Family cars

Hi everyone.
I'm a first-time dad-to-be, my wife's about 12 weeks gone, so we're just coming up to her first scan.
Our car has blown up in the last week and I was wondering if anybody had any recommendations for our new one - I'm particularly thinking about ease of use (getting kids in the back), safety and reliability. Also I'd like to know if there's any I should avoid.
Our old one was a sporty hatchback so we're looking at a proper family car this time, and any help would be most appreciated.
Thanks, Matt

Your'e a rare thing a man asking for advice on cars,hope your car didn't literally blow up i hope.

Dont now alot about cars but mine is a citron picasso and that's quite a popular car at the moment with familys.
Cindy

Zafira! lol

Actually - I will ask my dh later as he knows pretty much all about cars (super Top Gear fan lol) - and he can give you a better answer than I can! lol

Also - what is your budget? lol

He said a Volvo estate

Thanks for your help - we reckon our budget is going to be about £6,000, but it looks like you can get something quite nice second hand for that.
My wife likes Picassos, so that's one we are considering, and I like estate cars in general. But we're not getting a Fiat again, that's what our current car is. Thankfully it's gone wrong while there is still a little bit left on the warranty, otherwise we'd be looking a t a £1,000 fixing bill on a three-year-old car!!
I really don't want that to happen for a while!

And by the way, I still think I know loads about cars, I'm just asking everybody so that when our next one starts smoking on the hard shoulder I don't have to face all that: "Well you chose this car..." business again.
This way I can blame you lot.

lmao...typical male

Just joshing! Lol
Seriously, I was wondering if any cars are particularly easy or tricky for getting things like car seats in and out of - I know they can be a bit of a palaver.
Does anybody use Isofix points to fit kids seats to?

Hi Mattlamy!!

Bet you are excited at the prospect of becoming a dad- congrats!

NEVER have a two door car with a baby, being a spoilt princess i refused to let go of my beloved ford KA with my Becs n/plate and bought the smallest buggy/pram i could get just to prove a point!!!(lol)

I struggled for 2 weeks (yes thats all) before i gave in and stole my husbands 5 door escort, he had to drive about in the girly becsmobile (inc fluffy mirror bits)until i agreed to sell it to buy a larger diesel car(8 monthslater).

Poor thing, but we now have a Ford Mondeo diesel and it seems for 1 baby the perfect size, manly too!!- large boots are essential.

when i venture out with friends it can be a squeeze but it was a good excuse to buy a quinny zapp pushchair...(folds up tiny- not ideal for little babes as it doesn't recline) but apparently the maxicosi car seat fixes on to the frame?!

However not one to influence, if you have a decent budget it is prob worth getting a 7 seater- or an estate.i know we will when we have another baby,we had just bought a bigger house so we didn't have enough for one this time round.

The VW tourans are pretty roomy and nice to drive, my parents have one, we managed 5 adults a babyseat, buggy (the pram) and luggage for a weekend away and weren't squished!!

As far as carseats go, i had a mamas and papas primo viaggio carseat with a base that stayed in the car, the seat clicked onto the base and the belt stretched around the seat to sturdy it,very easy.
I have a friend with a newborn and she has the isofix system and it is pretty good, incredibly simple!!

Anyway enough ramblings- bet u wish you hadn't asked!!

Becs

We...have a mini lol
Not an issue for Duncan - but getting him in and out...well yeah...not to mention where to put all the baby stuff lol
We also have the Zapp - and its fab! - Yes you can put car seat in it if you have the adaptors for it (I do - dont want them though - dont need them - going to sell them on ebay lol) - Fab buggy though - sexy hehe
Anyroad - yeah....get yourself a 4 door car AT LEAST lol - It just makes life easier on everyone having that much room for baby items soon to turn into toddler idems then child items and evntually all that teenage rubbish lol
No experience with the isofix though as they cant fit in minis! lol - But if you have a car that fits one, its worth getting for added protection!!!

Oh my god, i struggled with my Ka especially after having a c-section! i could'nt put him in the front because of the airbags!!

Thanks for all those ideas - we're off to Car Giant on Sunday with our V5 document in our hands ready to do a deal.
I quite fancy a Ford C-Max or something like that, but I think our criteria is simply to get the biggest, safest, cheapest car in the best condition there!
I'll tell you how we get on!
Matt

Hi Mattlamy,
Congratulations!
Car hunting as a new parent is so weird, all your old criteria go out the window and suddenly you're looking at 'family cars'!!! 5 doors are a must.
Both my partner and I have had to buy new cars in the las week, his died and mine was just too small. I went for a Megane, very spacious, very safe, cheap parts and still fast (as a 1.9 turbo diesel should be). I bought a silver cross pram which is quite big and that fits easily in the boot, only weird point is you can't turn off the front passenger airbag so my baby has to go in the back. I bought a mirror from mothercare so I can still see him though.
My partner bought himself a Alfa Romeo, neither of us realised how affordable they are. (Both cars are second hand, mine a 51 plate, his x reg) He loves it cos it looks sporty and manly but can also b a great family car. The best of both worlds for us. It really is a minefield though so I wish you luck on Sunday. Look forward to hearing how it goes. Really do emphasise the baby side, as both of us got money off and a couple of freebies as a congratulaions type gesture!!!
Becky

hi there,
ive got a ford focus its brill loads of room for prams in stuff!! my family are all ford fans. big enough for whole family, but doesnt feel huge when your in it on your own!

Good luck

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Hiya - we too have a mini and a baby due in December. Up until now we had our minds set on the quinny zapp and the maxi cosi car seat for when baby is young....job done.

Then someone mentioned to us about reclining seats and how the zapp wouldn't be suitable for a young 'un even though it'd be in the maxi cosi to start with.

Has it been ok with you re: the zapp not reclining?

Thanks

Hi Sammy
If the quinny pram you want is the one i had, then it wouldn't be suitable for new born. when maisy was is in it she was realy sat up straingt and she is 3. she looked uncomfortable so i dont us it any more and bought a cheap buggy instead..

Rachelxx

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