Kids and bigger cars

DH and I drive cars. No SUV. At what point of time with two kids did
you feel that you don't have enough trunk space/storage and you need
an SUV or a minivan? I want to avoid buying a bigger vehicle for many
reasons. With only one kid, if we put stroller in the trunk, there's
barely any space for weekly groceries. So if we have two strollers (or
a double stroller) in the trunk I can only imagine how it's going to
look like. Buying an SUV is out of the question right now but I was
wondering when you just break down and say "I need a bigger car!"

Thanks.

ted wrote:

DH and I drive cars. No SUV. At what point of time with two kids did
you feel that you don't have enough trunk space/storage and you need
an SUV or a minivan? I want to avoid buying a bigger vehicle for many
reasons. With only one kid, if we put stroller in the trunk, there's
barely any space for weekly groceries. So if we have two strollers (or
a double stroller) in the trunk I can only imagine how it's going to
look like. Buying an SUV is out of the question right now but I was
wondering when you just break down and say "I need a bigger car!"

Thanks.

It depends hugely on your priorities.
I'm sure most of us would like a bigger, better something or other. You
*can* manage perfectly well with a regular car and 2 children, it's just
a matter of whether your desire to have more space outweighs say your
desire to keep a smaller car, have a holiday, save the money...whatever.

Remember your children will not be using strollers for ever!

Mary Ann

ted wrote in message
Buying an SUV is out of the question right now but I was wondering when
you just break down and say "I need a bigger car!"

When I was pregnant with our third child and was going to be watching my
nephew, who is the same age as my middle child. So all together I had four
children I needed space for. We got a minivan. We also go camping a lot and
needed the extra space.
--
Sue (mom to three girls)

ted wibbled

DH and I drive cars. No SUV. At what point of time with two kids
did you feel that you don't have enough trunk space/storage and
you need an SUV or a minivan? I want to avoid buying a bigger
vehicle for many reasons. With only one kid, if we put stroller in
the trunk, there's barely any space for weekly groceries. So if we
have two strollers (or a double stroller) in the trunk I can only
imagine how it's going to look like. Buying an SUV is out of the
question right now but I was wondering when you just break down
and say "I need a bigger car!"

We haven't yet. We have a tiny Citroen Saxo (tries to think of a US
equivalent and fails, but trust me, it's small) and if we go grocery
shopping we either put the stroller in the backseat footwell (across
the whole width) and the groceries in the boot (trunk) or we put the
stroller in the boot, whatever groceries will fit around it in with
it, and the overflow on the back seat, next to the baby's seat, or
in the footwell. It works. I can't see it being a problem with two
child seats in the back and two strollers, unless you're talking
about really big ones. I don't know how doubles fold down, though.
They might take up more room.

On Tuesday I got a large composter (4ft tall, about the same in
circumference), eight large plant pots, garden tools, decking,
timber, 2 buckets, insecticide, grass seed, weed killer and compost
into my dad's car, a Granada with a boot somewhat smaller than the
Dodges (Neon and Stratus) we have rented in the US in the past year.
(The composter had to sit on the back seat next to the baby's seat
but everything else went in the boot. We'd have got the stroller
into the footwell if we'd had it with us.)

Jac

ted wrote:
DH and I drive cars. No SUV. At what point of time with two kids did
you feel that you don't have enough trunk space/storage and you need
an SUV or a minivan? I want to avoid buying a bigger vehicle for many
reasons. With only one kid, if we put stroller in the trunk, there's
barely any space for weekly groceries. So if we have two strollers (or
a double stroller) in the trunk I can only imagine how it's going to
look like. Buying an SUV is out of the question right now but I was
wondering when you just break down and say "I need a bigger car!"


I have two kids and drive a Lumina (mid size family car). I don't have any
problems at all. I don't take strollers anywhere though either. I can load
up the entire family, dog, and a midsized kennel and all luggage and toys in
the trunk for extended weekends. I have no problem taking beach chairs and
toys etc.

I also have a hitch and platform thing that hangs from it for extra storage
on the back bumper. I usually hook it up and secure the dog kennel (used to
have two) to that but you could put coolers or anything you could hook down
well enough on there.

My dh does have an SUV. He packs it with fishing and hunting gear which
would not always fit in my car. The gas mileage is so bad we hardly ever
take it as a family unless he's also planning on hunting/fishing.

I've been very happy with my car and I plan to get another one when I need a
new vehicle. I'm not sure how I'll feel if we ever have another baby but it
seems very managable with two.

I like those hybrids with the great gas mileage since I put so many miles on
my car. They look small though and I need comfort and room. I don't think
a small/compact car would meet my needs as a family car.

--

Nikki

ted wrote:

DH and I drive cars. No SUV. At what point of time with two kids did
you feel that you don't have enough trunk space/storage and you need
an SUV or a minivan?

Never. I only caved with the arrival of the third,
and believe me, if we'd stuck at two I don't think I ever
would have gone to a minivan or SUV. I held out for the
first month with three in the car, but that was going
nowhere fast. Due to the space constraints, the carseat
had to be in an outboard position, which left the boys
sitting waaaaaaayyyyy too close to each other. I think
I might have been able to make it if I could have put
the carseat in the middle, but I wasn't willing to bet
a car purchase on it.

I want to avoid buying a bigger vehicle for many
reasons. With only one kid, if we put stroller in the trunk, there's
barely any space for weekly groceries. So if we have two strollers (or
a double stroller) in the trunk I can only imagine how it's going to
look like. Buying an SUV is out of the question right now but I was
wondering when you just break down and say "I need a bigger car!"

My first two are 2.5 years apart. We only had a very
short term need for a double stroller. I certainly wouldn't
make a long term vehicle decision based on such a short term
need. Maybe you just need a car with a bigger trunk. Strollers
took up far less space in our car's trunk than in the storage
space in our minivan. We have a large stroller (Emmaljunga).
It fit in the car's trunk with plenty of room to spare. In
the minivan, there's hardly any space left with the big stroller
in there (just because of the nature of the way the space
is laid out--I suspect the number of cubic feet is similar).
As your kids get bigger, I think you get to the point
that you need to make sure you have a car with enough leg
room in the back, but I don't think you ever really need a
minivan or SUV with only two kids. I like having one for
long distance car travel, but it was much less expensive
for us to own a car and rent a minivan for travel, even
a couple times a year, than to have a minivan or SUV full
time. I suppose if you got into a lifestyle where you
needed to haul *other* people's kids around on a regular
basis, then the minivan might seem warranted.

Best wishes,
Ericka

On 27 May 2004 05:45:48 -0700, ted wrote:
DH and I drive cars. No SUV. At what point of time with two kids did
you feel that you don't have enough trunk space/storage and you need
an SUV or a minivan? I want to avoid buying a bigger vehicle for many
reasons. With only one kid, if we put stroller in the trunk, there's
barely any space for weekly groceries. So if we have two strollers (or
a double stroller) in the trunk I can only imagine how it's going to
look like. Buying an SUV is out of the question right now but I was
wondering when you just break down and say "I need a bigger car!"

Just remember - generations of parents managed to cart
their families around in vehicles with less interior and
trunk space than any SUV or minivan on the market today.

We manage two kids perfectly well with a mid-size car. When
we go on trips and need the extra space for playpens,
two kid-carrier backpacks, provisions and clothing for a
week, etc, we put on a cartop carrier. It would be
absolutely ridiculous to buy something the size
of a minivan when the extra space would only be
used a few times per year.

If your strollers are filling the trunk, either your
strollers are FAR too big, or you're driving something the
size of an Aspire. :-) Just get umbrella strollers.

- Rich

ted wrote in message
om...
DH and I drive cars. No SUV. At what point of time with two kids did
you feel that you don't have enough trunk space/storage and you need
an SUV or a minivan? I want to avoid buying a bigger vehicle for many
reasons. With only one kid, if we put stroller in the trunk, there's
barely any space for weekly groceries. So if we have two strollers (or
a double stroller) in the trunk I can only imagine how it's going to
look like. Buying an SUV is out of the question right now but I was
wondering when you just break down and say "I need a bigger car!"

Thanks.
I remember going on holiday in a 2 door mini. There was my parents, my
sister (age 7), me (age 3) my gran (who was wide if not high:-) ) and my
gran's dog. Most of the luggage was on the roof rack
I think if you set out to your space, then you probably won't find it a
problem. Like I have people ask how I manage without a car, I don't find it
a problem because what we do revolves round not having a car.
I still can't see how you're planning on pushing those 2 strollers-or will
you pull one? ;-P
Debbie

ted wrote:

DH and I drive cars. No SUV. At what point of time with two kids did
you feel that you don't have enough trunk space/storage and you need
an SUV or a minivan? I want to avoid buying a bigger vehicle for many
reasons. With only one kid, if we put stroller in the trunk, there's
barely any space for weekly groceries. So if we have two strollers (or
a double stroller) in the trunk I can only imagine how it's going to
look like. Buying an SUV is out of the question right now but I was
wondering when you just break down and say "I need a bigger car!"

When I was pregnant with number 1! But then we have a couple
of dogs and travel with them frequently, so being able to put a
crate or two in the back was a priority. Now that we are expecting
number 2, I love the minivan with the two sliding doors.

That said, a friend of mine has 2 (3 years and 7 months) and they
are doing just fine with their honda civic (4 door).

Mary

"ted" wrote in message
om...
DH and I drive cars. No SUV. At what point of time with two kids did
you feel that you don't have enough trunk space/storage and you need
an SUV or a minivan? I want to avoid buying a bigger vehicle for many
reasons. With only one kid, if we put stroller in the trunk, there's
barely any space for weekly groceries. So if we have two strollers (or
a double stroller) in the trunk I can only imagine how it's going to
look like. Buying an SUV is out of the question right now but I was
wondering when you just break down and say "I need a bigger car!"

Thanks.

My two kids are 14 and 9. I haven't reached that point yet.
I can still get all their gear in the trunk (laundry baskets of
tutus for shows, two golf bags and tennis bags, etc.) Just
last week we got 21 huge blown up balloons in the back
seat for a party. Ok, I wished for a bigger car then, but
for once in 14 years I think my sedan is fine.