Getting a New Car?

OctoberCAPA · February 2011

Does anyone else have to get a different car to accommodate the car seat? We're a one car family (we both take transit to work) and as much as we love (LOVE) our Honda Fit, it just isn't going to Fit with two car seats and a stroller and all the other stuff we'll be lugging around. I told DH picking out the new car was completely his project since I'm picking out all the stuff for their room, and he's settled on the Prius station wagon that's coming out this summer. You would not believe the amount of excitement a station wagon has created for him.

Rachel5782 · February 2011

My poor DH had to trade in his tiny sports car for a highlander. We knew we were going to start trying for a baby, so he wanted to trade it in while he could still get some decent $ of out of it. I think he's just recently gotten over it... for months he missed his car. Now I need to trade my 2 door Scion TC so he can buy a 4 door sedan and I can drive the SUV (since I'll be the one mainly driving around baby). We'll start looking in March/April. We'll probably go for something sensible like an Accord or Camry. Amazing how one little baby can totally change your mindset on these kinds of things.

Ashley40705 · February 2011

We're goin to be gettnig a SUV....but not for another year or so. We might be moving and will just sell my car (an Altima) before we leave and buy once we relocate (which is just in time for the convertible seat). :-)

Pockety · February 2011

Yep, we're getting a new car. We currently have a 2-door Chrysler Sebring convertible. It could theoretically work (has a backseat and all), but it'd be pretty difficult to get the carseat in/out of the back seat all the time, and there isn't a middle seat belt, so the seat couldn't be in the middle position.

We're also looking at the Accord/Camry. We looked at the Altima this past weekend, but didn't like the CVT transmission - it didn't feel like it had enough pick-up to safely get on/off the highway and maneuver around the crazy Chicago drivers! I think we're also going to look at some crossovers.

CarlaAndJames · February 2011

Yep. I didn't want to, but we really need two carseat worthy cars since we both work and one will be doing pickup and one will be doing dropoff.

My civic is fine, but J's camaro with loose bucket seats isn't going to cut it. I think we're getting a Hyundai Santa Fe.

Syncronicity09 · February 2011

My OT cruiser will work fine with the car seat, but we too are a one car family and will be getting a second car to make work/school/daycare much easier. We are looking into a small SUV. Not sure what, since it will be MH car he gets to pick.

MommaA117 · February 2011

I want to. I drive a truck. It isnt going to happen though because I'd rather work only 2 days a week then have to pay for a newer vehicle. Mine is paid off..

Diver0214 · February 2011

We had to buy a new SUV. DH had the Toyota FJ Cruiser and there was no way a carseat was fitting in the back seat. We ended up trading that in for a GMC Acadia and I love it. We also have a 4dr car that is paid off so we are set now.

emylos · February 2011

You really don't think the Honda Fit will fit all of it? Ours managed really well, but then again we didn't have 2 rear facing car seats at the same time which makes a big difference. We actually bought another honda over here in the UK that we wished they made in the states because we're going to miss it when we go back - it's sort of like a larger version of the fit without being all that big. I would say that whatever cars you look at, make sure to take a car seat with you and test it rear facing behind the driver's seat. When we were in the market for a car, that was frequently the deal breaker because the driver just wouldn't have enough leg room to maneuver well.

thirdtimemama · February 2011

I drove a GEO Tracker 2 door for several months with TWO car seats in the back. It was horribly inconveinent but paid for. My car just died two weeks ago and we made the embarrassing but so worth it move to a mini van (did I actually just write that). I babysit for a 'living' and will soon have three car seats of my own so it just made sense for me to do this. Geeze, I'm 'that' mom.

Nickiechan · February 2011

What? Honda Fit not big enough to carry all your stuff? We LOVE our Honda Fit too and we use it everywhere. We bought it knowing that we would be having children. We went on a mountain biking trip back in May and we had two bikes, four bags, a cooler, tent, air mattress with DH and I both being very comfortable inside that thing. It seemed like it was never ending storage! Would you need to carry two strollers? I never thought that our Honda Fit would be an issue with space, but then again I don't know how much I'll need to carry once baby gets here. We have the 09 model which I know is a bit more roomier then the 07-08 models.

emylos · February 2011

Nickiechan:
What? Honda Fit not big enough to carry all your stuff? We LOVE our Honda Fit too and we use it everywhere. We bought it knowing that we would be having children. We went on a mountain biking trip back in May and we had two bikes, four bags, a cooler, tent, air mattress with DH and I both being very comfortable inside that thing. It seemed like it was never ending storage! Would you need to carry two strollers? I never thought that our Honda Fit would be an issue with space, but then again I don't know how much I'll need to carry once baby gets here. We have the 09 model which I know is a bit more roomier then the 07-08 models.

Our 09 Fit has been perfect for us & all of our baby/kid stuff. We had the forward facing convertible car seat for our older DD behind the driver & the rear facing car seat behind the passenger. We also have a double stroller (phil & ted) that we can stand up in the back of the car so that it only takes up have the trunk space and we have enough room left for bags, luggage, whatever else we need. DH also mounted a tow hitch on the car and got one of those luggage shelf things that go in a hitch, so that if we wanted to go camping or a longer trip, we'd be able to put some bags on that. Your Fit should be fine for you & 1 baby. I think the OP issue will come in with 2 rear facing car seats and not necessarily being able to get enough space for the driver.

KYBABY2011 · February 2011

YES! We have to get a new car to replace our 2 door Ford Focus. I wish I could let DH pick out the car, but it will be my car primarily and I'm too controlling. lol DH wants a station wagon too!

Roni.Cedra · February 2011

No. We won't be getting a new car. DH and I both drive OLD cars--10+ years, but we don't believe in buying a new car unless your car doesn't drive anymore.

aniceucchik · February 2011

I had a 2dr Honda before Jacob and we got a Dodge Caliber right after he was born...it was still waaaay too small, so we just recently got an 08 saturn vue for me and its alot bigger, but i think im still going to have trouble with the double stroller no matter what I have, unless we get a mack truck.. lol.

OctoberCAPA · February 2011

emylos:
Nickiechan:
What? Honda Fit not big enough to carry all your stuff? We LOVE our Honda Fit too and we use it everywhere. We bought it knowing that we would be having children. We went on a mountain biking trip back in May and we had two bikes, four bags, a cooler, tent, air mattress with DH and I both being very comfortable inside that thing. It seemed like it was never ending storage! Would you need to carry two strollers? I never thought that our Honda Fit would be an issue with space, but then again I don't know how much I'll need to carry once baby gets here. We have the 09 model which I know is a bit more roomier then the 07-08 models.
Our 09 Fit has been perfect for us & all of our baby/kid stuff. We had the forward facing convertible car seat for our older DD behind the driver & the rear facing car seat behind the passenger. We also have a double stroller (phil & ted) that we can stand up in the back of the car so that it only takes up have the trunk space and we have enough room left for bags, luggage, whatever else we need. DH also mounted a tow hitch on the car and got one of those luggage shelf things that go in a hitch, so that if we wanted to go camping or a longer trip, we'd be able to put some bags on that. Your Fit should be fine for you & 1 baby. I think the OP issue will come in with 2 rear facing car seats and not necessarily being able to get enough space for the driver.

Ladies, it would be hard to love the Honda Fit more than we do--we had an '07 that was totaled when a Chevy Suburban hit us on the freeway (looking at the damage, I'm sure they thought they killed us--we both walked away without a scratch) and the insurance claims guy said that we could not have been any safer. So we bought an '09 Fit with the insurance money from the wreck. We've taken it skiing with four people and their gear, weekend camping trips with another couple and all the gear, etc, multiple times. I know the Fit Fits a lot, believe me.

But there is no way we are going to get two rear facing car seats, a double stroller, the two of us, and my dad in that car. We need something that can take three adults plus the babies for at least 30-40 miles comfortably. That just is not going to happen.

jlsimon56 · February 2011

This makes me a little nervous. We got a Nissan Versa two years ago, knowing that we'd be starting a family soon, and would need more space for baby-related thing. This is going to be the baby-toting car. I haven't tried fitting the carseat in the back yet. I hope it works! I didn't even think about this. Guess what DH's project is tomorrow? :-)

sunset+skies · February 2011

We currently drive a mini-van, but we're contemplating buying a second vehicle, just to make things easier.

I'm sad that Ford doesn't make Escort wagon's anymore. I owned one for YEARS and would go back to it in a heartbeat.

I'm thinking of getting maybe a malibu hatchback, or perhaps a 4dr pontiac vibe. Small and fuel-efficient, but easy enough for a carseat.

Sunidaze · February 2011

Hmm...I feel like an outcast in this world of Hondas, Toyatas and Nissans....but I love my Jeep Grand Cherokee and so glad I finally upgraded to an SUV after 17 years of driving...and so glad i didn't get rid of it when I lost my job not even a year later! I would only get rid of it now for a newer model. Yep...we'll have plenty of room. We would have had plenty of room had I kept my Malibu. Even the Firebird I had many many years ago would have been accommodating enough.

daisytoad · February 2011

@jlsimon

We were just looking at the Versa hatchback as out bigger car option. What do you think of it? Do your have the sedan? It would just be nice to talk to someone other than the dealer about the car.

denall · February 2011

We might be giving my car to my mom, and she might be giving me hers. Both are small, but she has a four door car and I have a two door. Anyone who rides in my back seat and have to get out says they feel like they are hatching an egg. I have a Toyota echo, and she has a Scion XA. Like I said, both small but the four doors will help me out a lot.

This is a great website to see if the chair you are looking at will fit your car. https://www.carseatdata.org/

kas80 · February 2011

I have to get a new car- right now I have a Ford Focus 2 Door Hatchback that while acing crash test ratings for the two front seats, is basically a death trap in the back. Obviously, we aren't putting a car seat back there. It's sad because my current car is completely paid off and it's great not having a car payment.

I think I'm going to trade in for a Ford Fusion. I like Fords, I realize I'm probably a lone wolf on that one.

cmf88 · February 2011

My husband's pick-up truck was not going to accomodate a car seat at all, we were so disappointed! We just traded it in and purchased a Hyundai Tucson a few days ago. So far we are very happy with it. Ahhhh...new car smell

egpitt22 · February 2011

When I was pregnant with my DS, we sold my 2 door pontiac sunfire & bought a 4 door Nissan Sentra. DH drives a Hyundai Elantra and with just 1 kid, both of those cars have been fine (for those of you wondering about the space in the Versa-not sure how it compares to the Sentra, but we've had no problems fitting in the carseat rear facing, and the trunk is fairly spacious as well.

DH's car is getting up there in mileage; we're not going to do anything right now, but we've already said that once it gets to the point that it's not worth it to dump anymore money into it, we'll get a minivan. I have no shame in saying that we are both PUMPED for a minivan-it took some coaxing, but once he saw one of our friend's Odyssey, he was sold Big Smile

Bran_ham · February 2011

When DS was about 6 months old we broke down and bought a used suv (with 3rd row seating), my corolla just wasn't cutting it. We'd thought about it before DS was born but decided we'd wait a few more years. We also have family visit often (now that we have babies) so fitting everyone comfortably was nice. Now with #2 on the way it will be great to still be able to accommodate my family when they visit.

That's pretty cool about the Prius station wagon. I still feel guilt over going with an suv.

karypetersen · February 2011

I just had to buy a bigger car! I went from an Eclipse to a GMC Terrain! I love my new car!

HulaPie · February 2011

I just got a new Chevy Traverse this weekend. My Equinox was getting a little old and we wanted 3 rows plus trunk space for our road trips. I'm in love with it and my friends have already dubbed it my "mom-mobile."

taitai07 · February 2011

I love my Fit too! I'm hoping to drive it until it dies, but I didn't really think about what will happen when we have a second kid...oh well, I guess we'll figure it out when the time comes. DH is going to trade in his Jeep Wrangler for something else; he hasn't decided yet, but he's leaning towards a Ford Explorer. We need a car that we can take on long trips that will hold us, the baby, our two dogs, and all of our stuff. If we didn't have the dogs, the Fit would be fine for that. But neither of us think that the Wrangler is the best car for a baby, so he'd probably be getting something else even if my car could hold all of us.

0hkgbs · February 2011

We plan on getting a new car in august, but only bc my lease is up on my Acura and I use my car for work (I'm a home visit nurse), so I carry a lot of work gear and want enough room for that and baby stuff as well. We are looking to either get a ford edge or gmc acadia. DH has a truck that will work fine with a carseat, so we'll be set after august.

Want a personalized experience?

Getting a New Car?

Re: Getting a New Car?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards