whats the best car for being a mom just NOT a mini van - Page 2

[lonegirl]

Originally Posted by lovebug

is it really? we had one and i LOVED it, but the doors were so big and hard to opening them in a parking lot was hard.

i did love it though! it was by far my fav car we have owned!

I don't find it a big deal and we live in Toronto....so lots of parking lots. I don't find the doors open much wider than average. Good access from either side too. I also have a Hyandai Sonata (my car ) I love it but there isn't a lot of room. If we have 2 other passengers they get squished in the back. We also have a minivan...sliding doors are great but the back seats are not comfy for long trips.
We took it to Buffalo with a friend and his son (17y/o) We put my son's seat in the middle of the second row with myself and the other boy on either side. The 3rd row we laid flat and there was room for luggage and all the Christmas shopping goodies we had.

[Alyantavid]

We have 2 kids and a Durango and a Subaru WRX. Both hold us all fine and we have plenty of room in the back or trunk for all of our stuff. We never carried around all that much baby gear anyways.

I've never noticed any issues with the doors on my Durango. My kids can both open their own doors and get out and we've never hit another car with the doors. I drive the Durango because it's bigger and I feel more comfortable with the 4 wheel drive. Dh's car has all wheel drive but it still has stock tires on right now and I just feel safer in my car.

Personally, I wouldn't get anything bigger than a Durango. I can't park very well in bigger vehicles. Dh's car is alright but it does get a little cramped with all of us if we're going very far.

[KirstenMary]

4 kids + you + hubby = suv (biiiiiig) or a loser cruiser mini van. With four kids, you're going to need a third row, and that's my concern. Does the Durango have the 3rd row?

[Eresh]

I agree with others that baby stuff, especially for one, doesn't have to be a lot, though I've found it can magically expand to fill any available space. I drove a Mini Cooper (2004 model) for the first six months with DS until he got heavy enough I couldn't manage the twist and lean to put him in the back seat in his infant seat. I could fit him, the infant carseat frame stroller, a minimal emergency pack (clothes, food, blanket, flashlights, etc) and groceries. Though sometimes the groceries ended up in the passenger seat. I bought a Volvo V70 after that and find it works just fine for the whole family with lots of room to spare. We also use it for car camping with all the attendant extra stuff.

You might also want to look at a Scion xB, Nissan(?) Cube, or Honda Element. They're all compact vehicles but they're tall so they are enormous inside. It's much easier to get my toddler into his car seat in the back of my husband's xB than in the back of my Volvo. Because it's lower than an SUV while still having the interior height of an SUV, you just step right in rather than having to climb up or down into the car. It has a little less luggage room than a full-size wagon but still more than enough for baby gear, groceries, additional passengers, and so forth. I can't speak to the Cube or Element, but the older model xB with the smaller 4-cyclinder gets 30+ mpg. The newer model is significantly larger and has the same engine as the Camry so it has more power but less gas mileage. Also this type of vehicle is a lot narrower than a full-size SUV and you shouldn't have the door problem.

[MJB]

We have a Volvo station wagon and it is great for kids. I'm pregnant with #3 and we won't have any problem fitting us all in, and a friend or two in the rear-facing third row seat if needed. The backseat can easily fit 3 carseats and the trunk gives us enough room to pack as much as we need for travel (we spent 2 mos. in KY this summer with what we could fit in the trunk, which included things like our Wii, 2 boxes of toys, all our summer clothes, and our 2 cats in a carrier). I like that we can seat 7 people without a minivan.

Honestly when our car dies (it's a '93 with 200,000 miles so it's not going to last forever) we'll probably get a smaller car, maybe a Honda Fit or a Vibe.

[lovebug]

Originally Posted by KirstenMary

4 kids + you + hubby = suv (biiiiiig) or a loser cruiser mini van. With four kids, you're going to need a third row, and that's my concern. Does the Durango have the 3rd row?

Yes it does... well ours did. you so cute (biiiiiig)

we are needing to get a new car no matter what when DH returns from Iraq. so why not get on that will suit us for a long time!

[lara1828]

Originally Posted by Pavlovs

The Mazda 5 is awesome! It seats 6 - two in the front, two in the middle, two in the back (or you can fold down the back seats for space for groceries or whatnot. It has minivan doors that slide, so getting the kids in and out is a snap. It's basically a mini-minivan.

I love my Mazda 5. Bigger than a station wagon, smaller than a mini-van. It drives like a car rather than a van. Just tell your husband it's a large station wagon. That's what my husband told my to get me to try it. (No way I'd have a full-size mini-van. Yuck!)

[Tjej]

I don't have any specific vehicle recs, but I do suggest getting a 20lb weight (a really full purse?) in and out of the back seats at whatever angle you would a kid, and see if it is comfortable/works. Our Taurus wagon is TERRIBLE. The doors are designed so the ceiling comes down at them, so putting kids in is akward.

Tjej

[Peony]

If you need a new car when he gets back, maybe plan for one that will get you through 1-2 kids and then reevaluate then? I'm in Colorado as well, I had a Saab car (and yeah, you certainly need AWD at least, I couldn't get home half the time!) with 1 child, and minivan with 2, and now have a Suburban with 3. Eventually there may be a 4th in there, gotta work on DH first though. Like others have said you can almost drive anything with 1 kid.

I LOVED my Toyota Sienna, it had AWD, I spent all last winter driving across Colorado mountain passes, never once had a problem. The sliding doors were heaven. We upgraded to a Suburban with #3 because I frequently drive around extra kids and we also live very rurally so I always have a lot of cargo. The minivan just didn't have enough cargo space for what we do


I've had the Suburban 6 months and you are right about the big heavy doors, I can not even begin to think about just how many cars my kids have dinged by throwing open the doors. I feel like I spend half my life trying to prevent that from happening and it still does.

Honestly from what you are describing, getting one car and keeping it for many years. I would get your DH to really look at a minivan. Maybe enlist a friend with 4 children to meet you at the dealership? Have your DH install all the car seats, buckle them all in numerous times in one day, and then go have him do that in another car. Another thought might be a Honda Pilot, if you absolutely can not get him to go the minivan route but a van is still easier when you taking about several children. Good luck!!

[One_Girl]

I love my Subaru a lot. I got hit by a semi truck in it and it took off the bumper and some of the front of the car, but it still drove just fine and got us back home. It was expensive to get parts to replace what was taken off because Subarus tend to be very sturdy, but it was well worth it. It also has 150,000 miles and is still in wonderful condition. I think you should buy a sturdy car for your first and look into other options if you really do wind up having more than one child. I believe that you can get seats and seatbelts installed in the back of the car to. A lady who goes to my dd's school did this with her car.

[AllyRae]

Originally Posted by Pavlovs

The Mazda 5 is awesome! It seats 6 - two in the front, two in the middle, two in the back (or you can fold down the back seats for space for groceries or whatnot. It has minivan doors that slide, so getting the kids in and out is a snap. It's basically a mini-minivan. If I had the money I'd have bought one (they're not that expensive, but we live on a limited budget and didn't want to get stuck in car payments).

We have a Mazda5 and love it!

I wouldn't say it seats 6 though...I mean, it does, but not if you have most of those passengers in child seats. We have a rearfacing and a forward facing seat in the middle row and so we can only have one passenger in the back seat (also in a forward facing seat)--he climbs through the back door and over the folded down seat since there's no way he can climb in through the side doors with the 2 Radians in that middle row. There's no way to get 2 people in that rear row if you have 2 kids in carseats in the middle row because they couldn't get in the car. : Also, the rear row doesn't have latch if that's something that's important to you.

I do love it though...it's a anti-minivan minivan...moon roof, DVD player, and all. : It's fantastic until we need to make long trips--then it's a bit crowded with all 5 of us.

But the carseat thing is an important consideration. We plan on keeping our kids in 5 point harnesses for a long time, so it would be virtually impossible for us to put a 4th kid in our car simply because having 4 child restraints in the car makes it so that nobody can get to that 3rd row (unless they *really* like climbing over things I suppose. : )

[flight]

Yeah, the problem with the 3-row SUVs/crossovers like the Durango and the Ford Flex is access to the third row when the middle row is full of baby seats. If you're planning on 4 kids, there may be a sliding-door minivan in your future! Another thing to be aware of with the Flex is that the 3rd row has very limited legroom. I've had a 5'5" guy in the back row once when a group from work rented one, and he was pretty cramped. Hyundai's van has a similar issue.

For SUVs, I really like the Hyundai Santa Fe - it's gargantuan on the inside, handles like a car, and is excellent on gas. A friend of mine has one and says with snow tires, it does fine in winter even though it's only front-wheel drive. Another nice one (although it's smaller) is the Pontiac Vibe. It's got the guts of a Toyota RAV4, just a Pontiac badge on the front.

In the meantime, what about a larger car (Honda Accord) or station wagon (Hyundai's 2009 Elantra wagon seemed awesome when we test-drove it), which will work for the first few years of kids, and then add an SUV/van when the family size (or carseat size) require it?

Hyundais are fantastic quality these days - we have a 2002 Elantra that's never given us any issues, and most Hondas and Toyotas do awesome in crash tests.

[janasmama]

I love the Saturn Outlook or the GMC Acadia. They are basically the same cars. They've been aroung long enough that you'll be able to find a used one so that will make getting an AWD one fall into your price range.

[chinaKat]

Another vote for the Mazda 5 -- I'm so happy to see so many fans. We got ours the first year it was offered in the States (2006) and they were so rare at the time, when we saw another Mazda 5 on the road we'd wave at each other! LOL.

One more argument in its favor -- you can get it in standard transmission. This was honestly the biggest selling point for me. You can't buy a regular minivan with a stick shift. WAY more fun to drive!!!

[*Aimee*]

I love my CRV for two kids. It's a 2007. It has REALLY crappy trunk space, but we've managed fine, we just don't keep the stroller in the back. I like to be able to change diapers in the back and I can't do that with the stroller.

Oooh! I had a Chevy Trailblazer that I wish I had now. It was big (my DH is 6'6 so it's hard to find cars he fits easily in). I think some of the new ones have 3rd row. But honestly anything with a 3rd row is going to have lame trunk space.

I would LOVE a GMC Acadia.

I'm trying to fit 3 into my CRV right now, and it looks possible because I am going to have 2 radians, possibly three. We'll see. I am looking to buy a Yukon though because I'm done having babies after this one and I just want 3 across and A LOT of trunk and leg space.

[its_our_family]

I have a Subaru Legacy AWD wagon. It is jsut me and the boys, and sometimes fishing stuff . It does great with space in the back for groceries. It also is great on bad roads. In fact, it drives better on snow and ice than it does dry!

However, my Subaru gets CRAP CRAP CRAP CRAP mpg. We are talking 15-17 on the HIGHWAY!!! I can barely afford to drive it to work.

My parents have a Toyota Highlander. I like how it drives and rides. It will seat 7. 4wd push button. The back seat folds in to the floor quite nicely when it is only a few of you and you need cargo space. It wasn't priced too bad and they were able to get a really nice one used. If I were to get a Toyota it would be the Highlander.

I would love a Mazda 5. So cute and sporty and I hear they drive really nice.

I also like the Mini Cooper Clubman! I have a thing for station wagons... lol

[kgreenemama]

We drive a Honda Element. Yes, it looks like a cross between a school bus and a mail truck, but it's charming in its own way. It's a silver one, so my DS calls it the 'Elephant.' It has jump doors on both sides, meaning that the front doors open normally, and the back doors open toward the rear, giving you an immense amount of space to get in and out. Best of all - the entire interior is either rubber or waterproof fabric. You can literally hose it out. The rear seats recline, so installing carseats at the right angle was really easy. It has a bit more room than the CRV in the cargo area. My sister and her hubby got one first and convinced us to do the same. They have two kids now, and still find it really convenient. GOOD LUCK!

[EricaDoula]

I have a scion xb and it is great! Lots of room and super comfy! Easily fits 2 carseats, stroller in trunk and groceries with extra space!

[noobmom]

Originally Posted by *Aimee*

I love my CRV for two kids. It's a 2007. It has REALLY crappy trunk space, but we've managed fine, we just don't keep the stroller in the back. I like to be able to change diapers in the back and I can't do that with the stroller.

Oooh! I had a Chevy Trailblazer that I wish I had now. It was big (my DH is 6'6 so it's hard to find cars he fits easily in). I think some of the new ones have 3rd row. But honestly anything with a 3rd row is going to have lame trunk space.

I would LOVE a GMC Acadia.

I'm trying to fit 3 into my CRV right now, and it looks possible because I am going to have 2 radians, possibly three. We'll see. I am looking to buy a Yukon though because I'm done having babies after this one and I just want 3 across and A LOT of trunk and leg space.

Funny, I love my 2007 CR-V and think it has great trunk space! I don't normally carry a stroller, but ours definitely fits under the cargo shelf. I've taken home a 50 in plasma TV in that car (with DS in his carseat)!