Car questions

[ballandchain]

I know this board has been kind of dead but I thought I'd see if I could milk you for information anyway.

We're looking at cars tonight and are in the position of wanting to buy now but not knowing at this point what is happening in the kid department (could have one soon, could have two soon since we are transferring two embies next time, could have none ever...).  I want to replace our old car before the winter, as it is terrible in the snow, but I don't want to have to trade something in a year from now because we realize it won't work for our family.

Do any of you experienced moms have any car-buying advice for hopeful moms?

Specifically...

Price aside, would you say leather seats are better or worse than cloth with kids?  (I prefer cloth but we are looking a cert. pre-owned that has everything else we want and happens to have leather).  Part of me says it wipes clean, part of me says it's easier to ruin?

Will I regret it if I don't buy a big car?  (We are looking at Subaru Impreza hatchbacks.  Internet research seems to indicate they will hold car seats and some double strollers just fine.  We already have a Forester for big trips so this just needs to be able to handle daycare runs and everyday stuff.)

Things you wish you knew about kids and cars before you bought your last car?

Thanks!

[kershnic]

As you already know, I know nothing about cars. But your car talk yesterday got my DW ogling cars when we went out to do errands/grocery shopping last night!

Signed,
really should not pay for a bigger car

[2brides]

Keep in mind that I love leather seats and chose them in the car I had pre-kids. But honestly, I think they are SO much easier to clean than cloth (what L has in her car.) In reality, kids don't have a lot of exposure to the actual seat until they are in a booster (and even then, it is somewhat limited.) But I have still cleaned up my fair share of chocolate/crumbs/ice cream from the seats. And I have dropped a lot of stuff in the front seats while trying to drive and manage the kids.

We bought a minivan when the kids were 3m old and I (still) love it. I hate the gas mileage, but love the room to take other people/kids friends with us, the sliding doors (no kids throwing open doors in parking lots and dinging other cars!), that the kids have room to change clothes in the back if needed - this happens more than I thought it would, the DVD player for long trips/keeping the kids awake, we can haul large items or big box store purchased, etc.

Most of the things I love about my car are obviously pretty specific to my van, but on the flip slide, L loves her Civic and has (had) no problems getting the kids' in/out - though we didn't have that car until the kids' were in boosters. But her car is the to/from school and weekend errands car. My car is for longer rides/big shopping trips. I think as long as you have one car that is slightly larger, you're good.

[ballandchain]

2brides, I was hoping you'd chime in! Thanks! Very helpful.

[kershnic]

Sept 16, 2013 9:47:50 GMT -5 2brides said:

 I think as long as you have one car that is slightly larger, you're good.

This doesn't bode well for my one-car family Ford Escort driving life.  

[twotrue]

I agree with one car being larger than the other. It just gives you more options down the road. I love big vehicles so I'd naturally be hesitant to get a hatchback. But that's personal preference. As far as leather, it would not cause me to reject the car. Like 2brides said, the kids don't really touch the seat for awhile and you can deal with hot leather seats when the time comes.

sent by phone

[2brides]

Sept 16, 2013 18:17:45 GMT -5 kershnic said:

Sept 16, 2013 9:47:50 GMT -5 2brides said:

 I think as long as you have one car that is slightly larger, you're good.

This doesn't bode well for my one-car family Ford Escort driving life.  

 You *might* be able to get 2 rear facing car seats in an Escort, but I think your issue will come with getting a stroller in teh trunk.

Pre-kids I bought a Jetta. I REALLY wanted a Beetle, but figured that it wasn't family friendly and did the responsible thing by getting a 4 door car. fast forward 4 y (took much longer to have that darn family than planned) and I could barely get 2 rear facing seats in the back (I had to shove my seat way up (and I am only 5'4) and the passenger had to basically eat the dashboard.   Plus, I couldn't get the double snap and go stroller in the trunk (the trunk was too shallow and narrow.) Thankfully, L had a bigger car at the time that we used for those first few months till we got the van.

On another note, our nanny had a Mini Cooper and was able to get both rear facing car seats and one of our strollers (a Peg pergio that I HATED, but folded to the size of a postage stamp) in her car. She couldn't get anything else in there, but didn't drive them often. So, you never know.

[kershnic]

You know I've lived in New Yorkish too long when it kind of blows my mind that all of you own two cars.

I'm trying to remember for sure, but I think we drove our nephews a few times in our car when they were still rear facing, so I think the car seats would fit. But I have no clue how to evaluate if different strollers will.... plus if we ever go out of town again we're going to need to put our other stuff somewhere too, ha.

[ballandchain]

Sept 17, 2013 6:34:23 GMT -5 twotrue said:

I agree with one car being larger than the other. It just gives you more options down the road. I love big vehicles so I'd naturally be hesitant to get a hatchback. But that's personal preference. As far as leather, it would not cause me to reject the car. Like 2brides said, the kids don't really touch the seat for awhile and you can deal with hot leather seats when the time comes.

sent by phone

Thanks TT!  I am the opposite; I much prefer small cars and hate driving big ones.  So as far as I am concerned if I can fit the bare minimum (rear-facing car seats and stroller), it's good enough for every day!

[ballandchain]

Sept 17, 2013 7:56:15 GMT -5 @cookiemonster03 said:

In a perfect world, leather would be nice. but it's expensive.

We have a Corolla and an older (2002) Forester, which is about the size of our Corolla inside and the cargo area is similar (I'm not kidding - we can fit our BOB Duallie and a couple of very small things in either trunk - the only advantage of the Forester is the roof rack which we use for hauling stuff like Ikea dressers. The new Foresters are WAY, WAY, WAY bigger).

We haven't had any issues with our small cars, but you do have to think about it when you buy strollers and car seats. If we have another kid, we'll replace the Forester with a minivan. If we don't, it'll either be a new (giant) forester or a van - we plan to get a car in 2015, so the girls will be 3.5-4, and we'll have it till they'll 12-14+, so I am leaning towards van for future carpool reasons. We absolutely do not NEED one with babies/toddlers though).

Our Forester is a 2008.  I'm not sure how that compares to 2002 but it is much lower and smaller than the new Foresters, which are actually TOO big for me (as far as my comfort level, not as far as what I may need to own someday).  The hatch in the 2013 Impreza we looked at is actually almost as big as the back of the Forester, just doesn't go as high since the hatch slopes on the Impreza.  So unless you are packing to the car ceiling, I'm not convinced the Forester necessarily gives us THAT much more room.  But I think it is big ENOUGH.

Anyway...we bought the Impreza.  I'm happy with it and think it will be fine if we have two babies; if it's not fine with two school-age kids we will have paid it off by then and will cross that bridge when we come to it.

Thanks for the feedback all!

[ballandchain]

Sept 17, 2013 21:36:14 GMT -5 @cookiemonster03 said:

Yay!! It'll be fine! We use our corolla almost exclusively (except for hauling construction stuff) with no space issues

Thanks, I am looking forward to it (still in transit to dealer).  Now for making the babies to put in it...I need to get on that!

[2brides]

Sept 17, 2013 21:15:20 GMT -5 ballandchain said:

Sept 17, 2013 7:56:15 GMT -5 @cookiemonster03 said:

Anyway...we bought the Impreza.  I'm happy with it and think it will be fine if we have two babies; if it's not fine with two school-age kids we will have paid it off by then and will cross that bridge when we come to it.

Yay! Enjoy! I love new cars (well, new to me!)