Car for three under 4?

dublinlady

Hi,
I'm going to need a new car. When my third child is born I'll have a 3 year old and two year old also. I want something that will easily fit three car seats with room in a boot for a buggy and suitcase etc!
I don't mind how big it is really but would like it to be good looking rather than bus like!

LilMrsDahamsta

dublinlady wrote: »

Hi,
I'm going to need a new car. When my third child is born I'll have a 3 year old and two year old also. I want something that will easily fit three car seats with room in a boot for a buggy and suitcase etc!
I don't mind how big it is really but would like it to be good looking rather than bus like!

Mercedes Viano. My kids are very similar ages, so a group 2-3 seat, ERF toddler, and baby seat too. I take my pram everywhere for the baby, but the double for the older lads fits as well if necessary. We have loads of space for everything and everyone, and its honestly the most comfortable car I've ever driven. Mine's the extra-long wheelbase version and still fits in our short driveway and into most standard parking spaces (though you need to find two spaces together to parallel park or you can't open the boot!) With 3 smallies, I couldn't recommend it more highly!

Moonbeam

I found the Ford Galaxy really spacious for 3 under 4.
The 2nd row has 2 isofix points for the rear facing seats and the eldest was in the middle and forward facing and the boot is huge and then if you have visitors and need to put the 3rd row seats up they are full size adult seats.

Millem

I am no good on cars but our minder has a citreon c4 Picasso 7 seater which has 3 isofix points in the second row. (It might be called a grand Picasso?)
She used to have a ford s max 7 seater which she loved but I think they are more expensive? The s max was before my time so I can't advise on isofix points etc.

Also my neighbour has recently bought a Peugeot 5008 which she is raving about.

Both have underfloor storage in the second row behind driver and passenger seats.....so any car seat with a supporting leg cannot be fitted over it.

Ginny

We have a 307sw, can have 2 erfs with a prop leg and one without across the back. There's 3 individual seats so loads of room and boot is huge.

Raven_SK

take a look at a skoda octavia comes in 1.4 ,1.6 1.9 ticks all the boxes

pwurple

Try the Mazda 5 as well. It has sliding doors, which can be very handy with small children in carparks.

monflat

Millem wrote: »

I am no good on cars but our minder has a citreon c4 Picasso 7 seater which has 3 isofix points in the second row. (It might be called a grand Picasso?)
She used to have a ford s max 7 seater which she loved but I think they are more expensive? The s max was before my time so I can't advise on isofix points etc.

Also my neighbour has recently bought a Peugeot 5008 which she is raving about.

Both have underfloor storage in the second row behind driver and passenger seats.....so any car seat with a supporting leg cannot be fitted over it.

Millem I didn't know that you can't put a seat with the supporting leg can't be fitted over the storage area?

monflat

Raven_SK wrote: »

take a look at a skoda octavia comes in 1.4 ,1.6 1.9 ticks all the boxes

You won't fit three seats across a scoda octavia. two proper five point harness seats suitable up to 4.5 yrs or more and a baby seat.
Have you tried it


I have 3 under 4 and it couldn't be done.
What seats did you have

Lisha

Raven_SK wrote: »

take a look at a skoda octavia comes in 1.4 ,1.6 1.9 ticks all the boxes

I have a skoda octavia 2008 1.9 tdi and it will not fit 3 car seats across back seat. With 2 car seats the bit unused in the middle is tiny and a booster seat will not for there

Edit I just see that I posted at same time as monflat

Noccy_Mondy

The likes of a passat, insignia, mazda 6 and mondeo will all take 3 baby seats in the back, well should. Try looking at large family saloons before people carriers, they're a last resort :P

monflat

Noccy_Mondy wrote: »

The likes of a passat, insignia, mazda 6 and mondeo will all take 3 baby seats in the back, well should. Try looking at large family saloons before people carriers, they're a last resort :P

No won't fit we got rid of one a month ago for this reason if you want your child in a five point harness seat they won't fit

Millem

monflat wrote: »

Millem I didn't know that you can't put a seat with the supporting leg can't be fitted over the storage area?

The leg support must be only fitted on a solid floor. The rational behind it is that God forbid in a crash the seat could rotate and leg could buckle if not installed on a solid floor. Tony kealys (who I usually think are great) never told us this when we got out baby seat and when we were buying our ERF they told us to just take off storage lid in our minder's car. :eek: Incarsafety were the one's (thank God) who pointed it out to us. If you haven or are buying a britax seat they have a "fit finder" which will point out exactly where abouts in the car each seat can be installed.

Tbh those storage compartments are such a waste of time I can't understand why the manufacturers continue to put them in family cars who will more than likely have isofix car seats.

Mr Frog

Opel zafira

monflat

Millem wrote: »

The leg support must be only fitted on a solid floor. The rational behind it is that God forbid in a crash the seat could rotate and leg could buckle if not installed on a solid floor. Tony kealys (who I usually think are great) never told us this when we got out baby seat and when we were buying our ERF they told us to just take off storage lid in our minder's car. :eek: Incarsafety were the one's (thank God) who pointed it out to us. If you haven or are buying a britax seat they have a "fit finder" which will point out exactly where abouts in the car each seat can be installed.

Tbh those storage compartments are such a waste of time I can't understand why the manufacturers continue to put them in family cars who will more than likely have isofix car seats.

Ah that makes sense alright. Yes those compartments are a bit of a nuisance. Especially with small little people!


What's an ERF?

Sligo1

Would a ford mondeo or Bmw 5 series take 3 car seats?

monflat

Sligo1 wrote: »

Would a ford mondeo or Bmw 5 series take 3 car seats?

No. It won't.

I had my heart set on a bmw5 series estate
Test drove loads.
It's that middle seat it's like a little hump and it makes things a lot narrower.

I also tried a high back booster a child seat and a baby seat.
The door wouldn't shut.


I really thought thou that three seats would fit but they won't.

In reality if you have 3 children under 5 you definitely need a wagon!

Sligo1

monflat wrote: »

No. It won't.

I had my heart set on a bmw5 series estate
Test drove loads.
It's that middle seat it's like a little hump and it makes things a lot narrower.

I also tried a high back booster a child seat and a baby seat.
The door wouldn't shut.


I really thought thou that three seats would fit but they won't.

In reality if you have 3 children under 5 you definitely need a wagon!

O crap.....

Immy

Sligo1 wrote: »

Would a ford mondeo or Bmw 5 series take 3 car seats?

I wouldn't say so. The trick for the 3 car seats is a car with 3 individual seats in back.

I find 7 seaters very expensive when you don't actually need the 2 extra seats. So far I have had a 307sw and now a ford C Max. The 307sw was actually bigger but I find the C Max better with the hight.

I had to get rid of a Rav 4 as it wouldn't fit the 3 seats

Sligo1

My street cred goes down with every child I have... Lol

monflat

["Sligo1;93684818"]O crap..... [/quote]

Yes!!
Now I did drive around my old car until I saved a.few euro towards a newer one.

A baby or child is allowed in front seat of car in the proper car seat.

A baby can be placed in a rear facing seat in front passenger seat ONLY if front passenger airbag is turned off.

This is what I done for a few weeks.

There's a piece to it on rsa website
I can't link it here.

.

Sligo1

monflat wrote: »

["Sligo1;93684818"]O crap.....

Yes!!
Now I did drive around my old car until I saved a.few euro towards a newer one.

A baby or child is allowed in front seat of car in the proper car seat.

A baby can be placed in a rear facing seat in front passenger seat ONLY if front passenger airbag is turned off.

This is what I done for a few weeks.

There's a piece to it on rsa website
I can't link it here.

.[/quote]

Thanks monflat. I hope you didn't think when I said "o crap"... That o was saying u were wrong? I meant o crap... As in we may have to get another car if a number 3 comes along .

monflat

Sligo1 wrote: »

Yes!!
Now I did drive around my old car until I saved a.few euro towards a newer one.

A baby or child is allowed in front seat of car in the proper car seat.

A baby can be placed in a rear facing seat in front passenger seat ONLY if front passenger airbag is turned off.

This is what I done for a few weeks.

There's a piece to it on rsa website
I can't link it here.

.

Thanks monflat. I hope you didn't think when I said "o crap"... That o was saying u were wrong? I meant o crap... As in we may have to get another car if a number 3 comes along .[/quote]


No not at all!!
Other s I know all got car whilst pregnant I got car 4 months after baby born!!

AMKC

What about a Skoda Superb. Have heard that 3 child seats can be fitted across the back of one of theses and if you don,t like the Saloon then there is the Estate version of it too which is huge and looks good too.
A ford Grand C-Max should have loads of room for 3 in the back as its a 7seater and it has sliding doors too plus its good to drive as well.
If you want a BMW try the new 2 Series Active Tourer. Its there first MPV looks classy and stylish and is front wheel drive. There will be a bigger 7 seater version of it along later as well as a 4x4 version of it too.

monflat

What is your budget? Will you have one to trade in?

Oafley Jones

AMKC wrote: »

What about a Skoda Superb. Have heard that 3 child seats can be fitted across the back of one of theses and if you don,t like the Saloon then there is the Estate version of it too which is huge and looks good too.

We've a Superb Combi. Two full seats and a booster, but it won't take 3 child seats.

Sligo1

I just googled what car will fit 3 seats in back and found this thread.
http://touch.boards.ie/thread/2056195172
A couple people on this thread say the 5 series will fit 3 seats in back? Spose the best way to know is put them all in and find out??

trg

Would a VW Tiguan do the trick?

traineeacc

monflat wrote: »

No. It won't.

I had my heart set on a bmw5 series estate
Test drove loads.
It's that middle seat it's like a little hump and it makes things a lot narrower.

I also tried a high back booster a child seat and a baby seat.
The door wouldn't shut.


I really thought thou that three seats would fit but they won't.

In reality if you have 3 children under 5 you definitely need a wagon!

Unfotunatetly not we have a 535 and it only does 2 seats in back,, fine for us at moment as only have the two but if another comes along will have to part with my favourite toy!

monflat

Sligo1 wrote: »

I just googled what car will fit 3 seats in back and found this thread.
http://touch.boards.ie/thread/2056195172
A couple people on this thread say the 5 series will fit 3 seats in back? Spose the best way to know is put them all in and find out??

Yes that's what we did our three wouldn't fit.
But then again you could buy new seats.

But the seats are not fully snug when I had a booster a baby and achild car seat
They were at an angle and not safe

traineeacc

We couldn't get three in back when we were babysitting niece however that could be as ours is an older model -2006 maybe the newer ones don't have the kind of hump thing as arm rest comes down

monflat

traineeacc wrote: »

We couldn't get three in back when we were babysitting niece however that could be as ours is an older model -2006 maybe the newer ones don't have the kind of hump thing as arm rest comes down

We tried 2010 model. With two child seats and a baby maxi cosi. And would not fit.

Sligo1

Hmmm I wonder is the newer model any different. I will have to do some investigating.... Thanks

monflat

Sligo1 wrote: »

Hmmm I wonder is the newer model any different. I will have to do some investigating.... Thanks

I would like to know too
But I think that's why there are so many 7 seaters out there now because you can't fit.

Also when they get a little bit older the individual seats are a blessing as you don't have as much of " shes touching off me " he's sitting in my part of the seat! All those rows!!

Sligo1

monflat wrote: »

I would like to know too
But I think that's why there are so many 7 seaters out there now because you can't fit.

Also when they get a little bit older the individual seats are a blessing as you don't have as much of " shes touching off me " he's sitting in my part of the seat! All those rows!!

Hahaha hilair! I can't imagine those days... Kinda look forward to hearing T say Those things.... I think I'd prob burst out laughing rather than discipline. I
Remember doing that to my poor older sister back in the day. God I was terrible!

Millem

monflat wrote: »

Ah that makes sense alright. Yes those compartments are a bit of a nuisance. Especially with small little people!


What's an ERF?

ERF stands for extended rear facing
http://www.rearfacing.co.uk

searay

Millem wrote: »

I am no good on cars but our minder has a citreon c4 Picasso 7 seater which has 3 isofix points in the second row. (It might be called a grand Picasso?)
She used to have a ford s max 7 seater which she loved but I think they are more expensive? The s max was before my time so I can't advise on isofix points etc.

Also my neighbour has recently bought a Peugeot 5008 which she is raving about.

Both have underfloor storage in the second row behind driver and passenger seats.....so any car seat with a supporting leg cannot be fitted over it.

We have had a 2008 model c4 grand Picasso since our twins were born 4 years ago when their brother was 2. All 3 seats are separate and have isofix. Initially we had maxi cosi seats and various seats since. Big boot for double buggy and luggage.

This thread is the first time I've heard of a problem with the storage compartments in the floor and I find the logic questionable as you can use seats which don't have support legs without any difficulty. The storage compartments are only for holding the puncture repair kit and would not be for any regular access. The doors are also very solid and you'd forget the compartments are there.

I'd recommend you look into this further before disregarding the c4.

People don't realise how limited the choice is as the back seats of most cars are designed for 2 adults and 3 seats won't sit in easily.

GerardKeating

dublinlady wrote: »

Hi,
I'm going to need a new car. When my third child is born I'll have a 3 year old and two year old also. I want something that will easily fit three car seats with room in a boot for a buggy and suitcase etc!
I don't mind how big it is really but would like it to be good looking rather than bus like!

Mazda 5?

cyning

There's always the multimac expensive but you could keep your nice non mammy car... http://www.multimac.co.uk/shop/

Think this is what I'd do

Millem

searay wrote: »

We have had a 2008 model c4 grand Picasso since our twins were born 4 years ago when their brother was 2. All 3 seats are separate and have isofix. Initially we had maxi cosi seats and various seats since. Big boot for double buggy and luggage.

This thread is the first time I've heard of a problem with the storage compartments in the floor and I find the logic questionable as you can use seats which don't have support legs without any difficulty. The storage compartments are only for holding the puncture repair kit and would not be for any regular access. The doors are also very solid and you'd forget the compartments are there.

I'd recommend you look into this further before disregarding the c4.

People don't realise how limited the choice is as the back seats of most cars are designed for 2 adults and 3 seats won't sit in easily.

I am not disregarding c4 at all in fact I pointed out it had 3 isofix points
There are not too many ERF seats without a supporting leg in fact I think all isofix ERF seats have support legs. I ended up buying a britax max fix 2 (isofix and supporting leg) for the Middle seat for minder's car (2013) but the baby hated being in the middle so I ended up swapping seats with her (I don't have storage compartments) and now she has a britax TWE (tethers and no leg) which is one of the very very few ERF that do not have a supporting leg. I still think those storage compartments are a waste of time considering those new car seat isize rules are coming in
http://www.parentdish.co.uk/baby/child-car-seat-confusion-guide-to-the-new-regulations-and-products/
http://www.i-size.org.uk/index-temp.html

Moonbeam

None of the normal Saloon cars fit 3 child seats safely across the back.
There are 5 seaters like the Renault scenic and the Citroen Xsara Picasso though which can fit the car seats in.

Noccy_Mondy

Thought this was in the motoring forum, didn't pass any notice since I'm on the phone. Might get better responses there. Threads like this have come up before and I've said it numerous times that a superb and Mondeo will take 3 baby seats in the back. This is the 2007 on mondeo and 2009 on superb. Obviously it's going to be tight, so 3 smaller seats would only work, as opposed to some of the more extravagant ones. There should be enough isofix anchorage points. Sure you wouldn't have 3 baby seats in the back, don't know much about baby seats, or babies for that matter, but are they not only in baby seats for a year or two? Booster/baby seat combination would be easier again, although it can be difficult to access the buckles.

MmC1980

we got a 4,2 year old and a new born in octavia was a squeeze but its possible new born seat is high up and rear facing so the seat beside it sits slightly underneath

GerardKeating

MmC1980 wrote: »

we got a 4,2 year old and a new born in octavia was a squeeze but its possible new born seat is high up and rear facing so the seat beside it sits slightly underneath

Had one of them for a weekend, when the kids were 0, 2 & 3.

Only way it would work for for us, was the eldest in the front passenger seat, two kids in the back with mum squeezed between the two kid seats.

berger89

VW Touran look kind of spacious..
sorry I've no more info to offer!

dublinlady

Thankyou so much to everyone for so much information! I have so much to read and figure out now but at least I have somewhere to start!! I'll update ye with our progress!
Thanks again

wmpdd3

dublinlady wrote: »

Hi,
I'm going to need a new car. When my third child is born I'll have a 3 year old and two year old also. I want something that will easily fit three car seats with room in a boot for a buggy and suitcase etc!
I don't mind how big it is really but would like it to be good looking rather than bus like!

Ahhhhh, Dublin lady congrats! I'm more than happy with 2 so have no advice, but best of luck.