new car needed for 4 children +mum & dad

[*Efjay*]

I have a Kia & have 3 (soon to be 4) kids in child seats.
At the moment I have it set up with the 2 older boys in the 3rd row & then I have the middle row seat thats behind the driver removed (all back seats come out) & have Isla in the middle seat behind the passenger. The other seat will go back in when the baby is born.

The kia is set up so its driver / passenger, Middle row & that again then the third is a 50/50 split bench seat. You can't put 3 across the back as there is no room & the split is in the way. You can only put 2 in the middle as there is only 2 seats.
I'm not sure but if you look at the bigger Kia carnival (grand??) that has 3 in the middle & back row but I am not sure how you would go getting 3 seats across any of the rows, it still looks pretty narrow but I never tried when we were looking, it was out of our budget.

The kia has issues, but has been ok for us in the going on 2 years we have had it. Its not a car made for the long run, I live up the mountains & it doesn't do great getting up the hills LOL I sit on about 40 unless I really gun it going up. I have read that they are car designed for inner city/suburban runs. It will struggle to sit on 110k speedlimits on freeways etc. So far I have found it sits on 100 just fine.
Boot space is pretty crap (which is why I have the un used middle seat out while I dont need it) You can push the back row forward for more space but then your cramping up legs.

But you could get (which I will be looking into) those pod thingys that can go on top of the car for extra storage room.

Oh they have a horrid turning circle! I am currently testing how far a tank gets me but I think its 70lt tank does about 500ks (well mine anyway.)

HTH's

[The[cookie]Doctor]

With the Honda Odyssey though when you put convertible seat in (rear facing or otherwise) where you put it (I think if you put it in the middle, not sure)can mean the cut off of one of the third row of seats because the way it harnesses could cause "decapitation" (it is a legal thing). This how it was explained to me anyway.
Anyhow, I think, in the Odyssey, you could fit a rear facing, your harness booster and a booster in the first row and then the second booster in the back.

[*Efjay*]

oh that reminds me, the kia has anchor point on the floor behind all 4 seats that are safe to have a baby seat

[Trillian]

The anchor points in our car is on the back of the seat itself, but in some model cars they do have roof restraints I *think*, so that may be the issue you were talking about Ashlea?

[Inanna]

My g/f has a Kia Carnival Grande and it is absolutely fabulous. She has two in boosters and twins in carseats. It is 8 seater and has ample room for the big twin jogger stroller in the boot area and groceries. It's my dream car

[The[cookie]Doctor]

The anchor points in our car is on the back of the seat itself, but in some model cars they do have roof restraints I *think*, so that may be the issue you were talking about Ashlea?

Yup, sorry couldn't figure out what I meant in my head at the time. The newest model (well I think it is) of the Odyssey has roof restraints which cause that issue.

[kristi14]

Hi,

I always recommend Toyota Tarago to everyone looking for a people mover.

We had a 95 model (More bubble shape) for 4 years and it was excellent. You can get them for about $10,000 or so now i think.

We just upgraded a year ago to a 2004 model Tarago and i LOVE this car. If you can afford one, i suggest try and get one of these.

They have a door on each side, which is excellent and the benches roll back and forward to where you want them too.

They are excellent on fuel economy and if you keep them regularly serviced should run well

They are 8 seaters.

Boot space is good too. We have the Bertini Shuttle and toddler seat and we can fit this in easily. We have gone out and done a full shop, forgetting the pram was in the boot and managed to get all the shopping in.

When buying this car, we looked at others like the Kia Carnival etc but came back to getting another Tarago.

[aussienic]

We have a toyota Landcruiser. I have had 2 forward facing seats in the boot part and 2 rear facing in the middle seats.. Car seat wise it works well.. We leave the seat on the passenger side up and locked into position and our 2 eldest climb in and out that way..

2 car seats can fit easily across the middle seats but makes getting in and out of the back awkward. with 2 seats in the back there is virtually no room for a 3rd child to sit.. but 1 seat in the boot allows for 2 children or 1 child and adult to sit reasonably comfortable in the boot..

hope that made sense