Tell Me About Alternatives to My Beetle

[Walk Unafraid]

I'm thinking of giving up my NB (which breaks my heart...it was my dream car). It's a lovely little car, but doesn't get great gas mileage, and I'm beginning to admit it's not practical for having the LO in.

It's hard to get in the back to get to the carseat (a Graco Safeseat - which takes up so much space we don't have much of a front passenger seat). I also worry about my car's poor side impact ratings in Consumer Reports (it does great front and back). I am not concerned about me getting hit on the side, but if I think it could happen to to DD I feel sick.

Anyhow, I *hate* *hate* *hate* the idea of buying an SUV or even just a sedan. I love my cars to be little and sporty. ...But my priority is DD's safety and her comfort (she'd have little leg room in a couple years).

I was thinking of buying a Civic. I test drove one a few years ago. It wasn't very pretty, but it fit me like a glove and was a peach to drive.

Right now, though, I'm having trouble figuring out what kinds of Civics would be a good fit for us (there are so many Civics...some awesome, some fugly and clunky, and some totally inappropriate as they are sports cars).

I was also thinking along the lines of a Fit. It looks like a wonderful little fuel efficient car that is both high on the cute factor but low on the expense factor. However, I'm not sure how much better that'd be than my NB in terms of fitting a carseat in the back.

Opinions?

[lindberg99]

I would just take your carseat along to a Honda dealer and try both a Fit and a Civic. And don't they have a new Insight hybrid that has a backseat? Maybe it's called something else?

I don't know what the mileage is but the Toyota Matrix has a very roomy backseat, bigger than you would expect.

[alfabetsoup]

DH has a VW Rabbit 4dr and it's a lovely little car. Bigger inside than the beetle, very sporty, lots of trunk space. Gets reasonable mileage though not as good as a hybrid of course. I have a Jetta sportwagen and I LOVE it. It's a good size inside, I've got one FF carseat and one RF carseat and they fit fine. The trunk is absolutely massive, it drives well, and best of all it doesn't feel big. I'm getting 25mi/gal ATM because of running the ac so much but was getting 30 when it was cooler.

There are lots of options, you don't have to get a big car!

[TheGirls]

I've ridden in the backseat of a beetle. Anything will be an improvement. Really. My head was hitting the rear window and my knees were in my armpits. Its a cute car, but pretty impractical if you're going to put people in the backseat. The front seat is so nice and comfortable, I just don't know why they couldn't give a tiny bit of consideration to the backseat passengers.

That said, you absolutely don't have to go the SUV/van route if you aren't planning on more (or at least more than 1 more). I'd highly recommend 4 doors. I like the Mazda3, and also the Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe.

[pandora665]

We have a Prius and a Civic. We hate our Civic (2004's model was an awful year for clunkiness, though) and LOVE LOVE LOVE our Prius. It's a little funky, which is nice. It's very roomy, although it looks small from the outside. My DD rear-faced in it for 3 years with no problem in a Britax Boulevard.

My husband got in an accident with our prior car (Prius), and it totaled out. He was 100% fine. We went and bought the exact same car right away, if that tells you anything. He wants one, too, as soon as the Civic dies... If we had 3 kids, I might decide to get a minivan/SUV, but with 1-2... this is perfect.

[ashleyhaugh]

we have an 06 civic hybrid and its great. lots of room without being too big. its got more backseat and trunk space than my saturn sl2

[Quinalla]

I definitely think you should just head down to the Honda dealer with the carseat and see how it fits. If none of the Hondas strike you, head to another dealership with your carseat. I always try to do as close to real life run-throughs of how I will actually use the car when I am buying a new vehicle, I climb all around and sit in all the seats. See how it will be for groceries. Even though we are just having our first child now, I always thought about fitting car seats and kids in the back seats, though I am sure since I haven't done it there are things I overlooked Don't be afraid to really try out the car as much as possible, if the salesperson is being pushy, blow them off or tell them to back off or you will take your business somewhere else.

I would give you car recommendations but I am very much not a small car person, so I'll let others help you there. I too would recommend 4 doors if possible, it will be so much easier as your kids will be sitting in the back seat for a long time!

[lindberg99]

Have you looked at the Kia Soul at all? I was just reading a review of it and it said it had good backseat room and I think it had good safety ratings.