need car, pram, have dog... advice?

[belfie]

Hi everyone,

I'm in the process of upgrading my car (in preparation for bub) as I have a 2 y.o. belgian shepherd (about same size as a golden retriever - see pic in gallery if curious ) who needs to be able to come in the car with us... but preferrably not sitting on bubs!! I've realised I probably need to make sure that what I get will fit whatever stroller I get. I'm leaning towards a 3-wheeler, as we walk through a park with rough uneven gravel paths. Just wondered if anyone has advice on a) strollers, and b) boot sizes?

At the moment, I'm leaning towards something like a mazda 6 wagon (DH is tall & doesn't fit in the Subaru outback which was the other choice)... but we'd also looked at some SUV's. So saying, I'd suspect that the SUV's just don't have the boot space for a dog & pram. Keen to hear anyone's experiences & get advice.

Thanks,
Belfie

[Olive]

we have the latest outlander the boot space is awesome, though i think you'll have issues with all the above mentioned cars with the pram and dog in the boot, we place our 3 wheeler across the boot, so not sure if it would fit longways, can measure though when DH gets home if you'd like!?

[jenjams]

How about a Mitsubishi Outlander. The newer models have a bit of boot space. You would have to see if there is enough leg room for your DH though.
Things like the Rav 4 and X Trail wont have enough space in the boot.

[SammyRo]

We have an astra wagon and a beema q three wheeler. Although we haven't actually used it yet, when we tried it at the shop, the pram fitted longways and only took up about half of the boot, so there would be enough boot space left over for the dog. The new Rav 4 has fairly decent boot size, but other small suvs like the mazda and ford have tiny boot space.

HTH

[Phteven]

DH's car is an Audi wagon. After the pram is in there's still plenty of room - enough for a dog.

[Muppity]

The other option is to get a car harness for your pooch - one that attaches like a seatbelt and keeps them in a seat - we have them. I have only ever seem them at the pet shop so aren't sure how effective they are.

[belfie]

Hey everyone,

Thanks for the great suggestions. AJP & Jenjams - the Outlander is one that's still on the list... just need to go have a look at it! I was driving behind one today trying to peer into the boot (quite difficult to do) but was concerned it didn't look that big. So saying, it wasn't a very good vantage point!!

SammyRo, I've just spent the last 20 mins looking at Astra's, as I'd managed to miss them! They look pretty good spacewise, and seem to have great boot space! The head/leg room is almost identical to the Mazda too. Plus it's a smaller car (i'm coming from a hatch, so I prefer smaller than bigger... I just want my space too - very greedy).

At this stage, I imagine 3 wheeler would sit across the boot (behind seats) with dog behind that??? (haven't had a stroller in my hot little hands yet though, so don't really know what I'm on about!). Certainly the Mazda looked like that would all fit in the boot... d'ya think the car dealers would mind if I turned up with my dog & stroller to try it out? hahaha

dachlostar - I think the audi would be out of my budget, but gosh it looks nice

TaffyLou - we currently use the seatbelt harness for the dog, which is great (she's on the back seat in both hatch & sedan)... but would prefer doggy in the boot particularly when bubs is little. Plus if I have a second bubs... would like to have space for them all, which would definitely mean doggy in the boot.

Cheers,
Belfie

[LuluHB]

I've got a Honda MDX, which would be way too big for what you want from what you've said, but the CRV (its little "brother") from memory had really good boot space too. The Holden Adventra was pretty good for "boot" space too I think. Whatever way you go, I would absolutely be getting a stationwagon or SUV with a proper divider between the back and your kids. The thought of two babies in the backseat as well as a dog, even one in a harness, leaves me cold.

The alternative might be a "muppet bus" like the Taragos etc. Not exactly the most stylish but sooooo much space for everything and everyone.

[Pretty Butterfly]

My ExH has a CRV, and it would be great. He takes his rottie everywhere, and there is still heaps of room for a pram. And they aren't too exps... His has a cargo barrier, so the dog cant get our kids when they are in his car!!

[Beach Mama]

You mentioned the Outback, what about the Subaru Forester? We have a 2005 and it is fantastic, pleny of boot space, you can get a wire cage from the back if you want to separate bub and pooch, and there would still be plenty of room for any pram as it is a high deep boot.
Good luck!

[Nai]

Like Tan, we also have a Forester and we fit bubs, the Phil & Teds and the greyhound in the car (we have also been known to fit all the dogs bedding, the portacot, bags and everything else on top of that). We have the cargo barrier and put the dog in the back and the pram on the backseat if required.

We also found that when we did a big trip eg. a week at the snow that we borrowed one of those roof boot things for the extra space so that's an option as well.

[blizz]

I am in love with the mazda 6 wagon we are getting one at the end of the year we are waiting for the new diesil wagon to come out apparently in November. We have looked at everything on the market and keep coming back to the mazda wagon it just seems to have so much going for it for the price especially like the extra airbags and safety features. We too have a large fur baby - a border collie named shep and are about to expand to a two car seat family, good luck on making your choices. my hubby is also tall and has the same issue with all of the cars we have been looking at

[belfie]

oooh now I'm all confused! Serves me right for asking I guess!

My first love has always been Subaru's.. mmm a nice green subaru *drools* - but DH typically hasn't found them roomy enough. BUT the Forester was the best of the Subi's... we were just concerned that the boot space wasn't enough. I'd heard a story of a one-child family having to change once they had 2 kids, found it was just a bit cramped, and that the wheel arches get in the way... BUT Nai, you fit both stroller & dog in boot together? Then it should be fine! And Tan you said it was great too...

We also were really keen on the CRV, but thought that would have same issue with boot space. When we stuck pooch in the boot of our neighbour's CRV, it didn't seem to leave much room! BUT purplemamma you said your exH fits a rottie & a pram! Guess I don't need to worry then, cos our pooch is much smaller than a rottie!!

Blizz - I thought the diesel wagons were already out? It sure sounds like you're very similar to us... so maybe the Mazda wagon is the go... I really do like what i see there (very sexy for a wagon!)...but there's just so few of them for sale! I want one a few years old... and they seem to be like hen's teeth!

Lol all nice choices at least.. and I've got some time up my sleeve (or in my belly!). Thanks for the suggestions, and pls don't stop just because I'm confused!

[blizz]

they are bringing out a diesel wagon in the new shape in November we have been checking with Mazda Australia as we have decided that this is the car for us.
Loved Subaru but found same prob's not big enough and servicing costs were ridiculous on them (everything had to be genuine subaru parts, once had subaru wiperblades fitted in a service with out consultation $20 'spewin')

[Nai]

Belfie, do you know anyone with any of these cars who can do a boot packing demo with a pram and dog for you? Seriously though my best friend has a Forester so when she was over one day we got the dog in and tried it with the pram as well - she already had 2 carseats in it so that part was easy.

[Mrs P]

2nd rec for the Astra wagon

I'm just under 6 feet tall and I fit into mine quite comfortably.

We don't have kids yet, but the size of the car is great! Fits a ton of shopping in the back - I think you could fit the pram on one side and the dog on the other. Only thing I would say is that it doesn't really fit say 5 adults at a time. But I would happily put 2 kids in the backseat (in car seats).

I've had the car for 2 years in July, no probs at all. Even the standard model has good safety features too.

[treegal]

I won't suggest a particular car, but we just bought a new one on the weekend and one of the provisions was that the rear seats had to be flat-fold. Ours has 60/40 split, so the dog can be in the '40' side and baby seat on the '60' side (we have a very big dog). As it's a hatch, I don't think it's what you are looking for, but it way be something to assess when looking at other cars. Also, another feature that was pointed out to me is where the actual point of attachment is - most newer cars have it on the back of the eat, or directly under, but our old one is in the middle of the boot - taking up all the space once car seat is installed.

[belfie]

Thanks Treegal,

That's a good point regarding the split fold seats. Re the point of attachment, for something like a 2004 or later, I'm assuming that should be positioned reasonably well? I guess I can check that as we go to buy.

Happily enough, we have finally decided! Stroller-wise, I'm going to go the P&T's sport... I like the idea of keeping options open for a second. So now i'm just keeping an eye open for who has it on special! Also, after looking at a friend's Subaru Outback boot with that stoller in it... i've decided that even though we could probably fit in an SUV with stroller, dog & other items as needed, it would be easier in a wagon. So given hubby is nearly 6"5'... mazda 6 wagon is the go (as he just wasn't comfy in the Subaru's). I've just got to find one now... theyr'e not that common second hand... but again, I've got some time up my sleeve

Thanks for all your comments, it was very helpful!
Cheers,
Belfie.

P.S. I noticed Pram Warehouse has P&T sport on sale for $529. Has anyone used them? Are they ok or dodgy? Or would I be better off waiting/hoping for a special at Baby Bunting or somewhere like that?