Family car - yes, pushchairs are huge!
Discussion
For baby #1 we managed fine with the Leon, the travel system went in easily with the lie flat chair.
Baby #2 has arrived and we've discovered that the double chair travel system and won't fit in the boot without plenty of faff, leaving no room for shopping.
Additionally, Dog needs to be relegated to the boot, sitting her between the kids in the middle is not going to work!
Mainly short journeys with the occasional long trip/holiday so would prefer petrol. Need satnav/phone - OH doesn't like big cars so something medium sized with parking sensors - any other tech a bonus
Ideally something which will fit a travel system and leave space for the dog (small lab sized), and once we ditch the pram and move to a double pushchair, something which will fit that in lengthways
Shortlist - looking £25-30k or equivalent lease
Seat Ateca - good boot, quite similar to Leon, annoyingly the SE Tech is only available in the 1.0 petrol or 1.6 diesel
VW Tiguan - SE Nav 1.4 TSI seems a good option, cheap leases (half tempted by the SEL for the awesome LCD dash!)
Q5/X3 - possibly worth buying at 1yo on HP and keeping for a few years?
Mazda 6 estate
Mazda CX-5
Skoda Superb - bit big?
Passat estate
Any other suggestions?
Baby #2 has arrived and we've discovered that the double chair travel system and won't fit in the boot without plenty of faff, leaving no room for shopping.
Additionally, Dog needs to be relegated to the boot, sitting her between the kids in the middle is not going to work!
Mainly short journeys with the occasional long trip/holiday so would prefer petrol. Need satnav/phone - OH doesn't like big cars so something medium sized with parking sensors - any other tech a bonus
Ideally something which will fit a travel system and leave space for the dog (small lab sized), and once we ditch the pram and move to a double pushchair, something which will fit that in lengthways
Shortlist - looking £25-30k or equivalent lease
Seat Ateca - good boot, quite similar to Leon, annoyingly the SE Tech is only available in the 1.0 petrol or 1.6 diesel
VW Tiguan - SE Nav 1.4 TSI seems a good option, cheap leases (half tempted by the SEL for the awesome LCD dash!)
Q5/X3 - possibly worth buying at 1yo on HP and keeping for a few years?
Mazda 6 estate
Mazda CX-5
Skoda Superb - bit big?
Passat estate
Any other suggestions?
Edited by essayer on Tuesday 25th October 17:27
These modern travel systems are a bugger aren't they? 
If you need the dog in the boot I reckon you're going to need a roof box unless you want a big faff every time you go out.
We tend to just shove our dog in the passenger footwear now & the OH goes in the back, but we've only got the one kid so it's easier.
Good luck
ETA: Passat would be my choice out of those
If you need the dog in the boot I reckon you're going to need a roof box unless you want a big faff every time you go out.
We tend to just shove our dog in the passenger footwear now & the OH goes in the back, but we've only got the one kid so it's easier.
Good luck
ETA: Passat would be my choice out of those
Edited by Sargeant Orange on Tuesday 25th October 23:24
Biased because I bought one last week, but nothing does "massive boot but I need a non-massive car" better than an Octavia Estate. I nearly didn't try it because I wanted a step up from my mk2 vRS but was convinced to give it a go. I was astonished at the leap forward in quality of the Mk 3 inside and out, and bought the thing.
Horses for courses but I prefer driving it to a Mk3 Focus ST I tried. That said, I can see why some people prefer the Focus. It's a bit spikier and lairy. The Octavia is more practical and more comfy on longer runs though, and while it has less power I felt I could use more of the power, more of the time.
Horses for courses but I prefer driving it to a Mk3 Focus ST I tried. That said, I can see why some people prefer the Focus. It's a bit spikier and lairy. The Octavia is more practical and more comfy on longer runs though, and while it has less power I felt I could use more of the power, more of the time.
Edited by blearyeyedboy on Wednesday 26th October 01:15
The only thing that puts me off with the whole VAG range - we've had the Leon for 2 years, and it's great, but the Octavia, Ateca, Tiguan, Leon FR are all pretty identical inside! A change does have appeal.
Of course what we should have done was buy the Leon FR or Octavia two years ago
Of course what we should have done was buy the Leon FR or Octavia two years ago
Granted we've only got one kid at the moment, but we've found that the pushchair with the wheels removed will fit in the rear footwell between the baby's car seat and the back of the passenger seat, freeing up the boot for the dog.
Alternatively it will fit in the boot on its side, and using bungee straps can be held in position at the side of the boot leaving the rest of the space for the dog.
I realise some of these travel systems can be very bulky though and you may have no option but to look at a roof box, though they may not be wide enough. Getting rid of our travel system and buying a (rather expensive) pushchair was the best decision we made.
Oh, and we went for a Ford Kuga. On paper the boot isn't massive, but its well shaped.
Alternatively it will fit in the boot on its side, and using bungee straps can be held in position at the side of the boot leaving the rest of the space for the dog.
I realise some of these travel systems can be very bulky though and you may have no option but to look at a roof box, though they may not be wide enough. Getting rid of our travel system and buying a (rather expensive) pushchair was the best decision we made.
Oh, and we went for a Ford Kuga. On paper the boot isn't massive, but its well shaped.
They mistake you've made is falling for the "you must have a travel system" line.
We bought a car for my wife on the basis of boot size alone, so it would fit a two child buggy in the boot. It's a Seat Mii.
Now admittedly we were never going to go touring Europe in that but we can get two adults and the two children in there.
We just changed my car - which we'll use for longer trips such as Ireland this weekend - from a Saab 9-3 to a Golf Estate. Again this is perfectly able to carry everything we'd need and a dog would certainly fit in the boot alongside a pushchair etc.
I did toy with the idea of a Discovery for those very rare occasions when I'd need to carry other adults but there wasn't one that met the criteria set out for my new job and within my budget, otherwise that would have been top of the "does absolutely everything" list.
We bought a car for my wife on the basis of boot size alone, so it would fit a two child buggy in the boot. It's a Seat Mii.
Now admittedly we were never going to go touring Europe in that but we can get two adults and the two children in there.
We just changed my car - which we'll use for longer trips such as Ireland this weekend - from a Saab 9-3 to a Golf Estate. Again this is perfectly able to carry everything we'd need and a dog would certainly fit in the boot alongside a pushchair etc.
I did toy with the idea of a Discovery for those very rare occasions when I'd need to carry other adults but there wasn't one that met the criteria set out for my new job and within my budget, otherwise that would have been top of the "does absolutely everything" list.
Ultimately the travel system (Oyster Max) works for our current arrangement (newborn in car seat or bassinet, 2yo in a seat). Our eldest is a bit too unpredictable to walk alongside a pushchair right now, and we like being able to move baby from the isofix base straight onto the travel system instead of taking him out of the car seat.
Both the car seats have isofix and floor supports, so this does knock out being able to use much of the rear passenger footwells for storage.
We do have a double pushchair, but I don't think we'll be using that for another six months or so. Even then, I can imagine it will fill much of a hatchback boot, and we still need to find room for the dog.
I understand why people buy Zafiras now.
Both the car seats have isofix and floor supports, so this does knock out being able to use much of the rear passenger footwells for storage.
We do have a double pushchair, but I don't think we'll be using that for another six months or so. Even then, I can imagine it will fill much of a hatchback boot, and we still need to find room for the dog.
I understand why people buy Zafiras now.
essayer said:
The only thing that puts me off with the whole VAG range - we've had the Leon for 2 years, and it's great, but the Octavia, Ateca, Tiguan, Leon FR are all pretty identical inside! A change does have appeal.
Of course what we should have done was buy the Leon FR or Octavia two years ago
I can relate to that want for a change, which is why I didn't look at another Octavia for ages. But I came to the conclusion that there's a reason it's the default choice.Of course what we should have done was buy the Leon FR or Octavia two years ago
A few years ago, I saw a Heston Blumenthal programme where he tried to make a cockatrice (a mythical creature) out of many different meats. After trying crocodile, python and zebra, he came to the conclusion that they were all awful. The reason we all eat lamb and chicken isn't that we're all afraid to change, but because they're good choices that work consistently. He then made a dish using beef, lamb, chicken and pork instead...
I felt similarly after weighing up my options for a mid-sized estate.
Would sir like VAG flavour, Ford flavour, or Volvo flavour?
The PH kitchen is aware of some establishments offering value Zafira dishes or similar, but Sir can dine better than that. ;-)
EDIT: What the chap below me said. Mazda 5 is a decent car.
Edited by blearyeyedboy on Wednesday 26th October 22:24
Why not take a look at the Mazda 5 (I know it's an MPV) but it's shorter than an Octavia/Mondeo etc whilst still having the space you need & it's more practical than the CX5 on your short list plus you can save a chunk of money from your budget & wangle yourself a weekend toy with the savings 
2015 Mazda 5 (with everything options wise)
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
2015 Mazda 5 (with everything options wise)
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
Passat or Mazda 6 looking like the contenders so far, although still looking!
I've realised I need a retractable boot cover - most of the SUV style cars have a hatchback-style one piece cover, removing it whenever we take the dog anywhere would be a faff.
The CR-V has a retractable cover as standard, there's a kit for it on the CX-5 and X3, but not for the Ateca/Tiguan..
How exciting
I've realised I need a retractable boot cover - most of the SUV style cars have a hatchback-style one piece cover, removing it whenever we take the dog anywhere would be a faff.
The CR-V has a retractable cover as standard, there's a kit for it on the CX-5 and X3, but not for the Ateca/Tiguan..
How exciting
essayer said:
For baby #1 we managed fine with the Leon, the travel system went in easily with the lie flat chair.
Baby #2 has arrived and we've discovered that the double chair travel system and won't fit in the boot without plenty of faff, leaving no room for shopping.
Additionally, Dog needs to be relegated to the boot, sitting her between the kids in the middle is not going to work!
Mainly short journeys with the occasional long trip/holiday so would prefer petrol. Need satnav/phone - OH doesn't like big cars so something medium sized with parking sensors - any other tech a bonus
Ideally something which will fit a travel system and leave space for the dog (small lab sized), and once we ditch the pram and move to a double pushchair, something which will fit that in lengthways
Shortlist - looking £25-30k or equivalent lease
Seat Ateca - good boot, quite similar to Leon, annoyingly the SE Tech is only available in the 1.0 petrol or 1.6 diesel
VW Tiguan - SE Nav 1.4 TSI seems a good option, cheap leases (half tempted by the SEL for the awesome LCD dash!)
Q5/X3 - possibly worth buying at 1yo on HP and keeping for a few years?
Mazda 6 estate
Mazda CX-5
Skoda Superb - bit big?
Passat estate
Any other suggestions?
Skoda Yeti. Brilliant packaging. Go have a look at one Baby #2 has arrived and we've discovered that the double chair travel system and won't fit in the boot without plenty of faff, leaving no room for shopping.
Additionally, Dog needs to be relegated to the boot, sitting her between the kids in the middle is not going to work!
Mainly short journeys with the occasional long trip/holiday so would prefer petrol. Need satnav/phone - OH doesn't like big cars so something medium sized with parking sensors - any other tech a bonus
Ideally something which will fit a travel system and leave space for the dog (small lab sized), and once we ditch the pram and move to a double pushchair, something which will fit that in lengthways
Shortlist - looking £25-30k or equivalent lease
Seat Ateca - good boot, quite similar to Leon, annoyingly the SE Tech is only available in the 1.0 petrol or 1.6 diesel
VW Tiguan - SE Nav 1.4 TSI seems a good option, cheap leases (half tempted by the SEL for the awesome LCD dash!)
Q5/X3 - possibly worth buying at 1yo on HP and keeping for a few years?
Mazda 6 estate
Mazda CX-5
Skoda Superb - bit big?
Passat estate
Any other suggestions?
Edited by essayer on Tuesday 25th October 17:27
Ahbefive said:
Travel system lol.
I have 2 kids and never had any issues using car seats and buggys in a Subaru legacy, Volvo S60 or Impreza. You don't need a bus and a travel system.
Happy to hear suggestions on transport for a toddler (walking, but liable to run away) and a newborn (has to lie flat..) smaller than an Oyster Max!I have 2 kids and never had any issues using car seats and buggys in a Subaru legacy, Volvo S60 or Impreza. You don't need a bus and a travel system.
FWIW I found a great site for finding the boot sizes
http://www.rica.org.uk/content/car-search
Apparently the Octavia estate has a longer boot (seats up) than the Superb!
Isn't the Mondeo still the class leader for what you're looking at? For that money you can get a range topping 240bhp petrol or a boring diesel, if that's your thing. BTW, slightly biased, I have 3 boys under 4 so bought a 2012 240bhp Mondeo Estate for business/family duties, plus it goes alright when you poke it. I had a 2014 Mazda 6 Estate 2.2D prior to this, was short on space in the back, seemed a bit narrow to me.
In the end ..
I went for the Tiguan ..
Not as much boot space as some of the estates, but plenty of room in the cabin and spacious in the rear - pram fits easily and so does the dog! Sensors all round so hopefully the missus will be fine driving it
Cheap on a lease, although I did step up to the SEL version as one was available from stock, and the active dashboard and LED lights were just too tempting.
Thanks all for the suggestions. Anyone want to buy a Seat Leon?
I went for the Tiguan ..
Not as much boot space as some of the estates, but plenty of room in the cabin and spacious in the rear - pram fits easily and so does the dog! Sensors all round so hopefully the missus will be fine driving it
Cheap on a lease, although I did step up to the SEL version as one was available from stock, and the active dashboard and LED lights were just too tempting.
Thanks all for the suggestions. Anyone want to buy a Seat Leon?
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