Car for baby

Beanybabog

I need to get a car in the next few month as I'm expecting and I drive a little 3 door Clio. Budget 12-15k maybe, but could finance if more. Ideally I'd like something with a decent boot and reliable, but my dilemma is I'm used to driving a fiesta and a Clio so I don't know how comfortable I'd be with something very large. I'm trying to find something that's a decent size for baby gear (seat, pram etc) but not too big that someone like me would struggle to park it.
ANy suggestions welcome! I saw the Fiat 500X at the baby show which looked great but no idea if it's a good car and be worth pushing the budget for, although it looked compact but fit the buggy. A lot of friends suggested an Octavia, but I think these are huge?

biko

I assume you want a small car with big accessible doors front and rear (that open wide) and a big boot.

Maybe Mervia?

Beanybabog

biko wrote: »

I assume you want a small car with big accessible doors front and rear (that open wide) and a big boot.

Maybe Mervia?

Thanks that looks really good! I don't know much about cars so I haven't even heard of that, but yes a car with good space, good back seats that are easy to take baby out, but not a big tank that I can't park. Is that a very small car?

biko

You can always find reviews on youtube by various car magazines
It'll give you a pretty good sense of the car

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

JoeA3

Having been through this, the thing you need above all else is a large boot! The baby itself doesn't take up that much room - but all their "stuff" does! 4 / 5 doors also - a 3 door car is a no-no with babies, your back will be broken.

Also, make sure it has the ISOFIX anchors in the back seat for the baby seats... otherwise you're faffing around with seatbelts. Most cars in the last 5-6 years have Isofix as standard now I would think.

Beanybabog

JoeA3 wrote: »

Having been through this, the thing you need above all else is a large boot! The baby itself doesn't take up that much room - but all their "stuff" does! 4 / 5 doors also - a 3 door car is a no-no with babies, your back will be broken.

Also, make sure it has the ISOFIX anchors in the back seat for the baby seats... otherwise you're faffing around with seatbelts. Most cars in the last 5-6 years have Isofix as standard now I would think.

Thanks I heard about the isofix base but I thought they were just the base you buy for the type of seat, I wasn't aware that the car had to have a certain part in it. Is it easy to tell (for someone who knows nothing about cars!) if the car has it? I assume a dealer would know anyway?

irlrobins

Just been through the same upgrade myself recently. Moved from a 3dr Golf to a Skoda Octavia. We were looking at the Qashqai, but the boot wasn't that big, could barely fit the buggy in. The Octavia on the other hand has a massive boot, so no hassles with fitting the buggy in. Plenty of second hand Octavia's available.

Beanybabog

irlrobins wrote: »

Just been through the same upgrade myself recently. Moved from a 3dr Golf to a Skoda Octavia. We were looking at the Qashqai, but the boot wasn't that big, could barely fit the buggy in. The Octavia on the other hand has a massive boot, so no hassles with fitting the buggy in. Plenty of second hand Octavia's available.

I'm going to look at an Octavia - everyone I have asked suggested one. I just have in my head that they are huge?!

irlrobins

OSI wrote: »

They're slightly longer than a Golf. If you can manage a Golf you should be able to manage an Octavia.

I'd agree, there's not a massive difference, so you should get used to it pretty quickly. And you can't spend all your life in small cars

TRS30

Maybe have a look at the Ford C Max. We went from a Ford Focus to a C Max and my wife liked the higher driving position and also found it easier for lifting the little one in and out of the car seat. The boot is pretty big and it's not that big a car. My wife would be similar to you and did not want a 'big' car for parking etc.

JoeA3

Beanybabog wrote: »

Thanks I heard about the isofix base but I thought they were just the base you buy for the type of seat, I wasn't aware that the car had to have a certain part in it. Is it easy to tell (for someone who knows nothing about cars!) if the car has it? I assume a dealer would know anyway?

Yes, the car has to have isofix anchor points - which are basically just a pair of metal hooks (there would be 2 pairs, one each side), which your isofix seat or base then clips onto. It's easy enough to tell if it has it. Sit into the back of the car and poke around at the base of the seat, where the backrest meets the cushion... on some cars they're immediately obvious and clearly labeled, on others not so obvious.

E.g.

Rega

I got a Volkswagen Jetta when my wife was expecting our first child. The boot is huge. It has isofix in the back seats. I've had it 4 years now and it's never given me any trouble. It has big miles done and we've added a second child to the equation in the meantime but I'm still very happy with it.

bazz26

Maybe look at the Honda Jazz, shorter than an Octavia but still has bags of room on the inside and a decent size boot. It's also taller than a standard family car so makes getting baby easier to get in out of the car. You also probably don't get any more reliable than the Jazz.

For example:
http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Honda/Jazz/1.4-I/201014509647331740/

Gael23

Beanybabog wrote: »

I'm going to look at an Octavia - everyone I have asked suggested one. I just have in my head that they are huge?!

What year? The present model brought out in 2013 is quite big, but take a look before you make up your mind.

cojomo2

Citroen cactus ?

Kantava

I wouldnt get overly hung up on the size if the car meets your needs. You will get used to larger dimensions very quickly.

drunkmonkey

How about a Mini 4 door, think there's always something a bit sexy about a woman in a mini. http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/MINI/Countryman/ONE-1.6/201014625512645880/

Some of those other cars linked to do nothing to make you look good.

seamus

One thing to consider about the boot, which may or may not be an issue for you - Saloon and hatchback-style cars tend to have a "lip" at the front of the boot, so when loading it you have to lift stuff in over this lip. MPVs and SUVs tend to have no lip, so you can lift stuff directy in and out.

May not be a big issue for you, but was important for us as my wife has back trouble, so easier lifting could be, the better.

In terms of boot size, it's also worth considering that SUVs and hatchbacks can be stacked vertically. Saloons tend to have deeper boots, but have a fixed height.

Gael23

cojomo2 wrote: »

Citroen cactus ?

Possibly the most horrible looking car ever built.