AIBU to think DH should buy a bigger, more practical, car?

[BoomChickenSoup]

We are a family of six and obviously my car is big enough to seat all of us. DH is looking to replace his car, which is currently a four seater, and wants to replace it with a five seater.

Am I being unreasonable to suggest that it would make more practical sense to buy a car that can seat all of us as a family? He reasons that we will never be in a situation where we would all need to be in his car rather than in my car or a courtesy car if necessary.

We have done the research and the cost difference between the two different options is approximately £1,000 and the insurance cost is practically the same.

I know this is a comparatively small problem to have btw but would be interested in others opinions, especially as I really do think I am right here.

We have one big & one small car. I'm with your dh I'm afraid.

Suggest he buys a 2 seater sports car - then you take it out when you don't have the children

I'm with you, OP.

We are a family of five. I have a 7-seater, DH has a 2-seater (Mazda MX5) which he's had since before we had any kids.

It's really annoying! We're always having to swap cars, swap keys, move parking permits to the correct car etc etc.

I'm not going to force DH to sell his beloved car, but if he gets a new car I will definitely expect it to be one which fits our entire family.

6 of us. We have 1 x 6 seater & 1 x 4 seater. I very nearly got a smart car for the small one even.

Just how impractical is his 5 seater choice... and would you be allowed to drive it?

So he wants to drive a fun sporty car while you drive the large family car? Look if this is fair then he'll be happy to swap. You get the sporty car and he drives the family car.

Oh, is he suddenly not so keen and pointing out all sorts of reasons why you should always drive the kids. Thought so.

The decision should be right for the family not just for him.

If the car is only ever going to be for him to drive around, and the family will only ever be transported in your car, then it makes more sense for him to get a small, economical car such as a Smart car or Ford Fiesta.

If there will be times when the whole family need to be transported it makes sense to buy a car that everyone will fit into.

Buying a five seater car is the worst of both worlds- it's almost as expensive as a car that would fit everyone,running costs would be the same, yet it would be impractical for family use.

It sounds as though he's decided what he wants to get, and stuff your views/ the cost/ having any responsibility for family activities.

If his new car seats 5 I don't see an issue. He can pick up all the kids if needed and if all 6 of you go out you use the bigger car. If his new car seated 2 I'd understand!

It seems silly to me to buy a car with more seats than he has currently but not enough seats (eg shy of 1) to fit the whole family.

I would have said one big and one runaround is acceptable, but if he's set on getting this 5 seater that's just silly. He might as well upgrade and have a backup family car in case yours is out of commission.

I'm liking these responses now!

DH wants me to say that he disagrees with me that a Ford Focus RS is a boy racer car because it has five doors and five seats.

Also, funding wise, it's a company car so he's not spending family money.

We have 2 7 seaters. 5 of us in family.
This is so that regardless of any car trouble we are always all able to fit in a car.
I don't get why if their are 6 of you you would have a car which couldn't fit you all in!?
If 1 car breaks down and something is arranged how do you decide who to leave behind??

there I do know what I'm doing honest...

Let your poor DH have his sporty saloon (assuming you can afford it). You don't really need two 7-seaters.

My DW has a seven seater and I have a 2+2 sports car. If we need to swap, we do.

It most certainly is a boy racer car.
Any car capable of 150+ mph and has acceleration of 0-60 in under 6 seconds is a boy racer car.
Theyre also ridiculous and pointless and capable of speeds that are over double the legal limit on UK roads.
"But I need the power to get out of trouble"
It's the power that gets you into trouble.

Nah, I change !y mind, make him get a minibus.

cars aren't dangerous. Drivers are.

if he needs 'power to get out of trouble' he badly needs a driving skills refresher.

poorbuthappy DH is volunteering to be left behind . This is something I can agree with him about.

If it's a company car then that makes a difference- surely the priority then is for the car to meet his business related requirements?

Sorry Yabu.

Both cars don't need to transport everyone. Especially if one is a company car.

I think this is more about you being a little bit jealous. Just a tiny tiny bit.

Inertia. I think OP's DH's priority is to have fun.

There are 5 of us - DH has a small, economical Hyundai 5 seater, we could all fit in at a squash but it's very tight for 3 booster seats across the back, and when he got it the kids were in bulkier seats which required 2 in the back and one in the front. What matters ishe can fit himself and all 3 kids in if necessary, so can run the kids places in his car if necessary, but it is economical for his long daily commute.

I have the 7 seater "family car" as I do 90% of running kids about, and almost all the kids plus kids friends car pooling stuff. It is much less economical and tbh I would really like to downsize to an estate car, but we would be in an awkward situation if we couldn't car pool for kids activities and every family around here seems to have one 7 seater for car pooling kids to football matches etc. even if they only have 2 kids of their own!

I would say you only need one 7 seater family car and one more economical car that fits parent plus kids (so a 5 seater is fine) ... if its a company car then maybe the economy is less important anyway?

Would a 7 seater create the right impression as a company car?

He doesn't need to get a 6 seater, but it should be a car that is practical for other family use, e.g. you can use to take a couple of dc to an activity rather than take the BIG car. If you have a dog it can travel in it, weekly shop can fit in, any buggies etc can fit in.

Other than that he can have what he wants (but I'd up his life insurance if he's getting on a bit and still wants a Ford Focus RS as he is sounding a bit boy racer). He does realise other drivers will say "check out that RS with the old man driving it!"

obviously what he wants within the family budget (as company cars still cost you money in tax/fuel)

We have four dc and one 7 seater and one 5 seater car. I think it depends on lifestyle tbh DH only goes out with/ does pick up for the boys, DTD's are still bf so tend to stick with me. It seems silly for us both to have big cars at the moment. I think so long as he's willing to keep the requisite number of car seats/ boosters for the DC you should let him choose his own car.

Why is it 'his' car and 'your' car? We always had a 'family car' and a pickup truck. Each of us drove what was more practical for that day. Whichever was doing drop off/pick up took the family car. The other drove the truck.

If it's a company car, is the family allowed to use it or is it strictly for work?

A range rover sport has 7 seats

I'm struggling with calling a Ford Focus (any FF) a "boy racer" car. And fwiw, friends with 4 kids have a souped up Fiesta as family car.

Whether the FF RS is ever a boy racer car depends heavily on the wheel trim. Do they get good fuel economy?