Alternative to an MPV for 3 kids

cb102

hi there
I own a 2010 Octvia Combi and have a 2 year old toddler.
We are expecting twins which means I need 3 child seats in the back, so goodbye Octavia (which I love). It also means I need a nanny but thats a different post

I was hoping not to buy an MPV (not a hugh fan) and maybe buy another estate, such as the Superb. Am I wasting my time or will it be just too tight with 3 seats in the back.
I get the feeling a few have pondered this before me

Many thanks in advance.

colm_mcm

I believe the current skoda superb can take 3 seats in the back.

cb102

thanks.
anyone else got any feedback?

colm_mcm

Maybe get a multimac for the back if you're otherwise happy with the Octavia?

Not small money but neither is trading up.

Jimdagym

Rover 75?

Edit** I am nearly sure they take 3 child seats. I know they are a few years out of production.

colm_mcm

I doubt they would take 3 seats any better than an Octavia would.

Bpmull

Jimdagym wrote: »

Rover 75?

Edit** I am nearly sure they take 3 child seats. I know they are a few years out of production.

the op is driving a 2010 octavia combi why on earth would they want to downgrade to 2005 or so rover 75 which is not any bigger it makes no sense to me. Anyway op you could take a look at the superb which is a good bit bigger than the octavia.

Jimdagym

Bpmull wrote: »

the op is driving a 2010 octavia combi why on earth would they want to downgrade to 2005 or so rover 75 which is not any bigger it makes no sense to me. Anyway op you could take a look at the superb which is a good bit bigger than the octavia.

I did acknowledge that it was an older car. The superb has already been recommended and the op says the Octavia isn't suitable. I was only offering an option.

Bpmull

Jimdagym wrote: »

I did acknowledge that it was an older car. The superb has already been recommended and the op says the Octavia isn't suitable. I was only offering an option.

I understand you were only making a suggestion and maybe if the op was downgrading it might be an option I was never in a 75 so I don't know what they are like space wise. looking at both cars dimensions the 75 is 180 mm longer but the octavia is 48mm wider. I know the superb was already mention the only reason I said it was as the op is happy with their octavia they might prefer to stick to the skoda brand and the superb would suit their needs size wise.

blindside88

My sister in law is expecting quads and drives an Octavia, she was thinking of changing as well but found a company called mobility Ireland I think the name is. They do a four seated child seat which fits across the back of the Octavia. It's not cheap (2k including fitting) I imagine they would do a 3 seater as well

colm_mcm

Yes indeed, its called a multimac, I suggested this earlier as well, they're great if you're otherwise happy with the car.

blindside88

I didnt know the ne of them, only heard of it for the first te last night, sounds like just the job

Markcheese

We got our (single) car seats from Tony keally , they insist on trying each car seat in yr car before you buy it.. So they'll have seen which cars will take three seats... And which seats will fit it... Suppose any specialist car seat crowd should know.
In saying that a friend had an old laguna that he could get the three seats in.. But the older kids booster seat had to be in the middle..which meant a lot of clambering ...

R.O.R

There are 3 full size seats across the back of a Volvo V70. Currently we've only 1 child seat in and the 2nd will be going in at the end of Jan. I'd say you'd probably get a seat in the middle, but getting a squirming child in to it would be a right pain, and isn't going to do your back much good.

Casati

cb102 wrote: »

hi there
I own a 2010 Octvia Combi and have a 2 year old toddler.
We are expecting twins which means I need 3 child seats in the back, so goodbye Octavia (which I love). It also means I need a nanny but thats a different post

I was hoping not to buy an MPV (not a hugh fan) and maybe buy another estate, such as the Superb. Am I wasting my time or will it be just too tight with 3 seats in the back.
I get the feeling a few have pondered this before me

Many thanks in advance.

Do you use ISOFIX car seats? As far as I know only the Insignia has three ISOFIX points on the back seats, apart from MPV's etc. I have just got a Superb Combi and it only has two ISOFIX points.

Chuck Stone

Is the Honda FRV a car or a MPV?

3 x 3 point seat belts in the back and front.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5PtP3Jgo2E

unkel

Most large cars (BMW 5-series, Audi A6, Mercedes E-class, etc.) with 3 3 point belts in the back will be fine. But don't take anyone's word for it, try it out for yourself!

But as Colm suggested, have a look at the multimac. Changing your car for another one of the same value, would cost you 1-2 grand anyway in transaction costs!

colm_mcm

Even more if the car is on hire purchase

Casati

colm_mcm wrote: »

Yes indeed, its called a multimac, I suggested this earlier as well, they're great if you're otherwise happy with the car.

That must absolutely kill rear leg room- especially in an Octavia which doesn't have great rear leg room the kids will be resting their feet on the top of the drivers seat or kicking it etc??

Garzorico

Get an MPV. The likes of You (and I, Toyota Estima) are the reason they exist. Swallow your pride. If your kids cannot get into the seats themselves then your back will be in ribbons after a week of lifting/squeezing/bending etc etc. Get the MPV and you'll be able to climb into it no bother standing near straight up. They are huge inside for a reason...they are fit for purpose.

colm_mcm

Casati wrote: »

That must absolutely kill rear leg room- especially in an Octavia which doesn't have great rear leg room the kids will be resting their feet on the top of the drivers seat or kicking it etc??

New model Octavia is much bigger in the back than the old one. Hired out a combi a few years ago and it was decent sized back there.

Any child seat will have them sitting higher and more forward than if they were just on the seat.

Bpmull

Casati wrote: »

That must absolutely kill rear leg room- especially in an Octavia which doesn't have great rear leg room the kids will be resting their feet on the top of the drivers seat or kicking it etc??

The new octavia is alot bigger in the back as colm said. My mother has a new model octavia not even the combi and I am 6foot 2 and often sit in the back no problem with the front seat let back I don't think it will be an issue it's more the width and fitting in 3 car seats the op is concerned about.

cb102

Garzorico wrote: »

Get an MPV. The likes of You (and I, Toyota Estima) are the reason they exist. Swallow your pride. If your kids cannot get into the seats themselves then your back will be in ribbons after a week of lifting/squeezing/bending etc etc. Get the MPV and you'll be able to climb into it no bother standing near straight up. They are huge inside for a reason...they are fit for purpose.

I hear ya
Some good advice there

cb102

Garzorico wrote: »

Get an MPV. The likes of You (and I, Toyota Estima) are the reason they exist. Swallow your pride. If your kids cannot get into the seats themselves then your back will be in ribbons after a week of lifting/squeezing/bending etc etc. Get the MPV and you'll be able to climb into it no bother standing near straight up. They are huge inside for a reason...they are fit for purpose.

blindside88 wrote: »

My sister in law is expecting quads and drives an Octavia, she was thinking of changing as well but found a company called mobility Ireland I think the name is. They do a four seated child seat which fits across the back of the Octavia. It's not cheap (2k including fitting) I imagine they would do a 3 seater as well

Cheers, thanks.
I'll check them out

BostonB

The problem with modern saloons is the curved rear roof, they lose a lot of shoulder space which is a problem baby seats. Also some baby seats are a lot wider than others so choose seats carefully.

I take the point that some people just don't like the look of a van mpv. But the reason they are useful is the extra space between the front and rear seats so you can get in to access say the middle seat. They are slab/square sided so lots of shoulder room, also a taller boot for things like double, buggies, bikes, the cots, moving the odd bed/furniture. Also they tend to be higher for your back for lifting babies in/out of seats. Basically they just have more room. Lots more storage pockets in the floor, roof, doors etc.

But theres lots of different types, mini, mid and fullsize mpv. They don't all have the same space. But something like a Touran is shorter than a regular Passat Saloon but more room inside. Something like an S-Max is much bigger but probably the same length as an estate.

As for saloons and estates, I think only way to judge is to get into them and check out the space for yourself. What happens with a multimac if you have two of the kids and want to carry 3 adults?