Car question: 2 door or 4 door?

LorMor

I currently drive a 2-door hatchback, which I looove. BUT it's getting old. I figured it would be more tricky for a car seat with 2-doors, but I'd make do until we could afford to replace my car.

But a friend recently told me that I'd have to get a 4-door before the baby (due in Oct) because there's no way I'd manage with a 2-door. 

STMs: do you think a 4-door is a must-have or nice-to-have when dealing with car seats?  

Rochell

I would say must have ... just thinking about cramming into a back seat with a newborn/infant/toddler and possibly hitting his head on the way in kind of nerve wrecking to me lol ...just having myself climb into a back seat is horrible haha

LouRN09

I've honestly never had a 2 door, but I really think it could be a pain. Alot of leaning, and tugging, and stretching.

ashtonblair123

Getting my mom's step grandson out of her little 2 door car is the worst thing ever. I'm serious. It's awful. My mom is fixing to replace her car so it's easier on her to get my baby in and out of her car.

hmontty

Definitely a MUST. I can't imagine using a 2-door car with a baby.

In fact, to go further, I had a VW Passat that I loved (from 2002). We thought about getting me a new car but then decided to wait another year or two. Then it died about a month before the baby was due (I city-drove it to death), so we ended up with an Odyssey mini-van -- NEVER thought I'd be driving one of those, but now I am SO happy we bought it. Even DH's Forester is really too small for a car seat (especially rear-facing), stroller, and all the other stuff...plus sometimes the dog.

Now that we are expecting number 2, a normal car would never work for our whole family. Mini-van is now a big MUST for us.

 

6fsn

A 4 door is certainly more convenient, but it is not a must.  Especially if you can hold off until you can afford it.  If you start in an infant seat it will be a lot easier.  You aren't really getting back there to buckle them just putting the whole seat in.  That should give you at least a few more months to save up.

 

julieteve

My sister had her 2 door until the baby was about 8 months. She didn't complain, but I thought it was awful just watching her get my nephew in and out of the car. She didn't switch to a convertible carseat until she got a 4 door because it was just too difficult.

FrickandFrack

I had a 2 door that lasted for a few months after I had DS and then I had to get rid of it.  It was horrible trying to get the car seat in just right and forget it if someone wanted to ride as a passenger while DS was in the car.  Yuck.

Olivebeinmamma

I have a chevy cobalt coupe (2 door) and I love my car. Especially now that it's paid off!! But, we've managed just fine with dd. we also have a trailblazer do we usually drive that when we go anywhere. 

Its definitely doable yet annoying and inconvenient. IF you have the $ it's worth getting a 4door if now you just suck it up!

For the infant carrier use the base in the car so you can just unsnap and go. When lo can sit forward it gets even easier (we moved at 1yr because she's tall and it's safe... Flame away). And then when they walk it's easier because they climb in and then you jut strap them in. 

Olivebeinmamma

Oh and especially if you for you so have another 4door vehicle I'd keep the car but use the other vehicle more.. That's what we do.

Kie310

It's a must for me. I never had a 2 door with a baby. But I have had 2 doors & I know what a PITA it is for people to get in and out easily & they aren't lugging a heavy carseat with a 7-8+ pound baby in it.

If you can't afford a new car, would it be IMPOSSIBLE - no, but it definitely isn't the most practical.

maybridetobe04

Not much with a baby or children is a "must have" except food, clothing, carseat, diapers and a place to sleep but people will all tell you otherwise.  You can make do with a 2 door fine.  Yes it is a little bit of a pain but manageable. 

White0rchid

I don't know if this has been mentioned or not, but depending on the type of seats, it could be a safety issues. I believe it's been advised to not put a carseat into a bucket seat if possible. I know quite a few 2 door cars have buckets in the back. Evidently it's hard to get the carseat to fit tightly enough into a bucket seat. Just something else to think about. I traded my two door in before I had DD1. I couldn't imagine having to bend and squeeze and contort to get her in and out of the back.

jenyjeny

LorMor:

I currently drive a 2-door hatchback, which I looove. BUT it's getting old. I figured it would be more tricky for a car seat with 2-doors, but I'd make do until we could afford to replace my car.

But a friend recently told me that I'd have to get a 4-door before the baby (due in Oct) because there's no way I'd manage with a 2-door. 

STMs: do you think a 4-door is a must-have or nice-to-have when dealing with car seats?  

 

I drove a 2 door yaris and had little to no trouble with my dd in the car until I got pregnant for round 2. Now it's just awkward, and we got the 2nd car - 4 door, Hyundai Tucson - (great on gas - lots of room).

 With my two door, I was able to get the infant car seat in and out with ease, and when she moved to a larger forward facing carseat, it was actually easier because there was more room for me to get in to fasten her because the seats slide so much further forward. Plus I could fit a big bulky stroller in the trunk. I had NO problems with my 2 door.

If you want to save the bucks for a while, you will be fine in a 2 door.

FloridaLady

We'll wait about a year after LO is here before we even consider a new car. DH and I both have coupes ATM but we'll make it work for a while. Mine is paid off and his will be paid off Fall 2013 - once it is we'll look into a small SUV, more than likely, but not sooner because we don't want two car payments. I grew up in a Mustang -- I'm sure it was a pain in the butt for my parents but they made it work and so will I

tinktink20

It really depends on your 2 door and how tall you are.  I've seen people make it work with a 2 door, but there's no way I could because I'm so tall.  I'm dreading having 2 kids with an Outback.  Thank goodness I get a SUV this winter!

missnickss

With DS I had a 4 door Kia optima 2006 , and I hated it. But with this LO I have a 2011 Chevy Cruze LTZ which is the model with the most bang for your buck. and I have already tested the back seat area with the car seat and DS's booster seat. still plenty of room. I would dread having a 2 door car with a newborn, Im short and cannot reach anyway.

GigiFairy

4 door absolute must.

I recently switched from my 2 door convertible Camaro (I cried!) to a Jeep Cherokee. The camaro didn't allow for a rear facing infant seat to be installed so DS couldn't get in that car until he was 1 and we could put him forward facing, he only rode in DH's car. But I can't imagine doing this again with the new baby; so as soon as I found out, I changed cars.

GigiFairy

White0rchid:

I don't know if this has been mentioned or not, but depending on the type of seats, it could be a safety issues. I believe it's been advised to not put a carseat into a bucket seat if possible. I know quite a few 2 door cars have buckets in the back. Evidently it's hard to get the carseat to fit tightly enough into a bucket seat. Just something else to think about. I traded my two door in before I had DD1. I couldn't imagine having to bend and squeeze and contort to get her in and out of the back.

Yes this too. This is exactly why we couldn't install an infant seat in there. Mine had bucket seats.

BrittanyDoesDerby

Not a STM, but I had a two door for a while when I was nannying two kids. Getting the baby out was a bit annoying, but it wasn't impossible. A four door was so much easier, but like I said, the two door wasn't impossible.

LyndseylovesHugh

If you can not afford a new car right now, then no, a 4 door is not a must have (unless your 2 door is a safety issue).  It will be a pain in the butt, but not impossible and not worth going into debt over.  I am sure you can handle for a while until you can afford a 4 door.

Jenniefer2008

OOoo man oh man. I drove a 2 door from the time I was 18 until last year (I'm 25 now). I absolutely loved my 2 door in the very beginning and couldn't imagine driving anything else because i loved the sporty feel and the spaciousness i had in the front seat. HOWEVER! the last couple of years with my 2 door sucked balls. It was getting annoying to put things in and out of the backseat. It was annoying having to wait for your passengers to get in before you could. Just annoyed. Then I got into an accident and got to get a new car. I sat in a four door and was like holy crap I must have it. I tell you what! I don't regret it one bit... in fact I ask myself literally EVERYDAY why did I not upgrade to a four door sooner!?!?! The convenience of it is so nice. In my opinion, necessary. I will never go back to a 2 door and couldn't imagine what a nuisance it would be with a wee one.

LorMor

Wow! Thanks everyone - very useful comments and suggestions. 

chrissymazer

When I had DS I had a 4 door Olds and DH had a 2 door Mustang.  Anywhere we needed to go we took my car.  When it broke down and we were forced to use the 2 door it was absolutely SO much more difficult.  It was made easier though by having a car seat that snaps into the installed base.  Now we both have 4 door vehicles and neither of us plan to go back to 2 door. 

Is it do-able?  Totally.  Ideal?  Not so much.  But if it comes down to being able to save up some more money for a newer/nicer car then you can definitely get by with the hatchback

chrissymazer

GigiFairy:

4 door absolute must.

I recently switched from my 2 door convertible Camaro (I cried!) to a Jeep Cherokee. The camaro didn't allow for a rear facing infant seat to be installed so DS couldn't get in that car until he was 1 and we could put him forward facing, he only rode in DH's car. But I can't imagine doing this again with the new baby; so as soon as I found out, I changed cars.

Hubby almost cried when he sold his Mustang.

byrne15

Obviously it is not a MUST, because people manage with 2 door cars. 

I personally would not buy a 2 door car over a 4 door car if I was in the market

KRIS10L

I got rid of my 2 door in college because it was such a pain getting things in and out of the backseat. I can't even imagine how it would be getting a carseat or sleepy baby out, much less buckling them in all the time. Groceries were annoying enough

SashJayla

I have a 2 door car right now. Honestly it wasnt as bad as i thought it would be. there are times i wished i had a four door but i couldnt afford to get a car so dealt with what i had. but its honestly not as hard as it seems, the only thing for me was the car seat didnt fit on either side behind the driver or passenger seat so the car seat had to go in the middle which actually made it way easier cuz the passenger seat moved up more then the driver seat and i could get in and out WAY easier on that side. Good luck. honestly not that bad tho if u cant afford a new vehicle.

MichelleL1118

I have several friends who have made due with a 2 door car for a while after their LO was born, but if you can swing it financially, I'd definitely go for a 4 door now.  Getting the infant seat in/out is enough of a pain with a 4 door car... and having just reinstalled DS's convertible seats in both of our cars, I can say with certainty that it would have been nearly impossible in a 2 door car.

erbear

I have a 2 door Civic and it sucks to get the baby in RFing. I actually had to turn my older daughter at 20 months because I couldn't do it while largely pregnant. I love my Civic but it's a pain in the ass (though when they are FF, it's NBD)

NikiiLou

I just got rid of my 2-door for a SUV... I work with children and often have to transport them..it is so annoying for me to transport babies and getting a good fit on the seat with car seats.  I loved my 2 door, but getting bigger  and imagining my baby, his car seat, stroller, baby bag, pack N' Play, and whatever I take with me for travel I just couldn't stay in the 2 door.  Now lots of people of do it in 2 doors, but for me I was already annoyed with the lack of space and he's not due until October!

TunaTown

LorMor:

I currently drive a 2-door hatchback, which I looove. BUT it's getting old. I figured it would be more tricky for a car seat with 2-doors, but I'd make do until we could afford to replace my car.

But a friend recently told me that I'd have to get a 4-door before the baby (due in Oct) because there's no way I'd manage with a 2-door. 

STMs: do you think a 4-door is a must-have or nice-to-have when dealing with car seats?  

I didn't read all the responses.

From my experience...

It's not sexy, but a mini van makes life with a LO so much easier. We have a Honda Odyssey. It was nice to sit in the back (tinted windows) to BF while out running errands.

However, if we don't have another LO, I will get a "fun" car when we are out of the car seat phase and she's in Elementary school. 

discobush

I have a 4-door (Honda CR-V); my H has a 2-door (Isuzu Rodeo).  My experience has been that the 4-door is easier, but is by no means necessary.