To not want to get into debt for a car?

[JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff]

We have DD1 3yo and 6mo DTs. We each have normal 5 seater cars - that won't really fit 3 car seats plus an adult passenger. Right now we go everywhere in 2 cars or someone stays home. It's not really sustainable.

Initially we planned to get a secondhand MPV or similar. But looking into it, this would almost certainly wipe out our savings and to get anything decent/ reliable it looks like we would also have to borrow a couple of grand or take on some monthly payment scheme.

I am back at work soon and we will basically be spending everything we make on childcare/ mortgage / food. There will be no slack. I am really reluctant in these circs to blow our savings. Instead I want to invest in fitting slimline fixed child seats in one of our existing cars ( Multimac).

DH says a) that will mean investing money in a 12yo car which is stupid b) the boot will still be taken up by the double buggy so no boot space. He says we need a bigger, newer car to last till DC are older.

I say we need to manage without as it's irresponsible to blow savings with 3 small DC on a fast-depreciating asset in a time of economic uncertainty.

Who is right?

If money is tight and you can get car seats to fit in your existing car, then that seems like the sensible option. You can always get a roof box for when you need more storage space.

If you could afford it then I would say buy the new car, but make sure you have a cushion of at least enormous go to cover 3-6 months worth of bills, should you need it.

Would you have to get brand new car? Those multimac seats are crazy expensive you could probably get a second hand car for less x

Toddler in front with airbag switched off and one adult in the back . Buy a sling each for the babies . I wouldn’t be buying a new car if money is tight .

Our old car was younger than yours when it started having so much wrong with it that it was costing way more to fix every year than it was worth.

It wiped out our savings completely to buy a new one, but it is cheaper on a month to month basis to run. I also knew with a young child we needed something more reliable than our old one so I'm inclined to agree with your DH.

If you had one bigger car that fitted everyone could you lose the second car?

Also there are cars out there that have 5 proper seats that aren't MPVs and are therefore quite a bit cheaper and if you can get one a couple of years old it might not take all your savings.

@purpletigerlove I've got a Honda civic (So not a tiny car) and I can't fit an adult between two car seats in the back.

Purple unfortunately an adult won't really fit in the back with the car seats. Not to go any distance.

Cyan my existing car is a 12yo Corolla with 70k on the clock and gets driven v gently. I think it ought to last 2.5y until the twins get nursery funding.

Whereas, if we get something secondhand off Autotrader, who knows what problems it could develop?

Personally I'd get a new car to future proof, you don't actually need to commit to huge repayments but if your current car goes konk then you're really in the shit.

Is there anywhere else you could really cut back?

You can get decent cars second hand. You just have to be patient and be willing to check them out carefully.

Would something like a multiMac help? Then you could get all three children in the back and the adult in the front.

Stylish but if my current car goes kaput, we can blow savings/ borrow then. If necessary.... but am hoping it won't be!

Mouse yes we could get a decent car 2nd hand but would take our savings

Stylish but if my current car goes kaput, we can blow savings/ borrow then. If necessary.... but am hoping it won't be!

I see your point - but in the meantime you'd have spent £1500 (ish) on a car seat (and possibly more if you need roof bars and a roof box for extra room), meaning you have £1500 less in savings to go towards the new car if you do need it.

I wouldn't suggest buying through autotrader full stop - but buying second hand from a reputable dealer should be a lot safer.

If you're anything like me, whatever you do will be the wrong decision in hindsight, so I hope you're luckier than me!

@JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff well don't doit second hand off autotrader if that worries you.

Sell both of your cars to a car dealer and trade them in for a newer bigger car, surely it shouldn't cost much if you can trade in both cars.

I got a new 2nd hand car when i was pregnant, traded in my old car to reduce cost of next car

If you buy expensive car seats for your current car and it then needs repairs so significant it has to be scrapped, you'll end up spending much more. A 12 year old car is quite likely to give up the ghost fairly soon. I'm with your husband.

Ha Lazy, DH car is a hunk of junk ancient Skoda with 200k on the dial. I imagine a dealer would give us approximately 20p for it

3yo DD keeps singing Twinkle twinkle chocolate bar, my dad drives a rusty car to him

But point taken, we should ask!

Have you looked at leasing a new car? Yes there are monthly payments to be made but the maintenance costs are zero and you can feel confident it's not going to break down etc. If you can go down to one car, I'd sell both of yours to raise the deposit. It's worth looking into if you could manage a monthly payment.

I'd keep the Toyota if I were you ,they are like cockroaches will still be going when the rest of us a long gone!
Keep that and get rid of other car?
Don't be scared of going for cheap second car , I picked up an early c-max a couple of years for £600 and didn't need to spend a penny in repairs in18 months ,currently got an £800 focus that's 1 owner from new and had no expense spared on it ,should last a few years ! Just have to do you're research and check everything ,there are reliable bargains out there ! I've never spent more than £1500 on a car and most have been reliable!

Forgot to add the c-max has 3separate adult seats in the back ,they will all take a child seat easily !

I’m not sure what you could do then , I’d be loath to get rid of the Toyota ( I have one ) as they go on forever. Hope you find a solution