3 Child seats (not that question again!)

pbergin

Hi
we have 2 kids 3&5 which are currently in high back booster seats, number 3 is on the way so we will need a car to take 1 full size child seats and 2 high booster seats.
Are there any "normal" cars which will take these? we have an accord and a mondeo and neither are working as well as I would like.
I was hoping to trade in the Mondeo against another car, have around 15k to spend. Ideally I would like to go diesel and year 2008 to avail of lower tax. This car will be used for min 5 years and will do up to 30k miles per year, so we need something very comfortable and reliable.
I have always loved hondas and I find their reliability second to none. Does anyone know will the honda crv take 3 seats easily in the back? we did consider the frv but seeing it is only 1.8 petrol we struck it off the list.
If I went down the people carrier route I think the corolla verso and smax are probably the most suitable, but I am concerned about the toyotas comfort and the smax reliability. Also if I went to 08 the smax is out of my price range.

So, am I doomed to the world of people carriers?

Thanks
P.

loyatemu

pbergin wrote: »

So, am I doomed to the world of people carriers?

yes.

we have a Grand Scenic, its fine; I know ppl who have a Corolla Verso and are happy with it.

another point to bear in mind is that with 3 kids in the car, if you want to bring along a friend, or a grandparent etc, you need a 7 seater. Might as well bite the bullet.

OldmanMondeo

I will be in a similar situation to yourself, I have the older version of the Mondeo and you would not fit 3 seats in the back, I traded for the new version and you will fit 3 in the back. that is 1 Highback booster, 1 normal booster, your 5 year old should be nearly ready for that by now and the rock-a-tot / normal child seat.

OldmanMondeo

loyatemu wrote: »

yes.

, if you want to bring along a friend, or a grandparent etc, you need a 7 seater.

let them get the bus!!!:D

eljono

I'm pretty sure the Peugeot 307 had 3 Isofix seats in the back so I'd imagine the 308 would too. Give your Peugeot dealer a call and they can confirm

loyatemu

OldmanMondeo wrote: »

I will be in a similar situation to yourself, I have the older version of the Mondeo and you would not fit 3 seats in the back, I traded for the new version and you will fit 3 in the back. that is 1 Highback booster, 1 normal booster, your 5 year old should be nearly ready for that by now and the rock-a-tot / normal child seat.

baby-carrier seats are narrower than forward facing (Stage1) seats - you may fit a rock-a-tot type seat in with 2 others, but 9 months later you'll need to fit a bigger one.

also, high back boosters are much safer than base-only boosters

pbergin

Thanks everyone, I tried the new mondeo, it was by far the best saloon car I have tried but its not going to work.
Looks like its going to have to be a people carrier.
I think I have it down to the smax or corolla verso, I need something comfortable for roughly 30k miles a year and be reliable, I think the smax would be more comfortable but the verso more reliable.
Anyone know how reliable is the smax?

Zubeneschamali

pbergin wrote: »

Anyone know how reliable is the smax?

Mine hasn't put a foot wrong in 2 years, 60,000 km. Nothing has broken, fallen off, or rattles. No expenses bar servicing and tyres.

Wait, I tell a lie. For about a week after one service, it complained that the bonnet wasn't closed properly, even though it was. Cleared up before I got a chance to go back.

pbergin

I have heard they are very hard on tyres, how many miles do you get out of a set?

unkel

pbergin wrote: »

Looks like its going to have to be a people carrier.

Noooooooohhhhhhh!!!

I've had 2 high back boosters + 1 full baby seat in D-class saloon cars and it fits but it's not perfect. But think inside the box for a change: you just need a saloon one size bigger than that. I've the 3 seats in a '99 BMW 5-series and if fits fine with the baby seat in the middle. Plenty of space left. I suspect other cars in this segment (Mercedes E-class, Audi A6) would be fine too.

bbability

Have a Corolla Verso with 1 child seat and 2 boosters in the back. Fit with no problem. I have no plans in filling the other 2 seats in the boot:p

unkel

bbability wrote: »

Have a Corolla Verso with 1 child seat and 2 boosters in the back. Fit with no problem. I have no plans in filling the other 2 seats in the boot:p

So why did you buy an expensive crappy small 7-seater then?

Zubeneschamali

pbergin wrote: »

I have heard they are very hard on tyres, how many miles do you get out of a set?

Erm, have to think, I've bought six tyres, but four just in the last 2 months, and I'm up to 70k, so that's six tyres in 60K, or a pair every 20K km.

endplate

My bro had a new version Jetta and couldn't get 3 kids into the back without hassle. So he got himself a 08 7 seater Galaxy. Some difference I have to say it's a serious bus. I have a Opel insignia and it has 3 isofix points in the back. I only have 1 kid so it'll be a while before I get to put to the 3 kid test

shedweller

unkel wrote: »

So why did you buy an expensive crappy small 7-seater then?

Good point! But going on my experience with a scenic, the rear seats are a good width and take three child seats without any problem. The 2 extra seats in the rear are just gravy! Unfortunately virtually all non mpv seats are not like this.
I was thinking the other day that it would be great if you could buy an optional rear seat with a different seatbelt spacing to suit three child seats. I suppose the market for such an accessory would be small.
Now that i think of it, isn't there a child seat that is 3 seats across available? I believe it's expensive but fills the niche i mentioned to above. I'd buy that as my knuckles are getting tired of being stripped multiple times a day!!:D

EDIT: Got it. It's at multimac.co.uk

I forgot to add that i have no affiliation with multimac

Blue Punto

Aint it amazing how inconsiderate children are and the effects they have on what we drive:D

I was in the same situation last year .
We had a mondeo ghia x and 2 kids but knew that when the third arrived in August last year that it wouldnt be big enough.

So I used that as an excuse to go over to the UK and bought a Galaxy TDI Ghia spec.

I am actually amazed as its just like driving a car if not more comfortable

shedweller

Gotta love those Galaxies!

Dazzy

If you have child seats (the type that are fixed into the car with the seat belt or ISOFIX) its much easier to get 3 kids in and out of the car as the part that secures the kids in the seats comes over the shoulders and locks at the front. You only have to get at the seat belt once to fix the child seat to the car.

Its later when they go to the high back booster seats that it becomes a pain in the hol*. Each time you put the kids in the car its really awkward to get at the seats belt receivers in between the seats. In newer cars the seat belt receivers are flush with the top of the seats which makes it even harder to get at.
I have 3 high back boosters in my car (x5) and I have to put the seats belts on for the kids as its so tight. In OH's car its a 7 seater so the seats all have spaces between them and kids can do their own belts.

unkel

Dudes, really, you do NOT have to buy a (mini) MPV when you have 3 small kids. Why have a small expensive crappy little MPV when you can own a large cheap luxury more powerful car for less money?

shedweller wrote: »

EDIT: Got it. It's at multimac.co.uk

Indeed! If you have 4 small kids you can still use your large comfy saloon and you are still not forced to buy a bottom of the range MPV. I've restricted myself to 3 small children and I'm staying put. But should I have an accident further expanding my family, I'd rather pay the >1k for an expensive multimac than the >30k for a crappy mini MPV

Zubeneschamali

unkel wrote: »

Why have a small expensive crappy little MPV when you can own a large cheap luxury more powerful car for less money?

In my case, I bought an MPV because I think saloons are silly.

I can see the point of a 2 seat sports car, a coupé, a hatch, MPV, estate and even a Land Rover if you're a farmer, but I really don't see the appeal of the 4 door, 4 seat, boot-with-a-pokey-opening saloon.

Padraig Mor

If you want to *comfortably* get three child seats in the back but don't want to get an MPV/SUV, there is literally one choice: the Peugeot 308 SW (and its predecessor the 307 SW), most models of which have three individual 2nd row seats (and two more in the boot if you want) in a reasonably 'standard' estate body. Gargantuan boot too.