Give me the low down on the Mini Cooper, re space in particular

[FrayedKnot]

I am quite tempted..but have read reviews saying don't botehr with kids - no boot / cabin space etc etc

I only have DS (2.11), he won;t need a buggy for much longer and is in a highback booster type seat (with 5 point harness at teh moment).

He is quite tall though with long legs - how is the space for older kids?

This would be our second car, DH has an estate which we use for holidays etc.

Your thoughts please?

hi I have a mini cooper and even though its totally impractical I love it

like you dh has a bigger car so we use that for major journeys although I have done a long trip with ds (2.1) and dd (10 yrs) with big holdall type bag, wheelie case, travel cot and buggy, but thats with one seat at the back down.

Go for it, life is short and you'll have soooo much fun in it

Luurrvvee our mini. DS went in it for first time this week coz he's in forward facing seat now. Can't fit the pram in the boot, but a stroller goes behind the driver's seat. We have big car for shopping/overnights etc. Minis are fab and great fun, go for it - damn the practicality!

I love my mini and I can get my child seat in the bucket seats in the back. Mini also do their own child seats for children for about £160 - details on their website. Also have a look at \link{http://www.mini2.co.uk} and there is a forum about parenting and which buggies etc fit in the boot. I would recommend anyone to buy a mini as it is fabulous and great fun to drive!

oh but v. expensive to run (tyres in particular) at £120 a piece its not cheap if 3 go in the space of a couple of months (like mine did)

loved ours..and the boot can take a maclaren xt techo, we measured up before buying the pram...they are great cars.. and if your seats are leather then no worries on the spillages front..easy parking, hey you're driving a design icon..go for it!

I love that you are all saying it is pretty impractical at times but what the hell!

I think I'd better go and look at some!

Hi

Expecting a baby in 4 weeks. Have a Mini Cooper and was hoping to keep it (mainly for financial reasons as have stopped paying for it). Planning to put bambino in front passenger seat (bought the maxi cosi cabrio fix) as you have to be a contortionist to get to the rear and I don't know if my back would stand it. But guess what - you only have to book it into a Mini dealership and pay £360 to get the airbag deactivated!! There is no alternative (other than getting dowagers hump or selling the car).

Do you think if men had babies Mini might have made it easier or less expensive or am I being unreasonable here?

I'm in love with mine

My Ds is almost 12, 5'2" and growing rapidly. He can get in the back although it's a bit of a squeeze, and loves it in the front.

Mine is also a 2nd car, but ironically with the back seats down has a bigger boot than my DHs saloon.

I've had a Christmas tree in it, a bale of hay and 200 floor tiles (not all at once!).

Every week I do my grocery shopping in it, it takes 5s to put the back seats down.

Love it, love it, love it!

P.S. The ones with bonnet stripes wave to each other!