what sort of car is good with a new baby?

GinG · 14 Nov 2017 at 12:57

Tinders said:
My wife, who will hate me for saying this, hasn’t really shrunk back down after 2 kids, can sit in between our 2 high back booster seats in the back with no issues. Its a tad wider than the current superb I found. It was the best small SUV I found for this application. Better than Q5 and xtrail,A6 avant in this regard.

I’ve had 2 HBB and a normal child seat fits well using the belts.

Hope your wife doesn't see that!

Thanks for that, if it is wider than the current superb that does make it quite a bit wider than my Superb which is the previous gen...

Having a look around I think you do seem to get more car for you money with a £16 - £17k budget compared to the equivalent Audi, BMW etc. The interiors in pictures look a nice place to be, does this transpire in real life also?

Is it true what I have read about the Satnav...you control it via a remote??

jigger · 14 Nov 2017 at 13:13

adam cool dude said:
Yes but when you have the money there is no need to struggle either.

What struggle. Open door insert child>Open boot insert pram/end.

Tinders · 14 Nov 2017 at 13:16

Infotainment isn’t too bad. I didn’t have the remote option on mine. I have a panny roof and HK audio on my r design lux D4, lovely car to drive and sit in, surprised me a lot. Certainly the most comfortable car I’ve ever owned. My only criticism is the torque steer in the wet( mines a FWD).

It’s a much much better car than the Audi A4 B8 I had before it.

jigger · 14 Nov 2017 at 13:23

Yeah. Very comfortable cars. Great for long drives.

Amp34 · 14 Nov 2017 at 16:59

GinG said:
Hope your wife doesn't see that!

Thanks for that, if it is wider than the current superb that does make it quite a bit wider than my Superb which is the previous gen...

Having a look around I think you do seem to get more car for you money with a £16 - £17k budget compared to the equivalent Audi, BMW etc. The interiors in pictures look a nice place to be, does this transpire in real life also?

Is it true what I have read about the Satnav...you control it via a remote??

With the caveat that I’ve only say in a few in showrooms, rather than driven them, the XC60 has a much more modern looking interior than the others. It probably depends on the style you like though.

Dr House · 20 Nov 2017 at 00:19

Thanks for all the feedback, I have been thinking about this and looking at all sort of cars, I came to the conclusion I would get rid of the fun car and get a Macan S / turbo or maybe a normal cayenne as it seems that it's not going to be easy in something like a 3 series.

I came across this today, at that price point I can afford to run this along with a sports car, I don't remember ever seeing one in person but it looks like a nice cabin, maybe still a bit small but I will check one out
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201711161304352?radius=1500&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&sort=price-asc&model=CX-3&make=MAZDA&postcode=cr42hn&advertising-location=at_cars&page=1

MissChief · 20 Nov 2017 at 00:52

Dr House said:
Thanks for all the feedback, I have been thinking about this and looking at all sort of cars, I came to the conclusion I would get rid of the fun car and get a Macan S / turbo or maybe a normal cayenne as it seems that it's not going to be easy in something like a 3 series.

I came across this today, at that price point I can afford to run this along with a sports car, I don't remember ever seeing one in person but it looks like a nice cabin, maybe still a bit small but I will check one out
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201711161304352?radius=1500&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&sort=price-asc&model=CX-3&make=MAZDA&postcode=cr42hn&advertising-location=at_cars&page=1

Definitely check rear legroom and with a rear facing car seat. Some of these 'crossover' type cars have a surprisingly small amount of legroom in the back. They're a smallish car jacked up rather than anything with a decent amount of space.

Perhaps a CX-5 might be a better bet?

NVP · 20 Nov 2017 at 01:23

Posts about a porka, links to a mazda... :confused:

Amp34 · 20 Nov 2017 at 01:31

MissChief said:
Definitely check rear legroom and with a rear facing car seat. Some of these 'crossover' type cars have a surprisingly small amount of legroom in the back. They're a smallish car jacked up rather than anything with a decent amount of space.

Perhaps a CX-5 might be a better bet?

Agreed, the CX-3 is pretty tiny, basically a raised hatch. A 5 door Golf will probably have more room.

Something like the CX-5 and it’s direct competition is probably a better bet.

Dr House · 20 Nov 2017 at 01:31

MissChief said:
Definitely check rear legroom and with a rear facing car seat. Some of these 'crossover' type cars have a surprisingly small amount of legroom in the back. They're a smallish car jacked up rather than anything with a decent amount of space.

Perhaps a CX-5 might be a better bet?

yep maybe, I will take a look thanks

NVP said:
Posts about a porka, links to a mazda...

it means that I can keep running a 911 or i8 at the same time.

MissChief · 20 Nov 2017 at 01:59

I really like the look of the new Nissan X-Trail. Every time I see one I think they like very smart. Worth looking at?

Clearcut · 20 Nov 2017 at 08:05

One with a rattle.

Psycho Sonny · 20 Nov 2017 at 13:15

Estate like the Skoda Superb or SUV like Nissan X-Trail.

You cannot fit a pram plus everything else in a 3 series or a hatchback. What if you need to put a suitcase or two in your car? Where does it go? Shopping? etc.

You need enough space to fit 2 prams not just 1 in reality. Otherwise you will always be struggling.

Yas786 · 20 Nov 2017 at 13:35

MissChief said:
A saloon will be a PITA with the small boot opening as you've said. Definitely want a hatch or an estate. An AMG C63 estate would be ideal.

That’s what my brother out in Australia has, his lil one is 6mths and says the c63 amg is brilliant with lots of room

Dr House said:
Thanks

Macan turbo or could be tempting, not a bad size price is ok and not too expensive to run.

No just no, the same brother mentioned above. His missus has the Macan is a royal pain to put the pram in. Says it’s much easier in the AMG. The boot space in the macan is deceptively small. Might as well for the Cayenne if you want a Porsche SUV.

fastwunz · 20 Nov 2017 at 16:52

I’ve got a 65 plate Passat gt estate tdi and it’s fantastic. Looks good, goes well, has a very very nice interior (GT spec is leather / Alcantara) 18” wheels, sat nav, cruise, amazing elec seats, triple zone climate control, auto lights/wipers massive boot and 65mpg average on a motorway

Tungsten silver is a lovely colour too.

I’ve got a two year old son and getting the buggy plus all my work equipment in the boot is a doddle

inflames · 20 Nov 2017 at 18:05

Estate cars are the best compromise if you ask me, I had one when we had our first, certainly makes it easier. This time around we have my wife’s focus and I have a IS200 we just about manage. A lot of it comes down how big the buggy and everything is that you carry around. I am considering getting a estate again because I miss the ease and space.

Kaka · 20 Nov 2017 at 18:23

Much cheaper to get baby equipment to fit the car, rather than get a car to fit the baby equipment. Even if you have to replace prams or seats, you'll save thousands of pounds doing so.

wedrum · 20 Nov 2017 at 18:27

its 1 kid. anything with 4 doors

sandys · 20 Nov 2017 at 21:28

most babies just want one of these, they go mad for it

sandys · 20 Nov 2017 at 21:51

But seriously, as mentioned by others, hatch/estate with big boot, that is not too high and has no lip so stuff can be rolled in and out unless your missus is a big bruiser who can arm wrestle with the Rock.

There is often a preference for 4x4 style vehicles in the missus' baby making circles, rear arches tend to take a lot out of the boot, a lot of prams need a good metre or so for ease of manoeuvrability. You will likely find your missus will pack for the apocalypse with every outing as she will enter full on protective mode, you will never be right ever again and there will be no just popping out

MPV, SUV with no central tunnel in the rear is handy for getting in the back when kids are asleep or having a paddy and you want to /free them or tie 'em down whilst in their big seats. Also the rear benches in these are high so you are not breaking your back shuffling that dead weight to and from car. If cars with them didn't look so crap a rear sliding door is awesome, had one as a rental and was surprise how much easier it made things.

The French seem to make very practical family transport, I bought a Grand Scenic, it was awesome at its job despite being a unenjoyable motor from a drivers point of view but it had stuff that just made it a brilliant baby carrier, lots of cubby holes for potty, travel chairs, wipes, nappies, toys and other crap we'd carry, the missus still misses some of the things it had that don't seem to be in any of the trendy cars.

Dr House said:
I came across this today, at that price point I can afford to run this along with a sports car, I don't remember ever seeing one in person but it looks like a nice cabin, maybe still a bit small but I will check one out
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201711161304352?radius=1500&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&sort=price-asc&model=CX-3&make=MAZDA&postcode=cr42hn&advertising-location=at_cars&page=1

Nice car once they are older, will need a wise pram choice due to boot lip and boot size and obviously the space constraints a child seat imposes on the interior should you go out as a family or with other members of family.

MissChief said:
I really like the look of the new Nissan X-Trail. Every time I see one I think they like very smart. Worth looking at?

Missus' loves these, went to have a look at one the other day and were instantly put off by the rear arm rest cup holder that allows entry to the boot, no option to close it off, we'd loose all kids stuff in there, not good.