Question for parents

Bennie-Mac

Bennie-Mac

Bennie-Mac

Soldato
Joined
10 Sep 2008
Posts
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Location
Bangor, Northern Ireland
Hey guys, no particular reason for this thread other than curiosity, but I was wondering how many of you exchanged or bought a new car in preparation for becoming a parent. If so what were your reasons and what did you change from?

At the minute I'm fast approaching 26 and drive a Celica and I'm well aware that in a couple if years time ill no doubt have to stop buying cars for myself and put more consideration into more practical alternatives. However my friend is expecting a child and currently drives a a 5dr Focus, yet they are now looking at small mpvs which strikes me as a bit silly. It's not like a focus is wanting for space, practicality or safety.

I guess I'm just wondering if its "normal" for expecting parents to be a bit over precautious when it comes to their cars.
 
Tbh any 5 door hatch or bigger with decent rear door access should be fine. Plenty of people make do with 3 doors or a coupe with small back seats and I can see no problem with this but I think they would recognise its far from ideal.

Buying anything bigger for one kid is frankly stupid imo, I know plenty of the type though - baby would travel everywhere with a mobile bedroom!
 
I had a 300zx and knew it would be a pain to use as a baby wagon, plus it's getting on a bit as a daily driver so I bought an M5, I still wanted something quick but 4 doors and a reasonable boot were required so it seemed like a good choice. I kept the 300zx as well as insurance and tax was only £400 a year on a classic policy so just use that when I don't need to cart the nipper around.

Also I do a 4 person car share now and the 300zx is only a 2 seater so my annual fuel bill for commuting was cut by quite a bit.
 
I've gone from a Prelude to a GTO in my daughters 3 years of life :D

She only travels in it once a week at most, would be anything but a waste to buy a practical car just for that!

AS long as the pram fits in the boot and baby seat in the back its all good.
 
We got a 5 door Focus when our first daughter was born. It was perfect and also did us fine when the second daughter came along four years later. The Mrs wanted something small that she could drive coming from a Micra. I had very little say in it iirc. Now the kids are a bit bigger I've managed to slip an ST220 under the radar as a 'family saloon' and she's not on the insurance. Winner! :D
 
Bennie-Mac said:
However my friend is expecting a child and currently drives a a 5dr Focus, yet they are now looking at small mpvs which strikes me as a bit silly.
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This I never understood.
Why on earth would you but mpv unless you specifically need 7 seats?
A hatch is practical enough - need more room? get an estate.
But don't get something that sad. :(
 
As soon as you have a child, you need a small estate, MVP or, preferably, a 4x4. A family hatchback isn't possibly big enough to fit a child in.
 
I have this idea of buying an indestructible Volvo when I have babies as the idea of side impacts scares me, having been hit from the side once already, although only at about 5mph :p
 
phil675 said:
I have this idea of buying an indestructible Volvo when I have babies as the idea of side impacts scares me, having been hit from the side once already, although only at about 5mph :p
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As I said, new and expecting parents are bonkers, but they are allowed to be. When my first kid was a newborn I used to stop the car, get out and go round to check that she was still breathing. I convinced myself the exhaust fumes from the traffic would do her harm. Madness.
 
beermonster said:
I had a 300zx and knew it would be a pain to use as a baby wagon, plus it's getting on a bit as a daily driver so I bought an M5, I still wanted something quick but 4 doors and a reasonable boot were required so it seemed like a good choice. I kept the 300zx as well as insurance and tax was only £400 a year on a classic policy so just use that when I don't need to cart the nipper around.

Also I do a 4 person car share now and the 300zx is only a 2 seater so my annual fuel bill for commuting was cut by quite a bit.
Click to expand...
So much win in this post :D
 
We had a V8 Range Rover when our baby was born, but after a year I decided we didn't need that much space (and the maintenance costs of such a car) and down sized to a new Golf GTI, 5 door. The GTI is more than enough car for us with one child, and ticks all the boxes basically.

You certainly don't need a boring MPV just because you have a child. Anything with 4/5 doors will do the job.
 
When my gf was expecting, we sold her 3dr clio and bought a Renault scenic. 5 seater, not seven.

The benefits being keyless entry, which is handy when your carrying the child.. And obviously the large boot space is fantastic for the pram, and to be able to get the shopping done.
 
Scuzi said:
Lol. Hurrrrrr durrrrrrrrr.

I went from a Z4 Coupe to a 330d. Probably should have bought a Caterham instead.
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330D is still a good practical performance car. I think the OP is aimed at people who go from having a car suitable for the needs (e.g. a 5 door Golf) then they have a child and suddenly need a Zafira 7 seater.
 
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