The Best Car For A New Parent Is Probably Already In The Driveway

"Lets Just Drive" (lets-just-drive)
04/04/2014 at 20:33 • Filed to: None

Four and a half months ago, I became a Dad. Roughly a year before this I purchased a Ford Mustang.

You might think that would be a problem...

Ours is a 2006 and like every other Mustang in the history of time it was never designed to be a family hauler. The two-plus-two styling and sharply sloping coupe profile mean comfort for the two in the front and add a rear bench as an afterthought. A quadruple amputee from the bush lands of the Kalahari Desert would find the seating cramped. This is because the Mustang, like all Mustangs, has two very different atmospheres – one is a welcoming space with comfortable seats, abundant legroom and good visibility while the other is a cramped, poorly lit space with neither headroom nor legroom to speak of. It follows that the Mustang has neither clout nor redeeming quality when it comes to the task of hauling a family around.

Or does it?

Sometimes in life a thing most poorly suited to a task can better accomplish it then those purpose built for it. These things encourage us to approach a given task, no matter how mundane or complex, with unconventional thinking. Our Mustang is just such a thing.

Months before the arrival of our daughter, my wife set me about the task of sourcing a car seat and stroller and it wasn't until I started fitting rear-facing seats that I realized how unfit for family duty a Mustang would be. After much ado, I eventually found the seat and stroller I liked (and on which the wife signed off) before beginning the arduous process of getting the base situated on the rear bench which, thanks to Ford adding a dramatic slope (called the "butt trap" by my niece), required cutting and shaping foam supports to achieve the correct angle and provide sufficient bracing. I had to achieve a careful balance between saving enough room in the front for my wife while still making the ungainly, rear-facing seat fit but once it was in and I could stand back and survey my work, I started to consider that maybe, just maybe, the Mustang could baby.

Thanks in part to my consumer-savvy ways, the stroller I had selected for us was easy to collapse and folded into a small enough package that it would fit in the trunk without compromising the remaining storage space. It did mean that I had to be conscious of the cargo limitations of the car while shopping but I am of the mind that this is a good thing and that consumer consciousness should be better encouraged anyhow.

With those two items sourced and the seat installed I went about adding a small mirror to the rear glass so that I'd be able to see my daughter in the rear-view mirror along with adding a few other baby friendly accouterments. Then with all my preparations complete, all my rubber duckies in a row, set about the game of waiting for our daughter.

Even with child and car-seat behind her, my wife was able to sit comfortably in the car or get in and out with ease but on that last day, driving to the hospital while my wife went into labor, I felt like everything I'd done (in life, not just with the car) would never be enough. You can imagine my trepidation then when, three days later, we left the hospital with our newborn daughter in tow.

Amazingly, however; babying in the Mustang got easier with every passing day.

Sure, trips to Costco need to be planned and we can't just go crazy shopping because we've only got so much space left in the trunk with the stroller in but the empty rear seat will help in a pinch. Sure, loading the car seat means flipping the front seat forward and expending a little effort to clip the thing in. Sure, we make compromises.

But, our daughter loves the rumble of the motor and the occasional pop-bang of the exhaust. But, daily driving is still enjoyable. But, we don't have to live with a minivan.

Living is all about compromise while creating life is nothing but compromise.

You can compromise your passion in the name of convenience. You can trade occasional difficulty for the perpetually mundane. You can substitute speed for safety and style for substance.

You can drive a minivan, a boring front-wheel drive crossover or just a box on wheels and, as a first time family just starting up, this might seem like an appealing option but let me assure you, readers, that all of that is top trumped by the feeling I get when I load or unload our daughter from the back of the Mustang in front of all those other Dads with their dull, doe eyes watching me green with envy is worth the occasional owie associated with Dadding in a 'Stang.

In summary, what I have to say is that the best car for a new parent is the car which lets you retain as much of your life, your identity as possible because it's all too easy to let who you are now be consumed by who you will become once that little parasite breaches the womb. I've known car guys turned Dads who hopped into a minivan and never looked back but I've also known Dads who stuck with their cool cars and made it work. It is that latter group of Dads who now share their automotive enthusiasm with their no-longer-new children, as a direct result of making the choice not to choose compromise, which I hope to emulate. I want my daughter (and any others we may spawn) to watch her Dad change gears, to see her father find joy in driving and to never be embarrassed by, but instead find inspiration in, my car. One day we'll add a family hauler but I stand by my assertion that the best car for new parents is the one that reminds them, "You're more than just a Mom or a Dad, you're a driver."

DISCUSSION (100)

thebigbossyboss > Lets Just Drive
04/04/2014 at 20:37

This was awesome. Question? Why does the baby face backwards?? I am idiotic for asking this?

Tom McParland > thebigbossyboss
04/04/2014 at 20:39

Infant car seats must be rear-facing for safety/impact once the child reaches a certain height/weight you move them to a front-facing seat.

jkm7680 > Lets Just Drive
04/04/2014 at 20:40

Good philosophy. Just because you have children doesn't mean that you have to give into Minivans, and Suvs. That's entirely true!

f86sabre > thebigbossyboss
04/04/2014 at 20:45

small children are better protected in front impacts when facing back. The seat distributes the load as opposed to a harness.

f86sabre > Lets Just Drive
04/04/2014 at 20:48

amen. As I mentioned on the FP, we've hauled our kids around in an Evo and Mini for 7 years. They work just fine.

TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma > Lets Just Drive
04/04/2014 at 20:53

Good on you for being able to keep a fun car and provide for your family.

When our family moved to America, our family's dream car was the Ford Mustang. After much begging to my mother, by both father and sons, my father purchased a Green Mustang GT Convertible (I still think he picked it out because of Bullitt). We kept it for five years. The Mustang turned me into the enthusiast I am today. I'll always be a Stang guy cause of it.

The wind in your hair, the smile on my face, I can still feel the innocence as I type this. Please, try to keep a fun car around, your kids will thank you for it, I thank my dad every time I drive the current mustang we have.

Lets Just Drive > thebigbossyboss
04/04/2014 at 21:02

Pretty much with Tom and Sabre said. Once they're over 22-25 lbs or I forget how many inches long you CAN move them to a front facing seat but should probably still go with a larger rear facing seat if it's within your budget until your child is a master of its own limbs... especially if your car has any horsepower and/or torque to speak of.

Lets Just Drive > jkm7680
04/04/2014 at 21:06

I'm not saying that opting for a more family friendly car is a bad thing, and I'd love to combine both in a CTS-V Sportwagon or E63 AMG Wagon, but it's not for me and the fact that I make it work is hopefully encouragement to other young guys (and gals) looking at starting up a family; you don't have to give up the things you love when you become a parent, you can incorporate the things you enjoy with being a parent.

Lets Just Drive > f86sabre
04/04/2014 at 21:07

People hauled their kids around on buggies and horseback. Before that, people hauled their kids around on their backs. Kids are resilient, kids don't need a minivan or an SUV... lazy parents, however; are not resilient and often need a minivan.

jkm7680 > Lets Just Drive
04/04/2014 at 21:11

Yeah, I'm not saying it's a bad thing either, and I respect you a lot that you want to keep some fun in there also!

Good luck with the little one!

Lets Just Drive > TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma
04/04/2014 at 21:12

My first was a Mustang, a foxbody GT. When I was a kid, my mom hauled me across most of the country (Canada) in cars like our Rambler, our 77 VW Van, our old Subaru hatch...

I contend that it's not about the car, that's not what instills the love. It's about the freedom cars provide, that's what gets kids hooked. Sure, a car that a kid can call "cool" will help, but it's really all about the experience - getting the kids to fall in love with more than just the car but the very essence of motoring.

TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma > Lets Just Drive
04/04/2014 at 21:30

That's why I said fun. ;P

We had a CR-V before moving here, inside it, I learned to appreciate cars, especially in Bangkok. You feel the energy around you in traffic, the hustle and bustle of a big city. But, the noises the Mustang made on a Sunday morning with the top town, that got the heart pumping.

Everyone has a different 'definition' of an experience. It can be good or bad. I was lucky I found the beauty in automobiles at a young age, not really through parental enforcement, but like you said, focusing on what makes motoring great.

You're a good dad. Your post tells me that.

Your boy, BJR > Lets Just Drive
04/04/2014 at 22:24

I applaud you. Driving impractical cars seems to be a running theme in my family, lol. For example: My paternal grandfather's only car for 20 years was a Triumph TR3. He also had 4 kids. Or my mom, most of my childhood, when everyone else was picking their kids up in odessys and siennas, she was waiting at the school line in a single cab 2wd '87 toyota pickup! With a stick! Or my dad's unconventional cars (not so much small/impractical as much as complete and utter beaters, or as i describe them, "like something Top Gear would buy")

Flat Six > Lets Just Drive
04/04/2014 at 23:07

Great choice. I don't know why so many people freak out and change their lifestyle and buy so much stuff they don't need. Must be instinct. You're not obligated to buy a minivan, or a changing table, or a crib, or a highchair, or just about anything.

Lets Just Drive > Flat Six
04/04/2014 at 23:32

It'd sure be a kick in the face to evolution if we were obligated. Imagine a prehistoric caveman, "Me no have Target. Me no can buy things. Me not invent wheel yet. Met not have minivan. Me give up and die."

anamericanabroad > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 08:00

This is truth. I managed with a BMW 1er...until my second child was born.

Ike B > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 08:03

Before my dad bit the bullet and bought a beige microbus I grew up in a red Grand Torino. Sure those things are huge but the compromises are similar.

I'll never forget the shame I felt for my neighbors across the street who had their first baby and sold their one Honda Accord and bought two SUVs to replace it. Babies are small, assholes. You had a four-door car already.

tobythesandwich > jkm7680
04/05/2014 at 08:11

A lot of it also depends on your needs. If your wife/girlfriend has a bigger vehicle it usually helps.

gp177 > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 08:15

Good luck keeping it going. I had to trade in my Civic Si coupe around the 1 year mark; for a Focus ST.

As the child gains weight, putting them into the back seat of a coupe starts doing a number on your back. Also, the current recommendation is to keep the child rear facing until at least two years old. The next, larger rear facing car seat you will need may make the front passenger seat unusable.

TurbulentFlow > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 08:22

You're seriously underestimating crossovers. A V6 Edge posts nearly identical straight-line acceleration numbers, better braking numbers, better skidpad numbers, and better gas mileage than an Auto V6 "'Stang" from 2006. Plus the Edge can tow 3500lbs, lug around a stroller or 6, take 5 tall people on a road trip in legitimate comfort, haul furniture, and more.

I really hope you have the manual, because that's the only edge you'd have on every other modern V6 sedan and crossover that's capable of blowing the doors off of a base model Mustang of that vintage.

Your argument would make sense if you had a Shelby, a V8, or at the very least a 2011-up V6 - something with even a little performance to back up the image you believe it portrays. But to flout a slow, unwieldy, impractical coupe as the envy of everyone at daycare? I just don't know about that...

daender > thebigbossyboss
04/05/2014 at 08:23

By having the baby and babyseat face backwards, if the bag deploys, the seat takes the impact whereas a baby might not survive. At least that's what I remember.

Eysmahn > thebigbossyboss
04/05/2014 at 08:27

It's safer for newborns and infants to be rear facing as their neck muscles are net yet strong enough to support their heads under hard breaking or during an impact. Forward facing would pretty much guarantee severe whiplash, if not a broken neck and death.

thebigbossyboss > daender
04/05/2014 at 08:29

Oh. This would probably be less of a problem in my car since I only have 2 airbags.

thebigbossyboss > Eysmahn
04/05/2014 at 08:30

OH i see. Sorry if I come off as an idiot, I have never examined car seats closely.

jalop1991 > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 08:37

You had a child and your identity that you want to keep is a 2006 Mustang.

And you would do anything to keep that identity, up to and including modifying the seats so the car seat would *physically* fit, never mind that you put your child in more danger that way and that the car seat manufacturer and Ford would both have a field day with your modification should anything bad happen.

Got it.

Smulders > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 08:37

Back in the 80s, my mom drove me and my brother around in an original Mini. Including a stroller. Please, your spacious Mustang isn't a pain at all.

aztec1 > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 08:43

This is awesome! I would have done something similar a couple of years ago when my daughter was born but I had a small pickup. A car seat was a no-go and a stroller even more so. So I went out and bought an Altima...a great family car! Plenty of room for everything and not an SUV.

To make up for it, I also went out and got a Miata.

jalop1991 > anamericanabroad
04/05/2014 at 08:46

A guy I worked with went from no kids to twins all at once. They had a Taurus; he figured, no big deal, it has four doors.

The first weekend they took a family trip in the Taurus to his parents's house two hours away. They got there, unloaded the car, and he immediately—without even stopping inside to say hello—drove that Taurus to the Honda dealer and came back an hour later with a minivan.

Some things just make sense, no matter how hard you try to deny them.

Atl_boiler > gp177
04/05/2014 at 08:49

I've got a 9 week old and a 350Z (wife has an Acadia). The ST baby well? Looking at year old G37s, and 5.0 Genisis sedans, too.

Atl_boiler > jalop1991
04/05/2014 at 08:54

I think he meant he added foam. Most car seat instructions suggest using pool noodles in order to level the seat.

AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 09:11

Very nice, but i do have one question. Are ya sick of moving your seat? I'll give ya 6months.

Kinja'd!!!

LongbowMkII > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 09:20

As a jalopdad driving a minivan, Istill show my enthusiasm for cars by watching classic f1 clips, picking out cars in R&T, going to the local monthly car show and racing hot wheels on the floor with my 3 daughters. There is more to it than sticking with a bad car for the job.

Fusions come with a manual. Your back thanks you.

TheCraigy > Eysmahn
04/05/2014 at 09:21

Baby HANS device?

STREPITUS > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 09:25

Can't forget this

http://jalopnik.com/5979782/2013-f…

mclovinit > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 09:26

we got through the first 18 months of my sons life with a Fiat 500. Hint, pass the child into the rear facing seat through the hatch. Now we have 2 little ones and a Megane Rs250. There will never be a family hauler in my driveway.

MTY85 > thebigbossyboss
04/05/2014 at 09:26

Has to do with their necks being weak and being hurt more by having their head snapped forward in a crash.

megamarcx1984 > TurbulentFlow
04/05/2014 at 09:36

I get it, it isn't just about performance numbers, by that logic all older Porsche enthusiasts would by new Camrys..Its about image, its about asserting one of the last bastions of coolness, in lieu of submitting to the soul crushing grip of practicality..And as a man, having a "cool" car like a Mustang is one of the last inoffensive ways to assert some level of traditional masculinity. An Edge, or a Fusion may perform better on paper, but neither will instill the same feeling of driving satisfaction..

TurbulentFlow > megamarcx1984
04/05/2014 at 09:48

Am I going crazy or did someone just call an 8 year old V6 Mustang "one of the last bastions of coolness"? A V6 Mustang is great for picking up high school girls and impressing the clueless (2011-up notwithstanding). It's a car entirely about image with no substance to back it up.

If a person believes that's what "cool" is, I have no problem with that. If their main goal is to attempt to convey "traditional masculinity" and impress clueless people that they don't even know, that's their problem. But to go around talking about how the poor crossover-drivers stare "doe-eyed" in jealousy at the slower, less-capable car? Get over yourself.

Dr.Kamiya > thebigbossyboss
04/05/2014 at 09:58

It's not just for airbags or children, rear-facing is pretty much the safest position to be in during a crash. Too bad it doesn't work very well being able to drive the car...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/traveln…

Kiltedpadre > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 10:07

I've never understood the thought that someone needs to dive straight into the minivan or suv/crossover world just because they have a child. I remember growing up and having my dad refuse to get a four door car even with two growing boys. It helped that this was in the 80's and early 90's when it was still possible to find plenty of options in full size two door cars; GM however was the only option since he worked there. We went on many long car trips in them, including two trips from the middle of Ohio to southern Florida. This was done without a problem even though my dad was 6-4 and close to 400lbs, and towards the end of the time of long family trips my brother and I were both in the upper 5ft range. Granted, there was no need to include room for strollers or getting either of us into and out of a car seat on these trips.

poughdrew > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 10:11

The rear facing convertible car seat will end this. Also, having 3 kids will end everything.

With 2 kids, a dog, and a bicycle, it's time I have to ditch my beloved 6MT G35 Sedan for a used A4 Avant. Yes, I'm giving up a manual, because kids. I'll get over it.

ThePinnacle > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 10:23

Here here, I have an almost 2 year old and our daily driver is an E36 coupe. A mustang would feel like a minivan in comparison. It's plenty of room. We just came back from a trip with our luggage in the trunk and stopped on the way home to buy groceries. In that mustang you'll have even more room if you dump the human wheel barrow and just get an ergo baby. Our ancestors didn't haul their kids in carts like a sack of potatoes.

Quadradeuce > mclovinit
04/05/2014 at 10:41

We also have a Fiat 500 and loaded the kid through the hatch. With kid #2 on the way we will need something bigger, but we wil find the smallest car that still works. Wagon or small crossover.

rayJoyal > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 10:44

I applaud keeping the Mustang, but if you have kid #2, you're going to have a problem.

After the first one was born, the winter cars were a Beretta (wife's car) and an S15 Jimmy. When the wife got pregnant with kid #2, loading a baby into a 2 door while you were pregnant resulted in purchasing a Subaru wagon and an extended cab pickup.

Thanks to the wife being part Jalop, 9 years later, I have a turbo Subaru wagon (stick), the wife has her Avalanche, and not only do we still have the Trans Am (stick), but I also have a 1980 Corvette (stick.)

(We would have bought the Av with a stick if they made one.)

Also, it's amazing how much stuff you can stick in a Legacy wagon or Outback XT.

Audistein > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 10:51

It's totally possible. My father continued to drive his crappy Fox Body convertible for my early childhood, and it's one of the greatest things he ever did for me. I don't think I'd be the petrol-head I am today without my first memories of riding in cars being from that one. He later (after I was out of the carseat) bought an even-more-impractical Saab 900 Turbo Convertible. We only pay cash for cars, but luckily he can do a lot better than a tired, old V6 Mustang now days...

Matt McDougall > gp177
04/05/2014 at 10:52

As the child gains weight and the capacity to actively struggle against being loaded into the car seat, you mean...and add more than one to the mix and things with two doors get unworkable fast.

46Power > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 10:54

I am curious which car seat you chose, I have an 08 GT and I was able to fit 2 car seats without modifying anything and I had both checked and passed by the safety inspectors at the hospital. One seat being the base to the carrier and one being the actual rear facing car seat.

I don't do the primary driving with my baby in the Mustang, my wife has a 4 door and I have an 04 WRX as well that serves as primary baby duty, but that being said it does baby and it does so safely.

I do however plan to buy my wife a new Odyssey in the near future in place of her car as hers is the oldest and that is what she wants.

Aadel > poughdrew
04/05/2014 at 10:55

Kinja'd!!!

I had a Camaro ZL1, I drove it from new to about 800 miles over the span of about 8 months. I came to hard realization that I could not live this way as we have three kids and I have to at least take two of them out when leaving to run errands on a Saturday afternoon. We have our Odyssey minivan, but I bought CTS-V Wagon as my daily to sooth my senses and keep my sanity. Hands down the best compromise for a family hauler ever.

46Power > 46Power
04/05/2014 at 11:01

Kinja'd!!!

dflores > Matt McDougall
04/05/2014 at 11:04

Exactly. These posts are painfully misleading. He's basically sacrificing his child comfort and safety options so that he can keep that car. Good thing his wife's seemingly onboard with the idea.

megamarcx1984 > TurbulentFlow
04/05/2014 at 11:10

Is this what "old" sounds like? If so I fear for my upcoming years..stop thinking practicality, stop thinking performance numbers..your average midsize sedan has better performance numbers than sports cars of old, and your average crossover is based on that average sedan. Yet with that knowledge I'd still prefer a 4 cyl Mustang over a V6 crossover. You're absolutely right, I shouldn't assume every crossover owner is jealous of any car around them, faster or slower, but this article is proof positive that many of us aren't seeing responsible parenthood, and driver enjoyment as mutually exclusive concepts..

(This coming from a former 1986 300ZX, current 1999 Cavalier daily driver that gets to be surrounded by camaros, mustangs, and all sorts of audis when I drop my daughter off at school.)

Stradale > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 11:14

Why not trade that V6 Stang in on a Focus ST? It has more power and torque and comes in a manual. Plus even though it is fwd it is still a drivers car.

Tired > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 11:15

Amen, brother. My kids are 10 and 13 now, and 14 years ago I was the proud owned of a 20+ year old 911. My wife and I had some 'discussions' on the topic, but in the end, I can verify that an old Porsche will baby, as well. My kids still remember that car, and are becoming car lovers along the way. My wife even eventually saw the light, and now the largest car she'll consider looking for is a wagon (and thrill of thrills, she's currently jonesing for a mini!).

I agree that we've had to plan our shopping, but also our cross country trips. Packing luggage around baby stuff in a small car will be your next challenge, but rise to it when off to visit grandma. The stories will live forever, in a good way.

If someone needs a minivan, by all means get a minivan. They're absurdly voluminous and comfortable. But I don't need one, and I'm doubting you do either. Stick with what you love. Your kids will notice the passion.

megamarcx1984 > TurbulentFlow
04/05/2014 at 11:17

Too late to edit...."old" wasn't right, I don't know how old you are, so that's unfair. But if you can't understand of appeal of a reliable, any generation, manual V6 Mustang in the hands of a jalop over a Ford Edge, I fear we may be thinking on different wavelengths...or you have more than one kid.

dflores > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 11:18

Some day you will grow up and understand why parents make sacrifices. For the sake of your child, hopefully that is sooner than later.

bnsf981 > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 11:37

Kinja'd!!!

Yes, it is a 4dr, but the trunk and rear seat are pretty woeful. I bought a Recaro car seat and it just didn't work out, so I found something smaller, and yes, it now will baby.

TurbulentFlow > megamarcx1984
04/05/2014 at 11:38

Not old, and just one kid. My priority is function over form. I'm more interested in what something can do than what it is. People are more than welcome to enjoying driving whatever car they want, but they'll have to get used to staring at a lot of stick figure families.

Atomic Buffalo > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 11:41

All too often on car forums, someone posts that they're trading their cool car for "something more practical" because a baby is on the way. It's tragic and so often unnecessary. How many future enthusiasts are lost because their parents never exposed them to it?

So kudos to you and your wife for putting up with little inconveniences to share the joy of driving a car built to that purpose. And enjoy all those smiles and giggles coming from the back seat — those other Daddies might not know it, but that's what they're really missing.

Umoja > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 11:48

Thank you for posting this. May I ask if your car is a V8 or V6 (I missed that in the post) and if you have exhaust work done? I just got married and my wife and I are planning kids so seeing a mustang baby is a big deal for me since I drive a 2004 Mach 1 with a bassani exhaust system. Thanks!

megamarcx1984 > TurbulentFlow
04/05/2014 at 12:05

I don't mind the stick figure families :) Lots of Subaru wagons here in SE Michigan...

PragmaticPanda > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 12:26

"But, our daughter loves the rumble of the motor and the occasional pop-bang of the exhaust. But, daily driving is still enjoyable. But, we don't have to live with a minivan."

LOL, it's a V6, c'mon...

Bearded Bastard > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 12:40

I never understood the appeal of getting a reasonably large enclosed vehicle for family hauling. At least, not a minivan, even older Durango models look good and will hold 5 and have plenty of space. Even then, I was babied in a 70s Datsun 240, and when my sister came along, the Datsun was broke, and mom got a sunfire coupe. Never had any issues.

darthd > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 12:50

>2014
>having kids
you dun goofed.

Room13 > thebigbossyboss
04/05/2014 at 12:50

Pretty sure it's so you don't have to see the little assholes face as it cries incessantly about stupid shit, like being hungry.

Ike B > jalop1991
04/05/2014 at 13:06

You had a child and your identity that you want to keep is a 2006 Mustang.

Got it.

Everybody, this is what self-righteousness looks like.

Sissyfoot > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 13:06

Before we had kids, I drove an AW11 MR2, which isn't practical for even one person. When it was time to replace it, my wife set the condition that it had to have four doors and four seats. So I bought an RX-8. As far as coupes go, it's relatively easy to get car seats in and out of.

Eventually, when we had a second child, the RX-8 had to become a summer track toy. I bought an E-320, because station wagon.

Ike B > Aadel
04/05/2014 at 13:08

I don't see how a 556hp car that can carry everything you own is a "compromise" unless your last car was a Supra with a GT105 in it or something absurd.

Matt McDougall > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 13:13

You know, I was somewhat onboard until your last two paragraphs denigrating people who make the decision to adapt to changing life circumstances.

Yes, you can technically make a Mustang work with an infant. I made a Cooper S work for a few months. BUT...at four months, a baby is functionally no different from a dense loaf of bread. Just wait until she gets bigger, and heavier, and develops the capacity to squirm and wiggle and fight and kick against being loaded into that car seat. Just wait until she decides she doesn't want to be strapped in and its pouring rain and you move the wrong way and pull a muscle in your back. Just wait until you get to do that day in, day out, in the summer heat and winter cold. Just wait until you get to crawl back there to clean up vomit or a blowout diaper. And that's just one kid.

While we're at it, have fun not being able to carry a jogging stroller, or a dog, or family when they visit. Have fun on road trips, too. They're trying enough in a Mustang with two adults.

Before we had kids, my wife swore she'd never drive a minivan. Heck...SHE had a Mustang. Now that we have three of the monsters, she probably loves her Odyssey more than she does me.

I'm definitely the car nut in the family, but I've gone from a Cooper S to a Clubman to a Countryman as our family has grown. The Countryman isn't as tossable as the Cooper was, but it's at least in a similar ballpark, and it has four doors and the slightly higher ride height means a lot less back strain when I get to drag my now almost four-year-old daughter out of her carseat after she's passed out during one of our evening drives (protip...it's not the Mustang your daughter loves...babies in general seem to enjoy road noise and a good exhaust note). The big panoramic moonroof and good visibility out the side windows is also a big hit for spotting fire trucks and horses and motorcycles.

Oh, and those dull, doe-eyed dads? A few of them might be jealous, I guess. A few others might be feeling bad at what seems to them a desperate cling to life-before-baby. Most of them? I doubt they even notice.

Master Chiefzilla Comes With Built-In Spartan Laser > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 13:27

I don't have a child but I do have a '01 Stang. As a bachelor it's a perfect car for me but I always knew in the back of my head I would have to part ways at some point, especially if I ever wanted a family.

Then a few months back I had to take my cousin who was a babysitting a two/three year old and all the kid stuff to her place 30 minutes away and only had the Stang. Challenge accepted.

Twenty minutes later the crying child was passed out and none of my shifting or the car woke her up and everything fit in fine without a hitch.

Your story reminded me of this and gives me hope for when I decide to baby, I know that my car can as well.

sdrrrr3 > f86sabre
04/05/2014 at 13:33

Aren't there more rear impact accidents these days with distracted driving and red light cameras? The two accidents that involved another car, I was rear ended.

Sojhinn > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 13:42

I still get comments that I have two car seats in the back of my BRZ. And the kids love driving around in it. My son calls it lightning McQueen too!

buckfiddious > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 13:59

What I learned when we had our kid was that it really doesn't matter what you drive, all cars are difficult to get kids in and out of. Your 10 pound kid gets strapped into 20+ pounds of carseat, a carrier that is not designed to fit easily into anything short of a barn door. Have a 4-door? doesn't matter. The little rear doors and the roofline will conspire to make you throw your back out.

I think part of the reason people end up with mini-vans is that they are the only vehicles considered by the people who design car seats. And you finally give up.

Sad thing is, the car seat years are over fairly quickly- the rear-facing seats go away after a year or so, the front facing seats are easier, the kid learns how to get in on their own and by 6 or so, they're strapping themselves into their own booster, no problem.

Here's the problem you are gonna hit with your mustang, though- kids who can't see out of a window when they are in a forward facing seat can be barfy kids. Maybe you'll be lucky and your kid won't be one of the barfy ones but man, if they are, good luck. the super high hip lines on modern cars and the pillbox windows do not work well with children.

FJ60GatewayDrug > daender
04/05/2014 at 14:05

Rear-facing carseats shouldn't be in the front seat anyway. The airbag will win against the carseat. @Eysmahn got it right— it's because youngins' aren't strong enough to keep their heads up.

Next time you're in your car (assuming it has airbags), check the visor. You'll probably see a label similar to one of these:

Kinja'd!!!

evilfacelessturtle (Hooning a Ford is Domestic Abuse) > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 14:05

But... but... safety... If you don't buy an SUV your kid will die in even the slightest fender bender! In fact, there are other SUVs just as big that could hit you, so fuck it, buy a tank.

MikeHTiger > thebigbossyboss
04/05/2014 at 14:08

A lot of military aircraft have all passengers sit backwards. It's just safer that way.

protodad > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 14:30

Geeze, talk about Deja Vu. We owned a 2006 Mustang GT that I bought for my wife and I couldn't get our baby seat into the back for our first kid. Admittedly, I had no idea what I was doing and we bought some crazy huge car seat to keep the kid safe.

Long story short we bought an Edge to hold kid one and two and then had the issue of how to fit kid #3. It was ok for a while but my wife got tired quick of the kids annoying each other and having no way to transport an additional person should the need arrive.

We own a minivan now. The convenience is totally worth it.

The Compromiser > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 14:37

Bought my Charger because it fits three bOys. One in a car seat, one in a booster an One in hockey EQUIPMENT. And the looks I get are priceless when we get out.

Rand0nS > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 15:38

I don't know how the hell you manage with your Mustang. I also had my first child last November and also had a mustang. It was a 2011 and I traded it in for a Camry. I can not comprehend how you manage with the mustang. The Camry is the perfect size for me.

Rand0nS > TurbulentFlow
04/05/2014 at 15:42

Very true, my 2010 V6 Camry would own a 2006 v6 mustang in damn near every way, lol.

joekitch > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 16:07

RECARO BABY SEAT

you didnt have to buy a minivan so you guys probably have some cash lying around, right? It's probably super safe too

Kinja'd!!!

f86sabre > sdrrrr3
04/05/2014 at 16:17

I think the likelihood of having a catastrophic accident would be in a head on. Yes, both can be bad, but you can't optimize seating for both eventualities.

MJMcG > Eysmahn
04/05/2014 at 17:01

Plus, the relative weight of the baby's head to the rest of the body does not help in this calculation. That is why you support the head when you are carrying them around, and why they promote "Tummy time" so kids can build neck muscles.

And rear facing infant seats in the front of cars require passenger air-bag disabling.

And, in any case, small kids are terribly vulnerable in cars due to the neck muscle issues, even ignoring impacts, hard braking, turning and accelerating is a risk. But this passes, and in a few years you can introduce them to torque and powerslides. Which they will love.

Reborn Pyrrhic > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 17:07

What was the brand and model of rear facing baby seat you got to fit inside the Mustang? I have a Saab 9-5 wagon, and we went though two different rear facing seats because they were so bulky that even on the Saab, with ample rear leg room, the front seat had to be pushed far forward to get the correct angle for the rear facing seat.

Now my son is big enough for a front facing seat, and it's like heaven. I often put him in the front seat of my Peugeot 205 cabriolet (no air bag), and my son absolutely loves riding with the top open.

Mom stays home, dad and son go out for a warm topless drive!

neverknowsbest > thebigbossyboss
04/05/2014 at 18:15

the only stupid questions are the ones not asked.
its better to ask and learn and risk judgement, than to be willfully ignorant.

and yeah its because of their neck muscles. and also why most single cab trucks have an airbag off switch for car seats.

Bucky Katt > Eysmahn
04/05/2014 at 19:49

Of course, if you have a fast enough Mustang, you are dooming baby to severe whiplash when you take off from a traffic light. ;-)

BKNJ

Scott C. Anderson > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 21:49

Kinja'd!!!

So... I have had 35 cars... and a LOT of coupes.. an M3 with my kids,both kids , a 328iS, 88 M5, Crossfire, Wrangler, Charger R/T, and my current ride, a Cadillac ATS 2.0T Manual RWD, etc etc.. and while I get it.. All I can say is.. the Minivan is the best tool for the job.. once (and if) you have two.. with rear facing car seats.. and all the crap kids come with to haul (double strollers, diaper bags, supplies, presents for Christmas, yadda yadda..) having a van just makes your hectic, complicated, two kids up a 4am to feed the baby life just a *bit* more tolerable and pleasant.. For example..not having to do the Heimlich maneuver just to load your kids in the car (trust me, I've done it all in my coupes with rearward facing seats (including sitting in the rear seat straddling the car seat to buckle the kid in move).. but if you GOTTA get a van. (and you will likely think about it) . I HIGHLY RECOMMEND the Dodge Caravan R/T.. and I know.. what you're thinking.. sounds stupidly, absurdly apologetic to a "real car guy".. but just hear me out... 20% stiffer body than the standard van, tighter steering ratio, stiffer springs and dampers, 500W MyGig stereo, Dual DVD, black leather interior with red stitch.. crazy thing is, it ACTUALLY handles a bit better, and the steering feedback is much better than stock.. and just for good measure.. I added some Grand Cherokee SRT8 20" x 9" 42mm offset wheels and Eagle RSA tires... (yeah, they bolt right up, if you get all fronts all around,.. and they add 10mm of offset so the rims flush out real nice.. polished 5 spoke goodness! MUCHO_ GRIPPO! and it looks positively HOT (for a minivan).. in gunmetal grey... so .. as much as a coupe seems like it will work... at some point (like second kid).. the minivan is just hard to beat...and if you ARE gonna consider one.. why not one that actually FEELS GOOD TO DRIVE... and why not embrace the VAN GOODNESS :)

Scott C. Anderson > Scott C. Anderson
04/05/2014 at 21:52

and BTW... people stop my wife, or I.. ALL the time and ask " where did you get those WHEELS! " :)

basementshow > Matt McDougall
04/05/2014 at 21:59

My wife hated the thought of getting a Town & Country… until the first time she went to put my daughter in her seat. Having the whole side of the vehicle slide open remotely was a blessing, and that was compared to our old Grand Cherokee. So I can't even imagine a coupe. We don't have to think twice before going anywhere because there's plenty of cargo space, and the 285hp is more than enough power for hauling two kids. Plus I know they're safe, not being wedged into the smallest space their seat could still fit.

That doe-eyed look? That's the practical dad thinking to himself, "Let it go, man. Let it go."

gp177 > Atl_boiler
04/05/2014 at 22:08

It's not too bad.

Our first is 2.5 now and I put her forward facing behind me, so I have plenty of room. Our 2 month old is behind the passenger (where the 1st was prior). My wife is 5'6" and fits but a taller passenger would have issues.

It works for us and probably most people but I wouldn't recommend it for twins or very tall couples.

N51fanatic > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 22:34

Great write up. I bought a 1 series BMW knowing my wife was 3 months pregnant over the summer. I test fit a few seats and strollers, before settling on ones that fit. This was great. I agree, folks learn they are pregant and head right to the nearest Honda CRV dealership.

Now the key to buying an inconveniant car, is making sure you have a convenient one. My wife drives a CX5 GT AWD. That does 99.9% of the baby duty. My kid is a bit over 2 months, and I havent even installed the car seat in my car yet lol.

BentZero > Lets Just Drive
04/05/2014 at 22:40

Very sound advice. I gave up my G35 coupe so we could get a SUV to haul the kids around. There's rarely a day that I don't regret that move. My twins are 6 now and I'm ready for a new car. I'm thinking of going BMW 228i. The kids ride with me in the morning to school for a total of 15 minutes. They can deal with sitting in the backseat. Wife will have to deal with the fact that it'll be a stick. Don't let being a parent consume all of your identity my Jalopnik brethren.

jalop1991 > Ike B
04/06/2014 at 00:38

He defines his "manhood" or "manliness" by the external factors of what (he thinks) others think of him purely based on what they see of him driving around. How shallow.

The identity he wants to be known by shallow others as is a "zoom-zoom" 06 Mustang V6 driver. How weird. Never mind that he's taken on the manliest task of all: being a father.

And never mind that he has given the meaning of his life up to what he perceives others to think of him. And never mind that he is actively passing that fucked-up mentality on to his child.

trbstang > Lets Just Drive
04/06/2014 at 02:10

Amen! 22 years ago, all we had was my 87 Mustang hatch, and we did not have a problem transporting my young son in it, with a rear facing car seat, stroller, etc. The hatch made a big difference as we could pack it up pretty well, plus we used the rest of the back seat. Unlike many of those on here, buying a new car was just not an option in our situation just for a bit of convenience. If I sold it, I would have had to buy something for cash, and I was not buying an older used vehicle that I was not familiar with. Yeah, you could say I was "selfish" but so what. No one else was buying me a new car, and I could not buy one myself.

We went for 3 full years with my son in one car, and 6 more months with also my daughter. A rear facing seat and regular car seat fit OK for us, but luggage space was no more. Then we were finally able to buy something else, and yes, we got a minivan.

Fast forward 6 more years and we had twin boys! Luckily we had room in the van for all 4 and used it most of the time, but I had to run the boys around at times and the two rear facing seats also fit ok in the Stang; one in front and one in back. Once they got older my boys loved rides in "daddy's horsey car"! One of these days I'll be running my grandchildren around in the same car too, I hope.

BJ > Lets Just Drive
04/06/2014 at 07:42

I don't think it's fair to say that, because parents buy minivans and SUVs, they are lazy.

Generally speaking, it's a simple cost-benefit calculation. Does the inconvenience of using a muscle car and its tiny back seat and limited trunk space cost more than the benefit of owning a vehicle that has more than adequate storage and an uninspiring drive? Does the process of shopping for a car and selling the old one cost more than the uncomfortable ergonomics of loading a baby into a coupe's back seat?

In some cases, it's because we're overwhelmed and unsure about what to do. There is no manual for raising a child, and with all of the uncertainty, nature tells us to be cautious. So we ensure that we have a vehicle that is both adequately large to carry baby and all of his possessions, but also adequately safe to shield him from harm. Many people equate size with safety, but it's also a question of performance. Is it "safe" to drive your child around in a 300+ hp RWD sports car? Sure, but it's arguably safer still to drive them around in a Caravan (and you don't have to limit yourself when you do a Costco run), so that's the choice we make.

These are all personal questions that we have to ask ourselves when the time comes. There is no easy choice, and in absolute terms, no right or wrong decision.

Ike B > jalop1991
04/06/2014 at 07:51

And here I was thinking he owned a Mustang because he wanted to drive a Mustang. Was it really that one "green with envy" sentence in there that told you "oh I know everything about why he wants a Mustang now" ? Because that's the only clue he put in there that he's even aware of what other people think.

If all the other guys have a "I'm a responsible father, you Mustang-driving asshole" minivan or "Hey I'm more manly than that wussy minivan driver" SUVs, then yes they'd probably prefer the Mustang, which few of them could identify the trim level of by sight anyway.

FERNO > Lets Just Drive
04/06/2014 at 08:10

So let me just throw this out there. I live in the south, in NC. We get roughly 2 inches of snow a year that lasts for a day-and-a-half. We had a minivan, a 335i sedan 6MT that was replacing my 330i sedan AT, both on summer tires because again, you can usually comfortably ride a motorcycle 10 months out of the year around here.

We had 4 inches of snow once a week for 2 months. That's way above normal, but no big deal, I can work from home. One day, it dumped 3" in an hour, resulting in gridlock, cars unable to drive up 2° inclines thus abandoning them in the road, etc. It took my wife 2.5hrs to get home the 12 minutes from daycare, with the kids mind you. She had to u-turn twice because of impassible roads. No big deal, we've had 5 snows already, not going to be another one this year.

Someone hit the van. No big deal, we've had 5 snows already, not going to be another one... and we have a third car, until I sell it. Put the van in the bodyshop.

We got 7 inches of snow in a town unprepared for it, and two toddlers home with colds. We have enough food for a couple of days, but two RWD cars on summer tires, while the fwd van on all seasons is still in the shop. My kids had low-grade fevers, but could've spiked at any time, (earlier in the month one of them had 103°), and I couldn't get them to the doctor and may have had to call an ambulance. My wife was ok, but I couldn't help but reconsider my priorities.

335 is sold.
330 is for sale.
4th gen 4runner V8 4WD is in the driveway.
Duratracs or similar will be on by fall.

Now, I won't go looking to find a reason to take it out in the snow next year, and I'll stay home if at all possible. But it makes me feel better that if I NEED to, I can get to the store, get to daycare and home, even if I have to hop curbs. Sure, the kids' seats fit fine in the e90s, but the 4runner babys a heck of a lot better, and my kids can actually walk on the rear floorboards with the seats in front-facing. Bonus: camping/outdoorsie stuff.

Tread Lightly, mi amigos.

jalop1991 > Ike B
04/06/2014 at 08:27

yeah, it's pretty damn clear: he defines himself by what he perceives others to think of him based on what he drives.

Is he allowed to? Sure. Is that fucked up? Yes. Am I allowed to say that's fucked up? Yes. Is he going to hand the world fucked up children when he gives them the same attitude? Yes.

gp177 > joekitch
04/06/2014 at 08:36

The Recaro is actually a poor choice for coupes and small cars, oddly enogh. They are very tall; so when rear facing his passenger seat would probably be useless.

They do make a good, safe, product though.

ABOFA151 > Lets Just Drive
04/06/2014 at 09:10

I babied in a '93 MR2 for a while. No passenger airbag, and a passenger seatbelt made to hold a child seat in place. There were instructions in the owners manual for installing a rear facing child seat.

When the second baby came along the next year, I babied in a '93 Mustang for a while. It worked, but at 6'8", and having to put a baby behind me I started looking for something else. The Mustang gave way to a '13 Taurus SHO. Perhaps if I (and my babies) weren't so tall, the Mustang would still be my go-to baby car. It sure beat the pants off of my wife's Pacifica.

imdavid > Lets Just Drive
04/06/2014 at 09:45

This is all wrong. All new parents *must* buy a vehicle capable of hauling 6 people and several hundred dollars worth of grocery. It's an American fact. Or maybe only a Michigan fact? I'm not sure but I just know it's a fact.