Dads, is a 9-5 saloon big enough for a newborn + kit?

[LincolnLovin]

On typing the title I fully expect a whole slew of posts remembering how, in bygone years that some people remember being 12 up in a 70s mini with prams, camping equipment and 6 dogs and being none worse for wear.

However, as I will be welcoming my first born in June I wanted to ask the hive mind if I should change cars to an estate (no 4x4s)?

I currently have a 9-5 Aero Saloon and I think it will big enough for the baby, prams, stuff and food shop.

But, seeing as many of you have been through all of this before I wouldnt mind your 2 cents

[pmanson]

Boot on the 9-5 is massive... only issue being the low height you get in the saloon. After the first 9 months or so you'll be able to move away from the massive pram/car solution to a much easier to manage fold up buggy.

[Sammo123]

I'm going to be a first time Dad in July and I've just got myself a Saab 9-3 to lug everything around in. I'm sure your 9-5 will have more than enough room for everything.

[rb5er]

I have 2 kids, one if 4 and one is 8 months. Volvo s60 is plenty so any 4 door saloon will be fine for a single kid.

[Idontdrinkrsmoke]

9-5 will be fine. The only time the saloon might be an issue is when you get to the stage of taking the kids to the park to ride their bikes - which is the stage I'm at and it's a bit neat getting 2 kids bikes in mine - but that's obviously a few years off.

[northwest monkey]

There's a reason the mini-mpv are so popular....

When they are a newborn, just popping out to the inlaws for Sunday lunch will require a truckload of stuff. Travel seat, pram, rocker bouncer seat thing, nappies, change mats, changes of clothes (best throw in a couple of tops for you & the missus as well), bottles, rattle things, travel cot if you fancy stopping for dinner as well, bottle warmer - there will be more but I can't remember now!

I had an X-type when our son was born & we went away when he was 3 months old. I spent that long trying to get everything in the car (X-type saloon has a big boot) I gave up in the end & hooked up the trailer! To be fair, we do have a dog so needed the space on the back seat for him too.

For holidays, we ended up with a roofbox, then eventually a Picasso. Not very PH, but does everything I want it too.

As they (children) get older, they do need less of the junk though. When you visit the inlaws for Sunday lunch then though, they will want to take a bike, several toys, the Nintendo Wii etc.

Best of luck

[okie592]

If not 9-5s look pretty good with a set of roof bars

[Mr2Mike]

9-5 will be massively more than adequate for a single sprog.

[mike9009]

A 9-5 will be fine. We had a 156SW for our first born, which coped fine day to day an managed a two week holiday in France with no issues.

The 156 has since died and we now have another sprog on the way.

We now have a Nissan Note and a Mini Clubman (with roof box) which should suit us fine.

Mike

[mattman]

Make sure you test the size of the pram/travel solution fits the boot before you buy, some of these things hardly fold at all. But 9-5 has a good boot size

[NiceCupOfTea]

I have a 9000 and it's not too bad - as said though, once you have the pram chassis, carrycot and bouncer in, there's not much space left. If I was buying a 9-5 I would hold out for an estate for ease of packing, but a saloon is probably fine

[DonkeyApple]

Almost everything people say is a necessity is actually optional.

All the clothes, nappies and mats etc will fit in a small holdall on the floor in the back. 4 doors and a good sized boot are the two things that make your life very much easier.

[Idontdrinkrsmoke]

A lot of car for a grand......

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/s...

[deltashad]

You really need rear doors, which the Saab has. For practicality a hatch or estate would be better. I think the estate 9-5 is better looking than the saloon.

We got away with an integrale and a 318ti sport compact back in the day. I had no issues, but the ex traded in the BM for a Meriva. For us guys I don't think there's much off an issue but it's the misses you have to please.

The Saab is a big car, will she be happy driving such a big motor?

[yorkshireegg]

Congrats! We're expecting a little boy in may and I traded the 2 seater for a 318. The OH already has a 2 year old and the boot on the saloon is plenty big enough for her buggy and the stroller for the new baby so I imagine you'll be fine with the Saab
Good luck with the wee'un, hope you're as excited as I am!

[mickymellon1]

Yes and so is my mx5 (baby seat (disable airbag), baby bag in the footwell, buggy and more bits in the boot and space if needed on the shelf behind the seats))

[rb5er]

northwest monkey said:

There's a reason the mini-mpv are so popular....

When they are a newborn, just popping out to the inlaws for Sunday lunch will require a truckload of stuff. Travel seat, pram, rocker bouncer seat thing, nappies, change mats, changes of clothes (best throw in a couple of tops for you & the missus as well), bottles, rattle things, travel cot if you fancy stopping for dinner as well, bottle warmer - there will be more but I can't remember now!

I had an X-type when our son was born & we went away when he was 3 months old. I spent that long trying to get everything in the car (X-type saloon has a big boot) I gave up in the end & hooked up the trailer! To be fair, we do have a dog so needed the space on the back seat for him too.

For holidays, we ended up with a roofbox, then eventually a Picasso. Not very PH, but does everything I want it too.

As they (children) get older, they do need less of the junk though. When you visit the inlaws for Sunday lunch then though, they will want to take a bike, several toys, the Nintendo Wii etc.

Best of luck

Mental, my kids have never needed to take that all lot anywhere. A bag with all the gear and a buggy a babyseat, thats it.

[Fleckers]

mattman said:

Make sure you test the size of the pram/travel solution fits the boot before you buy, some of these things hardly fold at all. But 9-5 has a good boot size

this

When I got my Jag the smallest was in a large buggy type thing so first thing I did was checked it fitted in the boot to the shock of the saleman who thought I was getting a golf bag to try out not a pram

but a single small person takes small amount of room, its the rest of the stuff they need, but they do leave lots of inside floor space if needed as legs are well out of the way for a few years yet

get some sleep in now while you can is a good tip as well

[SystemParanoia]

I was driving my SWB vitara when my twins were newborns...

considering i had about 6" of boot space i coped just fine

a 9-5 will seem like an ocean bulk carrier in comparison

[schuey]

More than big enough! I was running a Polo G40 when my first one came along,even now the kids are big (11,9,4) we can still all get in my 3 door 206 5 up with associated kit! This needing a people carrier stuff is madness!
My wife briefly had a Scenic when all 3 were in child seats/boosters as it has individual seats,the plan being it would be easier,however the seats were that small you couldn't do the seatbelts up with 3 seats next to each other so whenever we went out 5 up it was in my M3!