[ifaith17]

Hope I have popped this into the right Forum section - but was wondering if anyone could offer some advice - DH and I are currently at opposing ends of the stick on what is suitable for a family car. We have a 5 month old son and are planning another child in the next couple of years - and maaaaayyyybbbeeeee a 3rd, but we'll see. At the moment we have a 1990 commodore sedan and are looking at getting a car either new or second hand above a 2005 model in the next year.

I come from a family who have always had station wagons - for their space, functionality, etc.

DH comes from a family where he is the eldest of 6 and they are not particularly car people - so they've had 4WD's and a Toyota Hiace bus and now his mum has a subaru - the hatchback wagon style - not sure which model and his dad a 5seater ute.

I'm convinced that we need a wagon (Commodore or VW) or at least an SUV type thing (Ford Territory, Kluger - something like that) for the space, if we go away on a long car trip, kids want friends over - if they're horse crazy like me - dogs too, you get the gist

DH thinks that for a family car when we are planning more children, a good size is a Mazda 3/6 or a Holden Cruze. . No space. I can already hear the kids yelling about being squashed, no space for friends, etc... golly, just wait until they're teenagers with long legs......

Can anyone offer some advice on how I can win this battle? Gah! It's driving me nuts!

Thanks!!

[Guest_Hoggle_*]

I'm with you. When DS was born we had an 04 magna. We upgraded to a commodore wagon (03) when he was 4 months old and it was SO much better. More space and easier to get things in and out of the boot. We have 3 kids now and have just gotten rid of the VY a few weeks ago and got a toyota prado. Its even better again for us. No way would I go back to a sedan.

[T2Mum]

Yes, your DH is dreaming. Go the family wagon.

[trytrytryagain]

We have a Ford Territory and I would never go back to a sedan! So much easier with prams and general STUFF you have to take everywhere with you with kids. So much room and so much easier.

[ifaith17]

Thanks heaps - glad to know i'm not the only one!! I'll keep working on it!

[Cranky Kitten]

When you go test driving, take the pram and baby seat if possible. Make your DH sit in the back with you and the seat to check the fit.

We bought our Outlander because it would seat 3 adults in the back, with sufficient body space and legroom.

[Witchipoo]

We are expecting our third baby in a few months and have just upgraded from an Astra to a Commodore VZ.

We originally were looking at people movers and although there were plenty of seats there was hardly any boot space. We then started looking at wagons but because sedans were cheaper and the boot space was very similar in size we decided to go with a sedan.

If you have a pet that will be travelling with you then a wagon would be ideal. My brother has a Cruze with 3 kids (two not in car seats) and they have no problems.

[liveworkplay]

I'm actually with your DH. We have 3 kids and have a Mazda 6 sedan. The boot space is huge and the available back seat space (we had 3 in child restraints until recently) is actually wider then our old Magna sedan.

SUV's have very little storage space if the back row of seats are being used (think very hard to fit shopping and a pram in), are less fuel efficient and harder to handle.

I do not see the facination with the huge SUV's if you have only 2 kids. I know I am in the minority in this. I just have to sit in the school car park to see that!

[bubblebear]

I do not see the facination with the huge SUV's if you have only 2 kids. I know I am in the minority in this. I just have to sit in the school car park to see that!

I completely agree! We have a 2005 Ford wagon for three children, plenty of space for them and the boot space is tremendous. I love wagons!

[Aribika]

We only have two chn and won't have any more and we are considering getting a station wagon of some sort for me. I have a commodore sedan atm. We do have a Rottweiler as well. My Dh has a 4wd. I would love something small and more economical but it just really doesn't work. I need room for sports equipment and boogie boards etc. I would like extra seats for friends but I don't think we need two 7 seaters.

Good luck convincing your DH.

Lorraine