3 or 5 door car?

[Small Flower]

Hey Mummies,

Ideally I'd like to have a 5 door car, but I've been looking ages for one in the makes and models we like (we're after economical and must have 5 x seats), and mainly only 3 doors have come up. I don't want to be left in the situation not selling my current car (which is unsuitable for baby and only 4 x seats), and trying to find a new one as I don't want to be left without a car when baby arrives.

So my quessie is, how many of you have a 3 door car and is it really that much hassle getting your baby in and out of the back etc?

 

[Emma58]

OH has just bought himself a 3 door car and i can already see when we go out in it, it s going to be a struggle and the boot is no where near big enough for Sam's pram.

I have a 5 door Renault Megane and that is just the right size

 

[Sherlock]

We got rid of our Golf 3 door for this reason. We still had the estate so were ok Just bought a lovely new Ranault Laguna estate now

I've nannied using both 3 and 5 door cars and have to say, 5 door is the only way to go in practical terms. Especially with rear facing car seats and so on. Trying to get into the back seat and put in or lift out an infant carrier out of a 3 door car in a busy car park is crap. And worse if its raining. And I always found them a hassle to belt in as you have to climb in to the back to do so. If you are planning on using an infant carrier then 5 door is what I would go for. Same with car seats. Being able to lean in the from side of a back door is much easier. And also if you want to check or do something with baby.

Having rear doors makes access so much easier, especially if in a hurry.

I know its difficult but you may need to go back and review your wish list of cars tbh. We did. The Laguna wasn't our first choice but blimey it has everything we want in a car now and more. Wish we had looked at it first and saved ourselves some time. There are great 5 door cars out there I am sure would suit you and a baby, even if you maybe don't like the look of them from the outside or something, give them a drive and consider all the practicalities and future years.

 

[Small Flower]

Thanks for your replies girls, I think defo 5 x doors then as I suspected!

For anyone else that replies, could you also tell me what car you have - I can't think what other 5 x doors, 5 x seater cars there are out there!

 

[LisaJ1986]

My first car was a 5 door Corsa, for a 17 year old it's not that 'cool' but my older sister had a baby weeks before i passed my test. It turned out to be the best buy. I loved taking him out and it was just so simple. I'll never buy a 3 door. We're looking to buy a new car at the mo and i will ONLY buy a 5 door. My younger sister had to sell her 3 door Corsa as she was having to put her kid in through the boot! My legs are far too long to be trying to climb in and out the back even if baby was in the front, like she is now. I HATE my current car. We have a 5door Nissan Sunny, but it's just the right size to be honest. Boot space is huge and it cost me £100! (Don't tell OH though as i want a new car!) He's getting me a BMW 3 series i think. Someone is doing him a good deal as i'm making him sell his Mitsi GTO!!! So not a family car as much as he says it is!!! It has 4 seats therefore a family car apparently!

 

[Mildly]

I have a 3 door Corsa at the moment but am going to buy a five door Astra in the next couple of weeks. The good thing about Vauxhalls are that the parts are pretty cheap in comparison to foreign cars.

 

[1sttimemum]

We have a 5 door mg zs and also a 5 door kia cee'd.

I much prefer the kia as it drives sooo smoothly and is so safe.

 

[*pud01*]

we've literally just bought a 5 door grande punto, got it yesterday, it fits the pram (which folds nice and small) perfectly into the boot.
its low on insurance and petrol (compared to the old car).
I did make a point of stating my case to peter that 5 doors is a MUST.

 

[BeckyJ]

i only ever have 5 door cars as i just dont feel safe with people in the back of a 3door, personal preference

i have a 5door bmw e46 at the moment and my other half had a volvo s40, our pram wouldnt fit in the boot of either cars so ken has sold the volvo and got a vectra estate and i am going to sell my bmw and get possibly a people carrier as we want more kids so i might as well get something with a decent amount of room

 

[Bee]

I had 3 door 106 GTi till Saturday. Some twat smashed into me head on so no longer have a car

I managed fine but it was a struggle at times

I am now looking at a 5 door but mainly cos in the crash the doors jammed shut and I want another escape route. Plus the car I am looking at actually looks better in 5 door than 3

 

[Magic Monkey]

We have a 5 door mazda 6, which is fantastic. It is really easy to get in the back and the boot is massive. We also have an Audi A4 (really old) and that is crap! Saloons have no boot space and the seat belts aren't long enough to go around the car seat.

 

[Beany]

Removed due to deciding too personal for public viewing

 

[Xena]

I would only go for a 5 door - I have a skoda fabia estate - it's brilliant - massive boot.

 

[Xena]

I have a 5 door Skoda Fabia and love it! It is a diesel and £30 of fuel lasts me about a month to six weeks!!! I did think about changing it a while back but have managed fine with our new addition (now have two boys) and I can fit my pushchair and buggypod in the boot (along with umpteen picnic blankets, 3 fold up deckchairs, a couple of litres of water, other pushchair gubbings, back of tools and what ever else I have forgotten about! lol)

Skodas are a 'value for money' car really and have air conditioning and all the rest of it.

lol snap

 

[Steelgoddess]

i used to have a tinee mx5 traded in for an astra 5 door 2006 model and never looked back!!

I love it, its spacious and so easy to drive!!

x

 

[lea m]

i only ever have 5 door cars as i just dont feel safe with people in the back of a 3door, personal preference

Thats funny really as Im the total opposite! I have this irrational fear of the children opening the doors on a 5 door or them flinging open so I prefer the 3 door! lol

I need a people carrier now!

 

[jennywren]

I had a 3 door punto and sold it and got a 5 door Astra, while the 5 door is better and loads more spacious (the boot is really big for a hatch) dont get a 1.6ls as the fuel economy is shite 24mpg when im driving like a granny, WTF is that all about £25 a week petrol!

 

[Bagpuss17]

I have a 3 door and personally find it much easier in getting my son in and out of his car seat, it means I can climb in and get him in his seat. I'm not tall so I don't have any problems climbing in the back. DH drives an Audi A3 5 door and I struggle getting our son into the car seat in that car.

But when we had a rear facing car seat I used the Audi as it was impossible to get the rear facing seat in the back of my Mini.

It just comes down to personal preference at the end of the day I think. If you've got 2 cars in the family and one is a 5 door then at least you get the benefits of both.

 

[Small Flower]

Thanks ladies, I'm defo sold on the 5 car now!

Just panicing a bit now as need to find a car in the next 4-7 wks, and I've already been looking for months!

 

[Strangeness]

We've always had 5 door cars because it's so much easier when you've got kids! We got a 5 door 1.7 Diesel vauxhall astra a couple of months ago and love it! It's so spacious and my dh loves driving it so much! Also the fuel lasts a lot longer so we're saving money each week!