Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

How big a car do you need?

49 replies

discocake · 02/01/2022 11:02

We got our first car recently and were chatting about it with a couple of friends who've just had their first baby. The car's nothing unusual - a normal sized hatchback - but DH was saying how he was pleased with how it drives and we're planning to keep it for a while.

One of our friends replied: "Fair enough, unless you find that your space requirements change in the coming years" and they both smiled.

As it happens we have been TTC for a while and would still envisage keeping the same car if it did work out. Am I being a bit naïve to think beyond a certain point it's really just a matter of personal preference? Reviews for our car said a normal sized pram would fit fine and we've had no problems with bulky holiday luggage. If we had a massive estate car or 4x4 I think we'd be tempted to fill it with junk or "just in case" bits you never use.

OP posts:
Island31 · 02/01/2022 11:15

You’re right - I have a 7 and a 4 yr old and a massive dog and have managed with a hatchback with no issues since before my first was born. When I change my car it will be to something bigger but just because I like a particular car that happens to be bigger not because I need more space.

HappyAsASandboy · 02/01/2022 11:15

A hatchback will be absolutely fine for one child, probably for two children if you space them so you don't need a double buggy.

Double buggy or more than two kids in car seats (or a camping habit) and you suddenly have to go considerably larger than a "normal" hatchback or saloon.

DuneFan · 02/01/2022 11:16

We have two cars so a comparison. Mine is a small hatchback (fiesta), it's great for two kids, but I have to take the wheels off the pushchair to get it in the boot and the bassinet has to go on the passenger seat. I don't mind the minor inconvenience. DH has a large estate and it all fits in the boot at once. It makes life fractionally easier but I'm not spending thousands upgrading my car for three minutes per trip!

Now we have two kids we can't fit pushchair, travel cot, high chair and luggage in either car all at once (well unless we leave the dc behind) so we have invested in a roof box. Simple solutions.

There's definitely a set of society that sees kids as an excuse for a huge car too!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
mobear · 02/01/2022 11:18

We have had a Yaris for 10 years, DC is 1. It’s been okay but a close call on a few occasions, so we’re planning to get a new car, probably a small SUV.

LakeShoreD · 02/01/2022 11:22

It depends what you do in the car really. We once had to get a taxi to the airport because our hatchback wouldn’t fit DH, I, DD, the stroller, luggage for the week and our ski equipment. We now have a mid size SUV and this Christmas it was full to the rafters with 2 kids, presents, 4 days worth of stuff for us all, the travel cot, stroller etc. to the point where I had to sit with a bag on my lap! Also bigger cars tend to be more comfortable for long drives so it’s not just about the luggage.

Simonjt · 02/01/2022 11:24

We have a honda civic, so a decent sized boot, half is taken up by the dogs crate, the otherside fits the pushchair frame nicely, but it does look like it wouldn’t fit a decent amount of shopping etc, it definitely wouldn’t fit a suitcase. We have a camper, so when the time comes we’ll use that to travel for holidays etc even if we aren’t sleeping in the camper.

Jonesy88 · 02/01/2022 11:29

We have an Audi a1 and no intention of changing. The mamas & papas ocarro pushchair fit in the boot with a wheel taken off, whereas the m&p flip fit in without any messing. Both prams have similar functionality so we went for the flip. It can be done with a bit of thought.

LadyCleathStuart · 02/01/2022 11:29

I had a toyota Aygo with 2 DC and it worked fine when it was just me and them, bit of a squeeze when DH was with us so we used his Golf when it was all 4 of us but even then thats hardly a huge car.

RunRunGingerbreadMan · 02/01/2022 11:29

I got a pram in the back of my fiat 500 when dd was tiny! Dh's car is a little bigger so we use that for trips where we need to take more with us. I think it's when you get to the stage of needing larger bikes etc where it becomes more of a squeeze.

AnotherEmma · 02/01/2022 11:31

What car do you have?
Obviously there are huge differences in terms of the boot space and cabin space you get with different cars in the same broad category.

We have two young children and we found that we wanted plenty of cabin space to accommodate ERF car seats (and still allow leg room for the adults in front) as well as boot space for all the stuff you end up carting around with young kids. Pushchair, scooter, bike etc. And we do any overnight stays or U.K. breaks, we end up taking loads of luggage (travel cot, air bed, travel high chair). Obviously the luggage reduces as the kids get older.

We have a Skoda Octavia which has a massive boot. If we'd got anything smaller we would have had to get a roof box for overnights/trips and we don't really have anywhere to store one.

PinkSpring · 02/01/2022 11:38

Before our first child was born, we changed our car from a two door hatchback to a four door hatchback - which to me made sense as it would have been a pain getting a baby/toddler in to their seat with a two door - it's doable though obviously!

Just after we had our second child, we fell into the "we need a bigger car" trap and changed our four door hatchback for a big SUV. It was nice having extra space, but we never used the space to it's full potential and we just didn't need a car of that size in the end! My husband also found it heavy and slow to drive (despite being an expensive sporty SUV!) and just didn't get on with it.

So the SUV lasted less than a year before we sold it and purchased a saloon car instead which is a much nicer car in all respects!

So no, you don't need to buy a 4X4 / SUV once you have children

Original poster
discocake · 02/01/2022 11:44

Thanks all! I think we've gone so long without a car that we still aren't that ambitious for how we'll use it. Really helpful to hear about a range of different situations.

My initial feeling is that day to day we'd probably be fine, but I can see if you were doing big UK holidays/hobbies with lots of equipment then there would be some conpromises. Maybe our friends were thinking more of that, but my internal reaction to their comment was a bit Hmm as it seemed to be - oh just wait until you have kids, it'll all change!

OP posts:
Starcaller · 02/01/2022 11:48

DH is 6ft 5 so we need to choose cars with that in mind, so we can fit car seats behind and still have leg room. We also have a dog crate in boot so we need max boot space too, and our car is still absolutely packed whenever we go anywhere. Contemplating a roof box!

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 02/01/2022 11:48

We have a very old Renault Clio and a relatively Landrover Discovery Sport.

Most things we could do with the clio... shopping, ferrying kids around etc.

We cannot put the canoe on top of it. Or fit the tent in it. Or pull the trailer with it. Or get the kids plus luggage in for longer than a weekend. Or even fit the skis in it.. A pushchair would fill the entire boot.

So really... depends what you want to do with it!

Original poster
discocake · 02/01/2022 11:51

*compromises even

Sorry I appreciate that sounds a little uncharitable about our friends - I am probably being a bit sensitive

OP posts:
Wombat43 · 02/01/2022 11:51

The size of the car doesn't always match the space available in it. I had a Jazz, which was far more usable than cars twice the size. I've driven a lot of cars, as I had a job requiring that & some big cars are so claustrophobic. Now drive a van & a very small car, both boxy, so good space.

AnotherEmma · 02/01/2022 11:52

I don't think you're being sensitive. It is very annoying when people with kids say to people without kids "oh you just wait until you have kids" in a smug, superior we know so much more than you tone! I say this as someone with kids who tries hard not to do this!!

VainAbigail · 02/01/2022 11:52

A hatchback will be absolutely fine for one child, probably for two children if you space them so you don't need a double buggy

When I only had 2 kids my car was a mondeo and it fitted 2 kids plus double buggy in perfectly fine, although I appreciate this sort or car is a larger hatchback.

gogohm · 02/01/2022 11:55

I had a compact salon when mine were small, I did need to choose a buggy carefully but otherwise fine - we took long road trips, thousands of miles!

AugustSeptemberOctober · 02/01/2022 11:56

Honestly. I have 2 year old twins with a double buggy, and we have managed fine with my VW Polo so far! In fact people's comments about needing a huge car really annoyed me at the beginning. I think the only challenge will be if we want to go on holiday in it. But I'd rather look at roof racks than replacing my lovely little (very fuel efficient) Polo!

pradavilla · 02/01/2022 11:56

Depends if u have a fiesta or focus for example. Fiesta wld be too small but doable, focus wld be great size for a family.

I always had small cars before kids. Corsa, fiat 500, Peugeot 208 etc. When first child was born I had Peugeot 208 but I bought a 5 door for the first time as I knew I'd be starting a family soon. It was fine for just going out and about it did fit the pram etc. However, I cldnt really get much else in the boot maybe the odd shopping bag or 2 along with the pram etc so it was a pain. Same if we were going on holiday cldnt fit everything in the car had to put stuff in the back etc and even then a struggle but we did have another car, a Mazda 3 so that was fine. When I changed cars though I went for Honda Civic which is a brilliant size. The boot is huge.

As my dh has a decent sized car, once I don't need the pram anymore I would consider something smaller. About to trade it in for a Nissan Juke which is smaller than the civic.

gogohm · 02/01/2022 11:58

@pradavilla I had a Mazda 323 saloon when my kids were tiny, very large boot. Still got a Mazda now but kids are grown up so care of their own

DuneFan · 02/01/2022 12:02

@AnotherEmma

I don't think you're being sensitive. It is very annoying when people with kids say to people without kids "oh you just wait until you have kids" in a smug, superior we know so much more than you tone! I say this as someone with kids who tries hard not to do this!!
This, also the people who when you have you have a newborn say "wait till they're crawling its so much harder" then it's wait until they're walking, wait until they're at school, etc, etc!
Darklane · 02/01/2022 12:03

I have four dogs & a Fiat 500, no problems at all.
Mind you I used to ferry my goats to the billy to be mated in the back of my old classic Mini. Just used to remove the back seat cushion so their hooves didn’t damage it & let them clog dance on the metal seat underneath.
My DH though won’t look at anything other than a Defender, rather have a limb amputated than be parted from his ancient, leaky money pit.

Totalwasteofpaper · 02/01/2022 12:04

Nah you will be fine.

We have a Yaris and a baby on the way plus a dog.
We bought the car for the baby and dog. It’s a totally adequate size and we will be using it for long distance visits to family (think London to Scotland)

A lot of our friends have had babies, all couples are 3 months to a year or so ahead of us and there is a lot of weirdness that has been coming out.
Eye rolling and knowing smiles on everything from….
Car types, birth method, mat leave length, baby sleep, nursery type (apparently if it’s not a Montessori we are idiots wasting our time 🥴)

We do a lot of nodding and smiling in return’