Chevy Cobalt as our family car?

Under.the.Rose · May 2010

Opinions needed...

Are DH and I delusional for thinking we'll be able to use our 4 door Cobalt as our family vehicle? (For us, our baby and dog + baby gear)

We're both fairly tall and need a lot of leg-room and I don't know if we'll have enough room with the car seat in the back. Also... if the only spot the car seat fits in is the middle one, I think our dog is going to have zero space.

Should we be seriously looking for a vehicle that has the option of putting the dog in the back (like a wagon or SUV)?

UnderAtree · May 2010

My SIL has a cobalt and I hate it. That is one car with no room at all! I can't imagine what it would be like with a car seat. Do you guys have a family member or friend who has a car seat you can test it out with?

toyah81 · May 2010

I mean, I think it's doable if you have no other choice. But I think it's logical to be looking for another vehicle. DH and I both have full size sedans, but this will be the 2nd child and we are now definitely upgrading 1 vehicle to SUV. And we are not tall people at all. I just like to be roomy and not cramped. Besides, I'm not always the neat-ess person when it comes to a car stocked with kids, bags, strollers, car seats etc!

TexasLadyBug · May 2010

We had a two door chevy which has less room than a four door, but still a chevy cobalt is small. You might be fine with the infant seat, it is most likely going to have to go in the middle. It might not be as great when you move up to the Convertable carseat and are RF.

However, with one kid and a dog you do not need to upgrade to an SUV. There are plenty of other cars that will meat your need. We have a Toyota camery and have gone on many road trips with the baby, and our 80 pound dog. DS carseat was behind the pass seat.

Soon_2B_MrsM · May 2010

There is not enough room in the cobalt...you may be better off with a Hyundai Santa Fe or something..you can get away with a Chevy Impala too probably

earthboundmisfit · May 2010

I have a cobalt and it's OKAY. But I'm only 5'2 and no doggies yet. The carseat [we have a britax roundabout] fits comfortable in the middle. My DH is over 6' and he hates my car..no legroom. And the trunk is pretty small..DDs stroller alone takes up all the room in it.

So no..I would go with a bigger option if you could! I think we're going to be miserable with 2 carseats in mine, but we just paid it off a year ago and there's no way we're adding a car payment to our monthly budget.

toyah81 · May 2010

Soon_2B_MrsM:
There is not enough room in the cobalt...you may be better off with a Hyundai Santa Fe or something..you can get away with a Chevy Impala too probably

This is what I have - super roomy! But I hate it - it's the newer one but it feels too big and I feel like a Grandma in it! (I'm 5'2) so it will be the one we are trading - DH has a mazda - way cooler. lol

MandaBeth582 · May 2010

I drive a 2008 Cobal sedan - two doors. However, if we were to trade that in, we'd be screwed. I still have three years left to pay on in (I bought it used in new condition, and only a four year loan.) We really have no choice. I'll have to deal with it until we can afford another one.

DH car isn't any better.. it's a Hyundai Tiburon, and since hes about to not have a job he can't afford to trade that in for a while.

RunningWife · May 2010

Soon_2B_MrsM:
There is not enough room in the cobalt...you may be better off with a Hyundai Santa Fe or something..you can get away with a Chevy Impala too probably

Funny you mention the Santa Fe! When I got pregnant, DH and I were sharing my Acura Integra, 2 door coupe. We quickly realized that that want' going to work and purchased a Santa Fe!! WE love it and our puppy loves that he gets the entire back to himself!

NihilismKat · May 2010

DH has a Mazda 3 sedan and I have a Mazda 6 sedan. We've had 3 full grown adults in the back seat with DH, who is 6'4, driving the 6 before. I'm pretty sure we can get a car seat in it and still be able to drive. A Cobalt on the other hand is kinda tiny in comparison. DH test drove one when he got the 3 and had to put the driver's seat the whole way back to the back seat to be able to drive.

I don't think you need an SUV, but I think the Cobalt might be a tight fit with a car seat and a dog if you're close to 6'. Even our Mazda 3 can fit 5 adults in it and not be too squished.

monkiem · May 2010

I think that for comfort levels, you may want to trade it for something slightly larger...even a Nissan Altima has more room.

That being said, how large is your dog? If it's small(ish), you may be able to get away with the Cobalt you've got right now. I have a Jeep, and my dog weighs 100 pounds. There's no way in hell I could have a smaller car than the Liberty. Apollo will have to stay in the rear area with baby gear and all, and the LO will have the backseat. Let's see if he'll stay there.

alwayzflirtin87 · May 2010

My boyfriend has a 4 door cobalt and I have a Buick LeSabre. Im not very concerned about the room. I have put a car seat in the back of the cobalt and it is tight but do-able. And If we need to bring the dog then we can use my car. I like that the cobalt has a huge trunk area! At least ours does. A stroller and pack and play fit in there nicely.

mamafoxX2 · May 2010

Don;t do it! Lol, I am sure it will be possible and we will have to work around it for a while, but we are about to have baby #2 and there is BARELY enough room for my two year old and her stuff in that car. Not a good idea if you can afford something bigger.

NihilismKat · May 2010

alwayzflirtin87:
My boyfriend has a 4 door cobalt and I have a Buick LeSabre. Im not very concerned about the room. I have put a car seat in the back of the cobalt and it is tight but do-able. And If we need to bring the dog then we can use my car. I like that the cobalt has a huge trunk area! At least ours does. A stroller and pack and play fit in there nicely.

A LeSabre is not a car, it's a catamaran on wheels. My father used to have one, and it seemed near impossible to drive. I can't drive an SUV either, though. He picked me up from college for Thanksgiving break and brought home 5 of my friends and I in it. I should hope you can fit a baby in it.

I was uncertain about getting a car seat in a Colbalt, but my friends and I once got one in her 2 door Sun Fire for her to take the baby home from the hospital. She sold the car later in the week for a sedan though.

drakee · May 2010

You could do it, but it would be hard to fit a stroller and a PnP in the trunk and have much room for other things. Also, a middle seat car seat would get pretty annoying quickly.

chelsealush · May 2010

Maybe look into a Subaru

FishNchips1 · May 2010

No no no! I just got rid of my cobalt because its too small for us! Do not get a cobalt!

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