Baby Comin': Looking for Car Recommendations

"WhatDaFunk" (WhatDaFunk) 09/09/2014 at 12:54 • Filed to: None

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Just found out recently my wife is pregnant with our first child, and I'm thinking it might be time to replace my 25 year old car that has almost no safety features.

( Full Disclosure: If I'm being honest part of me just sees this as an excuse to buy a new car.)

Initially I was thinking Ford Focus ST, but reading about it online it sound like you can only just barely fit a rear-facing child seat in the back, and the cargo area isn't actually all that spacious. It sounds like it would work, but maybe just barely. So I turn to you, oppo, to see if you have any suggestions for alternatives. Here are my requirements:

Sedan, Wagon or Hatchback.

Budget of up to $20K (Focust ST is a little more than that, so I would be willing to stretch a bit).

Needs to have good, modern safety features.

Needs to be fun to drive, or at least not boring.

Either new or used is OK.

CalzoneGolem > WhatDaFunk 09/09/2014 at 12:58

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The easiest thing to get a baby in and out of is something tall with big doors.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > WhatDaFunk 09/09/2014 at 12:59

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End of discussion.

(If you find one that isn't at CarMax, you could probably haggle it closer to $20k.)

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > WhatDaFunk 09/09/2014 at 12:59

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Get a 1970's land barge. Big, safe and fits a stroller or 5.

Alfalfa > WhatDaFunk 09/09/2014 at 13:01

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I'm going to be brutally honest: most people turn stupid when they look for "baby" cars. You don't need nearly as much space as you think you do. You can make almost any car work if you want to. It drives me crazy that people have one child, and think that they need a Suburban. I've seen people fit rear-facing seats in coupes multiple times. I'm sure a FoST will be enough.

Bytemite > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 09/09/2014 at 13:05

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Only in your fantasies is this going to be 20k. :)

Dunnik > WhatDaFunk 09/09/2014 at 13:06

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Mk6 GTI? Pretty sure it has more cargo room. Dunno about any child seat issues. Checks all other boxes.

In the same vein, B7 Audi A4 Avant Quattro? Does it snow where you live?

E90 wagon? XDrive if it snows where you live.

Third generation Impreza WRX STI or non STI depending on cost of insuring?

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Bytemite 09/09/2014 at 13:07

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Well, it's only $26k right now.

I said closer, not exactly $20k.

Bytemite > WhatDaFunk 09/09/2014 at 13:08

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E30. 4 Door 325i would work.

Safety features? Not being a landyacht so you can actually maneuver potential crashes.

It's a "Porch-uh" > WhatDaFunk 09/09/2014 at 13:09

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I got an E39 M5 after my second was born. Easy to get car seats in and out of. My wife currently drives an E46 touring after switching from an XC90 (she felt it was too big).

Before you start looking at cars go buy a car seat (let me know if you want pointers on that) and try getting it in and out. The infant seats use a base that snaps into the car, then the seat can be easily removed and placed on a compatible stroller base or moved to the house or another car (with an extra base).

Any car made after September 2002 should have the LATCH system which makes it easy (and safer) to get the seats in and out. This isn't much use when you have an infant seat with several bases, but it's great when they move up to a convertible seat (for toddlers) they are one-piece and you have to move them from car to car (unless you want to pony up for multiple seats).

OPPOsaurus WRX > Alfalfa 09/09/2014 at 13:11

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yep to it all.

OPPOsaurus WRX > WhatDaFunk 09/09/2014 at 13:15

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1st, congratz.

2nd, good luck.

3rd, as with my typical answer, get a WRX. Its safe. (when I got mine was when Subaru was running the "They Lived" commercials which I pointed out every time to my wife.) Check the picture. Thats two monsters in the back there. that means a double stroller, two car seats two stocks of diapers and bottles. two of well everything. 6 months and the only thing I have need my wife's Escape (also pictures) was hauling a dozen screen doors back from home depot. (if I had roof racks it would have been fine. WRX is the answer.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > WhatDaFunk 09/09/2014 at 13:15

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I can't see an ST being a problem with a car seat or baby. Plenty of people use them for that when their wives make them get rid of their Mustang, or at least for that guy on Youtube. Honestly, my cousin does just fine with his daughter in his FRS, everything fits just fine.

dogisbadob > WhatDaFunk 09/09/2014 at 13:21

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What 25 yo car with no safety features do you have now? Maybe that might help us find you something.

There is always the non-ST Focus, or also the Fiesta ST. I don't really like GM that much, but you can get a white Sonic with white wheels.

How about a Mazda 5? Sporty minivan, lots of stuff interchangeable with the 3, but the only problem is the manual transmission is only available on the base model for the past few years (if you're willing to look at something 5-10 years old, you can get a sunroof and stick)

Honda's Fit is an awesome car and you can FINALLY get a sunroof on it!

07-11 Civic Si sedan is fun too

Possibly the Saturn Astra might work. 08-09 only, and available with a huge panoramic sunroof.

The 07-12 Elantra Touring also seems like a smart choice. Hyundai finally has a CPO program, which includes the 10-year/100k warranty.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > WhatDaFunk 09/09/2014 at 13:35

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When we were going to start our family I got rid of my 04 Blazer 4 door 4x4 and got a 07 Mercury Milan V6. I had to get a Ford product, it was a work thing. But the Milan has been great, reliable, surprisingly sporty at times fits the rear facing seat no issues.

I would honestly recommend a used Fusion or a used MKZ. At the price range you may be able to break into Taurus and MKS range if you're used.

Don't break your budget.

The little guys are ungodly expensive. Example: Until I just bought a bigger/new to me house daycare was more expensive than our mortgage payment.

Seriously.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > WhatDaFunk 09/09/2014 at 14:18

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Congratulations on the first kid. Sleep now while you can.

If you can fit the rear facing seat in the back it fits, it doesn't matter if it barely fits or has a ton of room. If it barely fits but is easy to get in and out then you are golden. If it fits with tons of extra room but is a pain getting in and out you will start to hate life.

Someone else suggested buying a car seat and taking it with you when you do your car shopping. That is an excellent suggestion, and will potentially prevent you from buying something that you regret because it is a PITA getting the seat in and out. For added realism put 15-20 pounds of weight in the car seat.

I've got a 2007 STI sedan that I have put a rear facing car seat in. I put it behind the passenger seat because I would have to move the seat too far forward if I put it behind me. The biggest problem is that it is a pain to get the seat into the back seat. Because of the shape and size of the door openings you have to put it in facing crosswise and then turn it to line it up with the base while you're bent over and holding the seat at arms length. The hatch would probably be much easier getting the seat in and out of because of the more square shape to the rear door openings.

My wife's Escape is super easy getting the seat in and out of and fits even with me putting the seat where I like it. I think the Focus has a few less inches of rear legroom, but would probably be doable depending on how tall you are. The other thing that you can do is put the seat behind the passenger. Depending on your parking situation that may not be desirable, and it does force you to have to walk around the car, but it does allow the driver to have as much legroom as they need.

WhatDaFunk > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 09/09/2014 at 14:35

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Interesting idea, would have never even occurred to me. Did a quick look on cars.com and it looks like I could get a 4 or 5 year old one for around $20K. Hmmmm...

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > WhatDaFunk 09/09/2014 at 14:37

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Doooo it.

WhatDaFunk > OPPOsaurus WRX 09/09/2014 at 14:40

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Thanks! I had actually been considering a WRX wagon. How hard is it to get the seats in and out of the back? How tall are you? I'm 6'2" so I'm wondering if I could fit a rear-facing seat behind me while I'm driving. I'm in the last stall in my parking garage so the passenger side is next to a wall, would be easier to manage if I could put the kid on the driver's side.

WhatDaFunk > Dunnik 09/09/2014 at 14:42

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Thanks for the suggestions, I like all of them! I live in San Francisco so I don't need to worry about weather conditions.

OPPOsaurus WRX > WhatDaFunk 09/09/2014 at 19:07

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it might be a tight fit. You should bring the seat with you to try it. I told the guy I would consider the car if I couldn't bring ur home and try putting in the double stroller which did fit.

WhatDaFunk > You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much 09/10/2014 at 01:09

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Thanks! And thanks for the feedback. I agree about bringing a car seat to the test drive, nothing beats firsthand experience.

WhatDaFunk > dogisbadob 09/10/2014 at 01:13

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I'm currently driving an '89 BMW 535i. I like the Fiesta ST (at least from what I've read) but the Focus ST is actually cheaper and easier to find around here. I think the Focus has more interior room too. I'll look into your other suggestions.

WhatDaFunk > It's a "Porch-uh" 09/10/2014 at 01:15

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That's a good idea to bring a car seat to the test drive, I think that makes the most sense. Any advice you have on car seats would definitely be appreciated.

It's a "Porch-uh" > WhatDaFunk 09/10/2014 at 12:02

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We had a Graco with a sweet racing stripe. I'm sure other brands can do this as well, but the seat fit on a stroller base and one of the swings we had. So if the kid was asleep in the car we could pull them out and put them in the swing and they (sometimes) stay asleep.

When they get bigger you can move up to the Recaro (though they do have an infant seat, but they grow through it so fast I say save your money).

someassemblyrequired > WhatDaFunk 09/11/2014 at 17:26

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Always take the kid seat, and remember they have to ride rear facing for a while. Going big may make more sense. Also kids trash cars, and have lots of stuff. Get something big you don't care about. Get something reliable or with a warranty as you will have no time to tinker.

If you're going new it's Caravan time. Get it new with a warranty for under 20K and buy something else cheap and fun with spousal approval. I resisted for a long time but 260 HP makes it sort of ok, and the torque steer is super entertaining.

Kylemaro > WhatDaFunk 09/11/2014 at 20:13

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get i miata, or a bro truck