Essential family car features

[DrivingMsDaisy]

Evaluating the perfect family car, for C Ldn driving & weekend day trips to Garsons Farm
Looking at ex or active Demonstrators
Which make / model of Estate/Hatchback/SUV have these as STANDARD features -
(assuming parent #1 drives, 2 naughty children aged 2+ & 4+, & parent #2 sits in the rear seat)

1. ISOFIX in the front passenger seat
2. Auto-Hold / Hill Assist
3. Hybrid (for lower C Ldn congestion tax)
4. Park assist
5. Sun roof
6. Adaptive cruise control
7. Boot space
8. Automatic transmission

Thanks for your experience, wisdom & help.

[Ares]

DrivingMsDaisy said:

Evaluating the perfect family car, for C Ldn driving & weekend day trips to Garsons Farm
Looking at ex or active Demonstrators
Which make / model of Estate/Hatchback/SUV have these as STANDARD features -
(assuming parent #1 drives, 2 naughty children aged 2+ & 4+, & parent #2 sits in the rear seat)

1. ISOFIX in the front passenger seat
2. Auto-Hold / Hill Assist
3. Hybrid (for lower C Ldn congestion tax)
4. Park assist
5. Sun roof
6. Adaptive cruise control
7. Boot space
8. Automatic transmission

Thanks for your experience, wisdom & help.

All of them? Very few.

I've never seen ISOFIX in the front seat of a car for a starter.

And you don't need No.2 if you have No.8 (unless it's a st car)

[DrivingMsDaisy]

Thanks, Which makes would have most of them as standard & some as optional?
ex ref #1 Audi has front ISOFIX, Skoda optionally, VW BMW dont

[ZX10R NIN]

Take a look at one of these. but I'm not sure about the front Isofix.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[skip_1]

https://www.motoringresearch.com/car-news/features...

Why do you need an adult in the rear, can you not have both kids in the rear and adults up front? Medical reasons exempted.

[Tony33]

skip_1 said:

Why do you need an adult in the rear, can you not have both kids in the rear and adults up front? Medical reasons exempted.

I imagine to keep the naughty blighters separated!

[Ian Geary]

My kids are beyond isofix now, but my 2p is that people get overly het up about isofix as a must have.

Our family car had them, and yes, it was easy to install a car seat base. But the base could also be seat belted into place just as firmly in the other, non isofix equipped car. Once the base was in place (and why would you be moving it much) it was exactly the same job to click the baby seat in and out.

And yes, loads of car seat manufacturers will say how much safer their more expensive isofix seats are. But the safety message seems to be all about comparisons with incorrectly fitted seats.

As long as it's fitted correctly, I don't see the problem. The isofix loops are pretty weedy, and I doubt they're any stronger than structural seatbelt mounts.

Useful, yes, but i certainly wouldn't make them a deal breaker on a car, esp in the front, as you're going to be limiting your choices right down and could end up with other criteria losing out.

Same with the sunroof. Of 4 cars i've owned with holes in the roof, only 1 hasn't leaked.

Ian

[Actus Reus]

When we bought our child seat the saleswoman in Mothercare was very keen to point out that Isofix is only safer than a seatbelt design because it reduces the risk of user error. If fitted correctly both systems are equally as safe.

[DaveH23]

Removing option 3 would see you in an RS6 Avant.

[cerb4.5lee]

Ares said:

I've never seen ISOFIX in the front seat of a car for a starter.

Your E90 330i had ISOFIX in the front seat. Both my E90 330d/330i did, My Mini also has one in the front too.

[TwistingMyMelon]

I like isofix, it means in the dark and rain I can refit a childseat quickly without fking it up

Otherwise big boot, parking sensors and air con is all I need in a family car

[mattman]

Volvo XC90 - the perfect car for any family requirement

[kiethton]

Also you're looking at nearly new/ex-demo cars....

Look at new ones too - if you're financing (or even then), the discounts on new cars, especially via leases, manufacturer contributions and lower interest rates for finance often make them cheaper than a nearly new car, plus you can spec them as you like

[DrivingMsDaisy]

Thanks so vm all. Fabulous suggestions above.
Am inclined to now buy new instead of ex Demo, approach via PCP , spec out , wait 3mo! Thinking 30 Dec would be best time for deals?

[TXG399]

DrivingMsDaisy said:

Thanks so vm all. Fabulous suggestions above.
Am inclined to now buy new instead of ex Demo, approach via PCP , spec out , wait 3mo! Thinking 30 Dec would be best time for deals?

Not really. End of a quarter is the best time to have a new car delivered, but not ordered. All targets are based on cars delivered not orders taken.

Go to a dealer with about 3-4 weeks before the end of the quarter and see if they have a new car in physical stock/nearing the end of production that matches your requirements. You'll get the best deal if you agree to take that before the end of the quarter. Going to a big dealer will increase your chance that there will be a suitable car available.

[Ares]

cerb4.5lee said:

Ares said:

I've never seen ISOFIX in the front seat of a car for a starter.

Your E90 330i had ISOFIX in the front seat. Both my E90 330d/330i did, My Mini also has one in the front too.

Really? My '07 330i didn't? and neither of the MINIs Mrs Ares has had did? All had rears as standard though?

[cerb4.5lee]

Ares said:

cerb4.5lee said:

Ares said:

I've never seen ISOFIX in the front seat of a car for a starter.

Your E90 330i had ISOFIX in the front seat. Both my E90 330d/330i did, My Mini also has one in the front too.

Really? My '07 330i didn't? and neither of the MINIs Mrs Ares has had did? All had rears as standard though?

Unless the front is an option then?, my eldest daughter(now 9) went in the front of the 330d and my 18 month old goes in the front of my Mini if it's just me and her, my Mrs is pretty fussy and always insists on ISOFIX so we always check the car is compatible.

They say nowadays that it's best to put kids in the back though.