Panda 100hp Big Enough for a Young Family?
Discussion
jkh112 said:
Gregg, do you have children? I ask because child seats (or lack of) and buggies from the past are much smaller than those available today so saying what type of cars parents managed with in the past is of little use nowadays.
My advice is that a small family could manage with a panda, but it would be a struggle if you wanted to go on holiday or perhaps do a big supermarket shop so why make life more difficult than it has to be. A larger car would be better suited to family duties.
No but I know plenty of mates with children...My advice is that a small family could manage with a panda, but it would be a struggle if you wanted to go on holiday or perhaps do a big supermarket shop so why make life more difficult than it has to be. A larger car would be better suited to family duties.
My friend has a Corsa D and does just fine okay its slightly bigger than a Panda but not exactly a huge car he easily manages with one child and went to France this year with the nipper on holiday and drove.
2 Kids yes I can understand needing a car the size of a Golf or bigger but for one child I think even with todays car seats etc they is no need to get a massive car for the sake of it and if you are sensible a decent supermini is more than sufficient.
You mention that buggies were a lot smaller 20 years ago and they were but so where the cars a modern Fiesta is vast compared to the £50 knacker my Mum had back in the day!
I personally suggested a Fiesta ST (or equiv) in my post as Panda boot is particularly small and agree would be a pain but a normal sized supermini I don't think will be an issue at all for the one child.
5 doors may be useful as well don't think the Fiesta comes in that so a Polo GTI would be another good shout.
Edited by greggy50 on Tuesday 30th December 14:31
Bonefish Blues said:
S10GTA said:
Bonefish Blues said:
No.
Life would be a needless struggle, I'd say - it's a mini mini not a supermini, I'd say.
This. I convinced myself I could get live with whatever I had. Mine is 2 now, and in that time I've had a C4 VTS and a Xsara VTS. I survived, but eventually went and got a XC70 in the end and it has made life so much easier. Pushchair lives in the car all the time but I can still get the dogs in too. 5 doors makes things so much easier, and we can do other things too, like shopping, tip runs etc. We can also chuck bikes in/on with ease.Life would be a needless struggle, I'd say - it's a mini mini not a supermini, I'd say.
Comfort and safety (with a good stereo) are now much more important requirements than anything else.
I'd go for a small hatch instead.
For the first year, you will most likely have to accomodate a whole load of junk. You'll then have an epiphany somewhere around the first birthday, and rationalise everything right down.
We've had an e46 touring since our little guy was born 21 months ago and never been wanting for space - they're pretty small for an estate and a Golf sized thing would have been fine. Since he's been 1 we've been using that and a Clio 172 - In fact we've just done a 400mile odd round trip for Christmas in the Clio with no probs at all (including lugging all chrimbo pressies around etc)
The amount of junk people are suckered into buying is mental. Speak to sensible parents, not the ones who are always late and always seem to be laden.
By choosing a decent 'travel system' you can easily fit all you need in a small hatch. Fold up pram, change bag with change of clothes, snacks, water, and milk stuff if needed when it's younger. If your other half is feeding the little dude you need even less crap (no sterilisers, bottles etc)
Regarding the 3 vs 5 door - TBH I think I actually find a 3 door easier, as the doors tend to be bigger, and flipping the seat in front gives you more room to move the tiny human. When they're rear facing then get something with ISOfix and a decent base, load the little one up outside the car, and then just click it in.
When they're older, flip the seat forwards then you can either sit beside them on the rear bench, or in front with the seat flipped, load them up, and go.
It never feels like we're 'struggling' or 'making do'. The only car it's ever been a PITA to get him in was my RX7
For the first year, you will most likely have to accomodate a whole load of junk. You'll then have an epiphany somewhere around the first birthday, and rationalise everything right down.
We've had an e46 touring since our little guy was born 21 months ago and never been wanting for space - they're pretty small for an estate and a Golf sized thing would have been fine. Since he's been 1 we've been using that and a Clio 172 - In fact we've just done a 400mile odd round trip for Christmas in the Clio with no probs at all (including lugging all chrimbo pressies around etc)
The amount of junk people are suckered into buying is mental. Speak to sensible parents, not the ones who are always late and always seem to be laden.
By choosing a decent 'travel system' you can easily fit all you need in a small hatch. Fold up pram, change bag with change of clothes, snacks, water, and milk stuff if needed when it's younger. If your other half is feeding the little dude you need even less crap (no sterilisers, bottles etc)
Regarding the 3 vs 5 door - TBH I think I actually find a 3 door easier, as the doors tend to be bigger, and flipping the seat in front gives you more room to move the tiny human. When they're rear facing then get something with ISOfix and a decent base, load the little one up outside the car, and then just click it in.
When they're older, flip the seat forwards then you can either sit beside them on the rear bench, or in front with the seat flipped, load them up, and go.
It never feels like we're 'struggling' or 'making do'. The only car it's ever been a PITA to get him in was my RX7
Edited by FD3Si on Tuesday 30th December 14:28
clonmult said:
35mpg? Thats not so good. My old A6 Avant TDI. 45mpg all day and considerably more space than the Punto. And you can probably get a decent one for under £2k.
Did a trip up to scotland and back in it with toddler, 1 older kid and the partner. Honestly, the amount of crud that you have to carry with a toddler/baby around is mildly insane
that's around town, heavy traffic. Driving on a soaking went m4 I managed 53 out of it, but that was at 50mph. With a mixture, and a bit of boost I get 38-40. Did a trip up to scotland and back in it with toddler, 1 older kid and the partner. Honestly, the amount of crud that you have to carry with a toddler/baby around is mildly insane
greggy50 said:
jkh112 said:
Gregg, do you have children? .
No but I know plenty of mates with children...a normal sized supermini I don't think will be an issue at all for the one child. .
Edited by greggy50 on Tuesday 30th December 14:31
If you are the right type of people a Panda is fine (at least initially).
If you're the sort that buys a 'travel system' instead of a pram and are likely to want to take a load of clutter around then you're going to need something bigger. 'Normal' prams fit in the boot without folding the seat down, and leaves enough room for other stuff besides. Understandably some people find it hard not packing everything 'just in case'.
If you want to take dogs / multiple extra passengers or do long journeys then you might want something more comfortable/spacious.
If you have to deal with a lot of speed bumps then do so on the test drive.
If you don't want to have to change car in 2-3 years then buy something else now.
100hp Panda's are great fun for popping about in though, very silly suspension.
If you're the sort that buys a 'travel system' instead of a pram and are likely to want to take a load of clutter around then you're going to need something bigger. 'Normal' prams fit in the boot without folding the seat down, and leaves enough room for other stuff besides. Understandably some people find it hard not packing everything 'just in case'.
If you want to take dogs / multiple extra passengers or do long journeys then you might want something more comfortable/spacious.
If you have to deal with a lot of speed bumps then do so on the test drive.
If you don't want to have to change car in 2-3 years then buy something else now.
100hp Panda's are great fun for popping about in though, very silly suspension.
Look out for road tests by Paul Horrell (TG journo). He likes small cars and then started a family and makes a number of good comments on families and small cars.
In my experience (3kids) the panda will be too small, my folks had one as a second car so we are familiar with them. Its not so much the seat space if you are seating 4 people maximum but everything else. You will not get a pram (even scissor fold type) and food shopping in without making life more difficult than it needs to be - the boot is very small.
In my experience (3kids) the panda will be too small, my folks had one as a second car so we are familiar with them. Its not so much the seat space if you are seating 4 people maximum but everything else. You will not get a pram (even scissor fold type) and food shopping in without making life more difficult than it needs to be - the boot is very small.
Having small kids and living with a 100HP over the last 5 years / 85k miles, I would advise against the Panda if it's meant to fulfil the main family car role. As a second car, it's been fantastic and I'll be sad to see it go.
A couple of 100HP issues. It's a four seater only, you may struggle with rear facing child seats and for passengers, it's not much fun over longer distances.
A couple of 100HP issues. It's a four seater only, you may struggle with rear facing child seats and for passengers, it's not much fun over longer distances.
Honest answer is that yes the panda will be (just) big enough, but you'll struggle. Also I can't believe it's not been mentioned much yet but the ride is terrible. I had one for a couple of years before my daughter was born, great fun on a back road but it would be way down the list of cars for transporting my family about.
Try one -you will enjoy it but I put it to you that you'll be getting evils from your pregnant mrs & on your first drive home with the little one in the back you'll be all over the place trying to avoid potholes /speedbumps wishing you'd listend to those idiots on pistonheads and bought a nice big comfy Volvo. (I have an XC60 now!)
Try one -you will enjoy it but I put it to you that you'll be getting evils from your pregnant mrs & on your first drive home with the little one in the back you'll be all over the place trying to avoid potholes /speedbumps wishing you'd listend to those idiots on pistonheads and bought a nice big comfy Volvo. (I have an XC60 now!)
jkh112 said:
OP, listen to the advice from those who have been there, not those who think they know because their mate said so.
It is one of my closes friends who is a single Dad and I know him very well so know it is not just "my mate said so" I see him and the child very regularly. Also kindly removed part of post where I said a Panda may be a tad small and suggested something like a Fiesta or a Polo who are a bit bigger.
Not sure how people find it hard to think for one child and two parents a 5 door supermini is not okay they have decent 300 litre ish boots now and two spare seats in the back for one child it is more than sufficient for everyday use.
Two kids of course may need something bigger or when the kids grow up and want more rear leg space but no point running a large car for one small child.
Edited by greggy50 on Tuesday 30th December 23:39
Unless you have looked after a kid yourself you can only give so much advice. There is no way a Panda or similar sized car would be practical. I would also never use anything other than a rear facing ISOfix seat and that means a 5 door with a lot of space in the rear and even then you're only good for the first year. Rear facing seats are massive so kiss goodbye to anyone using the passenger seat in small cars.
Trust us who are doing it. Get a big comfortable car with rear leg room and a good boot.
Trust us who are doing it. Get a big comfortable car with rear leg room and a good boot.
greggy50 said:
It is one of my closes friends who is a single Dad and I know him very well so know it is not just "my mate said so" I see him and the child very regularly.
Also kindly removed part of post where I said a Panda may be a tad small and suggested something like a Fiesta or a Polo who are a bit bigger.
Not sure how people find it hard to think for one child and two parents a 5 door supermini is not okay they have decent 300 litre ish boots now and two spare seats in the back for one child it is more than sufficient for everyday use.
Two kids of course may need something bigger or when the kids grow up and want more rear leg space but no point running a large car for one small child.
Like I said, yes the panda will (just) be big enough, but why compromise? Why struggle with a small car when you could just buy a bigger one?Also kindly removed part of post where I said a Panda may be a tad small and suggested something like a Fiesta or a Polo who are a bit bigger.
Not sure how people find it hard to think for one child and two parents a 5 door supermini is not okay they have decent 300 litre ish boots now and two spare seats in the back for one child it is more than sufficient for everyday use.
Two kids of course may need something bigger or when the kids grow up and want more rear leg space but no point running a large car for one small child.
Edited by greggy50 on Tuesday 30th December 23:39
Polrules said:
Like I said, yes the panda will (just) be big enough, but why compromise? Why struggle with a small car when you could just buy a bigger one?
Kids are expensive something like a Fiesta very cheap to run on insurance, servicing, tax, fuel etc...Panda is too small because of the boot a proper supermini will be fine size wise a new Fiesta is not that much smaller than something like a Mk1 Focus inside with the way cars have grown.
greggy50 said:
Kids are expensive something like a Fiesta very cheap to run on insurance, servicing, tax, fuel etc...
Panda is too small because of the boot a proper supermini will be fine size wise a new Fiesta is not that much smaller than something like a Mk1 Focus inside with the way cars have grown.
On the point about kids being expensive - note for the Op, recently found out that the laws on car seats are about to change..Panda is too small because of the boot a proper supermini will be fine size wise a new Fiesta is not that much smaller than something like a Mk1 Focus inside with the way cars have grown.
We've just moved up from the Group 0- (I.e. from birth) Maxicosy Cabriofix seat to a new seat which should last her until she's around 4. Previously it was about weight but soon they will be sold on length & will have to be rear facing for much longer. These seats are bigger still.
We bought 3 seats (@ £375 a pop), one each for myself, my wife & her parents. Now while the seat fits fine into my XC60 it's a bit of a squeeze in the wife's Nissan Cube - anyone sitting in front of the seat has less than the full range of adjustment available. In the in-laws Nissan juke the front passenger seat is rendered unusable by the size of the kiddy seat - anything smaller than an Astra or Focus will probably be similarly affected. Check before you buy!
CampDavid said:
My mum used a Fabia VRs with her first grandson a lot, seemed fine. All 5 doors and a boot big enough for a buggy. Anything sub Polo size will be a struggle. Doable but a needless pain
This was what I meant when I suggested a Fiesta/Polo GTIFabia VRS would be a fine choice if on a budget cheap to insure and run etc and pretty nippy.
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