Did you upgrade your car?

somewhatbohemian

Wondering how many moms-to-be have upgraded their cars during this pregnancy-- either to a newer model or bigger sized car. Did you finally make the leap to minivan?

BankerBSN

I just want to be a secret snowflake, but no, there was no car upgrade.

ninee88

Special Snowflake: DH and I own a small limousine company and tend not to end up needing personal cars. We will be purchasing another car registered under the business the DH will use more frequently, and I'll take over an existing SUV in the fleet (which DH is using now for the most part).

bowlwoman

As soon as DH finds a job we are. Hopefully that will happen before LO comes. If not, we'll figure out a way to cram three kids in the station wagon.

BrideLinds

I bought an suv about a year ago since I already have one kid and knew we would eventually want more.

riansmommie

We will be upgrading, just haven't yet. I have an explorer right now and three car seats are not going to fit in the second row. We will upgrade to a Tahoe or suburban with a third row. I refuse to be a mini van mom

BankerBSN

RN536 said:

We bought a mini van when I was pregnant with my second. Best car purchase ever!

DH refuses to ever buy a minivan. It makes me sadz

somewhatbohemian

My 13 year old cr-v finally conked out on me this week, so we traded it in for a 2010 cr-v. Love the extra trunk space for the stroller!

soulcupcake

We'll eventually have to purchase a second vehicle, most likely a van.

Eora3

I refuse to buy a minivan (yes it is vanity and it is illogical, I know). We did upgrade my car to a third row SUV because three car seats are tough to fit in most cars. My DH is a serial car buyer/seller so he used this baby as an excuse to upgrade his car too.

Sweetsix06

Working on buying a car as well.

nopegoat

Nope. I was freaking out because we thought we had to, but we ended up buying new carseats to fit in our 4Runner instead. The carseats were outrageous, BUT much cheaper than a car payment every month.

SeeRealSky

We didn't go balls to the wall and upgrade to a minivan. But my '89 Pontiac Sunbird (two door college car) is the world's biggest pain to get a car seat into, so we went to an '04 Buick Rendezvous. Got it on Wednesday, and it was my first experience buying a car on my own. Excited to license it on Monday so I can take that beast for a ride.

mrsmikedexter

My H was dying for a minivan, so we went for it. With two kids and a dog, it's nice to have extra space. We both had tiny sub-compacts.
Eta: we WILL have two kids.

nopegoat

@bowlwoman look into Diono radians. They are a bit pricey but much cheaper than buying a new car. That is what we did.

bowlwoman

kdm06c said:

@bowlwoman look into Diono radians. They are a bit pricey but much cheaper than buying a new car. That is what we did.

@kdm06c‌ Right now, DD1 turns 8 before the baby is due. So, technically and legally, she won't have to ride in a booster anymore. However, even though she's pretty tall, she'll still be several inches short of the recommended 4'9" height requirement. So, I'd like to keep her in the booster until she's at least that tall.

We can cram two boosters and an infant seat in the backseat of my car (we've done it when road tripping with friends), but we may not be able to fit the infant seat base with both boosters. So, if we keep DD1 in the booster, we'll have to use the infant seat with just the seatbelt.

Anyway, we have some options, just have to figure out the best one depending on how it works out.

emsrdh03

Not for this kid, but shortly after DS was born my husband traded in his mustang for a Kia Sorrento. I didn't think he considered it an upgrade though.

frenchy816

I will be getting a new car, but probably not until 2016. 

LaxMOM44

Don't own a car but did splurge on a new stroller...so I guess that sorta counts

nolanova85

We just have one car - a Ford Explorer. We live and work on the metro line so don't find we need 2. When we got the BFP we started planning to get a second vehicle (probably a sedan since we already have one big gas guzzler). But we've decided to wait and see if we really feel like we NEED it. We figure why take on the expense if not truly necessary. We just made the agreement that whichever parent leaves work to get the kid gets the car. The other parent uses public transport - no arguments.

bowlwoman

@3girlsnthepup‌ Are your girls still in boosters? I know state laws vary, but then there's also the recommendations to have them in longer if they need the height for the seatbelt.

weezy29

I was so excited to finally have a car that I loved and was super efficient on gas which was a Prius. After having it for only a year, I had to upgrade to a bigger car so I went for the Mazda CX9. I still miss the Prius(and only paying $50 in gas) but the 3rd row was necessary for two school age kids and a newborn.

jaymee1021

My hubby and I both got new cars about a year and a half ago. I got a santa fe so plenty big and while we weren't planning on a baby quite yet (best surprise EVER tho!) I told my hubby he would regret his choice of a two door Honda Accord later down the road getting carseats in and out, he of course said oh I will have plenty of time to get a new car before we will need a four door, well surprise! all I can say is I'm glad I can't drive his standard car and won't have to worry about the pain of the carseat in and out of the cramped space! We will most likely predominantly use my car just to make things easier!

kelsz12

I have a 2008 Ford Focus and DH has a single cab truck. I love my car (great gas mileage and it's paid off) and can fit a car seat in it just fine, however DH wanted a 'family' car. We kept his truck for his work and bought a Dodge Journey which we both love. Worth the investment!

sbevann26

Yes we did. We decided to upgrade because I drove a 2001 Camry which was very low to the ground and not the safest. We upgraded to a 2014 Rav 4. Best purchase we have made! It's extremely safe (like most new cars I assume) but also now that we are expanding our family we are going to be camping and need a vehicle for towing.

I'm very glad we did!

AllTheTeaInChina

We've upgraded for both pregnancies. Before DD, DH traded in his Cadillac CTS (that car was sexy) for an escape. I had an accord at the time. Last year I moved to a CRV. Earlier this year we sold the escape for an explorer.

bowlwoman

3girlsnthepup said:

bowlwoman said:

@3girlsnthepup‌ Are your girls still in boosters? I know state laws vary, but then there's also the recommendations to have them in longer if they need the height for the seatbelt.

@bowlwoman They are still in boosters... NYS says until they reach 8years and 4'9" tall... Not tall enough to go without yet. (And the Sorento I want has 3rd row seating.)

@3girlsnthepup‌ Texas is 8 years OR 4'9", whichever they hit first. We're recommended to keep them in until 4'9", though.

krystrist2014

I have a very small car... an Acura Integra two door hatchback. I need to upgrade for 2 reasons - 1) I do not want to have to wrangle a car seat in and out of a tiny tiny backseat, and 2) because it is a manual transmission and I am short (5'2) so in order to be able to push the clutch all the way to the floor I have to sit very close normally... and now my belly has just started to actually touch the steering wheel a bit.

My extremely generous father offered me his SUV (Honda Pilot) so I am very much looking forward to picking it up from him in 2 weeks! Yay! Baby and me will have more than enough room in that tank of a car!

hollieandaaron2012

In January DH got an escape ( he had a mustang). We weren't pregnant then but trying. I drive an 11 year old car with over 200,000 miles on it so I think about upgrading a lot but since I drive about 400-500 miles a week I am going to keep my car for two more years or until something major happens to it.
I have a friend with three kids and she drives a civic! Yes she can fit all three car seats in the back!

katnine

I had a 2012 wrangler 4door (tricked out sexy beast!) but just traded it in for a great value. I went with a Toyota RAV4. I thought I was going to miss my jeep but the gas is so good on the RAV4 and better ride. The jeep got really uncomfortable after 45mins and I do a lot of 1hr+ drives.

I give up typing correctly on a phone*

Shortstack06

I had a 2013 Subaru Legacy(limited, big engine, fully loaded) and we traded for a 2013 Ford Edge Sport in June. I totally miss my legacy and hate the edge, but there is way more trunk space. I don't like how high it sits, I am short and it is becoming a struggle to get in the car. We may get a GMC Acadia because they are lower to the ground. *Disclaimer: We are not upside down in vehicles. We may sell the Edge outright to my cousin.

devinefisch

We upgraded to a Ford Escape from my sedan so we'd have room for our dogs in the very back and kids in the middle. Then SO got an extended cab truck, he said for kids but I think he just wanted an excuse to buy a bigger truck. I love my Escape though! Definitely recommend if you're looking.

Meether

With DD1, we upgraded my 2 door sports car (had from freshman year of college through grad school) to a crossover Infiniti. It will work with 2 kids but if we ever have a 3rd kid, I'll be looking into a car with 3rd row seating like the Infiniti QX80 or Lexus GX460. 3 seats will not fit across my crossover. In other news, DH wants to get a tesla, which currently only holds 2 car seats so we are thinking ahead and holding off.

colliebabe

I voted SS - because I upgraded to an SUV during my pregnancy with DD.

hellopartyof5

I upgraded 6 months before I got KTFU because we knew we were going to start trying. I got the Escape and I love it (please see previous "my car is amazing" post)

But I will never get a minivan. I'd rather get a huge SUV that's like driving a tank - in fact I plan on it lol

gmeyer1019

I just got a new car last year, before we got our current little surprise. Its a Buick Verano and I love it, but I think the back doors will be annoying soon as they dont open as wide as I'd like. But most like we'll upgrade to an suv in a few years if we go for surprise #2


@Meether‌ I'm pretty sure my husband would just stop us at two for a tesla. He loves them that much.

caden1206

I've gotten a new car with each pregnancy.  I got an Odyssey this time and to be honest it is the best vehicle I have ever driven.  I love it. 

vrae0606

Yes but only because my lease was up. Actually went to a little bit smaller car. I got a Chevy Cruze. I really wanted a Nissan Juke but when I test drove one I just knew a carseat would be difficult in one of those. Or I think so anyways. This is our one & only child (unless we adopt or foster later on) so one carseat & other baby stuff will fit just fine in the Cruze :-) and hubby has a Chevy Malibu so we are set!

Kmm1023

The second we found out I was pregnant DH was all over the mini van! I was not feeling it and gave him a list of things it had to have! He found an amazing Toyota Sienna. It is amazing! I have been converted to a mini van lover! It is has all the bells and whistles.

katnine

Meether said:

With DD1, we upgraded my 2 door sports car (had from freshman year of college through grad school) to a crossover Infiniti. It will work with 2 kids but if we ever have a 3rd kid, I'll be looking into a car with 3rd row seating like the Infiniti QX80 or Lexus GX460. 3 seats will not fit across my crossover. In other news, DH wants to get a tesla, which currently only holds 2 car seats so we are thinking ahead and holding off.

Tesla will be my next car. Love them so much!

nbateman5

Already have a honda pilot so we're good to go! Knew when I wrecked my civic that an SUV just made sense for us and our soon to be family. Pfew!