Family drivers of PH
Discussion
We have 3 kids, 2 dogs and also towed so really needed an estate or something like it.
Ended up with the XC90 for a few reasons:
That said... I also ferry around the 3 kids to things (parties, swimming, shopping) in my 996.... complete opposite end of the scale space wise!
Ended up with the XC90 for a few reasons:
- Safety - partly because, you know.... VOLVO.... but also because you are higher up
- Tows nicely
- Fits everything in
That said... I also ferry around the 3 kids to things (parties, swimming, shopping) in my 996.... complete opposite end of the scale space wise!
The only reason I can see for getting a seven seat SUV (and I do want to get one) is that you can then transport not just your children but also their friends. Once you have two children you're stuck and can't fit anyone else in.
Up to now (we've got a 7 year old and a five month old) we've always had small to medium cars. Currently we have an m140i which is you can get both kids in and our quinny pram fits perfectly in the boot. We also have a Seat Exeo estate which obviously has a more practical boot but isn't really any bigger in the rear seating area.
Next car is going to be a 7 seater for the reasons above.
Up to now (we've got a 7 year old and a five month old) we've always had small to medium cars. Currently we have an m140i which is you can get both kids in and our quinny pram fits perfectly in the boot. We also have a Seat Exeo estate which obviously has a more practical boot but isn't really any bigger in the rear seating area.
Next car is going to be a 7 seater for the reasons above.
arj7 said:
The golf on the whole has been good, but there have been times where a bit more space would have been useful. We are planning to have another in the next year or two so would like something that could cater for that.
Thing is, you buy a bigger car which holds more stuff, so you take more stuff. Then you take so much stuff that your new, bigger car isn't quite big enough any more, so that goes and you get a bigger one and you carry even more stuff to the point where you fill that one up too. 
Willy Nilly said:
Thing is, you buy a bigger car which holds more stuff, so you take more stuff. Then you take so much stuff that your new, bigger car isn't quite big enough any more, so that goes and you get a bigger one and you carry even more stuff to the point where you fill that one up too.
Thats a fair point.To be honest the only time we have an issue is when we are going on a trip and staying somewhere for more than a few days. His pram and accessories takes the majority of the boot then theres our stuff.
We've had a series of estates over the years: Peugeot 305, 405, Renault Laguna, Peugeot 406, Saab 9-5 and now an Audi S4 Avant. All very useful for lugging children, delivering medicines, transferring stock between the pharmacies, going to the tip etc.
Even now the children have flown the nest and we've retired I still find a wagon really useful and I'd sooner have one than a SUV
Even now the children have flown the nest and we've retired I still find a wagon really useful and I'd sooner have one than a SUV
Having once owned an L322 Range Rover, I now miss the view I get of the road ahead in anything other than a large SUV or van. The additional anticipation I can apply to my already fairly smooth driving style gives me more pleasure than is strictly appropriate to the situation, to be honest.
I have effectively spoiled all other cars for myself by doing this, I know, which is a right pain in the bum.
On the plus side, my (non-petrolhead) wife is absolutely convinced that large SUVs are really, really, really safe, so approves of me buying them as family cars.
Looking like my next one will be a Merc ML or BMW X5.
I have effectively spoiled all other cars for myself by doing this, I know, which is a right pain in the bum.
On the plus side, my (non-petrolhead) wife is absolutely convinced that large SUVs are really, really, really safe, so approves of me buying them as family cars.
Looking like my next one will be a Merc ML or BMW X5.
arj7 said:
Thats a fair point.
To be honest the only time we have an issue is when we are going on a trip and staying somewhere for more than a few days. His pram and accessories takes the majority of the boot then theres our stuff.
How would you manage if you took all that on a flight somewhere? To be honest the only time we have an issue is when we are going on a trip and staying somewhere for more than a few days. His pram and accessories takes the majority of the boot then theres our stuff.
If you buy some sports bags rather than suit cases, they are soft and will squash up, so you can put them in the boot on the top of your push chair. Or, most cars have split rear seats, so put what won't go in the boot next to junior.
PeteinSQ said:
The only reason I can see for getting a seven seat SUV (and I do want to get one) is that you can then transport not just your children but also their friends. Once you have two children you're stuck and can't fit anyone else in.
The main reason I can see for not getting a seven seat SUV is that you can end up having to transport not just your children but also their friends. Once you have two children you never have to fit anyone else's annoying children in.
We ended up with an SUV. I had no interest in getting one but there are a number of advantages such as the higher platform makes strapping kids in to the car seat easier (less bending over), the longer suspension travel and higher profile tyres make the ride more comfortable, and the wife prefers the taller driving position.
2 kids, 2 dogs. We have had
Disco 1 - Great for space and not caring where I left it
Disco 3 - Great for space, comfortable, headphone sockets in back for kids
XC70 - Good space, built in booster seats, very comfortable
A6 Avant - Best drive by far, enough space, easiest of the bunch to get a roofbox on.
Unless you want an SUV, and there's no reason not to get one if you like them, I'd definitely recommend an estate.
Disco 1 - Great for space and not caring where I left it
Disco 3 - Great for space, comfortable, headphone sockets in back for kids
XC70 - Good space, built in booster seats, very comfortable
A6 Avant - Best drive by far, enough space, easiest of the bunch to get a roofbox on.
Unless you want an SUV, and there's no reason not to get one if you like them, I'd definitely recommend an estate.
IanCress said:
We ended up with an SUV. I had no interest in getting one but there are a number of advantages such as the higher platform makes strapping kids in to the car seat easier (less bending over), the longer suspension travel and higher profile tyres make the ride more comfortable, and the wife prefers the taller driving position.
I agree with this ,its the perception of being safer than other cars.We can fit myself, wife a 4 year old,18 month toddler and the dog in my newly acquired Abarth 595, not that it will happen often. But really our SAAB 9-5 Aero Wagon is the practical one when we need to take other stuff with us like bikes, buggy etc.
Our focus-st manages the same pretty well but there are plenty times when you need a bigger boot for things.
Our focus-st manages the same pretty well but there are plenty times when you need a bigger boot for things.
I used to think SUVs in cities were a ridiculous concept yet here I am with a 4 month old baby and an SUV 
Main thing is that the buggy takes up a huge amount of space, and you can't get one of those smaller ones because your wife will complain that it's too bumpy for the child and that she wants a Bugaboo at any cost.
Main thing is that the buggy takes up a huge amount of space, and you can't get one of those smaller ones because your wife will complain that it's too bumpy for the child and that she wants a Bugaboo at any cost.
When my daughter was first born, I used to have a Megane 225 Trophy which worked fairly well but being two doors made things difficult.
I had a Saab 9-3 estate for a short while which was excellent in terms of space and running costs but fancied another Merc since buying my CLS. So my dad duties are done in a 2003 (W211) E320 CDI. I honesty can't fault it as a car. It can carry four in comfort, the boot has enough space for a family holiday and I enjoy it as a sensible car.
My other half is looking at possible family cars as she has an SL at the moment. She's quite keen on the C-Class which from looking at a friends car looks suitably well sized and has a decent boot so will probably opt for that.
Thing is for me, I'd rather buy a high mileage wafter and spend the money on a fun car than spend a large sum on a family wagon.
I had a Saab 9-3 estate for a short while which was excellent in terms of space and running costs but fancied another Merc since buying my CLS. So my dad duties are done in a 2003 (W211) E320 CDI. I honesty can't fault it as a car. It can carry four in comfort, the boot has enough space for a family holiday and I enjoy it as a sensible car.
My other half is looking at possible family cars as she has an SL at the moment. She's quite keen on the C-Class which from looking at a friends car looks suitably well sized and has a decent boot so will probably opt for that.
Thing is for me, I'd rather buy a high mileage wafter and spend the money on a fun car than spend a large sum on a family wagon.
We have two kids - aged four and seven.
Since the birth of our eldest daughter we have used the following as our main car - second car in brackets
Alfa 156 SW (Mk1 Eunos)
MINI Clubman S (Mk 1 Eunos then Nissan Note)
BMW 330i Coupe (Nissan Note)
We do have an air-cooled VW T25 camper too, but this is not used that frequently - at least for daily family duties.
You do not need large cars for kids even when they are young. We did have a roof box for the MINI for visiting grandparents/ holidays when our son was young though....
Since the birth of our eldest daughter we have used the following as our main car - second car in brackets
Alfa 156 SW (Mk1 Eunos)
MINI Clubman S (Mk 1 Eunos then Nissan Note)
BMW 330i Coupe (Nissan Note)
We do have an air-cooled VW T25 camper too, but this is not used that frequently - at least for daily family duties.
You do not need large cars for kids even when they are young. We did have a roof box for the MINI for visiting grandparents/ holidays when our son was young though....
When my son was born I had a 3dr M135i
It was fine for space but inconvenient for getting the child seat into the back.
I ended the lease on that and got a Saab 9-3 Turbo X which was fine, and big enough when my daughter arrived.
A change in job meant a change in car (had to be newer than the Saab) so after only a year of Saab ownership I bought a Golf R Estate. It's fine for our kids and their assorted bits and pieces. This has coped admirably with all our needs, including a trip to Ireland by ferry.
My wife has a Seat Mii, now one year old. Bought as a runaround / station car for her. The only buying criteria we had was the double buggy (in line rather than side by side) fit in the boot. It's fun to drive, although a bit cramped for me to be a passenger due to the isofix base on that side.
In the VW when we've had visitors we've managed to get an adult in the back between the two child seats but I wouldn't recommend it for longer journeys (50 mile round trip is our max). I think this is why people go for people carriers. At one point I was looking at LR Discoverys as a do-all car which would mean we wouldn't have to take two cars when my mum visited for example.
Also, don't be fooled into buying loads of stuff that you just don't need. That's one way to fill your boot of unnecessary stuff.
It was fine for space but inconvenient for getting the child seat into the back.
I ended the lease on that and got a Saab 9-3 Turbo X which was fine, and big enough when my daughter arrived.
A change in job meant a change in car (had to be newer than the Saab) so after only a year of Saab ownership I bought a Golf R Estate. It's fine for our kids and their assorted bits and pieces. This has coped admirably with all our needs, including a trip to Ireland by ferry.
My wife has a Seat Mii, now one year old. Bought as a runaround / station car for her. The only buying criteria we had was the double buggy (in line rather than side by side) fit in the boot. It's fun to drive, although a bit cramped for me to be a passenger due to the isofix base on that side.
In the VW when we've had visitors we've managed to get an adult in the back between the two child seats but I wouldn't recommend it for longer journeys (50 mile round trip is our max). I think this is why people go for people carriers. At one point I was looking at LR Discoverys as a do-all car which would mean we wouldn't have to take two cars when my mum visited for example.
Also, don't be fooled into buying loads of stuff that you just don't need. That's one way to fill your boot of unnecessary stuff.
citroen C3 when there was one (I cycled everywhere). Then I got a Leon Cupra R, but that ws too small with a baby and a 2 year old (pushchair and pram, baby seat meant i couldn't get my seat far enough back (six foot but long legs/ big feet). Got a Touran, now the kids are 3 and 5 I want something smaller, maybe another LCR or golf GTI or given that its mostly just me in the car and kids for short journeys a TT.
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