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Pregnancy

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Original poster

Which small car with a new baby?

44 replies

Annie456 · 14/02/2011 13:15

Hi all,
Not sure if this is the right place to post but couldn't find anywhere obvious for it.

I'm almost in the second trimester which means DH has to sell his sports car and buy something with enough seats for a new baby! But what to buy??

It has to be small because we have on-street parking so I was thinking of the BMW 1 series, DH's cousin has one and she said that the problem is that you have to put DC in the back because you can't switch off the airbag in the front. Is sitting in the back a problem for a newborn?

Any other recommendations of similar cars to the 1-series?

Thanks!
Annie

OP posts:

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JBrd · 14/02/2011 13:25

Hi there, I've been told that babies should always be in the back of the car- as there is no absolute guarantee that the airbag will erally stay in when switched off (apparently, no car manufacturer will vouch for the airbag staying in in case of a hard impact...)

Songbird · 14/02/2011 13:27

Yep, baby should always be in back.

We have a Honda jazz, small but roomy, nifty seat flippy uppyness, mega reliable and economic. Would recommend, defo.

ANTagony · 14/02/2011 13:31

My big suggestion with a new born would be five doors for easy access putting the seat in and out. Never heard of any issues sitting in the back - mine always have.

According to this site link here you can turn off the front air bag in the BMW series 1.

Other things to consider is what you use the car for. Babies need very little but we all tend to travel with rather a lot for them.

With my first I brought a pushchair/ pram with bells and whistles and it filled the very big boot of my saab 9-3.

I now have three children and a tiny Hyundai I-10 (not a status symbol to swap a sports car for). I have a quinny zap that only takes up the foot well below the car seat. Hence the boot is free for shopping. My point is if you have a desire for a big off road pushchair and are planning trips away with the baby check out the boot space and dimensions to make sure all you want to take with you will fit - boot width is critical fitting the pushchair in and varies enormously.

PukeyMummy · 14/02/2011 13:39

I agree with other posters here that 5 doors are essential.

We've got two cars but our smaller car, which I use most of the time, is a VW Polo. The boot is a decent size, but doesn't fit the Bugaboo Cameleon - I have to put half of it on the back seat.

If we were buying a new small car now, we'd get the Mini Countryman, but it wasn't available when we were buying ahead of DD's arrival in 2008! The Bugaboo Bee supposedly fits in the boot of a normal Mini.

DH did look at the BMW 1-series but I don't remember why he decided against it. Probably because we were trading in a VW Golf and it was easier to go for the Polo in the end.

Babies do need LOADS of stuff if you go away for a night (or you will feel like you have to take everything). So, it's not just the buggy you have to accommodate.

Original poster

Annie456 · 14/02/2011 14:14

Thats all really helpful so thanks for the advice. I will make sure its a 5 door, with decent boot space.

The on-road parking is such a pain as it often means squeezing into tiny spaces - if it wasn't for that I would happily buy the biggest car I could afford (but if I did that now, I'd end up having to park it about 150 metres up the road...)

I've not looked into buggies too much but we quite like the Phil and Teds 3 wheel one that i've seen quite a lots of recently (sorry, very ignorant and don't know the make) Not sure how small they fold down.

Please feel free to suggest other cars (or share experience of a 1 series)

OP posts:

nannyl · 14/02/2011 14:34

I had a clio

it was great, could park it in tiny spaces and i could even get 3 car seats in the back

I always had a boot full of crap important stuff, and managed to get a phil and teds in, but did always have to take off 1 wheel, and i can see how that would be annoying.

(I normally kept a maclaren tecno xt in the back, but if having a long day out, in a country park /zoo etc id take the phil and teds)

Agree regardless of airbag being on or off, the safest place for baby to travel is in the back.

Also i had a 3 door clio, and other than when about 9 - 15months i have to say i found it far easier strapping children in, in my 3 door car than in 5 door cars. (as i would stand in and be directly in front of them)

Saffra · 14/02/2011 14:44

Oh, I share your predicament! (although we have two cars) I need to change my 2 seater to something more practical. Have no idea what to get as feel damn uninspired. The only thing that I like the look of is the Mini Countryman, but alas it's out of price range.

DH has a BMW (3 series) and it's a fab car, but terrible in the snow. So, bear this in mind. Someone else I know recently changed their BMW 1 series to something something much more capable in the snow purely because of this.

SingingSands · 14/02/2011 14:46

I had a 3 door polo when mine were babies, no probs at all with it being 3 door - easy to get car seats in and out because of wide opening door/front folding seats. I have tried getting my kids in a bmw 1 series and its much harder because of the position of the back seats over the rear wheel arches, very cramped.

Polo has a great boot too, lots of space and lots of useful cubbys in the front cabin for storing things close to hand. I can't fault the polo at all, best small car out there (car of the year 2010). It's very economical but pricey if buying from new.

Currently have a hired Peugeot 308 5 door, kids now 7 and 3 and its fine, large boot and plenty room in back seats. I'd not choose it myself but its nice enough (miss my cubbys holes to store my sweets!).

squiggleywiggler · 14/02/2011 15:21

We also thought about BMW 1 series but went for a Hyundai i30 instead. LOADS cheaper, 5 year warranty, bigger inside, lovely to drive. Apparently BMW are losing customers to it. Highly recommend it. We bought ours when DD was about 5 weeks old - she's now 1.

StormInaCCup · 14/02/2011 15:24

We have just bought a new car as my old Toyota Yaris t-sport(which I loved) is only 3 door and starting to get a bit old and not very practicial for baby as the boot is small and you need two hands even to put the seats forward to get access to the back.

I was really keen on a 1 series or a Golf but in the end we chose a Honda Civic SI (the sporty looking one), as it ticked all the boxes: 5 doors, 1/2 leather (handy for wiping up sick etc!), brilliant safety record, ISOFIX points, only 6 month old so 2 years still on the warranty - it even has Ipod and USB connectivity!

The boot is also absolutely cavernous, much bigger than the Golf. We have bought the Bugaboo Bee which is a small pram, but I am sure you could easily fit even the biggest of prams in the back plus a big shop and anything else which takes your fancy. It was really competatively priced at 13K. For the same money we could get a Golf of a 1 series but both would have been older models with fewer'extras' and warranty.

It's a bit of a marmite car to look at - you either love it or you hate it, but I honestly think it looks really cool and not at all 'mumsy' (I was worried that having a baby would mean I would end up with a 'boring' car). I pick mine up on Thursday and I can't wait!

SnapFrakkleAndPop · 14/02/2011 15:33

3 door Clio and 5 door punto. I prefer the 3 door as you can stand in and strap the seat in. Pram is baby jogger city mini and fits in boot fine.

moregranny · 14/02/2011 17:05

fiat 500, small but lots of room and only £30 a year road tax, also cheap to fill with fuel :)

justmilkpleasenosugar · 14/02/2011 17:20

The BMW 1 Series is very narrow (IMO) you might find it better getting something along the lines of a Golf or an Audi A3.

Also BMW are rubbish in the snow full stop, but are great cars.

Worth remembering that sports seats aren't great for car seats due to the rounded edges.

justmilkpleasenosugar · 14/02/2011 17:21

Sorry I mean it seems very narrow inside...!!!

trixie123 · 14/02/2011 19:39

we have a nissan note which is not as small as some have mentioned but as others have said, baby paraphernalia takes up a lot of space. be wary of claims about what fits in boots also. Our icandy cherry only just fits in the boot of the Note but we were told it would fit in the boot of a mini which I had just sold. There is NO WAY it would.

Choufleur · 14/02/2011 19:42

Make sure you get 5 doors. Bear in mind that most second stage car seats (from approx 9 months) are much deeper than 1st stage so make sure you can fit one in and still fit an adult in the front without their knees being round their ears.

cowboylover · 14/02/2011 19:43

I had one as a company car and not very impressed so worth looking around, I was alot happier with the Astra SRi I had after but cant remember if it was much bigger?

I know the inside was a lot bigger and the boot. My boss has a 1 Series and his 3 year old in the back has his feet in the back of the passenger seat if the need any leg room so not great.

Not sure if its anything to go by but the Golf, Audi A3 and BWM 1 have all been on our car list for a few years now and I dont know anyone who has had it more than once where Golf and A3 people have them time after time.

Good luck x

cowboylover · 14/02/2011 19:45

I mean the Astra being bigger on the outside or not (sorry didnt make sence when I read that back!)

freelancescientist · 14/02/2011 20:01

If it is the main car then you will need something roomy. If it is just a replacement for a fun car you can all use, I've had 2 babies (well, not given birth but you know what I mean) in a BMW Mini. 3 doors is OK - bit fiddly but in some ways better as the doors are bigger so there is actually more space to manouvre (but you will need to get into those parent and child parking places). - and you can switch the front air bag off.

KaraStarbuckThrace · 14/02/2011 20:10

I have a Hyundai i30, it is about 2/3 of the price of a BMW 1 series, better equipped, 5 doors and roomier in the back.
I can think of a lot of other better cars than the BMW 1-series where you are just paying for the badge.

MrsJamin · 14/02/2011 20:12

VW Golf has done us very well indeed. I'd recommend it.

whydobirdssuddenlyappear · 14/02/2011 20:14

I'm with nannyl. I have a 3 door Clio. It's been brilliant. The only thing is, it's quite a narrow car, so the boot's quite narrow too, and you need to make sure you can fit your pram in it.

pettyprudence · 14/02/2011 20:26

trixie i know what you mean about icandy cherry! I have a teeny tiny peugot 107 and was told it would fit in my boot, which the sales rep then demonstrated by removing the seat, folding it up and then taking the wheels off! As if i am going to do that in the pouring rain!

I havent had my baby yet, but i love my Peugot 107 - I can park it ANYWHERE. I have an isofix base and seat ready to make taking baby in and out easy and the britax b-mobile fits in the boot without having to dismantle anything

Original poster

Annie456 · 14/02/2011 20:57

Thanks again. Really helpful! I think we're convinced that the 1 series is no good (it's just going to be hard for DH to get his head around not having a fast sports car!)
Yes, this will be our main car - we both commute by tube so only need one car. I think we're going to have a walk around Car Giant this weekend and I'll take note of all the ones you've mentioned and check them out.
Thanks again

OP posts:

KaraStarbuckThrace · 14/02/2011 21:57

He'll have plenty of time for his mid life crisis sports car when the kids are grown

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