New dad - need advice!
Discussion
Hello!
The wife is 17 weeks pregnant (yes I am terrified) and the job of sorting the family car is down to me. Firstly I'd like to get the current situation out of the way...
This leaves three possible solutions:
1: Keep the Golf for me and get something suitable for the missus. This just means my car is pretty much out the picture for taking baby anywhere.
2: Get rid of the Golf, get something more long-distance for me and a runaround for her. We'd have to split the kitty so cars will probably be high mileage etc
3: Get rid of the Golf AND the Iggie. We blow all of it one one car and hope we don't need two (at least for the first year or two while I scrape the cash
together for a runaround)
Whatever the outcome one of the cars should have the following traits (suggestions encouraged!)
The wife is 17 weeks pregnant (yes I am terrified) and the job of sorting the family car is down to me. Firstly I'd like to get the current situation out of the way...
- The wife has a 3 door Suzuki Ignis. It's a death-trap and impractical for baby seats so I want to get rid.
- I have a 2006 Golf Mk 5 GTI 2.0 TFSI DSG. It's a great car and has never let me down. I always use the 98/99 RON petrol and keep it well serviced. Unfortunately it's the 3dr model and I have a bit of a dickey back so don't fancy twisting to get a baby in and out of the back!
This leaves three possible solutions:
1: Keep the Golf for me and get something suitable for the missus. This just means my car is pretty much out the picture for taking baby anywhere.
2: Get rid of the Golf, get something more long-distance for me and a runaround for her. We'd have to split the kitty so cars will probably be high mileage etc
3: Get rid of the Golf AND the Iggie. We blow all of it one one car and hope we don't need two (at least for the first year or two while I scrape the cash
together for a runaround)
Whatever the outcome one of the cars should have the following traits (suggestions encouraged!)
- Powerful enough to safely overtake but top speed not really a necessity
- Big enough boot for runs to London to see the family - luggage, pram, travel cot, Xmas prezzies
- Comfortable would be good
- 5 dr and isofix (obviously)
- Economy 30+ urban (lol I know)
- Petrol (only do long runs once or twice a month)
- Long cars an issue as we have a terrace and no drive :'(
Edited by BadgerFiend on Friday 14th June 13:05
I had a Golf when it was myself, wife and new born. Albeit mine was a 5 door but the car was plenty big enough for the 3 of us.
17 weeks pregnant means you're probably near the stage where you start buying car seats and stuff. I would suggest you at least try putting the car seat in with your current car and see what you think. Even though it's a 3 door, I find when you slide the front seat forward and the door wide open, there's actually plenty of room to get a child into the back without much bother especially in a Golf.
Believe it or not, I found it easier than putting a car seat in with a 5 door car as you technically have less room to get the seat in as you go in at an angle.
17 weeks pregnant means you're probably near the stage where you start buying car seats and stuff. I would suggest you at least try putting the car seat in with your current car and see what you think. Even though it's a 3 door, I find when you slide the front seat forward and the door wide open, there's actually plenty of room to get a child into the back without much bother especially in a Golf.
Believe it or not, I found it easier than putting a car seat in with a 5 door car as you technically have less room to get the seat in as you go in at an angle.
For the long journeys to London it may be worth hiring cars with big boots for this rather than buying one and living with it daily and focus on what you need day to day.
First child we had no clue and envisaged carting around all the paraphernalia and the kitchen sink and bought a Mk3 Mondeo. By the second child a few years later, a 1 series BMW was more than enough, albeit a 5 door.
Chris
First child we had no clue and envisaged carting around all the paraphernalia and the kitchen sink and bought a Mk3 Mondeo. By the second child a few years later, a 1 series BMW was more than enough, albeit a 5 door.
Chris
ScoobyChris said:
For the long journeys to London it may be worth hiring cars with big boots for this rather than buying one and living with it daily and focus on what you need day to day.
First child we had no clue and envisaged carting around all the paraphernalia and the kitchen sink and bought a Mk3 Mondeo. By the second child a few years later, a 1 series BMW was more than enough, albeit a 5 door.
Chris
Thanks, Chris, that's really reassuring to hear. Perhaps I am overthinking this - certainly want to avoid a Mondeo but the 180bhp Focus Zetec S from 2012 (1.6T) seems like a relatively safe bet. First child we had no clue and envisaged carting around all the paraphernalia and the kitchen sink and bought a Mk3 Mondeo. By the second child a few years later, a 1 series BMW was more than enough, albeit a 5 door.
Chris
PaddyPadsPat said:
17 weeks pregnant means you're probably near the stage where you start buying car seats and stuff
Given how nothing is guaranteed until a baby is in one's arms (and even then things aren't guaranteed) isn't buying car seats and a whole new car not even halfway through a pregnancy somewhat premature? (pun intended? haha)RSTurboPaul said:
Given how nothing is guaranteed until a baby is in one's arms (and even then things aren't guaranteed) isn't buying car seats and a whole new car not even halfway through a pregnancy somewhat premature? (pun intended? haha)
Well there's the T right there. I have no idea 
Have you ever seen the size of a baby? They're tiny! They take up no room. The only reason people end up with a massive car is because of all the life clutter they themselves add to the situation.
Keep the cars you've got, stop stressing. See if you can fit a folded up pram in the boot and you're good to go.
When our baby was born we had a 3dr S5 and an S3 convertible. Didn't change either of them, we all survived.
Keep the cars you've got, stop stressing. See if you can fit a folded up pram in the boot and you're good to go.
When our baby was born we had a 3dr S5 and an S3 convertible. Didn't change either of them, we all survived.
BadgerFiend said:
Thanks, Chris, that's really reassuring to hear. Perhaps I am overthinking this - certainly want to avoid a Mondeo but the 180bhp Focus Zetec S from 2012 (1.6T) seems like a relatively safe bet.
Yeah we replaced the 1 series with a Mk3 ST3 and it seemed to cope fine 
Chris
SHutchinson said:
Have you ever seen the size of a baby? They're tiny! They take up no room. The only reason people end up with a massive car is because of all the life clutter they themselves add to the situation.
Keep the cars you've got, stop stressing. See if you can fit a folded up pram in the boot and you're good to go.
When our baby was born we had a 3dr S5 and an S3 convertible. Didn't change either of them, we all survived.
Still getting rid of the Ignis; it doesn't even have an NCAP rating. NCRAP more like... AM I RIGHT?Keep the cars you've got, stop stressing. See if you can fit a folded up pram in the boot and you're good to go.
When our baby was born we had a 3dr S5 and an S3 convertible. Didn't change either of them, we all survived.
BadgerFiend said:
SHutchinson said:
Have you ever seen the size of a baby? They're tiny! They take up no room. The only reason people end up with a massive car is because of all the life clutter they themselves add to the situation.
Keep the cars you've got, stop stressing. See if you can fit a folded up pram in the boot and you're good to go.
When our baby was born we had a 3dr S5 and an S3 convertible. Didn't change either of them, we all survived.
Still getting rid of the Ignis; it doesn't even have an NCAP rating. NCRAP more like... AM I RIGHT?Keep the cars you've got, stop stressing. See if you can fit a folded up pram in the boot and you're good to go.
When our baby was born we had a 3dr S5 and an S3 convertible. Didn't change either of them, we all survived.
They seem to have a decent following.
Keep the GTI, get something 5 door for your wife and family use. Assuming she’s staying at home for a bit then it’s her who will be using the 5 door the most.
I am just selling one of our 5 doors to make way for a 2 door convertible with 4 seats. We have a 6 year old and a 6 month old. The reasoning being that I barely ever take the kids in my car anyway so I’d rather be mildly inconvenienced the odd times that I have to take them in the car, than drive round in something dull.
If we ever go anywhere as a family we can take the other estate.
I am just selling one of our 5 doors to make way for a 2 door convertible with 4 seats. We have a 6 year old and a 6 month old. The reasoning being that I barely ever take the kids in my car anyway so I’d rather be mildly inconvenienced the odd times that I have to take them in the car, than drive round in something dull.
If we ever go anywhere as a family we can take the other estate.
RSTurboPaul said:
PaddyPadsPat said:
17 weeks pregnant means you're probably near the stage where you start buying car seats and stuff
Given how nothing is guaranteed until a baby is in one's arms (and even then things aren't guaranteed) isn't buying car seats and a whole new car not even halfway through a pregnancy somewhat premature? (pun intended? haha)By the way, a small baby and a 3 door car work fine - as some have said, perhaps better than a 5 door.
If you must get something now, a 5 door Skoda Fabia has plenty of room for 4 adults, parks well, with 4 metre length and good visibility all round and the doors open wide - but I would say wait.
Edited by Pica-Pica on Friday 14th June 15:42
I would recommend an Octavia estate. Vrs if you want something more fun but you wont be going crazy with the baby in the car anyway.
Massive boot and good room inside without being really big to park if that bothers you.
In my experience if you have a 2nd car it wont get used for the baby stuff so it doesn't need to be very practical. It is nice having a 2nd car so though so you get the choice of you and the missus going off and doing different things and whoever takes the baby has the big car. Bit of a luxury I guess but very handy.
I found a Octavia for the wife and an mx5 for me to be a perfect combo!
For those who say babies don't take up much room... have you seen the size of baby seats! Babies take up much more room in the car than an adult!
I'm sure you could manage with a 3dr golf if you needed to but I think you will find you will fill up whatever car you have if you ever go away somewhere. More space just means more convenience I reckon.
Massive boot and good room inside without being really big to park if that bothers you.
In my experience if you have a 2nd car it wont get used for the baby stuff so it doesn't need to be very practical. It is nice having a 2nd car so though so you get the choice of you and the missus going off and doing different things and whoever takes the baby has the big car. Bit of a luxury I guess but very handy.
I found a Octavia for the wife and an mx5 for me to be a perfect combo!
For those who say babies don't take up much room... have you seen the size of baby seats! Babies take up much more room in the car than an adult!
I'm sure you could manage with a 3dr golf if you needed to but I think you will find you will fill up whatever car you have if you ever go away somewhere. More space just means more convenience I reckon.
We had our first baby 4 months ago with very similar circumstances and criteria, even budget was the same. We only need one car, live in a terrace, wanted petrol and a bit of performance and practicality.
Considered many things and almost got a CRV, which seemed the ultra sensible option, but ended up with a e91 330i manual. I absolutely love it, performs well enough, looks great and can fit all the baby stuff in the boot. Was within budget too, but they'e hard to come by. I got lucky and nabbed a good one the moment it came up for sale.
Considered many things and almost got a CRV, which seemed the ultra sensible option, but ended up with a e91 330i manual. I absolutely love it, performs well enough, looks great and can fit all the baby stuff in the boot. Was within budget too, but they'e hard to come by. I got lucky and nabbed a good one the moment it came up for sale.
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