First born inbound do I hold out?
Discussion
I’m in the market for a 5 series estate or a 6 series GT. looking to spend no more than 27k for something around 4 years old and under 50k miles.
Narrowed it down to the 2 cars above, but there’s one thing stopping me from getting my wallet out, the fact I can see on the total car check app that a majority of these cars I have my eye on, were sold for a couple of grand less than they are up for now, obviously with less mileage to boot.
I know there’s multiple posts on here about car prices falling imminently, so would I be better off waiting at least a few months? Would it make that much of a difference?
I’ve been watching a few cars that I like, and they still haven’t been sold even though some have been for sale for months, neither has the price been significantly reduced to overcome.
One car in particular I liked, but the dealer was unwilling to negotiate despite it being sat on the forecourt for months. I know they don’t want to take a bath with a loss, but how is it my fault they over valued the part ex?
Narrowed it down to the 2 cars above, but there’s one thing stopping me from getting my wallet out, the fact I can see on the total car check app that a majority of these cars I have my eye on, were sold for a couple of grand less than they are up for now, obviously with less mileage to boot.
I know there’s multiple posts on here about car prices falling imminently, so would I be better off waiting at least a few months? Would it make that much of a difference?
I’ve been watching a few cars that I like, and they still haven’t been sold even though some have been for sale for months, neither has the price been significantly reduced to overcome.
One car in particular I liked, but the dealer was unwilling to negotiate despite it being sat on the forecourt for months. I know they don’t want to take a bath with a loss, but how is it my fault they over valued the part ex?
What do you drive now? Newborns aren't too bad as toddlers for the amount of space you need, so if you have something sensible at the moment, holding out should be worthwhile. On similar logic, you can also use it as a negotiating tactic for one of the cars you want - if you put down a serious offer and invite the dealer to contact you when they're ready to accept, you might get lucky if nobody else buys it at full price. It's a gamble.
If you need something now spend the money and get on with it, but don't immediately assume you need a huge boot and loads of leg room for a baby. It's when they're in the next size up of car seats (which means leg kicking, lots of leg kicking!) that it's really worth changing.
If you need something now spend the money and get on with it, but don't immediately assume you need a huge boot and loads of leg room for a baby. It's when they're in the next size up of car seats (which means leg kicking, lots of leg kicking!) that it's really worth changing.
I found newborns worse than toddlers for space as the the rearward facing car seat usually needs more space, the pram systems can be pretty big, there's changing bags etc.
Any estate should be fine though. Once they are toddlers it's just a little buggy or get the little slacker walking instead lol
Any estate should be fine though. Once they are toddlers it's just a little buggy or get the little slacker walking instead lol
_Rob said:
Newborns aren't too bad as toddlers for the amount of space you need
I don't think that's right. Rear facing seats for newborns are huge - unless you have a car with a long wheelbase, or you are the stature of a jockey, it'll render the seat in front useless.Prams and other kit you need for a newborn are far bigger than you'll get away with once their a toddler.
I've just flogged my E Class estate now my youngest is 2 - I just don't need the boot space any more. As a newborn, it was incredibly useful.
ninjag said:
I found newborns worse than toddlers for space as the the rearward facing car seat usually needs more space, the pram systems can be pretty big, there's changing bags etc.
Any estate should be fine though. Once they are toddlers it's just a little buggy or get the little slacker walking instead lol
This, you end up carting tonnes of crap around the place, especially prams and fold out cots (shudder!) when they are little, old kids need far less clobber. Any normal Golf sized car will normally suffice, but an estate is quite handy especially if you end up sprogging more of them. Child seats get smaller as they get older, so you get those little booster seats by the time they are six or seven.Any estate should be fine though. Once they are toddlers it's just a little buggy or get the little slacker walking instead lol
Perhaps my kids are weirdos then, but in the rear facing seat's we've used we were fine in a Golf GTi (MK7.5), Leon FR, and Qashaqi (terrible for rear legroom). The boots were fine too. We mostly used the car seat systems that can be clipped into a pram, and then into a car seat base.
Once the eldest was out of that and a bit bigger, getting her in and out was harder and the extra space of a larger car was appreciated, and having more distance between her swinging feet and the back of the front seats was appreciated!
Fast forward to now and all that's true, plus the boot ends up with scooters, bikes, etc in.
Once the eldest was out of that and a bit bigger, getting her in and out was harder and the extra space of a larger car was appreciated, and having more distance between her swinging feet and the back of the front seats was appreciated!
Fast forward to now and all that's true, plus the boot ends up with scooters, bikes, etc in.
Ahh now this is a topic I can relate to!!
Don't have three children whatever you do! Boosters are slim but require you to plug the seatbelt in...a wider toddler seat is easier as they have a harness, so remain plugged in until the child grows bigger. Still unlikely to fit the middle seat though.
Once you have three, you really need a 7 seater or a mini MPV with three individual seats in the rear (Sharan, Galaxy, S-Max, C4 Spacetourer/Picasso, Scenic, Verso), or you end up putting the middle seat on top of the seat belt. Tried the slimmest high back booster in the market and couldn't fit it in the middle of a Toyota Avensis estate, Kia Optima estate, Kia Ceed estate, Kia Sportage...
Oh, and no-one makes MPVs anymore apart from Dacia (which has a bench seat that's too tight realistically) and Ford, which are very expensive. Not sure what the new Citroen C5 AirCross SUV is like in this respect, or the Pug 5008.
/rantover /mumsnet
Don't have three children whatever you do! Boosters are slim but require you to plug the seatbelt in...a wider toddler seat is easier as they have a harness, so remain plugged in until the child grows bigger. Still unlikely to fit the middle seat though.
Once you have three, you really need a 7 seater or a mini MPV with three individual seats in the rear (Sharan, Galaxy, S-Max, C4 Spacetourer/Picasso, Scenic, Verso), or you end up putting the middle seat on top of the seat belt. Tried the slimmest high back booster in the market and couldn't fit it in the middle of a Toyota Avensis estate, Kia Optima estate, Kia Ceed estate, Kia Sportage...
Oh, and no-one makes MPVs anymore apart from Dacia (which has a bench seat that's too tight realistically) and Ford, which are very expensive. Not sure what the new Citroen C5 AirCross SUV is like in this respect, or the Pug 5008.
/rantover /mumsnet
We’re a 2 mini household, mine the clubman, hers the countryman so both on the small side when taking into account all the baby gear you need to cart around, plus a large Labrador.
You’re right reference the rear facing seat, ours is huge and the mrs is tall so it won’t be a comfy journey for everyone, hence why I’m looking at the touring or 6GT.
You’re right reference the rear facing seat, ours is huge and the mrs is tall so it won’t be a comfy journey for everyone, hence why I’m looking at the touring or 6GT.
5 series is little overkill tbh for a newborn purchase, makes me wonder how my mum coped in 1985 in a Austin Metro with two kids for years....we had a MINI One for a few months with our first, managed fine, yes not ideal.
Yes kids need alot of stuff, but you ain't karting it around all the time, only really the pram/isofix etc day to day, and bags of stuff.
We run a 2012 E91 as the main family car (my wife's baby mobile) works just fine, if we need more space I deploy the roofbox when we go away, cheaper than swapping the car, as I did look at this option as upgrading to a 520d myself.
We also have a sheddy Vauxhall Vectra I use for work/commuting as the 2nd backup family car, again ridiculously massive for a family car, this cost less than the bloody pram this car!!
Yes kids need alot of stuff, but you ain't karting it around all the time, only really the pram/isofix etc day to day, and bags of stuff.
We run a 2012 E91 as the main family car (my wife's baby mobile) works just fine, if we need more space I deploy the roofbox when we go away, cheaper than swapping the car, as I did look at this option as upgrading to a 520d myself.
We also have a sheddy Vauxhall Vectra I use for work/commuting as the 2nd backup family car, again ridiculously massive for a family car, this cost less than the bloody pram this car!!
757 said:
5 series is little overkill tbh for a newborn purchase, makes me wonder how my mum coped in 1985 in a Austin Metro with two kids for years....
I expect if the OP is able to spend £27k on a car he feels he may as well do a bit better than just 'cope'. I always think that if you're going to get an estate then get a big one, and if I didn't want something with a modicum of off-road ability then a 5-series would be right at the top of the list. To the original question: unless you've got something really impractical now then I probably would wait and see at least for a few months; with everything that's going on at the minute I can't see things like fairly new 5-series going up in price any further.
757 said:
5 series is little overkill tbh for a newborn purchase, makes me wonder how my mum coped in 1985 in a Austin Metro with two kids for years....we had a MINI One for a few months with our first, managed fine, yes not ideal.
Yes kids need alot of stuff, but you ain't karting it around all the time, only really the pram/isofix etc day to day, and bags of stuff.
When I was being driven around in the 80s in a Morris Minor, we didn't have seatbelts in the back, let alone a booster seat (and the doors had a habit of opening when leant against). Now, however, proper child seats are the law. Therefore in order to "cope" you pretty much need a car which can fit as many child seats as you expect to have children, some of which will likely need to be rear-facing.Yes kids need alot of stuff, but you ain't karting it around all the time, only really the pram/isofix etc day to day, and bags of stuff.
Having said that, when my son was tiny we had a 3 series saloon which worked fine. We tended to not bother with prams most of the time. Decided early on not to have any more children, though!
Roger Irrelevant said:
757 said:
5 series is little overkill tbh for a newborn purchase, makes me wonder how my mum coped in 1985 in a Austin Metro with two kids for years....
I expect if the OP is able to spend £27k on a car he feels he may as well do a bit better than just 'cope'. I always think that if you're going to get an estate then get a big one, and if I didn't want something with a modicum of off-road ability then a 5-series would be right at the top of the list. To the original question: unless you've got something really impractical now then I probably would wait and see at least for a few months; with everything that's going on at the minute I can't see things like fairly new 5-series going up in price any further.
May be worth as others have suggested is leave my price on the table with the dealer, and see if they call a few weeks down the line accepting.
Fusion777 said:
I think it might be worth waiting until the end of year, not sure how much change there will be in a few months. Issue is if prices do start falling faster, will you want to buy then, or wait another 6 months until they're cheaper still, and so on.
Yeah I see the logic, the downside is the baby is due end of Aug, so that’s kind of my cutoff with wanting to swap. I know I could get away with what I’ve got, but it wouldn’t be very comfortable for us in front with a rear facing seat as they’re huge and mandatory. Not sure which ones you've been looking at OP, but a rear facing newborn seat (something like the Maxi Cosi Pebble that most people seem to go for) uses an ISOFIX base that doesn't protrude much further forward that the rear sear cushion. It won't be forcing you to put your passenger seat against the windscreen massively in those cars.
We had ours in the back of my E46 M3 Convertible with no issues, didn't have to adjust the seat, likewise our Honda FRV hatchback.
I wouldn't be rushing to change cars for that reason. Equally, I don't expect to see a massive correction in used car prices any time soon either, so if you can get the deal you want on the 5er that you've seen then go for it.
As with all newborn PH threads, feel free to come back and tell us how you've spaffed four figures on a 'travel system' (me:Uppababy) but find that the whole weight/size thing is a pain in the arse for even a decent sized car boot, so you soon find yourself plumping for an additional old skool Mclaren style fold up pushchair as your 'car buggy'. Ask me how I know etc etc etc.
We had ours in the back of my E46 M3 Convertible with no issues, didn't have to adjust the seat, likewise our Honda FRV hatchback.
I wouldn't be rushing to change cars for that reason. Equally, I don't expect to see a massive correction in used car prices any time soon either, so if you can get the deal you want on the 5er that you've seen then go for it.
As with all newborn PH threads, feel free to come back and tell us how you've spaffed four figures on a 'travel system' (me:Uppababy) but find that the whole weight/size thing is a pain in the arse for even a decent sized car boot, so you soon find yourself plumping for an additional old skool Mclaren style fold up pushchair as your 'car buggy'. Ask me how I know etc etc etc.
Having just gone through this a year ago what you need to factor in is the boot space.
I looked at loads of cars ranging in sizes. I just went and got an Insignia as that had the biggest boot for my cash with the best options. Now I wish I got maybe an Octavia estate or something because going on trips away for the weekend or week in the UK fills up the car.
You honestly do need to pack the entire kitchen with you and then a pram, cot, steriliser machines etc which all take up space. I did find that getting a saloon would have been a much bigger problem with how most of the boots are made and that there's not that much room.
So with your cash I'd definitely be looking at an estate car or very large hatach back, don't fall into the trap of an MPV thing as they don't offer any more practicality than a small hatch does. A friend has a Kia Sportage thing and they can't get half as much in the boot than I can.
Also you'll find that rear facing seats take up a lot of room and your child will be in that for some time, after that child seats still take up a lot of room.
I looked at loads of cars ranging in sizes. I just went and got an Insignia as that had the biggest boot for my cash with the best options. Now I wish I got maybe an Octavia estate or something because going on trips away for the weekend or week in the UK fills up the car.
You honestly do need to pack the entire kitchen with you and then a pram, cot, steriliser machines etc which all take up space. I did find that getting a saloon would have been a much bigger problem with how most of the boots are made and that there's not that much room.
So with your cash I'd definitely be looking at an estate car or very large hatach back, don't fall into the trap of an MPV thing as they don't offer any more practicality than a small hatch does. A friend has a Kia Sportage thing and they can't get half as much in the boot than I can.
Also you'll find that rear facing seats take up a lot of room and your child will be in that for some time, after that child seats still take up a lot of room.
PurpleTurtle said:
Not sure which ones you've been looking at OP, but a rear facing newborn seat (something like the Maxi Cosi Pebble that most people seem to go for) uses an ISOFIX base that doesn't protrude much further forward that the rear sear cushion. It won't be forcing you to put your passenger seat against the windscreen massively in those cars.
We had ours in the back of my E46 M3 Convertible with no issues, didn't have to adjust the seat, likewise our Honda FRV hatchback.
I wouldn't be rushing to change cars for that reason. Equally, I don't expect to see a massive correction in used car prices any time soon either, so if you can get the deal you want on the 5er that you've seen then go for it.
As with all newborn PH threads, feel free to come back and tell us how you've spaffed four figures on a 'travel system' (me:Uppababy) but find that the whole weight/size thing is a pain in the arse for even a decent sized car boot, so you soon find yourself plumping for an additional old skool Mclaren style fold up pushchair as your 'car buggy'. Ask me how I know etc etc etc.
We’ve already spaffed 4 figures, Mrs wanted this Egg travel system £1500 because it matches the colour in the nursery, go figure! We had ours in the back of my E46 M3 Convertible with no issues, didn't have to adjust the seat, likewise our Honda FRV hatchback.
I wouldn't be rushing to change cars for that reason. Equally, I don't expect to see a massive correction in used car prices any time soon either, so if you can get the deal you want on the 5er that you've seen then go for it.
As with all newborn PH threads, feel free to come back and tell us how you've spaffed four figures on a 'travel system' (me:Uppababy) but find that the whole weight/size thing is a pain in the arse for even a decent sized car boot, so you soon find yourself plumping for an additional old skool Mclaren style fold up pushchair as your 'car buggy'. Ask me how I know etc etc etc.
The 6 series GT is also raising my eyebrow, boosts a bigger boot and generally better spec for less money.
PurpleTurtle said:
Not sure which ones you've been looking at OP, but a rear facing newborn seat (something like the Maxi Cosi Pebble that most people seem to go for) uses an ISOFIX base that doesn't protrude much further forward that the rear sear cushion. It won't be forcing you to put your passenger seat against the windscreen massively in those cars.
We had ours in the back of my E46 M3 Convertible with no issues, didn't have to adjust the seat, likewise our Honda FRV hatchback.
I wouldn't be rushing to change cars for that reason. Equally, I don't expect to see a massive correction in used car prices any time soon either, so if you can get the deal you want on the 5er that you've seen then go for it.
As with all newborn PH threads, feel free to come back and tell us how you've spaffed four figures on a 'travel system' (me:Uppababy) but find that the whole weight/size thing is a pain in the arse for even a decent sized car boot, so you soon find yourself plumping for an additional old skool Mclaren style fold up pushchair as your 'car buggy'. Ask me how I know etc etc etc.
Completely agree about the Maxi Cosi Pebble, it's tiny even with the base. Had one in the back of a 2004 Golf no probs.We had ours in the back of my E46 M3 Convertible with no issues, didn't have to adjust the seat, likewise our Honda FRV hatchback.
I wouldn't be rushing to change cars for that reason. Equally, I don't expect to see a massive correction in used car prices any time soon either, so if you can get the deal you want on the 5er that you've seen then go for it.
As with all newborn PH threads, feel free to come back and tell us how you've spaffed four figures on a 'travel system' (me:Uppababy) but find that the whole weight/size thing is a pain in the arse for even a decent sized car boot, so you soon find yourself plumping for an additional old skool Mclaren style fold up pushchair as your 'car buggy'. Ask me how I know etc etc etc.
757 said:
5 series is little overkill tbh for a newborn purchase, makes me wonder how my mum coped in 1985 in a Austin Metro with two kids for years....we had a MINI One for a few months with our first, managed fine, yes not ideal.
Yes kids need alot of stuff, but you ain't karting it around all the time, only really the pram/isofix etc day to day, and bags of stuff.
We run a 2012 E91 as the main family car (my wife's baby mobile) works just fine, if we need more space I deploy the roofbox when we go away, cheaper than swapping the car, as I did look at this option as upgrading to a 520d myself.
We also have a sheddy Vauxhall Vectra I use for work/commuting as the 2nd backup family car, again ridiculously massive for a family car, this cost less than the bloody pram this car!!
I too don’t remember carrying half the stuff about when we had kids, compared to today’s parents. For starters, with luck they may only need their mother for sustenance up to about 5 months. That means a lot less paraphernalia.Yes kids need alot of stuff, but you ain't karting it around all the time, only really the pram/isofix etc day to day, and bags of stuff.
We run a 2012 E91 as the main family car (my wife's baby mobile) works just fine, if we need more space I deploy the roofbox when we go away, cheaper than swapping the car, as I did look at this option as upgrading to a 520d myself.
We also have a sheddy Vauxhall Vectra I use for work/commuting as the 2nd backup family car, again ridiculously massive for a family car, this cost less than the bloody pram this car!!
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