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Just looking to make a list of cars to check out that will fit at least 3 car seats. We want 4 kids so I guess eventually we'll need one to fit 4. Hopefully around a 2 yr age gap again so I'll at least need one that will fit 3 in in the near future. Our car won't. DD1 has a maxirider which is pretty wide so the dog is lucky if he can fit in between them atm, LOL.
Soo.....what should we look at?
Four kids eh? That's my dream number too...so I'm subbing
Good question Heaven. We'll need to get a new car to fit number 3, so I'll be watching this thread too! :)
We had an outlander that we could squeeze three seats into. But it was tight and uncomfortable.
We've just upgraded to a Pajero. I know not everyone's into 4WDs, but we live in the centre of the earth lol so it's kinda a necessity. Especially if we want to see DH who live in a remote community. We also have two anchor bolts in the third row, so could essentially hold 5 car seats....dunno where you'd put all the stuff that goes with them (the kids) though.
The car dealers kept trying to talk me into a prado, but if you do your research their back seats are narrower than my outlander was. For all my research we had to be looking at the big 4WDs (Landcruisers, Patrols etc), or otherwise an AWD that was large like a Kluger.
NRMA have a great site that gives you the exact dimensions of backseats. Not sure if I can post a link though.
We have a Tarago and fit four car seats for four kids under four ... they are great because the bolt is attached to the back of the seat in the front row and we had to have two bolts installed in the backrow, also in the back of the seat so there are no straps going across the car. They are tucked away neatly.
We could comfortably fit three seats across when we had just three. We also kept the back row of seats folded up because we didn't need them and could fit so much in the car. With the fourth, we had to move two seats into the back so that we could move the seat to get the kids into the back of the car. We currently use a capsule, one S&S Meridian AHR and two Maxi Riders AHR. The two Maxi Riders are in the back and the capsule is in the centre of the first row of back seats. With the handle it is just a bit too wide to open the seat entirely but it will push forward far enough that we can still get into the back (the whole front row of seats can move right forward so that you can reach them from the front seat which we have also done. The car seats are too wide to fit in any other way.
Once DS2 moves out of the capsule, we will get DD1 a S & S Hi Rider as they are much narrower carseats. That will go in the middle of the first row of back seats and the Meridian will stay in the front row for DS2. DD2 and DS1 will be in the Maxi Riders on the back seat.
We can fit a double pram in the boot easily and there is lots of under floor storage space where we keep a picnic rug, a towel for each of the kids, raincoats, their folding chairs, some sandpit toys etc. You wouldn't even know they were there.
I also love that the doors slide so if someone parks too close to me in the car park, I can get into the car no problems because they open sideways and not outwards.
So far I have no cons. We love our car and have had it for nearly two years. We bought it second hand when it was 2 years old - brand new they are over $50'000 because they are in high demand as government cars and hire cars but there are heaps available that are two years old and the price is significantly reduced. I wouldn't buy new because the depreciation in the first two years is pretty extreme. Also ours came with a couple of bumps and scratches which we have added to - having kids and getting kids and prams in and out of the car.
It is a great car with lots of storage and compartments, it is reliable and safe.
ETA: DH will be test driving a Mazda CX9 in the next couple weeks as his new work car so I will let you know what we think.
Oh wow congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:
We only have 2 but we have just got a captiva and can fit 3 depending on type! We currently have meridian and maxirider and couldnt fit a 3rd in.
She's sneaky Feeb, isn't she?? :p
Heaven we've got a Hyundai Santa Fe and we'll have two maxi riders and a meridian in it. Other options for 3 are a commodore or other station wagon... Or yeah a big 4WD like mine.
DH had a Mazda CX9 that could fit 2 car seats and a base in the second row. They are absolutely a dream to drive, I loved it.:D The third row is reasonably roomy too for a AWD. He now has a Prado which once again fits 2 seats and a base.
I drive a Landrover Discovery 3, that can fit a maxirider and a meridian but struggles with a base in the middle. Upon saying that the third row is so roomy and you could easily fit 2 car seats in the back - we often have 2 boosters in the back when taking some of the kids friends anywhere.
I have a Tarago & love it also.
We only have 3 anchors in the first row - have not had extra anchors fitted in the 3rd row like Just Me but that is an option.
Also love the sliding doors - kids cant throw open the doors in carparks & ding yours & others cars. Also good for tight squeezes.
I am a big fan -also feels & handles like driving a much smaller car.
Good luck deciding.
Ditto the Tarago. Love ours! We have 3 anchors in the middle row and two in the back. Ours is an 08 model.
I have a BMW X5 and I have a reversible seat (currently rear facing), a Maxirider and a Hi Liner across the back. Fits reasonably comfortably, still have a few inches of seat on either side.
My dad has a Nimbus which comfortably takes four seats, two in the middle and two in the back with room for a fifth child in the middle row between seats. Also excellent on fuel because it is a four cylinder.
TBH if your going to have 4 kids I would move beyond the SUV's and wagons; just stick with people movers.
We did extensive research to decide what car we would get and every single time we ended up coming back to a people mover. I tested all the cars out with carseats etc and the SUVs tended to be very squishy, esp with multiple car seats and if you want to fit extra people in there. Make sure you check if there is a weight/height limit on the boot seats in an SUV/4WD (I think there is!). No point buying something like a Territory or an Odyssey if your going to have to sell it for something roomier with 4 teenage kids!
If it was doable we would have gone with a Kluger (the previous car we owned but a 7 seater) but with potentially 4 in some sort of carseat it was pointless.
Our Tarago is awesome. We are big fans of Toyota's and I think the amount of old as the hills Tarago's still on the road are a testament to their durability. I like the fact that we can still comfortably fit adults in the rear seats, I can climb into the car easily to buckle kids in (esp if its raining!). They have good fuel economy, drive like a dream. We loaded the bongo bus up and travelled interstate a few months back and everything fit nicely with no feeling squished (and we cart ALOT of stuff with us when we move interstate with 3 kids!).
ETA - even if #4 is 4 or 5 years off, dont make our mistake and buy for whatever number of kids you currently have. I wanted to buy a people mover to start with but Dh refused so we ended up going:
Focus->Falcon->Kluger->Tarago
We wasted alot of time and money! We also agree now that even if we were only planning on sticking with 3 kids a people mover is still an AWESOME car to have! You can fit extra family and friends easily, allows for extra room and separation of the kids seats (been a godsend to us as we always have family visit and used to have to take two cars, and I love being able to separate whichever kids are currently mortal enemies!)
I have a pic of the bongo bus loaded up with FIVE kids in carseats if you want to look for an idea on space.
No real advice but wanted to say Taragos are awesome for teenagers! My best friends family car was a Tarago and there is nothing better than being able to pile all your friends comfortably into the one vehicle for trips to the beach etc, good memories :)
I have a 7 seater Kluger. Unfortunately AFAIK you can't retrofit the Kluger's rear seat to have tethered booster clips. Although I do believe they could be inserted into the roof...
I love my Kluger.
We have a Chrysler Grand Voyager with 3 carseats. 2 Maxi Rider AHR's in the back row and a SnS platinum in the middle row on a captains chair. DD1 sits in the rear row and DS1 sits in the other captains chair in the middle row.
Sent from my iPhone, so I apologise if it makes no sense.
My gf has a Kluger and it fits three seats.
Just want to add if you do decide to get a car based on 3 kids not 4, we really loved our Kluger and would still have it if we werent planning on expanding! I cried when we sold it :lol:
Kim, what seats did you have in your Outlander? We have an 07 Outlander which is apparently a bit larger inside than the previous model was... If we have another, we'll change Oskar's current Maxi Rider for the Hi-Liner, Elijah will stay in the Meridian and the bub would go into the Safety 1st capsule... which is actually the only 5 star rated one according the C.R.E.P crash tests. DH checks all these things lol... but some seats are only scoring 1 star!! They were seats I'd have just thought would be amongst the safest, so was shocked :o Anyway, those 3 seats should squeeze in our Outlander from measuring anyway.. as the capsule and Hi-Liner are both only 45cm wide.
Feebs... friends of ours are due to have bubby number 3 in November and they traded their Rav 4 for the Captiva and apparently can fit 3 across the back... can't think what seats though? I think Maxi, Meridian and capsule?
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OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH didnt realise you were TTC squeel ahhhhhh JEALOUS!! fingers crossed for you!
Ahh ok wow that they squeezed a 3rd in!! Not sure if can have a car seat on 1 o back seats as no idea if they have ancor points or not!
i have a honda mdx and love it! Its hard to find one but they are out they- they are a 7 seater!
also know in the US market as the Acura.
Very similar fit out to the Kluger Grande- leather heated seats, DVD player, safety features etc
it fits 3 car seats in the back and also has clips for car seats on attach to the roof in the very back seats as well. so you can fit 5 car seats in the car!
the boot is also huge.
Today i had the very back seats down and had the 3 kids in the back and in the boot i had 2 large bikes, a big pram, and all the shopping!!
definately worth a look at!!!
:ROFL: FEEBS!!! I never said we were TTC... I said IF we have another!
What is green writing that u think I cant read LOL:
Sweetheart, that's been there for like hmmmm 6 months? Put it there when my friend was TTC lol... cos that's what the TWW is like!
DOH bugger I thought I was really observant but nope blind as a bat PMSL:
lol.... you probably noticed it now cos it's been probably hmmm a month since I've been on BB.. so you haven't seen it around!!!
Buggar Cass I got excited too lol.
At one stage we had a Meridian, the Maxi and a Fisher Price seat. Dunno if a capsule would fit :dunno: but I guess if it was the Hi-liner it might as it's a bit narrower.
We have a Mitsubishi Grandis. It has 7 seats. It is classed as a wagon, not an SUV or van. They have only been manufactured since about 2005. We love ours.
I am pregnant with our 4th and it should suit us just fine.
we have Ford Territory 7 seater - its great 3 carseats (1 booster, 1 SNS Compaq and 1 SNS Capsule) across 2nd row of seats and the 3rd row does have anchor points for more carseats if needed.
I'd second *det* with the MDX - I have one too and its brilliant. Tons of room, brilliant to drive. Everything is pretty luxurious. Stoopid Honda decided to push their CRV thinking that the 7 seater SUV market was going to die down so they decided to no longer import the MDX. Our local Honda dealer has admitted what a bad decision that was!
I have a Mazda tribute and 3 car seats... I love my car, I don't want a huge car just because I have 3 young kids and I find my car a nice in between size :D
We had a Ford Territory two years ago and we didn't love it. The back row is only suitable for young kids because there is just no leg room at all. We also found that all the door seals and rubber things in the car seemed to shrink a bit. It just seemed a bit cheap.
Since then I've had my Mazda 3 and DH has his Aurion, but to take the whole family somewhere we need to take both cars. And with Baby Boo on the way my car won't fit three car seats in it.
Soooo..... We've just recently ordered our new Kia Grand Carnival. I was nervous at first because I heard about all the problems the early Carnivals had, but my Dad is a mechanic and apparently these new "Grand" Carnivals are much much better. We went and looked at them and they are a true 8 seater. You can easily fit 8 adults into the car. The only seat you can't put a kiddie seat is the very back middle seat as there is no anchor point. Until bub comes we plan on putting two baby seats in the middle row (one rear on forward facing), one on each window seat, and removing the middle seat completely (All the middle row seats can be individually taken out of the car until needed. Then there will be an aisle in the middle to get to the back row. Once bub comes, we'll take one of the middle row window seats out, put the MaxiRider from DH's car in the back row behind where the middle row seat is removed, and the two baby seats will go in the middle row with one on the other window seat and one in the center. DS already climbs into the car by himself, so he'll be able to climb in the maxiRider himself and with the seat in front removed I can buckle him up without even climbing in the car. When the whole family goes on a trip my 11 year old DSS will sit in the back row with DS, and we'll pop the extra middle row seat back in for my 14 year old DSS. We should get it by the end of the month, so fingers crossed it's as good as we are hoping.
Oh, we also love Tarago's but they are just soooooo out of our price range these days :(
We have the new turbo diesel territory and love it! I have 3 seats in the back but can also fit them in the third row of seats so you could have 5 if you needed to!!!
We test drove the new Grand Carnival two days ago, and really liked it. We just wanted to know what they were like (looking for down the track), and they have a HEAP of room. each seat (except the middle of the third row I think, like Mylitta mentioned) has the anchor point attached to the seat base, so the straps are right out of the way. And whilst the second and third row don't slide forward or back, there is more than enough leg room for tall adults, and a cavernous boot space. They are really wide too.
On a separate note, they go like the clappers. (I swear I didn't mean to scare the salesman!)
Thanks so much everyone! Some great reccomendations, I have a list going to investigate now.
Someone also suggested to me the Dodge Journey bc apparently it was made after interviewing a heap of mum's so is good for kids, i.e. back doors open 90 degrees, heaps of storage space. Anyone have that?
Or also the Honda Odyssey?
Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep are costly to maintain as many of their parts have to be genuine (ie, there are no after market parts available "to fit"). It's not that genuine is necessarily the best, it's just that most other manufacturers have after market parts available of the same quality (if not better than original) as the genuine thing, for less money.
Two of the Kia Carnival models (the SLI or something like that, and the Platinum) have electric side doors which can be opened with the remote, however, the rear hatch/tailgate is still manual. The side doors are lockable like child-lock from the front, and will not open until the vehicle is in "Park" (we tried this the other day). Seriously worth a look at, and they also come in a diesel, handy for high mileage driving.
The Honda Odyssey, we looked at one a few years ago, and seriously.... I don't think much better than a small station wagon for space, let alone sticking full of car seats! The third row access is via climbing over the second row or over the top through the hatch. Leg room is pretty lax, and anchor points, if you use them in the second row, then legally you can't have anyone in the third row (because the belts go over the heads of the third row). If you utterly love and must-have an Odyssey, then do check that, because I could be wrong. We loved how they looked, but turned it down on the spot, on space (or rather lack of), and the anchor point issue.
What is your budget? Aside from filling full of car seats, what do you need it for? (holidays, towing, shopping cart, etc)
kia carnival, easily fits 4