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Parenting

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Original poster

3 children ranging in age from newborn to 3 - car suggestions please

11 replies

LetThemEatCake · 20/04/2009 21:37

Need a new car for this 3 car seat situation - anyone in a similar boat, would welcome your suggestions please!! Also some advice about how you arrange them - 3 in the back? 2 in the back and 1 in the front?

TIA.

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Elenmay · 20/04/2009 21:43

Personally I would go for a larger car where seating can be turned around - I have driven a 7 seater merc and I am not suggesting this as it would be expensive. This car, however, allows space to change babies and you need the children to have plenty of space themselves. There would also, with folded down seats, be ample room to have a picnic. Space for shopping, space for friends. It is worth a thought a normal car will not suffice if you travel a lot.

redclover79 · 20/04/2009 23:02

We've got a picasso, 5yr old, 2 yr old 1 yr old. Enough space, car is reliable but drives like a gutless bus! We've been looking at changing to a mondeo/focus estate possibly so will watch thread with interest! Have you looked at the what car website?

Evenstar · 20/04/2009 23:12

I have a VW Touran, I think 3 car seats would fit across the back, my children are older so haven't tested that, but has 3 proper seat belts. Boot is very spacious and there are two fold flat seats which mean you can take extra people with you if going out somewhere. These will take full adult weight, which some fold flats won't. I have been delighted with it. Very comfortable and the fuel economy is superb on the diesel model that I have, anything up to 60mpg on a long journey.

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sazm · 21/04/2009 22:04

i have 3 kids and a little car,
it depends if you have a front airbag too?
i dont,so i have my baby in the front with me and my 2 toddlers (3 and 4y) in high backed boosters in the back,if hubby is with me then baby goes in the middle of the back seat(full 3 point seatbelt),but hubby is only with me one weekend out of 2,so for the school run etc its no hassle,

jocie · 21/04/2009 22:23

we have a renault senic megane and the back seats move independently of each other so the middle seat can be moved forward a little and we have been able to get 2 stage 2 and 1 stage 1 seats in.
Agree that either 1 with no front passenger airbag(or able to turn it off) or a 7 seater type 1. My friend has a 7 seater citron and it is fab at getting her 2, my 2 and buggies etc in.

spiderinthebath · 22/04/2009 13:35

Landrover Discovery here for 3, its a dream...we looked and testdrove lots of cars and it has amazing boot space and 7 seats too because of the height. Its great to drive (I was scared at first of the size) and everyone is happy!

dorothybunny · 22/04/2009 14:31

Following on from Evenstar's post, we have a VW Touran and a 3yr old, 2 yr old and a 5 week old and are finding thats its quite a bit of a squeeze in the back to get all 3 car seats in. We're thinking of trading in and getting a Ford S-Max as they're slightly roomier.

tassisssss · 22/04/2009 14:33

We like the scenic. I'd put the oldest in the middle so he/she can climb up into the middle seat from the front (big space between front seats as handbrake's elsewhere).

mankyscotslass · 22/04/2009 14:34

Could fit 3 in the back of the Cmax, but it was a squeeze and felt cramped.

We now have a Galaxy, and love it.

BirdyBedtime · 29/04/2009 10:09

We have a Toyota Corolla Verso - it has 3 independent seats in the back so fits 3 car seats, and also has 2 seats that fold up in the boot if you want to take parents/friends etc. Our DD loves sitting in the boot seats. You can also turn off the airbag in the front if you want the baby close and in view.

honeydew · 29/04/2009 21:27

Got 3 kids, 5, 3 1/2 and 2.

We have a Volvo estate V850. Quite old but a good solid workhorse of a car. Costs are quite high to run, especially insurance but they are reliable and have good safety standards.

You can fit in three car seats in the back easily and now my eldest is 5, she uses the in built child seat and belt.

Good boot space too.

I thought I was the only person mad enough to have three kids in three years!

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