Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Shopping

From everyday essentials to big purchases, swap tips and recommendations. For the best deals without the hassle, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Which is the smallest car that can fit 3DC in back.

28 replies

kegs82 · 14/03/2008 13:35

I'm currently learning how to drive and just found expecting DC3 in Nov. When baby born DD1 will be 3.8 and DD2 will be 22 months so will need to be able to fit in a group 0, group 1 and group 2-3 in back seats. From your experiences which is the smallest but comfortable car that can fit these in? I quite like Focus S-Max but DH says it too long! Told him will look into smaller alternatives but still hoping to sell him on S-Max.

Sorry post so long.

Thanks in advance.

OP posts:

sazm · 14/03/2008 16:59

lol TBH theres not much point in looking at small cars if you need 3 car seats in the back!lol
you're probably talking the likes of a vectra/mondeo size at least to fit 3 car seats in comfortably.

BibiThree · 14/03/2008 17:01

Toyota Corolla Verso are quite compact for what they hold, and we fit the dcs in:
dd1 3 years
dts 8 monthand us of course. THen 2 extra seats int he boot if needed for friends. Not big by mpv standards and a dream to drive.

Walnutshell · 14/03/2008 17:02

Why is s-Max too long? Too long for what?

sweetkitty · 14/03/2008 17:11

I have CMAX and will fit a 4yo, 2/1yo and a newborn in it.

I used to drive a Clio and am a nervous driver so it seemed huge to begin with but TBH it's lovely to drive, ok still can't park for toffee but drive wise it's lovely. About the same size as a Citroen Picasso of a Scenic.

No1ErmaBombeckfan · 14/03/2008 17:15

But doesn't Clio have a huge issue with their bonnet catches???

Walnutshell · 14/03/2008 17:15

You really do get used to driving a larger car even if you are anxious at first.

TillyScoutsmum · 14/03/2008 17:17

S Max is brilliant... I went from driving a mini cooper to an S Max and was really nervous because I'd always had small cars but its really easy to drive. The only issue with its being long is when you're parking/reversing and its got parking sensors and you soon get used to it

sweetkitty · 14/03/2008 17:29

Or just do what I do and park miles away from anything, actually am getting much better.

I got a Twin Aria and a Graco tandem in the boot of that Clio (not at same time though) and moved from London to Scotland with 3 cats, DD1, DP and I plus a load of stuff in it as well. Still not used to the huge boot in the CMAX.

Would love an SMAX now though.

TheBlonde · 14/03/2008 17:36

Ford focus

sweetkitty · 14/03/2008 17:42

CMAX is just a Focus that is higher and a little bit wider.

sazm · 14/03/2008 18:09

you wouldnt get 3 car seats in a clio or a focus

beautifuldays · 14/03/2008 18:16

you wouldn't get 3 car seats in a mormal modeo saloon type car, you need an mpv (unless you have very narrox fitting car seats and iso-fix) ford focus c-max would be the smallest, or a renault scenic?

Original poster

kegs82 · 14/03/2008 18:18

Thanks for the replies. I really like the S-Max and not really bothered about it's size cos I've had a driving lesson in my Mum's old Volvo estate which is like a tank but I quite liked it. My DH also learning to drive and seems to think the S-Max is to long but I think it doesnt look too big. Also like sound of Verso. There's a Toyota dealer near us so will go have a look. MIL has just come into some money and has offered to buy for us. She's not this generous very often so going to make best of it.

OP posts:

TheBlonde · 14/03/2008 18:32

my mate has 3 car seats in her focus

sazm · 14/03/2008 18:33

yep,it will depend on the car seats also,
a peugeot 307 estate is 5/7 seater,it has 3 proper seats in the back seat rather than a bench seat.
my sister has a vectra and can fit 3 seats in fine,
I have a little mgzr and can fit 3 seats in, but it does depend on the carseats,
TBH i would say it doesnt matter what size car you have it takes a little while to get used to it,i always drove a tiny peugeot 106, then was given a loan of a HUGE focus estate lol and it was fine after a few days out in it!!

Ledodgy · 14/03/2008 18:35

We have a ford focus estate with a baby seat, a booster seat and a 2nd stage carseat in the back and it is a squash trying to fit them all in.

sazm · 14/03/2008 18:45

yep i think you need to find a car that suits then look at different seats.if you can afford a people carrier TBH you would be better off with one than a normal sized car,although you can fit 3 seats in its a pain getting to the buckles for strapping in a baby seat and a high back booster.

Original poster

kegs82 · 14/03/2008 19:40

MIL said she'll give us the two Tobi from her car since she hardly has to use them except when she drivers us home when we've been visiting her but since we'll be driving instead of getting train will not be getting lift from her. I really like the Tobi's but think 2 of them next to a stage 0 will be a squash so thinking of getting a stage 2-3 for DD1 as she is tall for her age and will be 3.7 when baby born.

OP posts:

pamplemousse · 14/03/2008 19:44

How are you people getting 3 car seats in a Focus, I have a Skoda Fabia (its made of cake you know) and am positive I can't get 2 group 1/2 and a newborn in it, should I try harder is it this impossible?

beautifuldays · 14/03/2008 20:04

my friend can get 3 car seats in the back of her focus as she has the slimmest car seats on the market and also has iso-fix so no need to struggle strapping infant carrier in with a seatbelt.

pamplemousse · 14/03/2008 20:13

I have isofix but I have Maxi Cosi Priori Fix seats which seem massive and didn't even consider being able to wedge a Group 0 between them, maybe I'll try!

sazm · 14/03/2008 23:28

in my mgzr i put the forward facing seat(jane racing) in the middle with a booster (britax hi-liner)at one side, and i had my graco autobaby seat at the other side(which was a squash as its quite wide,BUT it does depend on the seats as the other of my forward facing seats(recaro)is far too wide to do this with.also depends on the shape of the seats,my peugeot 306 was more or less the same size as my mg,but my mg has a full 3point seatbelt in the middle,and the seat is flatter whereas the peugeot one was like bucket seats.
kegs - since you already have car seats, make sure the seats fit in what ever car you plan to get, as not all seats fit all cars safely.

chubley · 15/03/2008 10:15

LOL at skoda fabia made of cake! We have one but couldn't fit 3 seats in the back so got a Skoda Roomster, it's a nice drive, economical and a lot more roomy without being huge - it's not much longer or wider than the Fabia but feels far more spacious inside as it's taller. Even so couldn't fit the britax evolva 123 with the other 2 seats but the Recaro seat was fine, it's narrower.

nannyL · 15/03/2008 12:58

i can get 3 in the back of my renault clio

its a squash to do up all the belts but it can be done... not sure it want to do it on a daily basis though...

i can get
britax highliner
britax renaissance and
a britax / mothercare / graco booster cushion in the back (this on in the middle)

sazm · 15/03/2008 16:52

it wouldnt be such a struggle putting just a booster in the middle,but a high backed booster is more tricky

Flip

1 2