a five door? Obviously.
When my lad was born, wifey had a three door Corsa C, and at the time we were not in a position to change it, so we made do and managed just fine.
At the time, I had a e90 3 series, and to my amazement, the pram that we bought that fit in the Corsa (just) would not go in the BM because of the shape of the boot opening, so be aware that bigger is not always better.
Can you manage with a three door car? Yes of course.
Will it be easier with a five door? Obviously.
When my lad was born, wifey had a three door Corsa C, and at the time we were not in a position to change it, so we made do and managed just fine.
At the time, I had a e90 3 series, and to my amazement, the pram that we bought that fit in the Corsa (just) would not go in the BM because of the shape of the boot opening, so be aware that bigger is not always better.
We're about four weeks away from a sprog landing and as a result we're changing her fiat 500 for a 5dr Fabia 1.2 DSG when the lease is up. A Fabia is not a whole lot bigger (my car will still be used to sort the family shopping trip) but for the nipping around she does with just a pram in the boot the extra set of doors makes things so much easier.
My missus is a short arse too so leaning into the back of a 3 door would be awkward for her.
I had my eye on something a bit more nippy (ST or Ibiza FR/Cupra) but she wants an auto too so there's not much out there for the Fiesta/Ibiza class car she wanted.
If she'd just drive a bigger car I'd put her in an Legnum VR-4 or something...
My missus is a short arse too so leaning into the back of a 3 door would be awkward for her.
I had my eye on something a bit more nippy (ST or Ibiza FR/Cupra) but she wants an auto too so there's not much out there for the Fiesta/Ibiza class car she wanted.
If she'd just drive a bigger car I'd put her in an Legnum VR-4 or something...
f1nn said:
As always, you have to apply common sense.
Can you manage with a three door car? Yes of course.
Will it be easier with a five door? Obviously.
When my lad was born, wifey had a three door Corsa C, and at the time we were not in a position to change it, so we made do and managed just fine.
At the time, I had a e90 3 series, and to my amazement, the pram that we bought that fit in the Corsa (just) would not go in the BM because of the shape of the boot opening, so be aware that bigger is not always better.
Lines 2 & 3 spell this out exactly. You could cope with 3 but life will be easier with 4/5 doors. Forgetting all other things re luggage, boot space, with the C5 we just open the door and pop the seat onto the base that is fitted into the car. Takes 5 seconds max. The odd time I take my son out in the 330ci I end up jumping in the back, stretching over etc trying to fiddle with clips/belts and it takes a lot longer. I must say if the BMW was our only car I would have swapped - it's fine once in a while but I couldn't do that every day. Can you manage with a three door car? Yes of course.
Will it be easier with a five door? Obviously.
When my lad was born, wifey had a three door Corsa C, and at the time we were not in a position to change it, so we made do and managed just fine.
At the time, I had a e90 3 series, and to my amazement, the pram that we bought that fit in the Corsa (just) would not go in the BM because of the shape of the boot opening, so be aware that bigger is not always better.
patmahe said:
This thread's title is why I love this place 
Congrats OP - shhh don't tell anyone but there are more important things than cars.
Skoda Octavia vrs hatch/estate would be a good shout for something family oriented but still fun.
this, go for the petrol estateCongrats OP - shhh don't tell anyone but there are more important things than cars.
Skoda Octavia vrs hatch/estate would be a good shout for something family oriented but still fun.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
Edited by briang9 on Monday 9th March 23:52
Congratulations!
I changed my Mk 3 MX-5 for a Panda 100HP when my (ex) got pregnant. It didn't work (the car, although ok the relationship didn't either) - if you're anything more than 30 you'll do your back in getting the little darling and their lead filled baby chaise longue in and out of the car.
I thought sod it and bought a new Yeti, and left the speed for my race car. My ex goes pale whenever my 3 year old little girl says she's going to be a race driver like daddy...
I changed my Mk 3 MX-5 for a Panda 100HP when my (ex) got pregnant. It didn't work (the car, although ok the relationship didn't either) - if you're anything more than 30 you'll do your back in getting the little darling and their lead filled baby chaise longue in and out of the car.
I thought sod it and bought a new Yeti, and left the speed for my race car. My ex goes pale whenever my 3 year old little girl says she's going to be a race driver like daddy...
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