Kids + responsibilities = Porsche!

[turboslippers]

When we had our twins, everyone was banging on that we'd be selling our weekend toy MX5 and buying a people carrier etc. Well, two fingers up to that. We've not sold the MX5 and just replaced the totally practical 5 door Golf GTI with a 996 3.6 cabriolet! Baby seats (kiddy energy pro) turn up today so, fingers crossed, the 4 of us will be out and about tomorrow proving that you don't need a people carrier just because you've got 20 month old twins...

regards
Ben

[braddo]

Good man.

On a similar note I enjoyed reading about the chap on here who used a 996 coupe as a family car with 2 boys and managed to go on a 2-3 week driving holiday in it!

I'll be test fitting a maxi cosi cabriofix along with a group 2 seat in the back of my GT3 tomorrow.

[supersport]

Absolutely, well done. Totally practical family cars.

The three of us did Le Mans in the 911 for my son's 3rd birthday, and again this year for his 10th. We used a 944 as our only family car for 2 years, holidays, Christmas away and moving all kinds of stuff about.

You just need to learn that all the crap you carry with is just that and should be left at home, or better still not bought in the first place.

[LordHaveMurci]

Bought my 996 C2 Coupe 5yrs ago when our kids were 8.5 & 5.5, p/x'd a Mk5 Golf GTi strangely enough!

My daughter is now approaching 14 & quite tall so not sure how much longer I'll get away with it, lucky we have two other cars

[Heathrow]

Good result! When our little girl was born I was looking at Caymans as a wk end car. Wife suggested it might be sensible to get something with rear seats so we could go out together in it as a family and convinced me to get a 911 instead. Job jobbed!

[turboslippers]

We met a few owners in the PCGB up at the silverstone historic who go away on trips to Europe with two pre-teen children...as you say, just learn to leave most of the crap at home!

I must confess the first time we went away to France with them at 6 month old I completely filled the boot of our Saab 9-5. I think now I could get away with leaving most of it! We also use 'baby friendly boltholes' where they supply cots and stuff like this in advance so even with babies it's entirely practical for holidays.

It's not the main car and will keep the trusty Saab 9-5 Aero as my daily. And whilst we're selling the Golf we were thinking of getting our nanny a car to run round in when she passes her test so mate has an awful 1.0 automatic micra that's in excellent condition for £800. Might get this and use purely as the shopping/leave at the station car.

[turboslippers]

Heathrow, that's exactly what happened in our case. We realised that we used the saab for most outings currently so if she wanted to replace her Golf there was no actual need to get anything practical. As such we started looking at Boxsters/caymans. She loved the Boxster but lamented that it would be nice if it had two rear seats so we could all enjoy a porsche convertible. 'Yes dear, it's called a 911' then lead us to this point...

[r1flyguy1]

I had a 986S for about 7 years which I totally loved and never wanted to sell it until our boy came along.

SWMBO insisted I get rid of the anti social car as there was now 3 of us..........



So I bought a 997tt to replace it

2.5 yrs later, still loving it, as is mini-me

[bing]

The only reason I sold my 300bhp Lotus Elise was due having my boy, I went straight into a 997 Turbo.

I did toy with the idea of a C63 AMG but that's a bit too old man for now. Having said that I kept the Elise until he was 5 - LOL

[Nero44]

Good to see other man logic being used and put into practice! 4 week old daughter and 5 weeks into a 997.2 C4S. All the family car we need. Provided Mrs D doesn't want to come with us!

Got ISOFIX on front seat, but it has to sit quite far back meaning rear is almost useless. As soon as she's big enough then front facing seat in the rear means family outings...

[Hedgeman]

Sorry to be a kill joy, but I think you might regret selling the golf. In my experience, two small kids and a 996 are a good way less than ideal as a main/every day car. Repeatedly lifting the little ones in and out of the rear seats is a real back-ache (particularly in anything approaching a tight spot where you can't open the doors wide). Front passenger space ends up compromised too as you end up having the seats further forward than ideal. Luggage space is hardly voluminous either.

As a supplementary car to take out for a spin at the weekend in the sun, roof down with the kids, they're perfect! But as a main car to cope with the practicalities of young kids, or a car to use on holiday trips, whilst it can be just about be done, I struggle to see the point. You'll be buying something with 5 doors within 12 months

Gary.

[Shewie]

Good work.... I had a Boxster when my son was born and managed to convince my wife that we needed a 911, as the Boxster wasn't getting used. Bought a 996 C4S and 5 weeks later found out she was pregnant again with our second. Thought I would have to sell, but in the end I hung onto it and found it to be pretty practical considering. Weekend trips were possible with a travel cot across the back parcel shelf a Quinny Buzz in the front and an IKEA high chair in between the kids. Now the kids are 4 and 3 it's great. We've ditched the baby paraphernalia, so it is possible to go away for longer in it. In July we did a 12 day trip 4up which included attending a wedding. No drama.

That said I would recommend buying a cheap runabout just for the daily grind otherwise it'll get a bit tiresome. Ironically I've replaced our snotter with a 5 door Golf GTi !

[g7jhp]

A Golf and a 996 is a great family combination!

No real need for a 4x4's or people carriers, you just need to learn how to pack what you need!

[lingus75]

I was told I had to buy something with back seats so I could take the children out when swmbo wanted a break.......

M3... AMG......997 turbo?? That's the ticket! Love it when I park at the shops in a parent/toddler space and get the 'evils' and the reach in and get the kids out!

The 2 1/2 year old calls it 'daddy's posh car', the 6 month old is yet to appreciate, but the road noise sends them to sleep nicely.

[Heathrow]

Nero44 said:

Good to see other man logic being used and put into practice! 4 week old daughter and 5 weeks into a 997.2 C4S. All the family car we need. Provided Mrs D doesn't want to come with us!

Got ISOFIX on front seat, but it has to sit quite far back meaning rear is almost useless. As soon as she's big enough then front facing seat in the rear means family outings...

First of all congrats on the newborn! We have a Maxi-Cosi Pebble with the base unit but TBH we just leave the base unit in my wife's car and I secure the rear facing Maxi-Cosi in the back of the 911 with the seatbelt and then my wife can come along too. I can't be bothered moving the base each time and it's not worth buying another for the occasional use it would get.

BTW this won't work too well if your wife is very tall because the front seat needs to be a bit further forward than would be ideal!!!

[Nero44]

Thanks! Should have added we have an X3 as well! In all honesty couldn't have a 911 as a sole family car - but kudos to those who do.

But taken little one out in the Porsche and she loves it. Going to get a Quinny Zapp which fits in the front. Borrowing an isofix base as well so we have 2, much easier than swapping in and out.

Here's a pic

[turboslippers]

Gary, don't worry, I have a Saab 9-5 4 door with a massive boot. My partner works abroad a lot so during the week the Golf is mostly used with just her in it going to airport or to train station...hence we decided it didn't matter if her new car was practical. At the weekend or when I'm home ferrying kids around we tend to use the Saab anyway so will be nice to have option of big comfy easy Saab or the porker (or the MX5 if the kids are with inlaws)

But, yes, if we feel compromised...we'll just go and buy another cheapo 4 door. I reckon a sierra sapphire cossie would be the sensible decision. No, wait, a Lancia Thema 8.32.....

Ben

[turboslippers]

P.S Having a nightmare with baby seats. There are few threads on here and 911uk with the definitive guide to which seats in which car. I can now state that kiddy energy pro, britax duo plus and britax prince DO NOT fit in the back of a 996 convertible properly (with or without seats bases/backs). I ordered the kiddy energy pro as understood they fitted but they do not, then drove to mothercare and dragged some others out to the car where myself and the assistant failed to get either to fit. I'm not looking at maxi-cosi tobi and some other recommendations....

[blueg33]

The problems come when the kids get bigger.

Blue junior is 6ft 3" and has no chance of even getting into the back of my Evora or a 911. My daughet is 5'7" and 15 mins in the evora is the maximum that is tolerable, I would strtch this to 45 mins in a 911

[turboslippers]

This is 1/2 the reason for getting one now...twins are 22 months. We've got a good few years with them fitting in the back