Do I HAVE to get a big car?

[tiff211]

Its just me and the 3 youngest now....the oldest comes home during breaks but I wanna get a smaller car. I have a Jeep Liberty now. Anyone have a posse of kids but just drive a CAR?

 

[wvjules]

As long as there are 3 seats in the back for all of them to sit, size doesn't matter.

 

[ontariomonkey]

Is your 2nd child old enough to be in the front seat? If so any car should be fine. When your oldest is home, the 3 little ones can squeeze in the back.

Not all back seats are created equal. I find the backseat of the Toyota Yaris to be more spacious then some bigger sedans for example. We loved having an SUV but decided that for the rare occasion that you actually need all that extra space, it would be cheaper to rent. A car is cheaper to buy and to fuel.

 

[wvjules]

Is your 2nd child old enough to be in the front seat? If so any car should be fine. When your oldest is home, the 3 little ones can squeeze in the back.

Not all back seats are created equal. I find the backseat of the Toyota Yaris to be more spacious then some bigger sedans for example. We loved having an SUV but decided that for the rare occasion that you actually need all that extra space, it would be cheaper to rent. A car is cheaper to buy and to fuel.

From her signature the second child is only 8 definately not old enough to be a front seat rider. Still should be using a booster seat actually.

 

[tiff211]

Is your 2nd child old enough to be in the front seat? If so any car should be fine. When your oldest is home, the 3 little ones can squeeze in the back.

Not all back seats are created equal. I find the backseat of the Toyota Yaris to be more spacious then some bigger sedans for example. We loved having an SUV but decided that for the rare occasion that you actually need all that extra space, it would be cheaper to rent. A car is cheaper to buy and to fuel.

Thats what I figured....5 seats is 5 seats when they are kids. The older one has just started sitting in the front, she is big enough now. I don't need all the space as you said. Just more room for me to junk up!

 

[tiff211]

From her signature the second child is only 8 definately not old enough to be a front seat rider. Still should be using a booster seat actually.

They are all a year older than my signature. I am not breaking the law, booster seats are until 5. She is big for her age, and the front airbag deactivates when she's up there.

 

[wvjules]

Where did I say anything about a law? Everything I've read and remember suggests that the booster seat is for age 8 or 80 lbs and under. No one under age 12 in the front seat. It is too dangerous for a small child to sit in the front seat, airbag or not.

 

[tiff211]

Where did I say anything about a law? Everything I've read and remember suggests that the booster seat is for age 8 or 80 lbs and under. No one under age 12 in the front seat. It is too dangerous for a small child to sit in the front seat, airbag or not.

Yeah I researched it too. My 9 year old weighs almost as much as my 18 year old and is just about the same height. She's a big solid girl. Thats one of those debates, like how to lay the baby to sleep. I wouldn't jeopardize my kids lives but under 12 is too vague some 12 year old are tiny, some are huge.

 

[bettymae1121]

Wel...my parents had 3 kids and a chevette, so yes...it can be done! All five of us fit too, well, sort of!

 

[shrubber]

Yeah I researched it too. My 9 year old weighs almost as much as my 18 year old and is just about the same height. She's a big solid girl. Thats one of those debates, like how to lay the baby to sleep. I wouldn't jeopardize my kids lives but under 12 is too vague some 12 year old are tiny, some are huge.

The law in GA is 5 years or younger or 57 inches or less, child restraint.
Otherwise, let em ride up front with the seat belt.

 

[Sarah_Rose]

Both my family and DH's family had 3 kids, and never owned anything bigger than a station wagon! My DH spent all his childhood summers doing roadtrips from Toronto to Tennessee to visit the grandparents, with three kids and a spaniel all in the backseat. However, depending on the size of your youngest's carseat (and whether she's still in a convertible carseat or is in a booster seat) it might be a tight squeeze.

And like a PP said, not all car interiors are created equal. Some of the smaller cars that we've owned have had the roomiest backseats! However, by far, our current car has the largest backseat. We have a 2010 Prius and it seems to have TONS of room in the back - it doesn't even have the "hump" at the feet of the middle seat. So definitely try out many different cars; you'll be surprised at how much room you get in even some of the smaller cars.

 

[cosine4]

Also keep in mind luggage space if you do much traveling. We bought a Nissan Versa which is great but on long trips it is pretty tight.

It is comfortable, cheap and efficient, but I am not real impressed with manufacturing or the power (my Cobalt is much better built with better power and efficiency). For everyday use it is perfect for us (2 adults and 2 children under 9). But we have gotten in a habit of driving to Florida every chance we get (2000 miles round trip) and luggage has to be packed very carefully to fit. There are other vehicles out there that are just as efficient but have more space that I plan to look at next time.

 

[mjkacmom]

My gf traded in her jeep for a SUV that fits 7, for carpooling. I also carpool all of the time, as do my friends. We all seem to drive Honda Odysseys, and have each others kids in them. I'll be picking up my gf's dd7 in 20 minutes!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

No you don't.

My DH has a Chrysler 300M and the three kids fit fine in the backseat. 2 are in boosters and one is in a car seat still and they are 9, 7, and 2.

Now once this one is born we can no longer use that car as a secondary family vehicle, but we'll still keep it.

But families of 5 can fit perfectly fine in a regular car. My only issue is when you vacation by car, you have to really control your packing b/c due to the trunk space. We could never travel with suitcases and a large stroller for example. So the large stroller would have to be left behind.

I will admit to having my older children ride in the front occasionally. But not on long distances and not often.

I would buy a car that everyone can fit in the back.

 

[tinatark]

Maybe a 4 door, definitely not a 2 door. If you get a 4 door, I would look at something like a Ford Taurus, Nissan Altima, etc... a mid-full size 4 door. You will be packing backpacks/school stuff in the trunk!

My older son has a Toyota Solara 2 door - it's a bigger 2 door, but my younger son (he's 14) HATES riding in the back - same with my friends BMW 6-series convertible - her 4 year old wedges her feet into the back of the seat in front of her when they drive it - and that's a decent size car.

Most cars just don't have any space behind the driver seat.

Growing up, we never had anything besides a car/station wagon... but that's what EVERYONE had! I remember when my uncle bought some SUV - maybe a Suburban - that was a big deal!

 

[MizTink]

i just bought a mazda5. it's a 6 seater. it's rated really good for safety and fuel economy. so far (have only gone through 2 full tanks) i get a little better than 22mpg city that is SUPER news for me as my 2004 hyundai sonata only got about 12-13mpg.
and it was pretty cheap too. i got a 2008 for $11,000. my sister's new honda accord doesn't do as good on gas as mine does!
and i don't feel at all like i'm driving a minivan, yet the space is there.