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Original poster

Please help Mini owners. deciding on changing my car.

38 replies

Rosi393 · 28/02/2016 14:33

Hi changing my car. Would love a mini. DH isn't for the idea. Thinks they are too small. I'm sure with first baby in June. Have ordered egg pram and cabriofix car seat and base. Any mini owners have any advice/ experience they could share. Thanks ladies.

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Original poster

Rosi393 · 28/02/2016 14:38

I'm *due

OP posts:

BennyTheBall · 28/02/2016 14:41

I have a new mini and much as I completely love it, I would not get one with a baby.

I am only talking about mine though - it's a 3 door Cooper. The boot is tiny and you could only do a car seat (realistically) in the front seat. The back has Isofix but it would be a huge faff putting a child in the back.

umiaisha · 28/02/2016 14:47

I had one with 2 kids. My buggy wouldn't fit in he boot so I used to split the back seat and slide it in that way.

Probably not the most practical car, but with one child really can't see that it would be a big problem. I have a fiat 500 with a baby and 2 kids and manage to fit them in plus a bugaboo and 2 scooters!!

Issie339 · 28/02/2016 14:56

I have a Mini Countryman (the bigger one) and it's great with kids. I bought it a few months after DD arrived in 2013 and I realised I couldn't fit the buggy in the boot of my Fiat 500 Abarth (which I loved!!) It's very roomy and practical plus I like the slightly retro interior with the cool dash, leather seats etc. I have the type S and it's very nippy too. You can easily fit a fairly bulky buggy in the boot. Would definitely recommend it with kids.

Dixiechick17 · 28/02/2016 14:58

I haven't got one, but I have two friends that have them and their babies are 8/9 months old, both have just got rid in favour of something more practical as they were struggling with their Minis.

JellyTeapot · 28/02/2016 16:11

I had a three door Mini Cooper and could fit my buggy base in the boot which was fine while I was using the car seat but didn't work once DC was too big and needed to be in the proper buggy seat. Also getting the car seat in and out was a major pain at times because of how far I needed to open the car door. Without parent and child parking it was practically impossible and I still moan about the time I had to put him in the car via the boot because someone parked too close to me!

DontKillMyVibe · 28/02/2016 17:10

I wouldn't do it OP. I have a mini and am currently 4 months pregnant with first DC. Will be trading it in for something bigger. I have concerns as to whether or not I'll be able to get in and out of it and fit behind the wheel in later pregnancy stages

lilac3033 · 28/02/2016 22:03

We ditched our Mini (which we LOVED) when I was pregnant with DD. As much as I loved it, it was not even remotely practical. Lovely to drive, maybe a good second car with older kids but for the reasons above it just doesn't go with a baby. We got a Honda Civic afterwards, which is perfect!

APlaceOnTheCouch · 28/02/2016 22:11

I had a 3 door Mini when DS was born but it was a pain tbh. I had to take the wheels off the pram to fit it in the boot and then there was the awkward bending to get DS in and out of the back.
I moved into a bigger car after about 6 months.

baby3forme · 28/02/2016 22:19

I have a mini clubman I already have two older children aged 10 & 7 and I won't be changing my car once baby arrives. The boot is big enough for my pram and school bags etc. Although this is only my car for school runs etc so won't be using at weekends we will use our bigger car x

Toraleistripe · 28/02/2016 22:32

Ah yes. I had a mini pre kids. Lovely car. I thought I would manage when DC1 came along.....no. Could maybe squeeze her in but not the pram or any shopping. We ended up trading it in for a citroen Picasso! Not a lovely car but sooooooo practical. Now I have 2 kids and as they grow you need the space for them plus prams plus shopping ....then if you go on holiday.

I love minis but hopeless for kids.

debbiepinto · 18/03/2017 09:22

Hey
I have a Mini Cooper and I have my LO at the front with me, egg seat at the back, and frame in the boot. Call is crazy hahaha

LHReturns · 18/03/2017 14:30

Same as Issie339, I actually switched to a Mini Countryman S when I was pregnant with DS1 in 2014. It has four doors, the bench backseat (no central rear armrest, so can seat three in back) and overall is plenty big for baby seat in front and/or back. I love it. I am expecting DS2 in May and no plans to change it. I can fit all our pushchairs folded in the boot (Mountain Buggy and Phil and Teds Navigator - so big ones).

I have never had a Cooper though - I assume they are much smaller.

mrscrocopop · 18/03/2017 15:58

I have a Mini Cooper that I love but don't think it's really that practical. It's really low so a struggle to get in and out of now heavily pregnant. Also access to the back seats is really difficult due to the low ceiling height and the boot is tiny.

If I were able I would buy the big one (the countryman?). I'm sure that would make a fab family car

SaintEyning · 18/03/2017 16:11

I had a Golf and a BMW 1 series when DS was in proper car seats - you need a back door unless you are going to always have the car seat in the front. Now he's 6 and has a HBB, I have a Mini Cooper S (dream car) and he sits in the back with the passenger seat as far forward as it can go! The boot is teeny compared to my Golf and if we are going anywhere with bikes, the wheel has to come off and DS goes in the front. Not a practical car for anything other than what we are - single mum of one!

SaintEyning · 18/03/2017 16:12

(But I LOVE my mini!)

MakeItStopNeville · 18/03/2017 16:15

I have the new Clubman S and you can easily fit 2 car seats in and a pram in the boot. I love my car.

Sarahlouiseis33 · 18/03/2017 16:29

I'm also a single mum of one with a Mini Cooper S. I love love love my car but it would be no good with a baby. The boot is tiny and it would be a nightmare to get a first stage car seat in and out of the back. So unpractical but the best car I've ever had, and like another poster my dream car!!

drinkyourmilk · 18/03/2017 16:39

I have a classic mini. Couldn't get a fly in the boot. It won't be the main car used, and we will sling when we use the mini.
I'm not sure I'd recommend a mini with a baby and all their gubbins. And you will be surprised at the useless crap you decide you need when expecting.

tootsieglitterballs · 18/03/2017 16:41

I had one with DS1 - no regrets! Just can't do much shopping!

GardenGeek · 18/03/2017 16:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MajesticWhine · 18/03/2017 16:53

I have a countryman. I don't have a baby any more but have got 3 kids - usually only transporting one or two of them at a time. It's plenty big enough for almost everything except perhaps a big family camping or festival trip. There's plenty of space in the boot for a buggy. I love my mini.

MakeItStopNeville · 18/03/2017 17:03

The camping comment reminded me...get the roof racks! Having the option to put a roof box on for longer trips is a great help, particularly if your boot will have the pram in. But again, I'm talking the bigger, newer models Clubman and Countryman.

MinnieNoush · 19/03/2017 20:08

Babyzen YOYO pram fits in a mini

Watto1 · 19/03/2017 20:12

I'd go for a 5 door myself. Infant car seats are much heavier than you think, especially with a baby in them! Getting them in and out of the back seat would be a faff. Plus you'll need a boot big enough to get the pushchair or pram in.

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