Car suggestions?

[ds1013]

Hi all, lurker in need of some car help.  I have a Volvo C30 2 door hatchback.  I love it, I love small cars.

My DS is nearly 3 months old and yesterday I realized our stroller doesn't fit in my car  (I had been using the car seat caddy - that does fit).  I had decided I was ok with being annoyed trying to get the infant seat in and out of my car (the front seats don't lean forward very much at all, hardly any infant car seats would event fit in the car) - but I'm honestly not sure how I will get him in and out of the car when the seat doesn't come with him.  

So, I think I have to think about a new car.  What do you have that has decent trunk space but isn't an uber generic looking sedan? 

[spk926]

[asoctoberfalls]

Subaru Legacy. We love it and it's relatively inexpensive. Great trunk space, too. Most sedans are pretty generic looking, though.

[redheadk]

I'm an Audi fan (love German body styling) so how about the A3 Sportback, All Road, or Q3. I have the Q5.

[spk926]

I do love my minivan but I know that's not what you're looking for. DH drives a Subaru Crosstrek and it has lots of room in the trunk and plenty of backseat room.

[drloretta]

Honda Fit

[Deleted]

I also have a Legacy and love it. Its pretty big though. The trunk is awesome and fit so much stuff. ALso its big enough DD doesnt kick my while driving. She can kick DH in his truck.

[ds1013]

Yeah, the minivan isn't going to happen. We're one and done, so that's really too big for us. I'll look into the Audi's - thanks!

[ladygrey]

If you like Volvos, try the wagon. We have the XC70 and really like it.

[bunnymendelbaum]

I have a VW superwagon. I like it. Don't love it. Wish it was more stylish. But is drives really well and is fun.

I wish I would have test-driven the Mini Countryman, but I was afraid I'd like it too much and we really wanted something a little bigger. (I had a standard Mini and LOVED it.)

[ds1013]

Oct 22, 2015 12:42:47 GMT -5 bunnymendelbaum said:

I have a VW superwagon. I like it. Don't love it. Wish it was more stylish. But is drives really well and is fun.

I wish I would have test-driven the Mini Countryman, but I was afraid I'd like it too much and we really wanted something a little bigger. (I had a standard Mini and LOVED it.)

My previous car was the standard Mini too  Loved it  
Can't say I love how the larger Mini's look, but I'll give them another look - thanks!

[arch01]

Subaru! I'm partial to my Outback, but the Legacy is great too.

[Deleted]

I love my Prius v. rbp drives one too. It's SO roomy and drives great. It is a little generic looking in L.A. but only because every other car on the road here is a Prius.

[hbomdiggity]

Oct 22, 2015 13:36:46 GMT -5 mr+ms said:

It's very common, but fits a crazy amount of stuff for the size: Corolla. It only started to feel crowded with second kid added in. We've rented a Countryman but I thought it was kind of meh. It didn't feel as roomy as it looked on the outside and the trunk space was disappointing.

I have a is250, which I believe is very similar, and it's days are numbered since DS's arrival. Maybe if you are very small, but for us the car seat only fits behind the pass seat, which has to be all the way up, so 6-2 DH can't fit.

When I went to visit my mom, her Subaru Outback felt huge in comparison. I'm just not a Subaru person though.

[huskymom]

We have a Legacy and an Outback - love the cargo space, especially on the outback. am considering a minivan or pathfinder when we need a new car though.

[meltoine]

Jetta Sportwagen. I love mine.

[mainelyfoolish]

Nissan Rogue

[ds1013]

Thanks all! I have quite the list to research now!

[KKD]

Oct 22, 2015 12:04:40 GMT -5 redheadk said:

I'm an Audi fan (love German body styling) so how about the A3 Sportback, All Road, or Q3. I have the Q5.

My mom had an A6, and that thing had amazing trunk space! Super fun to drive too. She easily fit my older two kids in it even when they were both still RFing.

I've always had SUVs with kids so I'm no help there. I love my Acadia though! lol.

[blueberry10]

Another Honda Fit vote! They also just released a nice little crossover built on the same platform - the HRV.

[dcn]

We have an outback and love it. I had an Audi A4 in the past and loved it but it was so so $$$$$$ to maintain.

[anna7602]

I'm not following the issue here. By the time you have your LO in a convertible seat, he'll be ready for an umbrella stroller, which doesn't take up much space. I've never put our regular-size stroller in the trunk of a car.

[rbp]

Oct 22, 2015 13:38:42 GMT -5 page said:

I love my Prius v. rbp drives one too. It's SO roomy and drives great. It is a little generic looking in L.A. but only because every other car on the road here is a Prius.

I would marry my Prius v if it were a person. 

[rbp]

Oct 22, 2015 14:27:24 GMT -5 anna7602 said:

I'm not following the issue here. By the time you have your LO in a convertible seat, he'll be ready for an umbrella stroller, which doesn't take up much space. I've never put our regular-size stroller in the trunk of a car.

Not everyone lives in a city where they can go days without driving. 

[thebreakfastclub]

I kind of agree with anna7602 on transitioning to an umbrella stroller. Past age 2, even having a stroller was reserved for things like amusement park or zoo trips only.

[Deleted]

Oct 22, 2015 15:02:15 GMT -5 rbp said:

Oct 22, 2015 14:27:24 GMT -5 anna7602 said:

I'm not following the issue here. By the time you have your LO in a convertible seat, he'll be ready for an umbrella stroller, which doesn't take up much space. I've never put our regular-size stroller in the trunk of a car.

Not everyone lives in a city where they can go days without driving. 

I do live in a city where I can go days without driving and I still keep my stroller in the trunk of my car lol. The garage is super inconvenient to get to, I don't want to leave it outside because of dirt and weathering damage, and I absolutely do not need another kid related item in my house.

[anna7602]

Oct 22, 2015 15:02:15 GMT -5 rbp said:

Oct 22, 2015 14:27:24 GMT -5 anna7602 said:

I'm not following the issue here. By the time you have your LO in a convertible seat, he'll be ready for an umbrella stroller, which doesn't take up much space. I've never put our regular-size stroller in the trunk of a car.

Not everyone lives in a city where they can go days without driving. 

But when I DO drive, I still need a stroller. Honestly, the only reason I rely on a huger stroller when I'm not driving is because it basically serves the function of a car- my groceries go in there, stroller bag, change of clothing for DS, etc.

When I actually use a car, the umbrella stroller is great. Hell, I even relied solely on the umbrella stroller for a whole month abroad this summer when I was doing huge daylong outings and carrying all kinds of crap simply bc I didn't want to travel with a big stroller. If I had a car with a small trunk, umbrella stroller seems like the obvious fix.

[rbp]

Oct 22, 2015 15:29:35 GMT -5 anna7602 said:

Oct 22, 2015 15:02:15 GMT -5 rbp said:

Not everyone lives in a city where they can go days without driving. 

But when I DO drive, I still need a stroller. Honestly, the only reason I rely on a huger stroller when I'm not driving is because it basically serves the function of a car- my groceries go in there, stroller bag, change of clothing for DS, etc.

When I actually use a car, the umbrella stroller is great. Hell, I even relied solely on the umbrella stroller for a whole month abroad this summer when I was doing huge daylong outings and carrying all kinds of crap simply bc I didn't want to travel with a big stroller. If I had a car with a small trunk, umbrella stroller seems like the obvious fix.

I doubt OP's desire for a bigger car is solely to accommodate a large stroller, that's just the most recent thing that has been an issue. 

ETA: On rereading the OP, being able to get the kid in and out of the carseat seems to be a much bigger potential issue.

[imojoebunny]

Will the stroller fit in the front seat, with it pushed back. I did that sometimes because DH almost never rides in my car, and I prefer having the cargo space for groceries, and things. I had the small volvo wagon, when DD was little, and I loved it. It was so much fun to drive. I hate the mom mobile, and once DD is old enough to sit in the front seat, I will be getting a non mom mobile, probably a another volvo. If you are leaning toward having a second kid, I would get a mom mobile, or at least something you can put 3 boosters in. We have the toyota hylander Hybrid.

[anna7602]

rbp, sorry. I guess I misread the OP's words "I love it, I love small cars." Just like you seem to have misread some very bizarre thing into my words that I did not intend.

Eta: I see that imojoebunny and thebreakfastclub read the question the same way I did, so I'm reasonably reassured I didn't say some asshole thing about why anyone would ever drive anywhere.