Children and Convertibles
Discussion
Just sold my Saab 95 Aero as i am now a stay at home dad to our 5 year old. Her school is about 3 miles away, so my car was barely getting warm in its use. Budget for my car is around £2k, and I did have it down to a couple of choices; initially we felt that I just needed a little MINI, which I was fine with, but my o/h has suggested I get another Saab Cabriolet.
I’ve had 5 Saab’s now and I love them. She used to like both my previous 93 Aero Cabriolets, and they’re a known quantity. However, and I suppose this is the point of this thread, does anyone have a Cabriolet with a small child in the back that would tolerate the roof being down? I think whilst my daughter thinks it would be fun, I see it as a “5 minute wonder” before she’s complaining about being blown around. To be clear, I sold my last one before we had a little ‘un, and have had tin tops since she came along.
So, does anyone use their Cabriolet as intended with their kids in the back?
I’ve had 5 Saab’s now and I love them. She used to like both my previous 93 Aero Cabriolets, and they’re a known quantity. However, and I suppose this is the point of this thread, does anyone have a Cabriolet with a small child in the back that would tolerate the roof being down? I think whilst my daughter thinks it would be fun, I see it as a “5 minute wonder” before she’s complaining about being blown around. To be clear, I sold my last one before we had a little ‘un, and have had tin tops since she came along.
So, does anyone use their Cabriolet as intended with their kids in the back?
I've been toying with this idea for a while - albeit for a 3rd car - so will follow with interest.
One article that I read that put me off the idea a wee bit was that, when the roof's down, kids in modern bulky child seats were suddenly lifted quite high above the door line and the writer's kid was terrified about falling out by the end of the journey. Obviously that could be a specific car/seat/kid combo that wouldn't be an issue for everyone.
One article that I read that put me off the idea a wee bit was that, when the roof's down, kids in modern bulky child seats were suddenly lifted quite high above the door line and the writer's kid was terrified about falling out by the end of the journey. Obviously that could be a specific car/seat/kid combo that wouldn't be an issue for everyone.
The initial thought was that it was a great idea as the Saab’s have ISOFIX, and having owned them before, i am very confident in safety. I did think about a Volvo C70 too, but I reckon those folding hard tops will have more rattles than Mothercare.
I just don’t know how much it would get used as a Cabriolet.
I just don’t know how much it would get used as a Cabriolet.
GreatGranny said:
We have an A4 convertible but our kids are older (19, 16 & 12).
On the A4 there's a lot of buffeting in the back with the roof down.
We can do about 10 mins before the kids complain.
However the wife and I love it when it's just the 2 of us which is the majority of the time.
Yeah, and that’s my issue. When it was just the two of us, we enjoyed it, but now in my car it’s usually just my little un and I (and she is too small for the front seat), I wonder if it’s worth it. Like I said, my daughter gets excited when I tell her about getting a car without a roof, but I think she’ll soon tire of it!On the A4 there's a lot of buffeting in the back with the roof down.
We can do about 10 mins before the kids complain.
However the wife and I love it when it's just the 2 of us which is the majority of the time.
MrB. said:
Yeah, and that’s my issue. When it was just the two of us, we enjoyed it, but now in my car it’s usually just my little un and I (and she is too small for the front seat), I wonder if it’s worth it. Like I said, my daughter gets excited when I tell her about getting a car without a roof, but I think she’ll soon tire of it!
I managed with a convertible car and small children - three miles with the hood down in good weather won't be too arduous and you can always transport them with the hood up if they don't like it (hope that they will!)green911 said:
MrB. said:
Yeah, and that’s my issue. When it was just the two of us, we enjoyed it, but now in my car it’s usually just my little un and I (and she is too small for the front seat), I wonder if it’s worth it. Like I said, my daughter gets excited when I tell her about getting a car without a roof, but I think she’ll soon tire of it!
I managed with a convertible car and small children - three miles with the hood down in good weather won't be too arduous and you can always transport them with the hood up if they don't like it (hope that they will!)The idea is lovely but far from the reality sadly, I owned a 9-3 Aero cab, E46 320Ci Cab, E46 M3 Cab and my daughter loved them.........in the front! The minute she had to get in the back because mum was coming she hated it (roof down).
Too cold and buffeted, forever moaning about being cold, traveled sometimes with a blanket on her if we insisted on roof down. It was largely intolerable, having also been a passenger in the back I understand why.
I think the newer E Class cab, C Class cab have it right as they have a deflector above the windscreen and rear headrests and wind deflector raise up when passengers in back and make for quite a snug spot in comparison.
At the pricepoint your looking at I would just bear the above in mind.
Si
Too cold and buffeted, forever moaning about being cold, traveled sometimes with a blanket on her if we insisted on roof down. It was largely intolerable, having also been a passenger in the back I understand why.
I think the newer E Class cab, C Class cab have it right as they have a deflector above the windscreen and rear headrests and wind deflector raise up when passengers in back and make for quite a snug spot in comparison.
At the pricepoint your looking at I would just bear the above in mind.
Si
I've got two kids (7 and 9) and have had two Saab Aero Convertibles and am currently driving a Mercedes E Class Convertible.....they've never known anything different.
My advice is simple; you have to be realistic. Sit in the back and get your wife to drive you around and you'll soon see why most kids moan; because the parents are clueless as to what it's actually like in the back of convertible i.e. you get barely any heat from the blowers and the buffetting at anything above 50mph is just downright unpleasent.
If you keep this in mind and work around it then it can be fun for everyone. If my two are in the back then I only drop the roof if I know the journey is on relatively slow roads and the outside temperature is warm. They do have fleece blankets in the boot for the times I'm not 100% sure and they quite enjoy wrapping themselves up (or putting them over their heads!). But you have to accept the fact that most of the time you'll only be able to drop the roof when it's very warm outside. That said you have the right idea, drop the roof once you have dropped them off at school, I do this almost every day.
You can make them part of the fun though; we occasionally will have a 'roller coaster' moment on stretches of road with dips in, where I will go faster and they fling their hands up and laugh their heads off.....you just can't maitain it for very long. But my two actually ask for this now and get very cross when other cars get in the way and spoil their fun.
Alternativly if you only have one child then why not just let them sit in the front, it's not a big deal to switch the seat around when you need to.
When I sold my last Saab I gave my two the choice of getting a bigger car with way more space but they both said they wanted a convertible and they preffered it to a 'big' car as it felt cosy in the back (roof up obviously)......prompted my wife to sell her 3 Series Saloon and buy a BMW 230i Conv!
My advice is simple; you have to be realistic. Sit in the back and get your wife to drive you around and you'll soon see why most kids moan; because the parents are clueless as to what it's actually like in the back of convertible i.e. you get barely any heat from the blowers and the buffetting at anything above 50mph is just downright unpleasent.
If you keep this in mind and work around it then it can be fun for everyone. If my two are in the back then I only drop the roof if I know the journey is on relatively slow roads and the outside temperature is warm. They do have fleece blankets in the boot for the times I'm not 100% sure and they quite enjoy wrapping themselves up (or putting them over their heads!). But you have to accept the fact that most of the time you'll only be able to drop the roof when it's very warm outside. That said you have the right idea, drop the roof once you have dropped them off at school, I do this almost every day.
You can make them part of the fun though; we occasionally will have a 'roller coaster' moment on stretches of road with dips in, where I will go faster and they fling their hands up and laugh their heads off.....you just can't maitain it for very long. But my two actually ask for this now and get very cross when other cars get in the way and spoil their fun.
Alternativly if you only have one child then why not just let them sit in the front, it's not a big deal to switch the seat around when you need to.
When I sold my last Saab I gave my two the choice of getting a bigger car with way more space but they both said they wanted a convertible and they preffered it to a 'big' car as it felt cosy in the back (roof up obviously)......prompted my wife to sell her 3 Series Saloon and buy a BMW 230i Conv!
Our kids used to love sitting in the back of my 4 seater morgan, for school runs and weekend jollys it was the car if choice for them.
You do need to drive sensibly though, it gets blustery in the back and in the morgan trucks on motorways etc are daunting.
We did several road trips 4 up in the morgan with no complaints
You do need to drive sensibly though, it gets blustery in the back and in the morgan trucks on motorways etc are daunting.
We did several road trips 4 up in the morgan with no complaints
She’s small, and she’s still in an ISOFIX full size seat. We also have a dog that comes along at times too, so 4 seats is just better for us.
Have narrowed it down to a couple of coupes now. Volvo C30 (had a T5 one a while back and like it), albeit just a 1.8, or an Alfa GT. I’m leaning towards the Alfa.
Have narrowed it down to a couple of coupes now. Volvo C30 (had a T5 one a while back and like it), albeit just a 1.8, or an Alfa GT. I’m leaning towards the Alfa.
We bought this Golf Convertible about 2 months ago. My boys largely love it. They have told all their friends at playgroup and still ask for the roof open whenever its not raining.
I have noticed that we complete the journey with the roof down and windows up if the temp is 20 or more and don't do motorway speeds. They will also fall asleep with the roof down on longer trips.
No regrets here, my first convertible and something I always wanted. It's mainly my wife's car and I don't think she was too bothered about having the roof down, but I know she has the roof open at most opportunities. So everyone is happy.
Might not need to go Tin Top searching just yet fella !
I have an E400 (V6 3.5L TT) that's been re-mapped and is pushing out 430HP/527 Pounds Feet. Is very quick with a huge kick in the back. To be honest it's probably too fast but it's a sleeper. However, for wafting around with the kids in (have a baby and a 3 year old) it is just sublime, relaxed, comfortable. and the Aircap system makes that possible.
Early A207's are reasonably priced but didn't come with decent power. the E500 V8 is a wonderful engine but is normally aspirated.
As with any convertible, try and go petrol.
If performance isn't on the agenda see what an early A207 E200 is cost wise. Not as cheap as a Saab i would have thought. but the Aircap system is seriously good. so good in fact, with kids and frequent roof down action, it's the only solution out there IMO.
Links:
https://www.autoevolution.com/news/mercedes-benz-e...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Mine:
SiT said:
I think the newer E Class cab, C Class cab have it right as they have a deflector above the windscreen and rear headrests and wind deflector raise up when passengers in back and make for quite a snug spot in comparison.
At the pricepoint your looking at I would just bear the above in mind.
Si
100% agree. I have a E class Cab with this system fitted (comes as standard) from all models 2010 onwards. the A207 Body/Model. It was facelifted in 2013 which is a very nice car.At the pricepoint your looking at I would just bear the above in mind.
Si
I have an E400 (V6 3.5L TT) that's been re-mapped and is pushing out 430HP/527 Pounds Feet. Is very quick with a huge kick in the back. To be honest it's probably too fast but it's a sleeper. However, for wafting around with the kids in (have a baby and a 3 year old) it is just sublime, relaxed, comfortable. and the Aircap system makes that possible.
Early A207's are reasonably priced but didn't come with decent power. the E500 V8 is a wonderful engine but is normally aspirated.
As with any convertible, try and go petrol.
If performance isn't on the agenda see what an early A207 E200 is cost wise. Not as cheap as a Saab i would have thought. but the Aircap system is seriously good. so good in fact, with kids and frequent roof down action, it's the only solution out there IMO.
Links:
https://www.autoevolution.com/news/mercedes-benz-e...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Mine:
sawman said:
Our kids used to love sitting in the back of my 4 seater morgan, for school runs and weekend jollys it was the car if choice for them.
You do need to drive sensibly though, it gets blustery in the back and in the morgan trucks on motorways etc are daunting.
We did several road trips 4 up in the morgan with no complaints
Driving to South of France once I was in convoy with a 4-seater Morgan for a couple of hundred miles with a little girl in the backYou do need to drive sensibly though, it gets blustery in the back and in the morgan trucks on motorways etc are daunting.
We did several road trips 4 up in the morgan with no complaints
They were sitting bang on 130kmh like I was all that time
ETA - added photo my wife took at time as she didn’t realise you could get 4-seater Morgan’s
Pic is grainy but you can make out little girls straw boater sitting in back- her mum had similar headwear in front - we were surprised it never blew off either
Edited by s m on Sunday 18th August 10:11
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff