New to Fatherhood = New Car ?
Discussion
I've searched for similar topics but, surprisingly, this thread aside
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I can't find any discussion discussing the motoring needs of infants.
Mrs DK is due to deliver in the new year so my thoughts (aside from recognising my life will change completely, which I'm quite excited about) are turning to a new car.
I currently drive an MX5 (which I've been looking for an excuse to change, thanks DK Jnr !) but wondering if I need to go down the route of 3/5 series tourings (my current thoughts) or if that's going to be overkill ? How much space do babies / infants require ? I'd like to keep something for five years (as I don't think funds will allow another change before then) and the plan is that there will be a second DK Jnr along in that period.
Most of our friends with babies / toddlers have A3 audis or similar, they seem to think these are a bit of a squeeze, especially when heading on holiday with a young baby, but then part of me thinks "buy an Elise then hire an s max for the annual two week jaunt to Cornwall".
Mrs DK has a two year old yaris five door which is by no means a small car and I'm wondering how often our child will be in my car (mainly at weekends).
So thoughts please, and I'm well aware the types of response this post might provoke, so I'll start with conceding that my brother and I were carted round (without obvious detriment) around in a series of maestros, montegos and Renault 5s during our formative years...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I can't find any discussion discussing the motoring needs of infants.
Mrs DK is due to deliver in the new year so my thoughts (aside from recognising my life will change completely, which I'm quite excited about) are turning to a new car.
I currently drive an MX5 (which I've been looking for an excuse to change, thanks DK Jnr !) but wondering if I need to go down the route of 3/5 series tourings (my current thoughts) or if that's going to be overkill ? How much space do babies / infants require ? I'd like to keep something for five years (as I don't think funds will allow another change before then) and the plan is that there will be a second DK Jnr along in that period.
Most of our friends with babies / toddlers have A3 audis or similar, they seem to think these are a bit of a squeeze, especially when heading on holiday with a young baby, but then part of me thinks "buy an Elise then hire an s max for the annual two week jaunt to Cornwall".
Mrs DK has a two year old yaris five door which is by no means a small car and I'm wondering how often our child will be in my car (mainly at weekends).
So thoughts please, and I'm well aware the types of response this post might provoke, so I'll start with conceding that my brother and I were carted round (without obvious detriment) around in a series of maestros, montegos and Renault 5s during our formative years...
You already have one dull, sensible car that is more than capable of ferrying the child and it's assorted stuff around, which is generally only going to be a pram / pushchair, a changing bag and possibly a feeding bag. You don't need an estate with a 1600L load space for that, when your wife's Yaris is more than capable.
Swap the MX5, get something else fun.
Swap the MX5, get something else fun.
Well, I immediately rushed out and bought myself a P38 range rover- a typical knee jerk reaction i guess, hoping for safety in size, and a load of space to carry any baby related kit around with me 9as well as having a dog).
Granted, you don't NEED a car with masses of room, but five doors is useful, the ability to disable the passenger airbag is paramount, and the boot space, well, it will be appreciated more as the family gets older. Five doors also presents you with the ideal nappy changing platform (ie the back seat) and makes it easier for the unfortunate soul- you or the missus- to clamber in the back whilst juniors hellishly expensive travel system occupies the front seat for the time being. Later on- when jnr is transferred into the back, well, 5 doors again comes into its own for practicality.
Oh, when a little older, i changed to a Chimaera, which he simply loved going out in, followed by a Saab convertible when he was old enough to clamber all over the interior under his own power- the sheer volume of crisps, fruit shoot bottles, and half eaten fruit was amazing when i finally removed his seat.
Finally- good luck with it all- you simply do not know love until you have had children.
Granted, you don't NEED a car with masses of room, but five doors is useful, the ability to disable the passenger airbag is paramount, and the boot space, well, it will be appreciated more as the family gets older. Five doors also presents you with the ideal nappy changing platform (ie the back seat) and makes it easier for the unfortunate soul- you or the missus- to clamber in the back whilst juniors hellishly expensive travel system occupies the front seat for the time being. Later on- when jnr is transferred into the back, well, 5 doors again comes into its own for practicality.
Oh, when a little older, i changed to a Chimaera, which he simply loved going out in, followed by a Saab convertible when he was old enough to clamber all over the interior under his own power- the sheer volume of crisps, fruit shoot bottles, and half eaten fruit was amazing when i finally removed his seat.
Finally- good luck with it all- you simply do not know love until you have had children.
Mastodon2 said:
You already have one dull, sensible car that is more than capable of ferrying the child and it's assorted stuff around, which is generally only going to be a pram / pushchair, a changing bag and possibly a feeding bag. You don't need an estate with a 1600L load space for that, when your wife's Yaris is more than capable.
Swap the MX5, get something else fun.
100% this. Your family will be three; there is no point at which you need two cars that can both take all three of you at the same time. Swap the MX5, get something else fun.
Kitchski said:
Don't ask PH for thoughts on this subject. Seriously!
This!http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I managed a week in Scotland with an 8 month old, all his gear, all mrs r's gear and my small bag no problem in my Clio 200.
What people tend to do with a bigger car, like our family scenic, is fill it with junk you don't need everyday. If you're good at packing a car up and don't carry the kitchen sink around with you a 3dr hot hatch is adequate if you're after similar mx5 thrills (especially the clio)
What people tend to do with a bigger car, like our family scenic, is fill it with junk you don't need everyday. If you're good at packing a car up and don't carry the kitchen sink around with you a 3dr hot hatch is adequate if you're after similar mx5 thrills (especially the clio)
Congratulations
Our first is due December, so have recently been through the same thought process.
Firstly, I would carefully consider whether you absolutely need both cars in the family to be suitable for baby's / children? You say your wife has a Yaris and the baby would be in that most of the time. Would it not be better to replace the Yaris with something more suitable for all occasions, leaving you to have something a bit more interesting?
The 3 Series Touring / A4 Avant route is a pretty good call. Personally, I went for a rather boring Golf TDI as its a much more manageable size and (I hope) is plenty big enough for 1 child at least, possibly 2 (I looked at A3 5 doors incidentally and the boot is much, much narrower than the Golf). Don't forget, cars are pretty bloody big now. A mid size hatch is huge compared to a couple of generations ago. What's your budget BTW?
Our first is due December, so have recently been through the same thought process. Firstly, I would carefully consider whether you absolutely need both cars in the family to be suitable for baby's / children? You say your wife has a Yaris and the baby would be in that most of the time. Would it not be better to replace the Yaris with something more suitable for all occasions, leaving you to have something a bit more interesting?
The 3 Series Touring / A4 Avant route is a pretty good call. Personally, I went for a rather boring Golf TDI as its a much more manageable size and (I hope) is plenty big enough for 1 child at least, possibly 2 (I looked at A3 5 doors incidentally and the boot is much, much narrower than the Golf). Don't forget, cars are pretty bloody big now. A mid size hatch is huge compared to a couple of generations ago. What's your budget BTW?
In your situation I sold the MX-5 and bought a TVR 
Although I do have a Saab 9000 as well. In all honesty when it arrives we may well end up changing Mrs.NCoT's Puma for a 5-door Focus, and the TVR may have to go (I can't see that I'm going to have the time to drive it to be honest
). I have an itch for a BMW touring as well so maybe the Saab will go to be replaced by an e36 3 series / e39 5 series touring, but it's hard to argue with a car that cost under a grand with heated leather, climate, & 200bhp...
Although I do have a Saab 9000 as well. In all honesty when it arrives we may well end up changing Mrs.NCoT's Puma for a 5-door Focus, and the TVR may have to go (I can't see that I'm going to have the time to drive it to be honest
). I have an itch for a BMW touring as well so maybe the Saab will go to be replaced by an e36 3 series / e39 5 series touring, but it's hard to argue with a car that cost under a grand with heated leather, climate, & 200bhp...We too are expecting our first at the end of the year, and a change of cars have been required. Not because a baby needs more room, but for financial and practicality issues.
First up we sold her 206 gti and got her a civic. This meant 5 doors instead of 3, minimal running costs and extra interior space.
Secondly I sold my 156 gta and got me an XM. The reason behind this was the running costs of the gta. I couldn't justify spending loads on maintaining it, when I have a little person to look after. I replaced it with the XM as its what I fancied, not for its size, although this will be a bonus and the fact its relatively cheap to maintain. I could have got away with a small car if I wanted as hers will be used the bulk of the time but I don't really like them.
In my opinion, a baby doesn't need extra space. You can get away with a Clio for example, but you need to think of the practicalities and financial implications first.
First up we sold her 206 gti and got her a civic. This meant 5 doors instead of 3, minimal running costs and extra interior space.
Secondly I sold my 156 gta and got me an XM. The reason behind this was the running costs of the gta. I couldn't justify spending loads on maintaining it, when I have a little person to look after. I replaced it with the XM as its what I fancied, not for its size, although this will be a bonus and the fact its relatively cheap to maintain. I could have got away with a small car if I wanted as hers will be used the bulk of the time but I don't really like them.
In my opinion, a baby doesn't need extra space. You can get away with a Clio for example, but you need to think of the practicalities and financial implications first.
Our little on is almost 8 weeks old, you need to take lots of stuff with you, a yaris is too small. The travel system will fill the boot of a golf ect, we have a golf and ibiza which is ok at the moment. In the future I would like a 2 seater for me and a massive cheap disposable family wagon as our family wagon.
Keep the mx5 and change the yaris, if you change yours you will end up changing the yaris too.
Keep the mx5 and change the yaris, if you change yours you will end up changing the yaris too.
Surely a new born child requires nothing smaller than a Chevy Suburban? An armoured personnel carrier would be ideal but while servicing can be an issue though it's just the job for clogging up the street outside the (not so) local school.
In seriousness my brother and his wife can get their twins in her Rover 25. You have one suitable car already so why not keep the Mazda?
In seriousness my brother and his wife can get their twins in her Rover 25. You have one suitable car already so why not keep the Mazda?
I wouldn't necessarily change cars.
The Yaris will be ok, but you will be suprised just how much you take with you when you go out. A Yaris boot will soon be filled with the buggy alone. Travels system buggies really aren't small things. Then you have a big bag full of nappies, clothes, food etc.
Plus, the 2 seater sports car might be great for you and the missus on a night out but how often do you really think you will use it again now you have a 3rd member of the family? Fair enough if you use it to commute on your own but you will never, ever use it again as a family and rarely as a couple. Finding the time to go out for a fun drive on your own will also be hard.
After a year or so, the amount of stuff you take out with you dramatically decreases. They no longer need a big bulky buggy and can manage with a much smaller travel back and eat normal food whilst out with you so you rarely have to lug so much around.
If I were you, I would probably look at selling the MX-5 for something still fun, but with atleast 4 seats so that you can still actually use it. A nice coupe will do the job. Don't worry about having 5 doors. No matter what people will tell you, you DO NOT need an MPV for one baby. If you really do feel the need to get a big car. Get an estate. Far for usable loading area and atleast you wont have to put up with van like handling for the next few years.
The Yaris will be ok, but you will be suprised just how much you take with you when you go out. A Yaris boot will soon be filled with the buggy alone. Travels system buggies really aren't small things. Then you have a big bag full of nappies, clothes, food etc.
Plus, the 2 seater sports car might be great for you and the missus on a night out but how often do you really think you will use it again now you have a 3rd member of the family? Fair enough if you use it to commute on your own but you will never, ever use it again as a family and rarely as a couple. Finding the time to go out for a fun drive on your own will also be hard.
After a year or so, the amount of stuff you take out with you dramatically decreases. They no longer need a big bulky buggy and can manage with a much smaller travel back and eat normal food whilst out with you so you rarely have to lug so much around.
If I were you, I would probably look at selling the MX-5 for something still fun, but with atleast 4 seats so that you can still actually use it. A nice coupe will do the job. Don't worry about having 5 doors. No matter what people will tell you, you DO NOT need an MPV for one baby. If you really do feel the need to get a big car. Get an estate. Far for usable loading area and atleast you wont have to put up with van like handling for the next few years.
Edited by Deluded on Sunday 2nd September 10:47
My O/H got pregnant with twins. It's was clear to me immediately the best car for this predicament.... An Impreza STi... With its impressive acceleration, and intercooler water spray we slept sound knowing we could, for example, get to the doctors quickly should the need arise. For holidays a simple roof box was purchased, which granted increased fuel consumption whilst at the same time giving you a comical road presence...
The answer is clear. Go and purchase...
The answer is clear. Go and purchase...
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