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Original poster

Small car problems- did you have to sell yours to get something baby friendly?

50 replies

Baffers100 · 24/08/2015 12:52

Hi all,

I have a small hatchback as a company car (Lexus CT200h) which I am stuck with for another 3 years. I'm worried that I won't have space for the standard pushchair in the boot and all the baby stuff.

I was wondering, have you had to sell your car to get something with more space? If so, what did you have?

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cremedecacao · 26/08/2015 11:19

I am watching this thread... my new Smart ForFour arrived yesterday. The lady in the dealership convinced me that the boot was big enough for a folded pushchair but now I am not convinced... baby due Feb 2015 (first timer, can you tell?!) I wanted to buy my friends iCandy Strawberry but I really dont think it will fit now :(

HeadDreamer · 26/08/2015 11:27

creme the icandy is quite big. But have you looked at other pushchairs? If I had a smaller car I would get a bugaboo bee (instead of the chameleon). Take the car to a shop like mothercare or John Lewis. One where you can park outside and take the pushchair out and try fitting into your boot.

I think the city joggers fold quite small too.

For me, as long as it's 4 doors and can fit a travel system, it's big enough.

HeadDreamer · 26/08/2015 11:29

When she says folded, it might be umbrella folds she's thinking of. They are tiny! I think the bigger maclaren can fit car seats on them?

Tbh I only ever lift the car seat out to put onto the pushchair chassis if baby is asleep and I'm not going to be out of the car for long. I always transfer baby onto the carrycot otherwise. I'm sure plenty others survive without a travel system.

mandy214 · 26/08/2015 11:31

You do what you have to. Yes, small cars with limited boot space / 3 doors whatever are more difficult and yes, if you can afford to change your car, it would probably make life easier, but you don't need to change it.

We had 2 Renault Clios when our twins were born. 3 doors, small boot space. No Isofix bases around then so had to strap the seat belt around the car seat every time they went in it. Also had a double buggy which folded down front to back, but the width didn't fold down at all, so had to take the wheels off and stand it up in the boot (without the parcel shelf). It was a pain in the neck but we just got used to it. Couldn't afford to change the car.

Swapped it for an MPV when the twins were about 3 and I was pregnant with Number 3. Liked it for its seat height (much kinder to my back) and the boot space.

HippyPottyMouth · 26/08/2015 11:44

I've got a Micra and a toddler. I had a Cosatto Giggle, which fits in the boot as a pushchair, but the carrycot part had to go on the back seat. Shopping went in footwells, but I mostly do the shopping when her dad's at home with her.

For car seats, I find it much easier than DH's big estate car. I push the front seat forward and climb in, so I'm facing what I'm doing, not trying to reach across and do it sideways without seeing properly. Now she's in a bigger seat it's even easier, I've got a Britax Dualfix, so I climb in and fasten her in, then swivel it round to rear-facing. With DH's car and seat I have to scoop and plonk her in sideways and it's easy to bump her head on the top of the car doorway.

I have enough room to pack for a weekend away for her and me, including pushchair, travel cot, high chair, as well as toys/books/clothes etc. I'd struggle to fit DH and his stuff as well, but if we go away together we take his car.

HippyPottyMouth · 26/08/2015 11:44

D'oh! Forgot to specify it's a 3-door. Hopefully it's obvious.

mummytime · 26/08/2015 12:13

I have 3 teenagers, and we have a Jazz (admittedly it's a bit less comfortable for the one in the middle of the back for long journeys, if we're all there).

I had a 3 door fiesta when my eldest were babies. We coped, although putting them in car seats was a bit awkward. Check if the buggy will go in the boot before buying (the buggy). My quite big one was fine in my Fiesta.

We have also hired something bigger for long journeys/touring holidays.

MissSMartin · 26/08/2015 12:32

I have a 3 door corsa sxi at the moment until the 8th September when we get out new car Renault clip dymanique S much bigger with 5 doors

cremedecacao · 26/08/2015 12:49

Just measured my boot:

100cm across
40cm high (with parcel shelf which could be removed)
58cm deep (back to front)

It looks so small but when I look at pushchair measurements there seem to be a few that would go in?

notaprincessbutaqueen · 26/08/2015 19:41

i have a citroen c1 and 3 dc's and it fits them fine. the eldest in the front (she is 11 and no longer needs a car seat) then 2 highback boosters in the rear. currently have a maclaren quest in the boot and can also fit a £50 food shop in there as well!
I love my car so much but have to sell it as having a 4th dc so need an extra seat. Trying to find a small, cheap car that can fit 3 car seats in the back seat is really hard. think i'll be buying a dacia sandero but open to all other suggestions :)

Emileelogan · 27/08/2015 10:09

There's a carpet that turns into a pram... <a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DAEaRIcUZT80&ved=0CB4QyCkwAGoVChMI7LqPhvXIxwIVQivbCh1XIg8o&usg=AFQjCNEOYGpR93tw4VYpGK65mteMDXTEkA&sig2=cD79LQEBF7uTsMPzNuNoeQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DAEaRIcUZT80&ved=0CB4QyCkwAGoVChMI7LqPhvXIxwIVQivbCh1XIg8o&usg=AFQjCNEOYGpR93tw4VYpGK65mteMDXTEkA&sig2=cD79LQEBF7uTsMPzNuNoeQ hope this link works...

Emileelogan · 27/08/2015 10:11

Carpet? Clearly it was meant to say car seat... Bloody autocorrects xx

FifiLeBoo · 27/08/2015 10:34

When I first passed my driving test I had a Mercedes AClass, I could get all 4 kids, one in a high backed booster, one in a special needs car seat, one in the middle and one in the front plus my daughters wheelchair in the boot(taken apart). Shopping had to go in around the kids or be done without the older one though.Me and the 3 younger ones also went away for a few days in it once too, it was shall we say cosy

Brummiegirl15 · 27/08/2015 10:42

Reading this with interest. I have a 3 door VW polo and first dc arrives in Feb.

I'm a bit worried about fitting buggy in the boot. Been looking at Bugaboo Camelon and dp has been googling and reckon it will fit...

BeautifulBatman · 27/08/2015 11:53

Brummie, does your car have isofix?

wonkylegs · 27/08/2015 12:25

Brummie try it out before committing to it as the narrow boot opening can sometimes trick you - ask at JL/mothercare/other baby store if you can see if it'll fit. I did this with JL & my bugaboo/ Yaris and it was fine but another one which on paper looked ok didn't fit (forgotten what it was now as it was a few years back)

Serafinaaa · 27/08/2015 13:33

Yes, check. My friend claims that her chameleon will NOT fit in her polo.

Brummiegirl15 · 27/08/2015 18:06

Aaah right, defo worth knowing. I googled all the different specs today as "on paper" they seem to fit.

All very different in practice. And yes I've got a 2010 Polo and believe it does have isofix

BeautifulBatman · 27/08/2015 18:11

That's good. Just think about the ergonomics with regard to getting a baby/rear facing car seat in and out of a three door.....

NoMontagues · 27/08/2015 21:24

brummie I had the use of my mum's 2011 Polo recently and the Cameleon just about fits.

The chassis can only go in facing one way and even still one of the wheels seems like it will prevent the boot closing but it will in fact close.

Not ideal though and you can't fit much else in the boot if you're also bringing the carrycot or seat. At the time I used the Polo I mainly just brought the chassis as I would use the car seat with it.

I have a golf and it's much better space-wise.

scarednoob · 27/08/2015 23:11

Yes, I had to swap my beautiful sexy sports car for a very nice but far too grown up Q3! But mine was a 2 seater so it was obvious. You might find yours is ok or work can swap it?

Original poster

Baffers100 · 28/08/2015 11:39

Thanks HeadDreamer. Space in the back is ok, it's just the boot is ridiculous! I used to drive a Honda Civic and loved the fact that I could fit a 6ft bookshelf in that if you were clever with the seats. The Lexus tops out at about 8 bags of shopping!

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Original poster

Baffers100 · 01/09/2015 14:14

We have a 2nd car, but the Lexus is a company car so there are issues about the OH putting mileage on it and not being for work- that's also why I am 'stuck' with it (but I may able to pass the Lexus to a colleague and take our MDs car which is huge),

Good news- had a look at pushchairs at the weekend and so many of them fold ridiculously compactly! I was really surprised. The top 3 we were looking at all fitted :)
(If you're interested, they were the Britax Smile, the Grace Evo XT, and the Uppababy Vista- we're going for the Uppababy).

Looks like I was worrying needlessly-they're a lot lighter than I imagined too, winner winner!

Some annoying customer woman though did say "I don't know why you're bothered, why don't you just buy another car." I bit my tongue, because I can't you interfering bloody woman, bugger off and mind your business. Grr!

OP posts:

BeautifulBatman · 01/09/2015 14:57

Baffers does your husband get taxed for the benefit of the company car?

Original poster

Baffers100 · 01/09/2015 15:43

Not sure BeautifulBatman, I'm waiting to find out from work. I hadn't thought of that actually, hmm.

Brummie- The Bugaboo's I looked at didn't fold small at all but to be honest they're really heavy. (Issues with stairs, going up and down kerbs, lifting it in to the car etc). I think the icandy folds nicely. The Chicco ones have an awesome fold mechanism you can operate with one hand. You may also want to look at the Quinny Buzz- it's petite but folds to nothing at the click of a button. We strugled with the cosatto, while the buggy folded nicely, the handle didn't really do down whcih meant it wouldn't fit in the boot opening of the car.

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