SOS ED Mummies and Daddies! Need your input!

[itchyfeet]

Hi East Dulwich Mummies and Daddies,

Need a quick straw poll as we've just become new parents (writing this with toothpicks to hold my eyes open)

As a parent, which would you find more usable:

A Freelander 2 that has all the bells and whistles but unattractive interior or a VW Tiguan that is fairly basic but a nice interior.

Both have park assist. The Tiguan is slightly newer.

Your input would be much appreciated.

[katgod]

Leather seats easier to wipe puke off. Go for the one with biggest boot and leather seats.

[itchyfeet]

Thanks katgod! Very to the point. Got it. Puke and fabric don't go.

(now looking up to see which one's got the biggest boot)

[Fuschia]

How many children would you like? Some cars won't take 3 car seats

[Fuschia]

Air con is pretty essential

[oimissus]

do you have off street parking? Because if not I would suggest getting the smallest car you can get away with. We thought we'd have to get shot of our Ford Ka fairly soon after having Miss Oi - 2 and a half years later it's still going strong, and we get to sneak into parking spaces that others can only look at wistfully. It's amazing how much we can cram into it - buggy, travel cot, high chair, toys, food and luggage for a week away can all fit in (as well as 2 adults and a small child of course!).

[Ruth_Baldock]

Fuschia Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> How many children would you like? Some cars won't

> take 3 car seats

HA HA HA, immediately post-partum, isn't the answer 'MORE kids? And do this AGAIN? No chance...'

Leather seats are a must. *nods sagely*

[itchyfeet]

Fuchsia & Ruth: LPPH (laughing post-partum hysterically)!! Yes, currently the memory of the trauma won't let me think that far ahead but good point, you are right to factor that in. Will get air con.

Osmissus: Yes we have off street parking. Hmm good to know that your Ka is still going strong. Will have a look.

How about parking and getting about in East Dulwich and surrounding areas, I guess the smaller the car, the better?

And how much do you use the car now that your kids are toddlers? We didn't use use our car very much but since the arrival of baby, we have come to rely on it more now. I take it we'll only use the car more and more as the bub gets bigger? Hence, go for a car that's cheaper to run?

[prm]

We are also looking to buy a family car at the moment, with a big boot of course, large enough for 2 baby carseats at the back and at least enough space to fit one adult in between! We still have not been able to decide on an estate-type car or a 7 seater (they are bigger but we get a lot of visits from abroad ie without a car).

But we have discounted the Tiguan as we have had reports from friends that the boot is too small (same feedback for the Ford Kuga).

[oimissus]

I wouldn't actually recommend the Ka as such, just saying that you can get by with quite a small car - if I was buying now I'd go for a Golf or Focus. I do think in London life is so much easier with a smaller car. We use the car quite a bit, we drive into town quite often at the weekend, and now Miss Oi is older (and when she was a baby) we're going out to the countryside and seaside quite a bit - again, down country lanes smaller is better.

I would third air con (we don't have it, yeuch) and also a CD player, longer journeys are becoming a bit of a struggle with no music or stories to play Miss Oi. (Our car is very low spec, if you hadn't guessed already!)

[redjam]

Check you can get your fold-up buggy in the boot!

And bear in mind that even when they're older you'll be trying to cram a kid's bike, a scooter and several pairs of rollerblades in there too (sobs).

[Mellors]

Vauxhall Zafira, whilst not remotely glamorous, does fit three childs car seats across the back (or two kids and one adult) plus has a massive boot big enough for all bikes/scooters/buggy blah blah blah. Air con & CD as well.

You can also easily convert the boot into two extra seats giving you 7 in total, which is handy when the grandparents come to stay.

Question of a nice interior is irrelecant, it will be covered in rice cakes/old bits of tat in minutes *sob*

[nunheadmum]

I think how much you'll use it will depend on where you are locally compared to the amenities you are likely to use. Do you walk yourself rather than drive or do you like the practicality of jumping in the car. I found that with 1 I seldom used the car locally and walked instead - it was much less fuss and often useful to get the baby to sleep. But once the second came along, it's got a lot more use as windows of opportunity got narrower (juggling sleeps / food / activity for 2 is harder) and walking with a toddler in tow is a challenge in itself, never mind adding in a baby that is getting hungry and needs a feed.

If you go away a lot, a big car may make sense. If you stay locally and do a couple of longer trips a year, maybe a small car and hiring a larger one for trips may work?

[apenn]

Also bear in mind that child car seats should not go near air bags - so no side air bags.

-A

[itchyfeet]

@prm.... Which car are you going for then?

[itchyfeet]

@apenn no side air bags! I thought that would be safer (!) ok will look into it. I don't know if Tiguan has it

[oimissus]

you might be able to disable them, I know you can disable the front passenger airbag so you can put the baby car seat in the front if you want.

If it's any help, a friend has recently passed her test and has just bought a Fiesta, she has 2 children aged nearly 9 and 4. And another who's two are nearly 7 and 4 has always had a Golf. (firmly plugging the smaller car!)

[espelli]

Here is some info about air bags http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/choosing/airbags.htm I think it is ok as long as there is a bit of space between the child seat and the door (for side airbags)

[prm]

itchyfeet, can't decide...reading the thread with interest to see what the most popular family cars are...in the meantime we are heavy users of Zipcar!