People with kids help an expectant father!

[130iTrack]

Hello all,

I'm going to be a dad for the first time in the not too distant future. among the literally dozens of things I'm worrying about in the lead up to this, getting a decent car is one of them! I've just sold my R8 in prep for something suitable (slightly fun, mostly safe).

I was thinking of something probably semi sensible along the lines of a 1 year old AMG E63s (estate), a Panamera Sport Turismo, Tesla Model S or a Range Rover.

However, whilst looking at different options I had a look at BMW 7 series, S Class and the Aston Rapide too. I was thinking they would be pretty great at comfortable motorway wafting with plenty of space for everyone and all the child paraphernalia. Is that a terrible idea? They seem pretty crazy value for a 1 or 2 year old car?

Thanks.

Edited by 130iTrack on Tuesday 7th May 21:45

[Robbidoo]

I have an 18 month year old son and sold my F-Type just before he turned up.

I'm a strong advocate of an estate for parenting - there is just lots of stuff and being able to chuck it into a massive boot without thinking too hard about it is a good thing.

Would you be able to run two cars? If so an F11 5 series for under £10K and then something else interesting for you would be my recommendation. Maybe a Boxster or something.

If not and you want a one car for everything, I had an F10 M5 and then a C63S estate. Both are great but the M5 was a cut above. I suspect the E63 would be better still than my C.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd go for something closer to 3 years old that way you've skipped the very worst of the depreciation & if you buy an approved used you get another years warranty which you can then extend even further, something like this S63:

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

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

Or the S500

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

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

In all honesty a last of the line CLS63 Shooting Brake will be more than enough:

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

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

But if you want a large performance saloon then don't discount the Jaguar XJ:

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

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

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

[jonwm]

1's no problem buddy, even 2 is manageable. I had an A5 for me and the wife a Cupra when I had 2...... then the 3rd came along.... it all changed then

[LM95]

One thing to remember is that you will always adjust and manage appropriately relative to the size of your car. I have holidayed with 2 kids in a Mercedes A-Class (was bloody tight) and in a Nissan x-trail. No more useful stuff the second time, just more of it! Any mid size saloon / hatch / estate and bigger will be fine for the little ones paraphernalia.

You could save yourself a fortune and get a year old Volvo V60 Polestar for £30k odd which will be more than big enough and something different to the RS6 / E63 etc. Has over 350 bhp 4 wheel drive and 0-60 in something like 4.5 secs.

Volvo have also just released a new V60 which looks stunning and they have a polestar version of that which is a hybrid with around 400bhp.

Of course the Germans are a quality option the RS6 / RS7 is quite an imposing beast and an E63s one of the best sounding family cars available. Not sure there is a bad option really, Aston I would expect could throw up a bill quite unlike the others, but would be more of an event to drive no doubt. Drive all the ones you fancy and I bet one will stand out.

Edited by LM95 on Tuesday 7th May 23:57

[Scottchester]

I've got 2 kids now and sold my Clio 172 to buy a 3 series touring when my first came along. Wife had a fiat 500 on PCP so we had to stick with that
Honestly, other than the occasional long trip the estate was totally unnecessary, infact other than carefully having to choose a buggy which fit the boot of it the 500 was totally fine.
Really need 4 doors with 2 kids though
If I had my time again I wouldn't have bothered with the BMW, a hatchback or a saloon with a boot big enough for the buggy is all you really need and gives alot more choice
I do think some cars actually look better in estate firm though.
I'd certainly take a 7 or 5 series other some of the other options listed
I know a few others who've bought a massive car when then had their first kid then quickly sold it after realising it wasn't needed

Edited by Scottchester on Wednesday 8th May 07:36

[dundarach]

Having had two, I would go for:

a bit higher up with isofix - less of a pain getting them in and out

big boot


although it pains me to say it, the scenics have it nailed - space, wipe clean and a little fold down mirror to keep an eye on things


no experience of modern marvels sorry


other than had a 1 series company car for a year when son was born - complete and total nightmare with two under two!

[130iTrack]

This is all really great advice. Thank you.

I've always liked Polestars so will take a look at them. It sounds like the overwhelming advice is that I don't need a giant car right off the bat which gives me more options.

Thanks again.

[SWoll]

With the size of modern buggies/prams and all of the assorted paraphernalia first time parents always take with them everywhere as above I'd definitely go for an estate of some sort as just makes life so much easier to get things in and out. Hatchbacks are ok but rarely have flat load lips like an estate which can make things more awkward.

The E63 or Panamera you mention would definitely be big enough but you could downsize a little to an RS4/C63 estate if you don't want something quite so huge?

[ilikejam]

Whilst the size of a saloon boot is probably plenty, the problem can be the opening and actually being able to get the stuff in there (or not in the case of my A4 saloon and our first's pram...). Then when they get older, bikes - especially with stabilisers on.

I'd say at the very least look at an estate. I've got a V90 now and it's still tight getting a 5yo and 3yo (with stabilisers) bikes in the boot. We went for SUV/crossover type things when they were babies and the extra height is massively helpful when getting car seats in and out.

On a side note, I also cannot recommend highly enough one those car seats that spin around in the car! We eventually got a Britax Romer and were so annoyed we hadn't got one earlier! Worth the extra cost ten times over.

[syl]

4 wide opening doors and a big boot, preferably an estate (or SUV), with decent ISOFIX points. Don't spend too much on something really tidy, because it will get trashed (and vomited on) internally.

[coldel]

As someone said above, you will always be fine with any car you have as you will carry what you need. You could fill an estate but it will contain stuff you don't actually need. How did our parents get us about without SUVs/Estates/MPVs?

We bought a Ford Focus, never had any problems with space, was not bothered two hoots about it getting the interior covered in vomit/snacks/milk/other nasty stuff small children produce. Will you be precious about your expensive AMG Mercedes?

The only one thing I would consider is you and your partners own physical health, certainly if either of you have back problems getting a child in and out of a Range Rover for instance will be much easier than trying the same in an estate car.

But my only advice is don't worry that you will run out of space in a hatchback, you wont, you will simply take what you need. A child never has, and never will, require a massive estate car to carry all their stuff.

[Torquey]

130iTrack said:

This is all really great advice. Thank you.

I've always liked Polestars so will take a look at them. It sounds like the overwhelming advice is that I don't need a giant car right off the bat which gives me more options.

Thanks again.

You don't need a giant car for 1 kid. Taking 2 kids on holiday is slightly different though.

When I found out we were expecting kid number 1 I immediately sold my GT86 and got the largest hatchback I could find - Civic. I seriously regretted doing this knowing I could have had it for another 3 years.
When kid number 2 came I still had the Civic and can just manage with it for a week away in the UK.

I'll probably go for a 3 series size estate size car next time.

Edited by Torquey on Wednesday 8th May 11:12

[essayer]

One kid, any hatchback is comfortable really.

With two - especially if close together -there’s a bit more of a push for space as the ERF car seats are quite large and so are double pushchair/prams etc. If that’s on the agenda, you may not want to be forced into another change in a few years

[Jamescrs]

I have two young kids myself, I tried to manage with a Focus ST hatch and in the main it was fine but as we holiday in the U.K mainly I took it away for a week away with the family and it was too small I found, think boot loaded upto the roof with head rests up to stop things going through to the back seat, both kids in the back with stuff packed in around their feet and between them, it was just too small to be comfortable, a hatch for one child would be fine.

I now have estate cars and I love the usefulness of the space they offer, not just for the family but life generally, tip runs etc. given the healthy budget I'd be looking at E63 or RS6 personally.

[nuttywobbler]

Things get really interesting when you have a small child, all their gear AND two labradors which you take with you on holidays in the U.K.

Then, you basically need a lorry.

[coldel]

Roof boxes are brilliant for holidays, then you can have the practical nippy hatchback for fifty weeks of the year and stick a roof box on for those two weeks you need a bit more space.