Buying a new car - 3 or 5 door?

[Harri87]

Hi,

I'm currently pregnant with my first baby and am thinking of getting a car to make getting around a little easier.

I wanted a fiat 500 but have heard these aren't that safe (which is important with baby), so have decided on a mini copper. I like the look of the 3 door but have been told that it's hard work putting baby in the car seat and there isn't much room for a pushchair in the boot.

Does anyone have a baby and mini cooper? Would you recommend?

Thanks

5 door all the way. You have to contort yourself anyway to get in the back of a 3 door, and with added faff of a baby seat makes it a chore.

5 door, whatever you get, 5 door makes like so much easier.

5 door 100%

5 door. 3 door would be a huge pain for getting a car seat in and out.

5 door...

5 door 100%.
My friend had a Mini Cooper and couldn’t get on with it space wise, once Her DS came along. She now has a mini clubman and has more than enough room in the boot for shopping and her pram. Hope that helps

Always 5 door.

I have a 5 door Mini Countryman & I absolutely love it!

5 door.

Look at Skoda Fabias. Cheap to own and run. 5 star safety rating.

We have a 5 door fabia and a much more expensive prestige marque car. Everyone wants the Fabia! The big car admittedly is better for long motor way journeys but round town the Fabia wins.

(I don’t work for them btw)

I can’t begin to imagine the pain in the arse it must be getting a car seat in and out of the back of a 3 seater in a regular basis.

Even with a isofix base, the car seat itself is bulky and once you put a chunky 6 month old in it, your back would be wrecked contorting yourself every time you wanted to go out!

I’m sure there’ll be someone who’ll come on saying they managed in a 1999 Ford Ka with triplets, but honestly life is too short for that shit if you can avoid it.

5 door! There's no doubt about it. You don't want to be struggling getting the car seat in and out with a 3 door.

You said you wanted a fist 500. Why don't you consider a fiat 500x it's 5 door suv. It's not too big but has all the aspects of a normal 500?

5 door. When looking to buy a car a while ago, I always imagined if there’s a crash and my DD was stuck in the back due to it being a 3 door

5 door!

I have a 3 door I could not advise against it more.
Its fine for my older DSS as he was 6 when I got it so old enough to get in and belt himself.
My DS is currently 5 months and I dread every time I have to put him in my car. Were in the process of replacing it but covid interrupted that.
Get a 5 door. Also I would advise making sure the car has isofix it makes things alot easier for car seats.

We bought a 3 door and then I found out I was pregnant. I'm not still driving a 3 door with a wriggler toddler.

For the log of God please make my experience worth something positive and get yourself a 5 door, OP

5 door and yes to isofix on both rear seats. I'd get something more mid sized than a mini cooper though as they usually have a crap boot (not driven one for a few years though!)

A 3door will become very old very quickly. Get a 5door for sure.

I would never invest in a three door once kids come along. Deffo five door!

Oh yeah, check the buggy fits in the boot.

When we went shopping for our car we took the stroller (and left the child with Granny) as we needed to make sure it would fit in the boot.

5 doors. I've had a three door for three years and got a five door last week. It makes a huge difference (3 kids)

I've had a 3 door and a newborn, I cannot begin to tell you how much of a pain in the arse, and back, it was getting the baby in and out of the car. Buy a 5 door.

We sold our 3 door polo when DS was 3 months old. Complete nightmare with a baby, as much as I really loved that car! Please just buy a practical family car, if you already have a big other car then maybe something like a golf. You need a decent boot. I currently drive a Tiguan and love it

5 door all the way. I had a 3 door coupe when I had my DTs, my beautiful car lasted two weeks before we replaced it with something we could actually get the kids into without breaking our backs!

5 door fiat 500 - the boots are huge. A 3 door would be a nightmare - even with a 360 spin seat.