What car to buy for a drippy driver with 3 children?

[mrsdarcy]

(I LOVE typing that I have 3 children )

I have finally accepted that, going out en famille, I am too wide to fit comfortably in the back of our Peugot 306 in between 2 children, with the baby in the passenger seat.

I need space in the back for 3 car seats for my children (aged 5, 4 and 2 months). I need an automatic that is VERY easy to drive and park.

It will be the family's sole car so needs to be suitable for everything: local driving, family holidays, DH business trips etc etc. We'll be getting a second-hand car and don't want to get anything fancy as I am bound to scratch it! If you can imagine an elderly lady doing breaststroke wearing a flowery swimming cap - that's my driving

TIA

We have a Fiat Multipla which might suit you nicely, but I don't know if they do an automatic. Although big, and slightly wider than your average car, it is not particularly long, so parallel parking is easier than you might think. With the 3+3 seating you could have the baby in the front between you and MrD, (check you can switch off front airbag) and have space between the two in the back which might reduce squabbling on long journeys.. Easy to drive - being higher up makes for good visibility. But it's not a PRETTY car

Have you looked at the Citroen Picasso?

yeah we have 3 and the citroen picasso is great (not an auto but I'm sure they do one)

hi

i have the grand scenic and love it. they do an automatic version although they are petrol so not sure how good the mpg would be. although the safety features are great. hth

My mother has had bothe the renault scenic and now drives a Toyota Corolla - think it's the Versa one which has 7 seats although she always has the back 2 folded down. It is not quite an automatic - but very similar. She would only drive automatics and she drives this so must be OK. It is quite smart inside. She is over 60 and a flowery hat kind of driver too!!

LOL

We have a C-max (actually we have two!). DH and I both like them to drive and three car seats fit along the back just fine.

I have also heard the Picasso is good (also a good second hand purchase apparently). We previously had a Scenic which I thought was great until someone very kindly wrote it off for me on the M6 (it is also very safe though ). HTH

another vote for the Picasso. We've only got 2 children ( 1 in car seat, 1 on booster seat) but theres also room in back seat for a grandparent/friend without them feeling squashed in -very handy

Yet another vote for the Picasso, had it since February and wonder how we ever fitted in the old car (Toyota Startlet, which was Fiesta sized). You can deactivate the airbag, has a three point belt in the middle rear seat and each rear seat is separate so you can them out or fold them up or even recline the outside two very slightly. I have fitted three high back booster seats across the back and the only problem was getting my hand between to clip them in - they also had the cup holders open at the time which made it harder!!

The boot is huge - without parcel shelf fitted two large suitcases and a large three wheeler in it with space around for hand luggage. I find it easy to drive - unless some-one is watching me trying to park - and dd's maths has improved watching the digital readout of the speed she tells you if you are going too fast or too slow. It is not an automatic, but with a mixture of town, country and dual carriage way driving I have average 46.3mpg (not that I've worked it out but the nice little counter tells me).

renault scenic is fab. and a lot of them seem to be automatic.
second hand prices are VERY reasonable

Thanks very much guys. That's giving me plenty to work with. Fiat doesn't make Multiplas in automatic which is a shame. I'll arrange to have a drive of a scenic, picasso, C-max and corolla, and see how we get on.

We're expecting our third and are in the process of buying a Picasso. Yes, they do them in automatic. They have a great deal on at the moment - brand new for under £10,000 - basically it's the cheapest mini MPV on the market ( new ). We're borrowing they're demo car for the whole day on Saturday and if we like it, we're signing on the dotted line then and there! I'm very excited, lol!

MRs Darcy - we are in the same position, will shortly have 5yo, 18month old and new baby. You need to check that your new car takes 3 children in car seats. Lots take 3 kids but not on seats. I coudlnt get 3 in a row in the Picasso. After next May all kids under 11 need to be on at least booster seats.

We are thinking about the Multipla but you are right, they dont do an automatic