3 Car Seats (1 Toddler / 2 Babies) - What Car???
Discussion
I see this thread has been done a few times before, but some time ago - so it's time to ask again (given I know a few model spec's have changed).
We've got a 2 year old daughter and twins on the way, so we have to change cars as our current fleed just can't cope with 3 child seats and two adults.
I've trawled the web and we've taken a look at a few cars in the flesh, but I'm struggling to find a car which ticks all the boxes. So I could really use the PH collective wisdom and experience to help me out.
The ideal would be to have a car with 3 Isofix mounts in the rear seats (second row), so we would have the twins in the centre and outside and our 2 y/o on the other. We have the isofix seat bases which allow the baby car seats to clip - so it's easier for the missus to manhandle a seat into the centre than a wrigging child (and then get her belted in)!
I'm 6'4 and powerfu... big - which has ruled out the Honda FR-V for example.
The missus would prefer we don't have a "bus" (e.g. VW Sharan size) as she will drive it the most, at least during the week.
We need decent load space for the double buggy of some sort (it's probably going to be massive), plus luggage (as we will likely be holidaying in the UK for the next few years at least, if at all).
The only car we've found with this configuration (in a missus pleasing package) is the Ford S-Max - but only the models from late 2010 onwards. Given we didn't expect twins (although clearly we should have planned for the "worst case") we hadn't put anything aside to buy a new car - so dropping a significant amount of cash at short notice isn't very appealing.
Grateful if anyone can suggest a viable alternative?
We've got a 2 year old daughter and twins on the way, so we have to change cars as our current fleed just can't cope with 3 child seats and two adults.
I've trawled the web and we've taken a look at a few cars in the flesh, but I'm struggling to find a car which ticks all the boxes. So I could really use the PH collective wisdom and experience to help me out.
The ideal would be to have a car with 3 Isofix mounts in the rear seats (second row), so we would have the twins in the centre and outside and our 2 y/o on the other. We have the isofix seat bases which allow the baby car seats to clip - so it's easier for the missus to manhandle a seat into the centre than a wrigging child (and then get her belted in)!
I'm 6'4 and powerfu... big - which has ruled out the Honda FR-V for example.
The missus would prefer we don't have a "bus" (e.g. VW Sharan size) as she will drive it the most, at least during the week.
We need decent load space for the double buggy of some sort (it's probably going to be massive), plus luggage (as we will likely be holidaying in the UK for the next few years at least, if at all).
The only car we've found with this configuration (in a missus pleasing package) is the Ford S-Max - but only the models from late 2010 onwards. Given we didn't expect twins (although clearly we should have planned for the "worst case") we hadn't put anything aside to buy a new car - so dropping a significant amount of cash at short notice isn't very appealing.
Grateful if anyone can suggest a viable alternative?
james_tigerwoods said:
Done
Zod said:
Budget?
If you can stretch to it, an E70 X5 with third row is how we do it.
XC90 will do it and be cheaper.
Technically there is no budget - so a cheaper option would be prefereable as the bulk of the cost is likely to come straight out of the savings. Ideally I would like to keep it sub £10k, but given it's probably going to last quite a few years I might be able to mentally justify pushing that further.If you can stretch to it, an E70 X5 with third row is how we do it.
XC90 will do it and be cheaper.
We aren't considering finance as it's likely the wife is going to have to take a career break, as the cost of 3 in nursery is eyewatering.
Edited by Rinko on Thursday 20th October 12:48
Zod said:
with third row is how we do it.
One thing to think about with the third row scenario, is how close the rear seats are to the back of the car.If you are rear ended, then seats close up to the rear of the car will be quite unsafe, and as you are obviously going for safety with the isofix stuff, then you may want to think about this.
it's the reason I would never buy most people carriers, and try to shove all three into one row
They are far enough away and the car is designed for the third row. It's not some joke add-on. Do you think BMW thought, "Oh let's just bung a third row of seats. If a few X5s get rear-ended and the kids get killed, we can weather the bad publicity"?
ETA - the third row is designed to cope with a 50mph rear collision, according to some quick google research..
ETA - the third row is designed to cope with a 50mph rear collision, according to some quick google research..
Edited by Zod on Thursday 20th October 12:56
Disco 3 without needing to use the boot seats. Has 3 x isofix in second row as requested.
My poor, poor mate has 3 x under 3's including a newborn, the poor sod.
ETA: He got a 5yo LPG'd V8 for 12k iirc. Diseasels also available apparantly.
My poor, poor mate has 3 x under 3's including a newborn, the poor sod.
ETA: He got a 5yo LPG'd V8 for 12k iirc. Diseasels also available apparantly.
Edited by richardxjr on Thursday 20th October 12:53
Rinko said:
james_tigerwoods said:
Done
Can't you buy the Multipla AND something pointy?
richardxjr said:
My poor, poor mate has 3 x under 3's including a newborn, the poor sod.
Ouch. Catholic is he? Zod said:
They are far enough away and the car is designed for the third row. It's not some joke add-on. Do you think BMW thought, "Oh let's just bung a third row of seats. If a few X5s get rear-ended and the kids get killed, we can weather the bad publicity"?
ETA - the third row is designed to cope with a 50mph rear collision, according to some quick google research..
wasn't actually meaning just the bmw, just third rows in general.ETA - the third row is designed to cope with a 50mph rear collision, according to some quick google research..
Edited by Zod on Thursday 20th October 12:56
for example, look how close your head is to the back of this c-max:
richardxjr said:
Disco 3 without needing to use the boot seats. Has 3 x isofix in second row as requested.
My poor, poor mate has 3 x under 3's including a newborn, the poor sod.
ETA: He got a 5yo LPG'd V8 for 12k iirc. Diseasels also available apparantly.
Hmm - my reservations about the Disco would be reliability and running costs, but if it's got 3x Isofix it's deffo worth a look. I remember all the horror stories about earlier Discovery's - any idea which year/generation/model would be a "safe" option?My poor, poor mate has 3 x under 3's including a newborn, the poor sod.
ETA: He got a 5yo LPG'd V8 for 12k iirc. Diseasels also available apparantly.
Edited by richardxjr on Thursday 20th October 12:53
If I can get a list of possible options together, I might drive over to a car supermarket and see what they are like in the flesh (and get the Wife's reaction).
james_tigerwoods said:
Gutted
Can't you buy the Multipla AND something pointy?
Love to, but I think we are going to be a 1 car family for a while to save some cash. I only have a 3 mile commute to work and my road bike is sat in the garage gathering dust, so it's a bit of a no brainer.Can't you buy the Multipla AND something pointy?
Zod said:
Budget?
If you can stretch to it, an E70 X5 with third row is how we do it.
XC90 will do it and be cheaper.
Meant to ask in my earlier response - does the XC90 have the 3x isofix, and/or does the centre seat have a ceiling mount 3 point or a lap belt?If you can stretch to it, an E70 X5 with third row is how we do it.
XC90 will do it and be cheaper.
Edited by Rinko on Thursday 20th October 13:32
We had the exact same scenario and bought an SMAX 2.0diesel Zetec.
I wanted a large estate car, the V70 is the widest and will fit three car seats but on test drives etc... we still found it difficuly to get down to put the middle one in and reaching down between the seats to get buckles in etcc was still a challenge.
The three independant seats in MPV's really offer so much over a large car, plus 2 spare seats in the back for emergency use.
It was between SMAX or C4 grand picasso, the ford just felt better but was more expensive. Don't be fooled though by talk of it feeling like a car, it doesn't, it feels like a van.
I wanted a large estate car, the V70 is the widest and will fit three car seats but on test drives etc... we still found it difficuly to get down to put the middle one in and reaching down between the seats to get buckles in etcc was still a challenge.
The three independant seats in MPV's really offer so much over a large car, plus 2 spare seats in the back for emergency use.
It was between SMAX or C4 grand picasso, the ford just felt better but was more expensive. Don't be fooled though by talk of it feeling like a car, it doesn't, it feels like a van.
Rinko said:
We've got a 2 year old daughter and twins on the way
Ditto 4 weeks to go, our daughter is 3 so is now into a booster seat. I bought a Discovery 2, can certainly get 2 toddler seats and a baby seat across the back and don't see any specific problems getting 2 baby seats (on Isofix bases) and a toddler seat in between. Efbe said:
Not a no-brainer when you realise how bloody cold it was this morning!
I commuted on it for a year when the wife was off with our daughter, so I am vaguely aware (albeit probably a little rose tinted) of what it's like. I only use the car now because the missus leaves before me in the morning and I have to run the little one to nursery (probably why I can't fit in a FR-V!).Edited by Rinko on Thursday 20th October 13:42
mattnunn said:
We had the exact same scenario and bought an SMAX 2.0diesel Zetec.
I wanted a large estate car, the V70 is the widest and will fit three car seats but on test drives etc... we still found it difficuly to get down to put the middle one in and reaching down between the seats to get buckles in etcc was still a challenge.
The three independant seats in MPV's really offer so much over a large car, plus 2 spare seats in the back for emergency use.
It was between SMAX or C4 grand picasso, the ford just felt better but was more expensive. Don't be fooled though by talk of it feeling like a car, it doesn't, it feels like a van.
Out of interest Matt, what year is your S-MAX? If it's pre-2010 what belt arrangement does the middle seat have? The late-2010 have two clips (one on each side of the seat), and a roof mount belt (with two buckles) to make a proper 3-point harness.I wanted a large estate car, the V70 is the widest and will fit three car seats but on test drives etc... we still found it difficuly to get down to put the middle one in and reaching down between the seats to get buckles in etcc was still a challenge.
The three independant seats in MPV's really offer so much over a large car, plus 2 spare seats in the back for emergency use.
It was between SMAX or C4 grand picasso, the ford just felt better but was more expensive. Don't be fooled though by talk of it feeling like a car, it doesn't, it feels like a van.
We were supposed to test drive the S-MAX yesterday (I was upfront with the sales guy, but he was still happy to let us try it), unfortunately after peeling off all the windscreen stickers, he realised it had no fuel in it.
miniman said:
Ditto 4 weeks to go, our daughter is 3 so is now into a booster seat. I bought a Discovery 2, can certainly get 2 toddler seats and a baby seat across the back and don't see any specific problems getting 2 baby seats (on Isofix bases) and a toddler seat in between.
Cheers Miniman, any advice on Disco buying (as per my earlier edited post)? What are the running costs like? From the brief research I've done, the TDV6 isn't horrifically un-economical and costs about £300 odd to service? 4 weeks to go, our daughter is 3 so is now into a booster seat. I bought a Discovery 2, can certainly get 2 toddler seats and a baby seat across the back and don't see any specific problems getting 2 baby seats (on Isofix bases) and a toddler seat in between. Edited by Rinko on Thursday 20th October 13:41
stumpage said:
My mate is in the exact same position. He ended up with a Honda FR-V. It was the only one that worked well with a 2 year old and twin babies.
I must admit it does the job well.
Yeah - it seemed like a good candidate, until I got in, tried to adjust the seat and then closed the drivers door. There isn't enough adjustment on the seat to get my knee out of the centre console unless I'm sitting bolt upright, and my right elbow was being crushed in by the door handle/trim.I must admit it does the job well.
Other than that, and the fact we would have to manhandle the 2 year old into the middle seat without much clearance (only isofix on the outer 2 seats) - it would have been a reasonable candidate.
I suspect, had they not tried to stick the 3rd seat in the front row, it would have been perfect!
miniman said:
Mine is a 2002 Disco 2 TD5. It returned about 26 average to and from Normandy over the summer, a little less around town. £6k to buy.
Ahh - I was looking at figures for the newer shape Disco I think. A quick google for that year/model doesn't make terribly happy reading, have you had any issues with yours?
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