Cars that fit 3 car seats?

[Sim]

I have been reading some threads trying to get an idea, but wish to ask the direct question.

We are looking at buying a used car in the next few months, but it will need to fit 3 car seats. A maxirider II, a BIG babylove, plus a capsule which will then change to a car seat.

Any advice as to which cars can comfortably fit 3 car seats across the back? (and then still have room for a 3 wheeler pram and the general stuff you need). I'm thinking a station wagon might be the go, but open to all suggestions. Your opinions plus experience with the good and bad would be appreciated. Thanks

[~Raven~]

I've got a 01 model commodore and the only way we could fit in 3 seats was to get the safensound compaq. I had the chick from babyco try about 5 different seats.

[Dustmite]

I've got a 01 model commodore and the only way we could fit in 3 seats was to get the safensound compaq. I had the chick from babyco try about 5 different seats.

OK, off subject but related. Sammi, when I read this I started laughing because I am a computer geek and remember the days when a commodore was a computer with a tape drive instead of a hard drive. Would take 30 minutes to load a game of hang man to be displayed on a monitor that displayed green type with a black back ground! Anyhow, not sure anyone else will relate and find it amusing but thought I would share my amusement anyhow.

[aussienic]

We have a landcruiser that holds a maxirider and a car seat and has held another car seat when we take out a friends daughter.

We have also had 2 infants seats and a rearfacing one no problems. our 3 wheeler goes n the back no worries but leaves little room for other people..

[visitor1]

Good thread.... we have a staion wagon....def will fit to car seats in.... but i know our 2 kids will still be their seats by the time we have our 3rd... so i am thinking wat kinda car too... i hate 4wd's.....

Ill be watching this thread!

[PlonkeeMumma]

Re Rav 4 - we have one although not the brand new model but you can't put a seat in the middle as the back seats are split and you can't have a seat where the split is. Would never be able to fit another seat in between ours anyway as we have 2 safe and sound meridian AHR's which are fairly large. good thread - i will be watching with interest as hopefully it will apply to us soon

Julie x

[Lucy]

We had the is same issue when I was expecting Lexie.

So I investigated all the options, and realised that pretty much the only suitable car with enough space was a Commodore station wagon........it fits our 2 Maxi Riders and a capsule (soon to be switched to the third and final Maxi Rider...).

The boot of course fits all teh other stuff you need.......

I had to trade in my sexy black Mazda for the Mummy Wagon. Sad but true. But, it fits us all in.......

My SIL had the same issue: she had a Rav4, but it won't fit 3 car seats, so she has temporarily swapped with her DH to use his Commodore whilst her 3 littlies are in capsules/seats.........

[kel]

hi-we purchased a ford territory ghia (2nd hand)last year we are really happy with it. just so happens yesterday i had to babysit so i had 2 seats and a booster in the back without a problem my friend was very impressed.we have otional 2 seats to use in the back which has loads of room for everything.my dh has been looking at mitsubishi outlandrs for work very fuel efficient.go test drive a few and put your seats in.

[Trish]

Great thread girls. I have the safe and sound Royale reversable. Tehya is using that at the moment, but the baby will be getting in soon enough. I want to get Teh a maxi rider but am worried about Noah fitting into a seat too. At the moment he is in a booster seat but it is rather chunky. I have seen another sort of booster from safe and sound and I "think" I have seen the Hipod seats. Are these boosters ?? And are they more narrow than the maxi rider ?

I have a Commodore Berlina, and I don't think the back seat is as roomy as my old Ford stationwagon was. Of course I sold that about a month or so before I fell pregnant !!

[briggsy's girl]

we have a fairly new hyundai santa fe - and even though we don't have kidlets of our won yet, we've had two car seats in the back - and were able to seat a six foot tall "brick wall" of a man in there comfortably alongside the seats, so i'm pretty sure it would fit three car seats across the back!! has heaps of storage room in the back too... there's something like 30 odd storage compartments plus enough room for a decent pram and heaps of shopping in the back...

[katkins]

a girlfriend of mine has a Chrysler wagon (not sure what it's called), but she can have 3 car seats on back row, two in middle and then the driver and wife or whatever. She told me to make sure there are anchor points in all rows (as we're going for a 7-8 seater now) and find out how many each row is allowed to use at once. Apparently just cause they have the points, doesn't mean you can use them all at once as it stresses the seat structure too much if there is an accident.
Food for thought hey? We're looking into the Kluger as My older two will be able to use boosters by the time we have the third. We have a booster with an anti-submarine strap so Jess can use that when the time comes as Kat now understands why she has to sit in the seat.

[shazza]

i know a holden commodore station wagon fits all three as my sister has one and all her kids fit in the back

[~kaos~]

I have a Honda Jazz and can fit 3 car seats in the back of that one I'm so happy to have a space efficient, fuel efficient car and not have to worry about another car until we are considering baby #4

However, one of those seats is a Compaq but the other two were normal car seats.

[little sprocket]

I have a magna and I wouldnt recommend it for 3 seats. We have done it before however when the back doors are open it looks like one of the seats is going to pop out. When u close the door, all the seats (and kids) squish up together. Same thing with the Outlander (sorry Kel). This is my sister-in-laws and its really really bad. We had a booster, compact and normal carseat in it and u could hardly even shut the door. The middle seat on it is just too small. We also have a landcruiser and it seems to do the trick really well however I have problems trying to reach the middle seat sometimes so u pretty much have to but the oldest child in the middle so they can "help Mummy" (mine doesnt have the very back seats in it). My dad just bought a calais so im keen to try that one out and we used to have a fairmont which seemed good but i still had problems trying to get all 3 seats in it for some reason. I think it was the way the seats were actually shaped.

[Dustmite]

shannon - somehow I think the term "gaming system" in referance to a Commodore should be used lightly....LOL

[little_Miss_Chez]

We have a 2003 Ford Station wagon although we dont have 3 " seats " we are able to fit my step sons fully strapped in seat ( he has Cereabal porsie ) His twin Brother ( both 10 ) and a Safe N Sound Meridan Car seat with enough room to keep everyone happy

[Fire Fly]

We have a 2000 model Landrover discovery and we have a Maxi-rider either side with a rear ward facing seat in the middle. Its tight but it works. And it will still work when the rear ward facing has to be turned around.