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Larger families

Find out all about large family cars, holidays and more right here.

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Original poster

Car fury!

39 replies

jaype · 12/10/2009 15:39

Grr - I am mad. Currently expecting number 3 (so not what I would consider a large family - one more and maybe borderline) and went to look at a larger car than the Renault Clio we currently squeeze in to.

Anyway, the bloke at the Ford garage basically refused to give me brochures on anything smaller than a 7 seater car, telling me it would be impossible to fit three seats into anything normal sized without having an 'illegal' child seat in the front. I suspected he was wrong on the fact it was illegal to have the 6 year old in the front (though to my mind I am sure we can get 3 seats in the back of some cars like a CMax) but wasn't 100% sure of my facts till I got home and looked it up...

Seeing as all of you will have been through the 'just 3' stage at some point, can anyone reassure me that I don't have to buy a bloomin' minibus for just three? Please?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

FrightsMonth · 13/10/2009 16:45

I would rather have three in the back seat with a sizeable crumple zone behind (ie the boot) than have any of the DC in a third row such as in the zafira.

pinkx4 · 13/10/2009 16:54

Blimey, had no idea about the Zafira and lack of crumple zone. Perhaps we really shouldn't get rid of the big black tank after all. It does seem very robust.

Anyone any ideas/opinions/knowledge about an 8 seater?

thisisyesterday · 13/10/2009 17:45

i would imagine that something like the renault espace is better than the grand scenic because I think it has the 3 rows of seats AND a biggish boot

likewise the VW caravelle has areasonable sized boot behind the last row.

but I am no expert so don't take my word for it! I just know that a friend of mine with the grand scenic actually noticed in her manual for it that it recommends not to put kids in car seats in the back row

Chalkpink · 13/10/2009 18:00

My mum has a Vauxhall Meriva (smaller that Zafira) and can easily fit my three dcs car seats across the seat.
I was actually very impressed because it's not a huge car at all.

mrsjammi · 14/10/2009 08:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

insywinsyspider · 14/10/2009 19:57

I haven't read all the posts so sorry if I repeat anything!

I've had 3 within 3 yrs - ds3 is 16 wks, we have a Peugot 307 SW and its fantastic, the advantage of it on some of the people carriers is that it has a huge boot, and two extra seats that you can put in the boot so it can become a 7 seater for day trips with Grandparents or school play dates (obviously a little way off for us!) I wasn't ready for the 'bus' either so its a good comprimise for us, ours is 03 plate and cost £4k from a garage

With regards to safety - buckle crunch is widely misunderstood, I work in vehicle safety for a big car manufacturer and it is not dangerous to have 3 car seats across the front (nor is it 'illegal' to have a child seat in the front as long as the air bag is turned off for a rear facing seat and the seat pushed all the way back from the dash for a forward facing seat) as long as they have been fitted correctly. You just have to make sure that the buckles don't touch or any of the plastic part of the seats where they may become crushed in an impact - best way to avoid it is isofix which is why its popular.

hth

Ineedabreak · 15/10/2009 22:49

not sure if it has been mentioned but tesco do some very narrow booster seats in store for about £5 - we have 2 plus another car seat for 2yr old in a fiesta.

MatNanPlus · 15/10/2009 23:02

dizzymac just had major hassles using 2 booster cushions ( from HB Boosters) and a infant seat in a prius, even with having baby both in the middle or either side

dizzymac · 17/10/2009 19:14

MatnanPlus thanks for the advice. Can I ask what the problem was?

likesalotofsunshine · 17/10/2009 19:33

pinkx4 I think you mentioned you have 3 seats in the back of an audi a6? We are trying to figure out how to do the same. Do you mind me asking which seats you have please?

MatNanPlus · 18/10/2009 01:10

The HBB cushions if on the outside had to be pulled as close to the door as they could be so not snug to the seat back to be able to access buckles.

With baby on outside again no room to access buckles without HBB cushions being pulled about (with child on).

Did resort to doing up the belts and getting child to climb in but with the belts fully extended they then 'lock' as the retract and got tight on the children and it was very hard to undo them as no give.

dizzymac · 18/10/2009 09:08

Thanks matNan. Can I ask if the prius you have is the new design? and which car seats you had.
You're being a great help.

MatNanPlus · 18/10/2009 12:47

Graco HHB cushions and a maxi cosi infant seat. It was a it 08 reg.

dizzymac · 18/10/2009 13:24

Thank you

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