Question for all dads out there - car buying

[Brownie_B]

I have, however, found a solution to my problem....... Im going to buy an american school bus lol


which creates a new problem of trying to find one under my 3k budget.


All jokes aside, thank you kindly to everyone who has replied, I appreciate it

[Mark83]

Before baby.



After baby.



I can see the appeal of SUVs but they're not for me, yet. I have a soft spot for fast estates. The C63 still swallows all his stuff, can handle a tip run and when it's just me, I have almost 600bhp to play with.

[Brownie_B]

Mark83 said:

Before baby.



After baby.



I can see the appeal of SUVs but they're not for me, yet. I have a soft spot for fast estates. The C63 still swallows all his stuff, can handle a tip run and when it's just me, I have almost 600bhp to play with.

Love estates, love fast estates even more. Lovely car.

[Mark83]

Brownie_B said:

Love estates, love fast estates even more. Lovely car.

His pram, Nuna something does fill the boot and the electric closer doesn't close so needs a shove due to the bassinet part needing to go in lengthways next to the pram's chassis, also lengthways. We end up filling the bassinet up with stuff to fit more in the boot. My wife sits in the back while he's still so small - eight weeks tomorrow, so any additional luggage is in the front passenger seat. They aren't meant to be in the car for too long when they're this young so hasn't been an issue.

I think it's a case of however much space you have, you fill.

While I get the benefits of SUVs for ease getting kids in and out without bending and perception of safety, I've not struggled in an estate and I think it's safe. It's also a better drive than the SUVs I've driven. But I do understand the appeal.

Edited by Mark83 on Wednesday 24th May 09:53

[CrippsCorner]

DJM7691 said:

Thought I would share my experience having recently done this - 10 month old now.

Had a Leon Cupra 5dr and 3dr Mini Cooper S between me and the wife and hoped that the cupra would be big enough.

Shock moment when picking up pram (or rather travel set incl carry-cot, and all the gear) that I could barely fit all the boxes in the car! Pram wheels and carrycot basically took up most of the boot space.

Then came a week in Scotland to see in-laws and attempted to get everything in Cupra but no chance. The amount of tut you need to take is incredible including bath seats, bottle sterilisers, travel cots and the like, so had a to swap with a friend who had a GLC, and we filled that!

So in Jan swapped the Cupra for a 10yr old Q5 3.0tdi and as a family car is just awesome and swallows everything you need.

I would echo, Golf plus is perfect, folks on here saying they managed with a coupe with kids must be from a different era.

We managed a week away in Center Parcs with 2 kids in a KIA C'eed - Even had their bikes in the back! What can I say, we must be good at Tetris lol.

[blearyeyedboy]

Brownie_B said:

This is the thing, I still need to get around to seeing exactly what the baby will need. So far all i know is pram, travel carry thingy, a baby bag with bits and bobs I suppose....I should really make a list

God yes.
Do this first.
Then get an older family member to cross half of it off. Seriously, there's a vast amount of stuff you don't need... but the stuff you do need is worth preparing for.

[W201_190e]

I purchased a 2011 61 plate Volvo V60 D5 for £4650 with 85k on the clock and full dealer history. Been fine so far. Money’s too tight to mention right now, so hopefully it doesn’t cost too much to run.

Baby takes up minimal room, all her stuff takes up vast amounts of it.

[gazza5]

When we had our first, I had a corsa which I swapped pretty quickly for a diesel astra, missus fiesta (3 door). That was fun driving a magenta coloured fiesta on way to and from work due to the buggy not fitting in the boot! We never bothered with isofix, my sister has and the isofix units seem to take a lot more space.

Then came time for nursery - missus car then changed to a pug 2008 (still have done 45k miles in 9 years).

Mainly a low mileage as after the astra, got a cheap lease golf r estate. Still lowish mileage - 47k and 6 years old now including trips abroad.

Golf r does make my oldest (now 9) car sick, and we have always had this issue with the R - actually thinking back, she was car sick when we had the astra as well - horrible drive to france - changed her clothes 3 times.

Mine are 9 (145 cm) and 4 (110cm) now, we have been centre parcs in europe 4 times now, and everything fits in the golf estate (food, scooters, clothes etc). Space is possibly getting a bit tight in the back now (my wife is 5ft 9, me 6ft) so space in the rear is getting a bit less, but to me its still acceptable.

In summary - if the car you have is fine, keep it. The missus wanted the pug 2008 as being higher up meant it had a bighger boot than the 208 hatchback - in useable size it isn't much different to the astra we had. GOlf r estate is on another level boot space wise.

[Pica-Pica]

blearyeyedboy said:

God yes.
Do this first.
Then get an older family member to cross half of it off. Seriously, there's a vast amount of stuff you don't need... but the stuff you do need is worth preparing for.

This. As a take on someone else’s post
Before 1st baby

After 1st baby (and 2nd)

(Picture is not my actual car - and I did get a motorbike as well, so my wife could use the car).
Oh, and that would take a proper pram in the boot (wheels clipped off, handle folded down, pram sides folded down, concertina-style).

Edited by Pica-Pica on Thursday 25th May 09:33

[Davie]

Plot twist but whilst I freely admit I could manage with some less vast than the current Volvo estate but I absolutely hate going places with a car crammed to the roofine hence why big Volvo's have always featured. Plus gives you that bit in reserve should you decide you absolutely need to buy that petrol lawnmower.

[Brett748]

I swapped my 330d for a W204 C63 when my son was 5 months old.

Honestly, in the first couple of years can be tedious but driving to appointments, baby classes etc in a big V8 made it far more bearable.

Three years on he wouldn't let me sell the C63 if I wanted to, we have been to the Ring in it at Easter this year, we go to loads of car shows and I have a car mad three year old who loves nothing more than spending his weekends around cars.

If I'd of got a boring "dad car" I'd probably have to spend the weekends in soft play centres, petting farms or zoos now, best purchase ever!

[coldel]

The panic some people seem to have when a baby arrives regarding cars is downright hilarious sometimes...driving around in a Polo then next thing they need a Range Rover.

We had a mk1 ford focus and it worked perfect. Plenty room.

SUV is useful if you have back problems and getting kids in and out.

But you do not NEED a big car, people have been ferrying kids and their stuff around for decades in cars that were not mahoosive SUVs. Most pushchairs fold up conveniently, pack properly not excessively, all is good.