Have you got a MINI? Just how teeny tiny is it - sensible choice with a 6 mo?!?!

[Orchide]

Currently have a HUGE car, automatic, which at times i like fr the convenience but thoroughly miss the proper driving of a manual.
So , am having a think.....though not told DH yet!

Have been admiring minis for a while though not even had a peek inside, which i know would be the sesnible next move.

Is it even worth the trip to the dealers...is it far too small for us right now?

Just how teeny is a mini?
Would i be mad to even consider getting one wiht a 6 month old DD and all the accompanying stuff - we have a bugaboo which doesnt fold up very small at all

Dont know about the boot space, but as nobody else has answered - my sister drives one of the new mini's.
More than enough leg room - but neither of us is over 5.5.
Room for 3 adults in the back, at a push.
She 'shops' for England and always has enough room for more.
I have had two car seats in the back with no problems.
But again the boot space will be the most important thing in your decision.

We have a mini and 2 dcs. There is plenty of room inside (well, as much as any other small car), but the boot is fairly restricted - means you have to pack carefully when you go on holiday. Most prams wouldn't fit, but if you look on some the mini discussion sites, you'll see threads about which buggies will fit.

We absolutely LOVE our mini. It's a great car to drive because it makes people smile and you can drive along thinking you are still young and funky and not some boring old fart of a parent (maybe that's just me though )

Thanks both - height was the other thing. Im tall, almost 6ft , DH is taller - whilst it would be his main car, he would occ. use it.
Tight squeeze?

monkey magic - i want a car i LOVE too!

how about the new mini clubman

I want one drool

The new Mini Clubman has had fairly terrible reviews-the back door opens on the wrong side for the UK too!
I have just sold my rather fabulous purple Mini Cooper which I bought a couple of years ago thinking 'Oh, i'll never have kids, Why not??'

Now have 6 month old and after trying to cope with the Mini, had to admit defeat and get rid of it. I cried

Although it was a fabulous car, it was just too stressful with a baby and all the associated paraphernalia. We got a Loola pushchair as we'd been told it fit in the boot. And it did...just!! It was a struggle to get it in and there was no room to spare at all. I quite often just put the back seats down to make it easier.

Baby had to sit in front with airbags off cos there was no way i was squeezing into the back to get him in every time. Would have been nigh on impossible anyway!

Shopping bags had to be chucked on the back seat and getting them out involved clambering/leaning over the front seats.

Also, if you're over 5.5, you'll have to push your front seats back to maximum which leaves no room at all for passengers legs. Which is fine if your passengers are under 2!

Sorry to be all doom and gloom but wanted to give you an honest opinion!!

I'm looking forward to when DS is older and I can get another one but right now it's just out of the question!

Hope you find a wonderful car that you love.

catkin, that is exactly what i wanted to know.....makes me slightly ....i think i *kew8 it wasnt very sensible, but very appreciative of an honest review. However when looking at mini website earlier, was rather drawn to purple!

Out of interest, what did you replace your mini with?

was going to say what catkin did; wouldn't want to scramble in the back putting a 6mo in a seat.

That said, I've recently got a Cooper and I love it love it love it. BUT my youngest is nearly 4 and can get in himself - i just turn round from my front seat to finish off doing the seatbelt for him. It's very much a second car for me; we have 4 dcs and i use it while youngest is at nursery/just have him and dd in the afternoons. Oh and i'm 5'4" - 9 yo dd sits behind me and is fine re legroom, but wouldn't be if i were much taller.

Great to drive; I have diesel and very frugal it is too.

i may be wrong ut i think there a reony 2 seatbelts in the back so legally you cant have 3 in the back.

also my niece says hers dosen't have a boot so it cant be very big lol

our friends have a mini and a 9 mth old but they live in London so use the car only for longer trips and use bus/tube and walking day to day.
Biggest moan is no room for decent pushchair but not an issue with over 6 mths old really and that getting the car seat out of 2 doors is a hassle esp as they get bigger.
Her DH is a big lad and it's his car as she does not drive.

Haven't driven a Mini, but just thought that I should say, you need to choose a 4 or 5 door car while you have a young child. Getting a recalcitrant toddler into a car seat is difficult enough when you can easily get to them, must be nearly impossible when you are leaning in from the front pushing the seat forward at the same time.

Remember too, if you are tall, that as your L.O. gets heavier, it will put more of a strain on your back lifting him/her in and out of the back seat.

I'd wait until child is older, go for 4 doors in the meantime.

I replaced it with a Fiat Panda!!
(We also used the mini replacing as a money saving exercise ) I was truly gutted and really convinced I would hate the Panda but... I love it!!! It has 4 doors, is cheap to run, insure, tax and although it has neither the speed nor the acceleration/handling of the Mini, I think i'm a much better driver now because the mini gave me the excuse to be an aggressive, fast driver!
Don't get me wrong, Without DS i'd have my Mini back tomorrow (and the purple was fabulous - it had white roof and trim too!! )but as a mummy the Panda is just fine!