What Car??? ......... for Childminding

[button68]

Well my car is going to have to go (DH not happy 'cos only 18 months old :( ) I can only fit 2 car seats in the back and have been having to have one mindee in the front, which I am not happy about.

So what car do you all use? Do most of you have 7+ seats?

[Twinkles]

I have a zafira with seven seats but to be honest it's not big enough. When I have 3 under five, 3 6yr olds and me there's no room for the dog!!! much to her disgust she gets left behind:( . It doesn't have a very big boot so I can just about squeeze my double buggy in it. + If I have any over eight in the school hols I'm stuck. A friend of mine has a VW van and I'm considering one too.

[chubbymummy]

i have a 7 seater but maily 'cause i've got 3 kids of my own so i wouldn't be able to fit them in car plus my minded ones

i love my car because it's so practical, i can take all the seas out and use it like a van, the front seats turn round 180 degrees and we can have a picnic in the car.

the passenger doors slide rather than open on a hinge which is great as we then save space when opening the doors

i like things to be practical

[button68]

:eek: DH would never get me a van because it will also be our main famiy car.(DH ony have a small car for work)

Car you fit 3 car seats in the middle row of your Zafira? I can FIT 3 seats in the back of my present car but then cant get to the buckles :( to fasten them in.

[button68]

i have a 7 seater but maily 'cause i've got 3 kids of my own so i wouldn't be able to fit them in car plus my minded ones

i love my car because it's so practical, i can take all the seas out and use it like a van, the front seats turn round 180 degrees and we can have a picnic in the car.

the passenger doors slide rather than open on a hinge which is great as we then save space when opening the doors

i like things to be practical

What car is this Chubby? Is it a 807 by any chance.

[chubbymummy]

i had an 807 last year but wrote it off in an accident

i loved it so much that i still wanted one

however when insurance cheque came through we looked for one and for the price couldn't find one but there was a fiat ulysses (basically it's exactly the same and i do'nt know the difference!!!!)

i get 7 of us in it comfortably and a double and single buggy in the boot along with bags etc

[button68]

i had an 807 last year but wrote it off in an accident

i loved it so much that i still wanted one

however when insurance cheque came through we looked for one and for the price couldn't find one but there was a fiat ulysses (basically it's exactly the same and i do'nt know the difference!!!!)

i get 7 of us in it comfortably and a double and single buggy in the boot along with bags etc

Ahhhh! We have been looking at some 807's over the weekend - I really like the sliding door too:thumbsup:

[lizzymoonshine]

Hi

I have a toyota Lucida, with 8 seats! when i started minding i had a corsa!! met my new partner and he had the lucida, comes in handy for the mindees and we have 6 kids between us so handy every other weekend!!!

:)

[tulip0803]

I am getting a Galaxy mainly cos it was the first 7 seater that came up at the right price. Husband is a mechanic and it needed a new radiator so was a cheapie:) . Nearly finished.

When I minded before I had a mondeo but lived 500 yards from town centre and within walking distance of everywhere. Now I live on the edge of a village with busy roads and no footpaths so I can't even walk to school :( anymore so need the seats.

Ultimately want an 8 seater - one day.

My friend has a minibus but they use it as the family car as they have 4 children, 2 are older teenagers with serious girlfriends but they like to do things together.

Julia xx

[lizzymoonshine]

A friend of mine whos a childminder has a mini bus with her logo on and contact details! she gets loads of enquiries! its the way forward!

:)

[sarah32]

Ive got a ford galaxy, mainly for childminding so I can get 5 car seats in and also comes in handy for family who dont have cars. We also take the last 2 seats out and the boot is big enough for our 2 dogs.:)

[sarah707]

Hi I have a toyota Lucida, with 8 seats! when i started minding i had a corsa!! :)

SNAP!! My Lucida is an import and was not that expensive. :D

[JO S]

We've got an s-max mainly because we've got four kids but it's great for minding as well.
We did have a zafira before which was fine but the boot was a bit too small for all the stuff I seem to cart about with me.

Jo. x

[crazybones]

I have a Zafira but it is an older one X reg. It might as well only be a 5 seater though because middle seat only has a lap belt so I wont use it and front seat has air bag so cant use it. Cant fit double buggy in boot either. It is fine for just my family but not if we have any extra kids.

Annie x

[Pipsqueak]

We have a Kia Sedona, we have three kids of our own and two of them need carseats/booster still and also two dogs to get in as well. Its a 7 seater and a good car.

I am going to get those magnetic sign boards for the side of the car for advertising!

Before that (and child number 3) we had a Subaru Impretza - hubby cried when we discovered it had to go (car seat wouldn't fit!!). Must admit I loved that car.... girl racer on the loose!!

[berkschick]

I have a Chrysler Voyager and I love it!

We have 4 kids of our own so needed a 7 seater anyway.

I like the fact it has sliding doors and also the bench seat is in the very back with 2 single seats in the middle so it is really easy to get into the back to strap the kids in. There are 7 proper seat belts too which makes a differance to me as I dont like using the lap only belt. You can also make it an 8 seater by taking out the single middle seats and putting another bench seat in instead.

[flora]

Hi Girls, just a word of warning re mini buses :( . If you use them for hire and reward ( as we do cos we get paid to look after the kids) then if you have more than 9 seats inc driver then you get into having PSV Licenses and operators licence :eek: ( more hassle than EYFS!!!:D ). I have just been through all this as I have a long wheel base land rover, it has twelve seats and I have been told to take some out or I can't use it!!! Have this in writing as I rang after an article in NCMA magazine and got three different replies from two orgs and then two differing opinions from Vosa who are in charge of this sort of thing. Hope I have made sense let me know if you have any queries have had to become a bit of an expert on all this :D

[Twinkles]

Hi Girls, just a word of warning re mini buses :( . If you use them for hire and reward ( as we do cos we get paid to look after the kids) then if you have more than 9 seats inc driver then you get into having PSV Licenses and operators licence :eek: ( more hassle than EYFS!!!:D ).

I've heard about this. And is it true that if you have one of these you have to get it inspected every 10 weeks?
I would be very interested in any info you have on this.

[son77]

I only have a fiesta, but its still bigger than my mini that i've just sold!

I have no intentions in looking after any more mindee's (just got 1) with my own 2 children.

Couldn't cope with any more, the school hols are already doing my head in!

[flora]

Hi Twinkles, as I was told.... first you have to reg as an operator he quoted £1000. Then you have to get a cert of conformity for the vehicle, didn't say how much!!! Then you do have to have regular inspections by a qualified person to say that the vehicle is roadworthy, like a mini MOT.Then when you do have an Mot it is far more stringent than an ordinary one. Also cos you are PSV, you have to check your driving licence a alot of them don't cover you for the larger vehicle (around 1997 they changed the entitlement, so check this too.) Oh and finally..:D you have to keep the vehicle off the road, a psv can't be parked outside you house etc. So if after all that you want to give it a go:eek: ring Vosa

[deeb66]

Quite a few years ago I had a Ford Escort.

I had been moaning that I wanted a bigger car for quite a while but my other half kept putting me off .....

One day he half asked me if I could drop him off at the station to which I very sweetly replied....of course dear where would you like to sit? ....on the roof maybe? :rolleyes:

I had 4 kids that day....where did he think he was going to sit :rolleyes:

Surprise suprise within a few months I had my 7 seater Ford Galaxy.......the joke of it is that a couple of months ago he asked me the same question and I had to laugh as I had a few older kids as well and no room to fit him in!

He quite abruptly told me that even if we had a mini bus I would still manage to fill all the seats - I looked at him and winked and he walked away shaking his head ;)

Seriously though.....I don't want to get into the realms of a mini bus and all the complications involved.

[LittleMissSparkles]

I have a toyota corolla 7 seater and I really like it BUT when all 7 seats up cant get a pushcahair in the left over boot space, I wish I d known about the 8 seater with sliding doors you are all talking about it sounds fab xxx

[Sarsar3NCH]

Hi, I have had many cars since childminding (hubby is a car salesman so we buy the part exchanges).

We started with a Fiat Multipla (fab car for space but only 6 seats)
then Mazda MPV (excellent, 7 seats lots of space quite big boot)
Zafira (seats were a pain to fold and tiny boot)
currently have a Renault Grande Scenic (lovely car, more space and better seats than Zafira, boot still quite small)
Now looking to get an 8 or preferably 9 seater as with my own 3 kids too it doesn't take many more to have too many to go out in the car in the hols.

My husbands company car is my ideal though Nissan Pathfinder (7 seats but gig bucks to buy and run).

Hope that helps

Sarah

[Twinkles]

Hi Twinkles, as I was told.... first you have to reg as an operator he quoted £1000. Then you have to get a cert of conformity for the vehicle, didn't say how much!!! Then you do have to have regular inspections by a qualified person to say that the vehicle is roadworthy, like a mini MOT.Then when you do have an Mot it is far more stringent than an ordinary one. Also cos you are PSV, you have to check your driving licence a alot of them don't cover you for the larger vehicle (around 1997 they changed the entitlement, so check this too.) Oh and finally..:D you have to keep the vehicle off the road, a psv can't be parked outside you house etc. So if after all that you want to give it a go:eek: ring Vosa

:eek: :eek: :eek: Eight seats it is then!!!!
Thanks for info.

[flora]

Twinkles, you are most welcome.:) Glad I could help.:thumbsup:

[Mollymop]

I don't have all this worry as I don't drive..:D

Corr Darren wouldn't be happy with me if we ever had to get rid of his car!

[manjay]

I have a galaxy and love it most of the time! I usually have one of the seats out to give me enough boot space. Don't use it very often for minding usually because the older ones moan so much for me to put DVDs on.

amanda xx

[manjay]

I don't have all this worry as I don't drive..:D

Corr Darren wouldn't be happy with me if we ever had to get rid of his car!

I can't imagine life without driving!! Do you live close to shops and things or do you have to get a bus.

amanda xx

[Little Pumpkins]

I just part exchanged my six month old 207 for a 4 year old zafira and i love it, there was no way a double buggy was going into the 207 easily

[Rubybubbles]

Hi, I have had many cars since childminding (hubby is a car salesman so we buy the part exchanges).

We started with a Fiat Multipla (fab car for space but only 6 seats)
then Mazda MPV (excellent, 7 seats lots of space quite big boot)
Zafira (seats were a pain to fold and tiny boot)
currently have a Renault Grande Scenic (lovely car, more space and better seats than Zafira, boot still quite small)
Now looking to get an 8 or preferably 9 seater as with my own 3 kids too it doesn't take many more to have too many to go out in the car in the hols.

My husbands company car is my ideal though Nissan Pathfinder (7 seats but gig bucks to buy and run).

Hope that helps

Sarah


I've just got a Renault Grande Scenic:thumbsup: , most people have a Zafira round here so wanted to break the mold:laughing: .

I've gone from a Rover 25!! I have 2 children, so can fit everyone in nicely. I also have a phil and teds which goes so small it would fit into a KA:laughing:

[charleyfarley]

I too have a Zafira and love it as it's mine, except when it needs cleaning then it's hubbys:laughing:

The boot is a pain when all the seats are up as I can't get the double buggy in

I'd love an 8 seater but can't afford it or justify it at the moment as would only need it for a couple of hours a week

Good luck with your car buying

Carol xx

[Sandie]

I have a Toyata Estima 7 seater and it is great. After checking all of them I thought this was the best as there is loads of room behind the bag seats to put my double buggy and a single buggy and all the bags and things that go with the kids.

We are also members of the Toyata car club so we also get to go away weekends with them and the caravan wouldn't change it for the world, could do with a newer on tho.

[flora]

Reading all these posts it a good job nobody pays attention to the community transport association. When I rang them about the seat numbers (after the NCMA article) they said that anyone with more than 5 seats would need a retricted PSV.:eek:
If this was enforced we'd all be up the creek without a paddle:(

[Nix]

I have a Ford Galaxy for when I'm minding after selling my treasured Ford Ka. Space in the boot for a double buggy too...

My friend has a Kia Sedona with tinted windows so no one can see in...fab idea!
Happy hunting!

[Heaven Scent]

I have a citroen C8 lovely car but has lots to go wrong on it and is expensive to repair - also going out of production next month, Fiat version went out of prod over two years ago don't know about puegot version but cant imagine them continuing much longer too many gadgets which make it far too expensive got lots of safety fearures though. I have a love hate relationship with it. When childminding 10 years ago had a 2 door E reg austin metro full of holes couldn't understand one parents concern at allowing her son to travel to playgroup in it when it stank of petrol - can you?????? Turned out it had rip in fuel pipe. Did change it to a H reg ford sierra that I bought from a neighbour the milage was so high that I think it could have gone to the moon and back. I didn't need a big car then because my own two were young so could really only take school agers and they all got a school bus from the cul- de- sac where we lived. by the way really only minded children from immediate development where I lived so it was really handy,

Celine

[button68]

Boo Boo!!! Don't say this to me Celine - DH has just traded our Honda CRV for a Peuguot 807 !!!

So far - love it!!! Except ............. 6 hours after picking it up DH 'scrunched' it at a roundabout :angry: !!!! So it is back with Peuguot on Monday for a few days :mad:

I love the electric sliding doors on the 807. I had a Galaxy a few years back and absolutely loved it ('til someone stole it off my driveway :( )

[Mickey Mouse Clubhouse]

Hi

I have a Renault Grand Scenic which I love, had a Citroen Picasso before that but just really like the seven seats in the Renault so handy.

Love

Lorraine xx

[hello kitty]

I had a Ford Galaxy which was great except very small boot space and you had to take seats out of car if you wanted any more space. Now I've got a Chrysler Grand Voyager "all singing, all dancing!" with blackout windows which the kids love. The boot is massive and I've got my double buggy, single buggy and spare car seats in it and still room for weekly shop. My friends sing "The A Team" theme tune when we get out as it is black and the back doors slide open. Also seats fold down into the floor like the Zafira to make more room. Highly recommended. Sarah :)

[gemmcd]

We used to have a kia sedona but had so much trouble with it (clutch needed replacing 3 times in a year!) and paying £300 month for it that hubby sold it, paid off what we owed and with the rest bought a K reg Mitsubishi pajero. It is so cool! Though it is so much older than the kia - because it is Japanese in many ways it is more advanced - electric folding mirrors, heated front seats, digital thermometer displays etc. We then spent a bit getting things done - where the leather was worn we had it recovered, it had a full steam clean inside and where there was a centre lap belt we had it changed to a diagonal belt so can get 3 car seats in middle. wjen we had finished with it it looked brand spanking new! there is a large boot but there are 2 seats that just fold down if you need them. Great for me as it is only on rare occasions that we need the extra seats. It is a classic 4x4 car with cult status and has so much character - they are very very reliable too, I love it!

[crazybones]

We used to have a kia sedona but had so much trouble with it (clutch needed replacing 3 times in a year!) and paying £300 month for it that hubby sold it, paid off what we owed and with the rest bought a K reg Mitsubishi pajero. It is so cool! Though it is so much older than the kia - because it is Japanese in many ways it is more advanced - electric folding mirrors, heated front seats, digital thermometer displays etc. We then spent a bit getting things done - where the leather was worn we had it recovered, it had a full steam clean inside and where there was a centre lap belt we had it changed to a diagonal belt so can get 3 car seats in middle. wjen we had finished with it it looked brand spanking new! there is a large boot but there are 2 seats that just fold down if you need them. Great for me as it is only on rare occasions that we need the extra seats. It is a classic 4x4 car with cult status and has so much character - they are very very reliable too, I love it!

Can you do that? Get a lap belt changed? My Zafira has a lap belt in the middle and it is a pain in the bum - Redundant seat! Must ask hubby to check this out for me.

Annie x

[gemmcd]

Hi - yes it can be done and well worth it - I think ours cost about £150 but has transformed the car - we can go away on holiday with the 3 kids all in a row and have a large boot for luggage rather than taking up the space by putting a seat down. The company we used are the only known reliable company to do it - we live in Nottingham but had to drive down to London. They only operate a mobile sevice so we based ourselves at my Mum's house down that way. However we have a car seat expert company at stork talk in Nottingham and they say this is the only reliable company in the whole of uk and they send alot of customers from Nottingham to them for seatbelt extending replacing etc. We only found this out after we had found them to have it done. The guy who came out was so professional and did the job in less than an hour - it is very impressive.

the link is -http://www.auto-safe.co.uk/main.htm

[gemmcd]

Meant to say - if you go that link just click on 'centre seat belts' on the side menu!

[crazybones]

Meant to say - if you go that link just click on 'centre seat belts' on the side menu!

Thank you. This could save me replacing the car, which is what I was thinking about. :D

Annie x

[Amaranth]

I've just sold my fiat ulysse 8 seater, but I loved it. Only sold it because we wanted a 4x4 for when we go away in muddy fields with the caravan!

Don't know how true it is, but I had an e-mail the other day from my old ICP tutor (who is usually quite on the ball with her info), who said she had been told that the dvla (i think) are thinking of making the rules regarding the psv licence tougher. She said that they are trying to get it so that any vehicle, regardless of how many seats there are in it, will have to have psv if it is being used for hire or reward. They are just trying to sort out whether childminders will be included in the rules. If I can find the link to the article I will post it.

[Monkey1]

I have a toyota Emina, same as lucinda/ previa. 8 seats, kids call it a bus! Bought it off ebay for 1500, best car we have ever had, had a zafira before, cost us a fortune, turned into a money pit and i hated the fact i couldn't get my buggy in with the seats up!

[Michelle M]

I have just brought a Ford Galaxy, the boot is big enough to fit a double pushchair easily, and the seats are wide enough to fit baby car seats in easily :)

Michelle x

[Noodles]

Has anyone got a renault grand espace. i have a citroen c8 at the moment but would like a grand espace next just wondered what it was like

[Heaven Scent]

With reference to what carolsmadhouse had to say in second paragraph just opened my Who minds mag and there is an article about this in it. Hey we could all be out doing taxi runs once the mindees leave every evening. B****y nora more unreasonable unnecessary outlays.

Celine:panic: :panic: :angry: :angry: