Need recommendations for new car!

[rennylee]

Hi, I'm due with our 3rd child in May and need to upgrade the car as we'll have all 3 kids in car seats for quite a while yet. The first two are 3yrs and 1 yr and we haven't ruled out having a fourth at this stage - see how insane I go in the meantime. I need some different opinions - so far we've looked at the Ford Territory ( not much boot space) and the Honda Odessey ( anchor points are in the roof and can't use third row when you've car seats in the 2nd row). Does anyone have experience with these cars or any other cars like this?:xmas:

[luvmyboyz]

We've just bought the Territory and it was between that & the Odyssey.

The Territory can actually sit the 3 bigger carseats a little better than the Odyssey side by side in 1 row & I hated the way they anchored in the O given I have a 14yr old & 12 yr old the straps would have just about cut their heads off.

Neither really had much boot space with all seats up so that really didnt factor into our decision.

The Odyssey is only a 4cyl whereas the Territory is a 6, so more gutsy but uses a lot more fuel & is more like a 4wd whereas the odyssey is more car like but I actually preferred the Territory to drive.

The only thing I really dont like about the Territory is the lack of leg room in the rear seats, once the kids are big enough to no longer utilise car seats they would have trouble using the back row, my 14yr old is as tall as me & cant sit without his legs all crunched up.

They were both nice cars but overall my preference was for the Territory, I felt more comforatable driving it than the Odyssey & so far am really happy with it.

We also looked at the Mitsibishi Outlander which is very similar to the Odyssey.

HTH

[Danielle1980]

I've got a ford territory & love it but only use the 2nd row not 3rd row as I only have 2 children. The other day I went out with my friend & her daughter & we took my car & put a booster seat in between my childrens 2 seats. So I had what I consider 3 wide car seats in my 2nd row, it was a very tight squeeze but I think with the slimmer seats designed for people in your position I think you'd be alright using 2nd row only & having the full back for boot space.
When I have my car full & using the 3rd row aswell I put my P&T pram on its side in the very back so I can still take my pram.
A friend of mine who has 3 kids & hoping for a 4th has a Kia carnival (I think) & 2 other friends have the Prado (Nissan I think?) which is an 8 seater.

Hope I've helped & Good luck finding one that suits your needs :)

[NibbleCurlynBub]

I'm due in March and am thinking the same thing.

I need to get rid of DD's seat because it is BULKY (given to us by a friend) and then not sure if from there I want to buy HiPod big booster seat thingy for the other two or just for DS and a new seat for bub..

Ugh.

Its a huge wonder. I haven't decided yet what I will do. :no:

[Renee1979]

I LOVE my Toyota Kluger. There is still enough room for the Steelcraft layback stoller in the boot with the third row in use and the car seat ancor points are on the back of the middle row seats so they can be used at the same time as the third row.
I only have two kids now but have easily transported my two kids, 4 (in booster in third row) and 2 (forward facing convertable seat in middle row) as well as my two nieces, 3 (in maxi rider in middle row) and 10m (in forward facing convertable seat in middle row).
If you would like to compare different cars try using redbook.com.au, they make it really easy.
Anyway, I hope you shopping is more enjoyable than stressful.