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DickDastardly

227 posts

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#179401 7-Sep-2015 12:57
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Hi Fellow Geekzoners,

We are a family of 5 - 3 kids (6 and under).

Currently we drive a Mazda MPV, with 3 rows of seats - so we have 1 of the middle seats rolled up and our two oldest climb in through the gap and our smallest is in the one remaining middle seat.  We are rapidly realising that the MPV, is woefully underpowered, and the whole 3 row configuration doesn't work for us as a family.  Getting into the back through sliding doors to do kids seat belts up isn't easy.  There is NO boot space for stuff, lie a pushchair in the boot and that's pretty much it.  Plus I've read the MPV isn't the safest vehicle out there in a crash and there isn't much of a crumple zone if someone was to drive into the back of us. 

So we are reassessing our options.

Before we had the third munchkin we had a station wagon, and that worked quite well - loads of boot space, you can pile up with kids stuff.

So we are thinking of doing something similar this time.  Perhaps a Station Wagon putting our oldest on a booster in the middle and a car seat either side.  But its pretty hard to find a station wagon wide enough to fit three in a row.  I've seen the Passat R36 seems wide enough and with decent performance to match could be an option. 

Has anyone else got any vehicle recommendations for three across the back?  With plenty of room for kids "stuff"...?




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  #1381087 7-Sep-2015 13:06
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we have a 2007 Honda Accord sedan and it fits 3 seats in it. its tight for the one in the middle but there is space

they also do a wagon in that model, and it has a huge boot.



coffeebaron
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  #1381100 7-Sep-2015 13:17
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We fit 3 across in the back of the Ford Falcon :)




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xontech
268 posts

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  #1381108 7-Sep-2015 13:24
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It largely depends on the car seats/boosters you have. We have a Mazda 6 and with the 2 car seats we have there is no chance of a 3rd person, let alone another car seat. Our friends have almost the same car (couple years different) and they can fit their 3 car seats in.



meesham
973 posts

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  #1381158 7-Sep-2015 14:34
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The Diono Radians are designed to allow 3 across in most cars, they're a bit narrower than most seats. They have the added bonus of being able to rear face for quite a long time, my above average height 3.5 year old daughter is still able to rear face in hers.

As an example one of my wife's friends managed to get 3 of them into the back of a Toyota Echo all rear facing.

vexxxboy
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  #1381222 7-Sep-2015 15:35
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you could look at the Toyota Ipsum, it can be configured to seat 7 but it also can just be a big station wagon. I Have one and i love the room, handy when you have to move stuff for son at university now.




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mdooher
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  #1381227 7-Sep-2015 15:48
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Can you not get a really nice sports car and let the wife worry about what's going on in the MPV?




Matthew


BuzzLightyear
411 posts

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  #1381231 7-Sep-2015 15:49
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Holden Commodore. Had our three kiddies nicely in the back of my SSV. Found it one of few cars that could do it.

 
 
 

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scuwp
3885 posts

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  #1381258 7-Sep-2015 16:57
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7 seat SUV + roof pod for extra luggage.  Nothing better.  Depends on your budget where you go from there.   




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Coil
6614 posts

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  #1381259 7-Sep-2015 17:02
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Passat .:R36 wont fit 3 in a row to save itself.
Id suggest a commodore or falcon. They will fit easily. Maybe a E60 BMW or A6 Audi.



rb99
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  #1381344 7-Sep-2015 20:11
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Honda FR-V, just to be different.




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hairy1
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  #1381371 7-Sep-2015 20:24
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We have the 7 seat Ipsum also. Boys are 14, 12 and 4. Four year and 14 year old in the middle seat row on the outside seats with the dog in the middle, 12 year old in the back. We fold one rear seat down when travelling for a huge amount of boot space. The only issue might be car seats in the rear seat row which we didn't investigate. We would love to put the car seat in the centre seat which only has a lap belt but there is no tether point. We haven't investigated whether we could do this as it is not normally an issue.

Cheers, Matt.




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MikeAqua
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  #1381664 8-Sep-2015 11:14
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If you can fit three kids in car seats across the back row of station wagon then you will get away with two rows of seats

SUV's and people movers generally allows you a third row or luggage but not both.

If you want three rows and luggage room, you are really looking at a medium to large van.




Mike


andrew027
1286 posts

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  #1381668 8-Sep-2015 11:21
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scuwp: 7 seat SUV + roof pod for extra luggage.  Nothing better.  Depends on your budget where you go from there.

How many more kids could you get in the roof pod?

Coil
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  #1381673 8-Sep-2015 11:28
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rb99: Honda FR-V, just to be different.


Toyota Estima to blend in.

rb99
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  #1381685 8-Sep-2015 11:39
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MikeAqua: If you can fit three kids in car seats across the back row of station wagon then you will get away with two rows of seats


Exactamundo. Three seats in the front row, three in the back, and its not 3 miles long either. Not exactly rapid though, I guess.




“The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.” -John Kenneth Galbraith

 

rb99


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