First family car

[Flashgordonsalive]

Happy New year all!!

Wife had her first baby only a few days ago, tonight we took him out in her 09 fiesta. First time for me in the back so not only did I realise it rattles like a box of nails, and shakes like a snake. Not to mention it’s shockingly small for a family car.
I want to get her something safe, easy to run, and is comfy and smooth. I quite fancy something in the small suv market.
Anyone got any recommendations that aren’t a golf or a focus?
Cheers FG

[Xcore]

Kuga/gashqui/mokka

[Djtemeka]

Get a size bigger car.
We got a Mazda 6 and the book is HUGE. Don’t underestimate how much crap you will be taking everywhere.

Hatchback cars will have a bigger opening boot

[Flashgordonsalive]

I’ve ruled out Nissan. Heard too many bad things. The ride in the quahqi I went it was awful.

[Welshbeef]

S-Max is bloody good we have one just does everything you need.

[ChrisH72]

I’d say the first thing is to forget about performance, handling or looking cool and go for something with space and comfort.

When our son was born I bought a 5 door civic because I wanted a balance between practicality and something that still looked good and drove well. Big mistake. The shape of the back doors was all wrong, it was too low and the ride was hard and crashy. When your child is on board the last thing you’ll be doing is driving fast or hammering round corners.

In the end the solution was for my wife to have a family car. She bought an ex demo hyundai ix20 for just over £10k. Now I know that the reviews are terrible. It’s not quick, it handles like a barge etc. But it’s like the tardis. And it’s very very easy to drive with a high seating position and light controls. Economical and for the past 3 years totally reliable. And perhaps the best thing is that I am free to have a more sporty car as we use the Hundi for family duties.

For an SUV there’s the Dacia Duster. Cheap and spacious. Or consider an MPV as you get that bit more space at the expense of looking cool.

What sort of budget do you have?

[Weekendrebuild]

Got the wife an m140i for baby duty brilliant car. I test drove couple of 1 series diesels first but she doesn’t do much distance car is perfect for child seats an loads of room in the boot . An shifts well to so keeps the wife happy .

[ZX10R NIN]

Small SUV's don't have the greatest ride so if you want an SUV look at Kuga's & above or just get a Mondeo sized hatch/saloon which will give you lots of space & a great ride. How much do you want to spend.

[Flashgordonsalive]

She’s leathal in a 1.3 fiesta so a 140 is a no lol.
I don’t want to spend loads 4000-5000 max.
I have a cayanne which is the family wagon. This is just to get her sound safely.

[Flashgordonsalive]

I should mention I am battling against A driver of small cars. A Mondeo would be too big.

[colin86]

On look out for something similar. What about
Focus
Astra
CIVic
Auris

[kieranblenk]

Flashgordonsalive said:

She’s leathal in a 1.3 fiesta so a 140 is a no lol.
I don’t want to spend loads 4000-5000 max.
I have a cayanne which is the family wagon. This is just to get her sound safely.

A Kia Ceed or Venga of some description would be ideal, should still have a year or two manufacturers warranty left also.

[Jag_NE]

Flashgordonsalive said:

She’s leathal in a 1.3 fiesta so a 140 is a no lol.
I don’t want to spend loads 4000-5000 max.
I have a cayanne which is the family wagon. This is just to get her sound safely.

What is unsafe about a fiesta?

[Flashgordonsalive]

Fiesta isn’t unsafe. More her driving style.

It just feels a little too small and very rattly. The ride isn’t great.
I wanted something smoother and relaxed for scuttling about.

[Welshbeef]

Other thing to considers are
1. You might have more kids and don’t need to change car again for that
2. Taking grandparents along you need more space
3. Taking other mums out with their little um and vice versus big cars are needed otherwise it’s environmentally unfriendly taking two.

Honestly buy S Max or Sharan nice and comfy and as others have said you don’t drive fast at all with kids in the car - one of ours gets car sick on nearly every single trip so vomit inducing is best be avoided.

Also think shopping then think size of pram - how much space is left in the boot?
Think holidays luggage how does it work

[Flashgordonsalive]

I’ll show her the S max. They look decent.

[flatso]

Mazda 5, good size, decent ride and reliability, SLIDING doors (massive comfort) , and you can probably get the pram inside without having to disassemble it every time.

[ZX10R NIN]

Giulietta Veloce:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Kia Ceed 2

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Astra Elite

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Limited Edition

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[Flashgordonsalive]

Alfa is nice. Probably best looking.

Just been looking at the S max. She might find it too large.

[Weekendrebuild]

Would you be seen dead in an smax? My wife would kill me if I bought her that , realistically as long as it has four doors it’s fine there’s loads to choose from. you Might as-well hand her the keys to a crew cab transit my 6 month year olds been chilling in the back of the straight piped m6 for Christmas drive with dad he giggles his head off when she gets noisy . Then he falls asleep not sure how he managed that .