Pls Help!! Does ANY car fit 3 baby carseats in the back seat?

Eimhin · 13-02-2009 9:33am #1

OK, here's what the scenario is.
We have 2 kids (3yo and 1yo) and one on the way. I have an Opel Corsa and it fits out Bebe Confort Axiss and our Brevi Grand Prix car seat with about 10 inches spare between them. My hubbie has a Fiat Sceicento and when the carseats are in that, theres about 1 inch between the seats. So we have no room for a third seat. Inless we put the 3rd car seat on the front seat and disable the airbags or take 2 cars everywhere.

As like most of the country, we're skint, so buying a big people carrier is a no no (unless someone wants to swap 2 cars for one?:rolleyes:)

So can you suggest a car that will fit 3 seats in the back thats cheapish? I don't really care how old it is as long as its working and safe.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Quackles · 13-02-2009 9:37am

Sorry, don't know the answer, but you should possibly try the parenting forum, too, you can't be the first to come across this dilemma

R.O.R · 13-02-2009 9:40am

Eimhin wrote: »

OK, here's what the scenario is.
We have 2 kids (3yo and 1yo) and one on the way. I have an Opel Corsa and it fits out Bebe Confort Axiss and our Brevi Grand Prix car seat with about 10 inches spare between them. My hubbie has a Fiat Sceicento and when the carseats are in that, theres about 1 inch between the seats. So we have no room for a third seat. Inless we put the 3rd car seat on the front seat and disable the airbags or take 2 cars everywhere.

As like most of the country, we're skint, so buying a big people carrier is a no no (unless someone wants to swap 2 cars for one?:rolleyes:)

So can you suggest a car that will fit 3 seats in the back thats cheapish? I don't really care how old it is as long as its working and safe.

Thanks in advance for your help!

It sure aint pretty, but something like http://www.carzone.ie/search/Fiat/Multipla/ELX/200906191697025/advert
seems to fit your requirements. Cheap and I'm pretty sure there would be space across the back seat for 3 child seats.

Eimhin · 13-02-2009 9:42am

Thanks! Posted on parenting now too...

And OMG!!! Please I should have said anything else but a multipla!!! :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

VILE!! LOL

Zube · 13-02-2009 9:42am

Eimhin wrote: »

As like most of the country, we're skint, so buying a big people carrier is a no no

Sorry, but there's no help for it, you need something wide, ideally with three individual rear seats, like a Multipla or Picasso.

-Chris- · 13-02-2009 9:42am

AFAIK you need quite a big car before you get the width you need to put in 3 seats in the rear.

If you can manage with one car, then try and trade both current cars in against something with 7 seats.
Maybe others will disagree with this suggestion, but I think you'd pick up a Fiat Multipla fairly cheaply, and it'd be guaranteed to fit 3 seats.

Edit: I see the multipla's out...

L1011 · 13-02-2009 9:43am

a relation used to use a mark one multipla, the dog ugly one, fitted three baby seats comfortably as well as three adults in the front. Should be cheap too.

robtri · 13-02-2009 9:43am

I have seen it doen before... you need a wide body vehicle for this, which usually isn't cheap... I have seen it done in a couple of jeeps,
range rover and q7.....

as to cheap that rules out the q7 straight away... but you can get a few cheap to buy range rovers, not cheap to run....

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Land-Rover/Range-Rover/2.5-DSE/200843190623144/advert
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Land-Rover/Range-Rover/2.5-DSE/200840190228621/advert

Sleipnir · 13-02-2009 9:43am

Yeah a Multipla is about all you can get unless you want to splash out for a Honda F-RV or something but they're more expensive.

You won't fit 3 car seats safely into a back seat of a small car. The same even goes for many saloons.

**EDIT** People do squeeze them in to 4x4's and things like that but usually the middle seat only has a lap seat belt (no shoulder strap). Some car seats will be okay but most require a full seat belt.

When my GF worked fitting child car seats she often saw people ignoring these requirements for conveniences sake.

AlanD · 13-02-2009 9:44am

... or an older Citroen Picasso. The back seats are all individual and I reckon you'd get three seats across.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Citroen/Xsara-Picasso/1.6i-16V/200848191011529/advert

Zube · 13-02-2009 9:45am

Eimhin wrote: »

And OMG!!! Please I should have said anything else but a multipla!

Look up the NCAP safety reports on the Fiat Seicento you are using now. Seriously, feck what it looks like, get the kids into a bigger, safer car.

HashSlinging · 13-02-2009 9:46am

Pug 307 SW has three seats in the back, not sure how big the seats are but you'll fit three baby seats in.

+1 on the Citroen Picasso, supposed to be very good and spacious.

Zube · 13-02-2009 9:50am

A Peugeot 307 SW has 3 individual rear seats and is not quite so hideous, but it'll cost more.

Edit: Beaten to it!

Eimhin · 13-02-2009 9:52am

Thanks a mill for all the suggestions! Keep 'em coming!

I like the Picasso! I will investigate that one further.

Tabnabs · 13-02-2009 9:52am

Another one is the Corolla Verso, not as cheap as some, but should be reliable.

S.I.R · 13-02-2009 9:52am

Eimhin wrote: »

OK, here's what the scenario is.
We have 2 kids (3yo and 1yo) and one on the way. I have an Opel Corsa and it fits out Bebe Confort Axiss and our Brevi Grand Prix car seat with about 10 inches spare between them. My hubbie has a Fiat Sceicento and when the carseats are in that, theres about 1 inch between the seats. So we have no room for a third seat. Inless we put the 3rd car seat on the front seat and disable the airbags or take 2 cars everywhere.

As like most of the country, we're skint, so buying a big people carrier is a no no (unless someone wants to swap 2 cars for one?:rolleyes:)

So can you suggest a car that will fit 3 seats in the back thats cheapish? I don't really care how old it is as long as its working and safe.

Thanks in advance for your help!

misto space wagon ??

seen a toyta townace on gumtree.ie their the other day...

500 quid...

engine needs a quick tune up and bodys a little dented but its a solid motor.... more then enough space ( cause god knows... 2 prams i presume plus all the nappies and baby supplys... the odd bit of shoppin too ?? )

AFAIR he/she wanted 500 notes...

id nearly grab it myself if i could insure it... a good yet nearly indestructable run about...

alias no.9 · 13-02-2009 9:56am

You might not need to change your car, this would allow keep your current car. It combines three seats into one unit and can be forward facing

or rearward facing

or any combination of forward or rearward facing. I'm not sure if it would fit in the Fiat, but their website says it'll go in your Corsa, you could even get a 4 seat version into the corsa :eek:

Sleipnir · 13-02-2009 9:58am

alias no.9 wrote: »

I'm not sure if it would fit in the Fiat, but their website says it'll go in your Corsa, you could even get a 4 seat version into the corsa :eek:

Now that's a solution!

Zube · 13-02-2009 10:11am

Sleipnir wrote: »

Now that's a solution!

Except that it costs more than the whole Multipla posted earlier!

Eimhin · 13-02-2009 10:15am

alias no.9 wrote: »

You might not need to change your car, this would allow keep your current car. It combines three seats into one unit and can be forward facing

or rearward facing

or any combination of forward or rearward facing. I'm not sure if it would fit in the Fiat, but their website says it'll go in your Corsa, you could even get a 4 seat version into the corsa :eek:

Its a cool contraption but a little expensive at £1000+ but probably worth it. I'm still not convinced that it would fit the 3 carseats though..I'd have to see it. But thank you!;)

HashSlinging · 13-02-2009 10:16am

Yeah they cost a fortune, and they look fairly uncomfortable. Something very 80's about them..

Alfa Mark · 13-02-2009 10:20am

Citroen Berlingo's fit 3 kids car seats in the back.

Eimhin · 13-02-2009 10:20am

Eimhin wrote: »

I'm still not convinced that it would fit the 3 carseats though..I'd have to see it. But thank you!;)

Oh hang on .... so it's instead of using carseats! Duh Sorry! You just put the child directly into the seat...hmmmm I wonder how safe that is........investigating more....

Eimhin · 13-02-2009 10:22am

Alfa Mark wrote: »

Citroen Berlingo's fit 3 kids car seats in the back.

I think I prefer the Multipla!! LOL

Hagar · 13-02-2009 10:25am

Volvo S70, a little pricey maybe.

lyencoli · 13-02-2009 10:28am

I was able to fit 3 child seats across the back seat of the W210 Mercedes E Class. This was the model that was there from mid nineties up to 2003. The newer model doesn't appear to have as much space but you could try. There are a lot of the older E class about and you could get a good one for less than 10K.

crosstownk · 13-02-2009 10:36am

As posted earlier, the Citroen C4 Picasso has 3 individual seats in the rear. Check it out on the 360 interior view > http://www.citroen.ie/templates/citroen05/360/1C58AF/interieur.mov

Dixy · 13-02-2009 10:41am

Opal Zafira.

I am on my second one with 3 young children.
Tight to fit 3 seats on back seat but 2 seats in the floor of the boot still come with 3 point seat belts not the lap belts like some 7 seaters so are safe and an older zafira can be picked up for decent money
http://www.cbg.ie/SearchResults.aspx
http://www.opel.ie/action/go?page=new_zafira_highlights&cntryCd=IE&langCd=en&webSiteId=GBPIE

zing · 13-02-2009 10:44am

OP - what sort of budget are you looking at ? Hard for anyone to make suggestions without knowing one of the most esentials pieces of infol.

I know you've ruled them out - and I hate them too - but the Multipla really is an extremely practical car for your situation.

Otherwise you should probably be looking at an older 7 seater mpv and putting one of the kids in the back row. The likes of the Zafira has been about for about 10 years now iirc so you might be able to get a good deal on one of those. Renault Scenic would be another option - there's a few to choose from but you'll most probably have one in the back row for a few years.

Or a little bit bigger - something like a Renault Espace or Peugeot 806/807 maybe ? Good chance both would take the 3 seats across the back.

The Real B-man · 13-02-2009 10:46am

Not the Best choice of cars for a ever increasing family OP get a MPV!

Eric Cartman · 13-02-2009 10:49am

kia sorento, 3 pretty much full size seats in the back

MrPudding · 13-02-2009 11:22am

There are plenty of cars that have three individual seat in the back but this does not mean you will get three full sized car seats in the back. It is very tricky.

I have a fairly wide car with three good sized seats and I cannot get two car seat and a booster seat in the back, let alone three car seats.

To be honest I think the best option is a 6/7 seater so you have three rows of seats. Older models can be picked reasonably cheaply.

MrP

mickdw · 13-02-2009 11:29am

I saw a three child seat on a thread here before which looked alot better than the one in the post above. Dont think it was too expensive either and it would fit in almost any car

Eimhin · 13-02-2009 11:29am

zing wrote: »

OP - what sort of budget are you looking at ? Hard for anyone to make suggestions without knowing one of the most esentials pieces of infol.

Honestly not much more than €5000. A few of the suggestions have been great, so thank you all very much!

*Kol* · 13-02-2009 11:33am

Opel Zafira can fix one isofix seat either side and one regular seat in the middle. This allows the back seat to still slide back and forth as the baby seats are not held in with the seat belts.

Pls Help!! Does ANY car fit 3 baby carseats in the back seat?

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