New car advice please
Thanks Thanks:  0
Likes Likes:  2
Dislikes Dislikes:  0
Results 1 to 4 of 4
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Posts
    1,484
    Registered Childminder since
    Apr 11
    Latest Inspection Grade
    GOOD
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default New car advice please

    I am sure we have had loads of threads on advice for cars but now I would actually like to consider buying a new car I can not for the life of me find one!!

    I have an Aygo - love it tiny and cheap easy to drive - BUT only 2 seats in back and if childminding I would really love to have a car that confortably gets 3 car seats across the back seat.

    So I'm ideally looking for 3 full seats (rather than a 'mini' seat where someone gets squashed in the middle) and full 3 point seat belts rather than lap belts. I was advised to put a car seat in the front but think this would be an emergency situation not an ideal every day one!

    I used to have a zafira but am not likely (at the moment) mind in the summer and can't afford a big 7-seater so really not sure what to get!! Any advice from anyone please would be greatly appreciated and I'm really sorry if this is the millionth post on cars!!


  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Posts
    405
    Registered Childminder since
    Jul 10
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    I used to have a mazda 5 which fit 3 seats in and had a huge boot too.

  3. Likes Bluebell liked this post
  4. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Somerset
    Posts
    4,247
    Registered Childminder since
    may 05
    Latest Inspection Grade
    Outstanding
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    I have a 5 seater renault scenic but wouldn't really recommend it as the middle seat is smaller and it's a squash to fit 3 seats across the back (OK if they are all 5 point harness ones but difficult to get hands between seats if it's highbacked boosters), also because my Scenic has underfloor storage compartments it makes it difficult to find isofix rear facing baby seats that have support legs - even harder to find rear facing non isofix other than first seats that you carry as the seatbelts aren't long enough to go round the older aged seats (found this out in Halfords when I asked them to demonstrate the Joie stages seat - couldn't get seatbelt round for rear facing and it was too wide with my existing seats too).

    I think if I had money for another car I would go for a 7 seater Citroen Picasso or even just the 5 seater one, as their middle seat is full sized and all 3 rear seats have Isofix.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Posts
    601
    Registered Childminder since
    pre-reg
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    I went from a tiny Hyundai i10 to a Ford C-Max grand... Love it!!
    Did a lot of research, didn't want a big 7 seater as most of the time only needed to transport 3 little ones, but it has 2 boot seats which are ideal for extras in hols.
    Sliding side doors are fab and I waited for their petrol Eco model which is only 1 litre engine but costs me about £40-45 to fill up and I can get 380 miles out of the tank which for a 7 seater is even better than my old tiny car!
    Couldn't be happier with it, amazing to drive and all the seats slide around and can be configured different ways. Most of the time I have middle row outer 2 seats in use, middle one is smaller and folds into one of the side ones so there's a gap in middle, then 3rd child in boot seat (all proper seat belts) and other boot seat folded into floor so plenty of boot space.
    I think I'd get a couple of high back boosters and a bit seat across middle row, just haven't needed to yet so haven't gone out and found ones that will fit. Not much boot space when all seats are up but it's not often the car is full, and I can squeeze my single buggy in foot well of middle row or on front seat if needed.
    Really recommend it, other I loved was Citroen c4 Picasso which had 3 isofix seats across back row and massive boot, but the guy that services my car said they have big probs with gearbox around the time the warranty expires and we couldn't afford new. My mum also used to have a Citroen and the gearbox went 3 times, and was on its way out again when she got rid!

  6. Likes Bluebell liked this post
 

 

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Quick Links and Advertisements

Important Information Links
Some Useful Quick Links
Advertisements

 

You can also find us on:
New car advice please New car advice please New car advice please

We use cookies to make this site as useful as possible. They are small text files placed in your browser to track usage of our site but they don’t tell us who you are.
By continuing to use this site you are consenting to cookies being placed on your computer. Find out more here: Cookies in Use

Childminding Help and the Childminding Forum are part of Childcare.co.uk