Smallish car for transporting kids.....
Discussion
Hi everyone, I’m looking for our first family car. My first thought was Honda FRV, to suit the following brief-
-Must be able to fit an extended rear facing child seat behind both driver and passenger and therefore not have floor storage bins. (Non negotiable)
-Must be small enough to fit on the MIL’s drive and not be unwieldy in urban situations. So no Mondeo, Octavia etc... (Non negotiable.)
-Petrol (non negotiable)
-Manual gearbox if possible
Budget is £2-8k. Ideally sub 5. Needs to be within 50 miles or so of Wigan.
As I said above, I was looking at FRV’s but there aren’t any decent ones on AT (rust, dodgy MOT history etc). So would be interested to hear of any alternatives. Citroen Picasso, Toyota verso and Ford C-Max are out due to the storage bin issue. I’ve found a few Mercedes B class but know nothing about them.
I think we’re looking at a mini MPV of some sort, just a case of finding the right one. I’d appreciate any other options worth looking at. I was set on the FRV but need to re-check for alternatives as they are so rare.
Anybody got any advice?
-Must be able to fit an extended rear facing child seat behind both driver and passenger and therefore not have floor storage bins. (Non negotiable)
-Must be small enough to fit on the MIL’s drive and not be unwieldy in urban situations. So no Mondeo, Octavia etc... (Non negotiable.)
-Petrol (non negotiable)
-Manual gearbox if possible
Budget is £2-8k. Ideally sub 5. Needs to be within 50 miles or so of Wigan.
As I said above, I was looking at FRV’s but there aren’t any decent ones on AT (rust, dodgy MOT history etc). So would be interested to hear of any alternatives. Citroen Picasso, Toyota verso and Ford C-Max are out due to the storage bin issue. I’ve found a few Mercedes B class but know nothing about them.
I think we’re looking at a mini MPV of some sort, just a case of finding the right one. I’d appreciate any other options worth looking at. I was set on the FRV but need to re-check for alternatives as they are so rare.
Anybody got any advice?
C4 Picasso
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010225...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011146...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009063...
Grand Scenic
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008062...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012096...
Peugeot 3008
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202006280...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010315...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009033...
5008
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010295...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011065...
Vauxhall Mokka
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011176...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010225...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011146...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009063...
Grand Scenic
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008062...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012096...
Peugeot 3008
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202006280...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010315...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009033...
5008
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010295...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011065...
Vauxhall Mokka
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011176...
Cheers for that ZX, the Picasso has the floor storage bins where the support leg for an extended rear facing child seat goes so are out. Grand Picasso and 5008 are too big. 3008 and Mokka are new to me, I’ll have a look.
On the 3008, how robust are the engines, some have a detuned 1.6 turbo out of the 207 gti don’t they?
Edit- the 3008 appears to have floor storage too. Bugger.
On the 3008, how robust are the engines, some have a detuned 1.6 turbo out of the 207 gti don’t they?
Edit- the 3008 appears to have floor storage too. Bugger.
Edited by StevieT735 on Wednesday 9th December 21:40
We have had a boring but reliable Nissan Note for the last 8 years for family duties. Ours is diesel, but I think the petrols aren't problematic. We have a Tekna spec which gave a lot of toys for 8 years ago.
I don't quite understand the rear child seat requirement. Our kids are now 7 and 11. It has been used and abused by kids and wife and still lives on without so much as a murmur.
I don't quite understand the rear child seat requirement. Our kids are now 7 and 11. It has been used and abused by kids and wife and still lives on without so much as a murmur.
mike9009 said:
We have had a boring but reliable Nissan Note for the last 8 years for family duties. Ours is diesel, but I think the petrols aren't problematic. We have a Tekna spec which gave a lot of toys for 8 years ago.
I don't quite understand the rear child seat requirement. Our kids are now 7 and 11. It has been used and abused by kids and wife and still lives on without so much as a murmur.
The issue with the rear facing car seats is that they have a support leg that goes down to the floor of the car. Floor storage boxes prevent these being used in almost all situations. The FRV doesn’t have them, but the cars I had been lining up to view this weekend have sold hence me looking for alternatives.I don't quite understand the rear child seat requirement. Our kids are now 7 and 11. It has been used and abused by kids and wife and still lives on without so much as a murmur.
Is an "extended rear facing child seat" (not something that I've ever encountered) something that you will need/desire for a long period? Couldn't you work around the support leg/floor issue?
My 8 & 11 year olds used forward facing seats that strapped in until they reached sizes that didn't require it. We had a Fabia and a Mondeo at the time. Pretty much any car will do.
My 8 & 11 year olds used forward facing seats that strapped in until they reached sizes that didn't require it. We had a Fabia and a Mondeo at the time. Pretty much any car will do.
Edited by MC Bodge on Thursday 10th December 10:10
MC Bodge said:
I've never seen a rear facing seat for a 4+ year old. That must be a substantial bit of kit
What's the reason for using one?
You should keep children rear facing for as long as possible due to their weaker neck muscles and potential injury during a collision. Upto the age of 4 is generally considered practical.What's the reason for using one?
^ this.
Belt fitted, plus tested seats are suitable for kids up to 25 kg, or when outgrown by height. No age limit.
We’re a below average sized family (I’m 5’9, wife’s 5’4, daughters aged 3 and 1).
If the wife hadn’t put me on to the rear facing issue, the 3year old would be FF by now and we’d be in a Civic or Focus. However you can’t unsee/unlearn some things, especially when it comes to the safety of kids.
If it weren’t for the MIL’s odd shaped drive, I’d be looking at Mondeos or Superbs, but we are where we are on that front.
Belt fitted, plus tested seats are suitable for kids up to 25 kg, or when outgrown by height. No age limit.
We’re a below average sized family (I’m 5’9, wife’s 5’4, daughters aged 3 and 1).
If the wife hadn’t put me on to the rear facing issue, the 3year old would be FF by now and we’d be in a Civic or Focus. However you can’t unsee/unlearn some things, especially when it comes to the safety of kids.
If it weren’t for the MIL’s odd shaped drive, I’d be looking at Mondeos or Superbs, but we are where we are on that front.
WonkeyDonkey said:
Citroen Cactus?
We have one and there's no storage in the floors. Space behind driver is dependant on the height of driver though. I don't think I'd fit a rear facing car seat behind me but would fit easily behind my partner.
Looks a good shout, I’m not large but think I’d need to go see one. How’s the boot on yours, big enough for a big jogging pushchair? We have one and there's no storage in the floors. Space behind driver is dependant on the height of driver though. I don't think I'd fit a rear facing car seat behind me but would fit easily behind my partner.
We had not hugely dissimilar requirements in that my wife likes a smaller car (short arse), but we needed something big enough for 2 young kids and their clobber.
We ended up with a Skoda Yeti. The rear seats slide back and forth so you can adjust depending on how much boot space you need. We found that unless we were packing the car to the rafters (e,g. going on holiday), we could steal a bit of boot space for more cabin room. No problem with rear facing seats.
Just a thought...
We ended up with a Skoda Yeti. The rear seats slide back and forth so you can adjust depending on how much boot space you need. We found that unless we were packing the car to the rafters (e,g. going on holiday), we could steal a bit of boot space for more cabin room. No problem with rear facing seats.
Just a thought...
Evanivitch said:
You should keep children rear facing for as long as possible due to their weaker neck muscles and potential injury during a collision. Upto the age of 4 is generally considered practical.
OK. We assessd the risk and decided either not to leave the house or not to drive forwards into any stationary objects.
MC Bodge said:
OK.
We assessd the risk and decided either not to leave the house or not to drive forwards into any stationary objects.
It's a risk-benefit trade. Of course there's a huge benefit to being able to use the car, but the benefit of the child going forward facing sooner than necessary is lost on me...We assessd the risk and decided either not to leave the house or not to drive forwards into any stationary objects.
Evanivitch said:
MC Bodge said:
OK.
We assessd the risk and decided either not to leave the house or not to drive forwards into any stationary objects.
It's a risk-benefit trade. Of course there's a huge benefit to being able to use the car, but the benefit of the child going forward facing sooner than necessary is lost on me...We assessd the risk and decided either not to leave the house or not to drive forwards into any stationary objects.
The probability of a forward shunt resulting in major injury or death to the child is very low.
As somebody who played rugby(!) , climbed, mountaineered, grappling and sparring, rides motorbikes and mountain & bikes, takes the children mountain biking and into the mountains in summer and winter etc. I may have a slightly different attitude to you.
Edited by MC Bodge on Thursday 10th December 10:45
MC Bodge said:
Fair enough. Everybody has a different approach to acceptable risk.
The probability of a forward shunt resulting in major injury or death to the child is very low.
As somebody who played rugby(!) , climbed, mountaineered, rides motorbikes and mountain & bikes, takes the children mountain biking abd into the mountains in winter etc. I may have a slightly different attitude to you.
As somebody that works with munitions and equipment designed to kill, I suspect you do The probability of a forward shunt resulting in major injury or death to the child is very low.
As somebody who played rugby(!) , climbed, mountaineered, rides motorbikes and mountain & bikes, takes the children mountain biking abd into the mountains in winter etc. I may have a slightly different attitude to you.
Evanivitch said:
As somebody that works with munitions and equipment designed to kill, I suspect you do
I suppose that if you are unable to approach normal life differently to the way you deal with munitions and equipment designed to kill, then you might be extremely risk averse and may have problems.As I'm sure you are aware, there is a proces known as risk assessment. Not all risks are equal.
Mazda 5? Sliding rear doors might be a real bonus. Don't know if it has floor bins though. Speaking of which, could everyone else just take it as read that's what the OP wants rather than telling him why he shouldn't want it? Just be helpful, you know. He knows what he's doing, obviously.
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