I need everyones advice

[Russ_16v]

Right, well as some of you may know, i will be venturing into the scary world of parenthood, due in mid December.

So... my other half will be looking to sell her car by then, to get something cheap (Probably a 106 GTi) (Meaning a mint 05 plate LY 182 will be for sale)

The problem im facing is this, we really need a bigger car, the pushchair does fit in the Clio's boot, but only by taking the parcel shelf out, and anything else needs to go on the back seat, which is no good if we go anywhere with friends. Also her parents live in Wales, so the trip to there will be taken fairly often.

Now the OH doesn't want a bigger car, as she doesn't feel comfortable driving bigger cars, which leaves me with only two choices:

1. Sell the Clio, and all the parts, bits and pieces iv collected over the years, and with my tiny bit of savings, buy a bigger car.

I will be lucky to scrape together £3000 if im honest, and i cannot take out any loans or credid cards as i will be skint enough and i want to stay dept free.

Now the options im looking at are a bit chalk and cheese, i love the Accord Type R's, but as i work for VW (and MK4 Golfs don't exite me) i would have a Skoda Octavia vRS (Due to being able to get cheap bits through work, meaning maintainance would be cheaper).

The Accord has the better chassis, and more fun to drive, but from what iv read has worse mpg.

2. Buy a shi**ter thats bigger than the Clio for the daily run, and keep the Clio as a toy.

I suppose it all hangs on what the Clio is worth, i suppose the miles will put people off (131k), even though its fairly well known on here and a good car, so im guessing a value of £1700 ish? It would break my heart to sell it But im just trying to be sensible and do the best thing.



Help?

(Pls no silly answers guys, thank you)

 

[Guppy]

Keep the Clio and buy a focus or something as a runaround

You've put alot of time/money/effort into the Clio and imo the re-sale value would not reflect that.

Keep and enjoy

 

[fUbAr]

congrats on the little'un

I would buy a slightly older VRS and keep the clio tbh.

 

[Revels]

For a new born baby, struggling in and out of a 3 door is a major pain.

So something with 4 doors is what you need.

Oh and congrats

 

[Fletcher]

congrats on the little'un

I would buy a slightly older VRS and keep the clio tbh.

+1

Don't sell the clio Russ!

 

[Russ_16v]

Lol cheers guys

Problem is, the main chunk of money to buy a better car would be from selling the Clio, so to buy the 'other' car id only have around £700 ish to spend?

So what would be better, having a worse boring car to drive day to day,and having the Clio for fun (but then thats 2 lots of tax,mot and insurance) or have the bigger car?

 

[fUbAr]

Lol cheers guys

Problem is, the main chunk of money to buy a better car would be from selling the Clio, so to buy the 'other' car id only have around £700 ish to spend?

So what would be better, having a worse boring car to drive day to day,and having the Clio for fun (but then thats 2 lots of tax,mot and insurance) or have the bigger car?

hmm... in that case, I would sell the clio. I wouldn't want my kid to be in a £700 s**tter.

If you work for VW, my choice would be an Audi A4 around the 2001 era, working on your budget.

 

[Bluebeard]

I'm still stuck on why your Mrs wants a Peugeot 106 to carry a baby about in???

One of the most unsafe cars on the road and you want to put your sprog in there??

 

[Justin]

Congrats on the wee one.

No.1 priority for me is buy the biggest safest car I could. My mate has the Octavia VRS, and for all the slagging I give him, its a good car.

HEAPS of space. Quick enough, and feels like it is rock solid. Not sure on the NCAP but I'd imagine it would be pretty good.

 

[Russ_16v]

Well she wont be doing many miles at all ( Circa 3k per year) so whatever car she chooses it will be small and cheap, i used the 106 as a suggestion.

The only thing is cars are in my blood, and i know if i get a boring car i will be pulling my hair out.

I say Shi**er, but if im honest you can get good cars for little money now, we picked up a Vectra for a mate the other week, 86k, T reg, part history and VGC all for £750 so the bargains are out there, i would never get a really cheap piece of rubbish

 

[Justin]

What about something like a Leon Cupra?

 

[Mells]

Dont sell the clio. Buy a smaller pram.

Just because you have spawn doesnt mean you need a focus ffs. Be daddy cool!

 

[Craigus]

I would make sure whatever you get that is bigger, isn't cheap and s****y if it is gonna be what you carry your little one around in, the last thing you want is to break down in it whilst he/she is in the back, and for it to be unsafe.

The clio is lovely, but if having a safe car means you have to sell your clio, then IMO that is what you have to do! Baby is more important.

 

[Russ_16v]

Sorry guys i haven't made myself very clear,if i keep the Clio i would never ever buy a shed, i would get something safe, just a bit boring for the daily grind

 

[Bluebeard]

I've ust bought a S plate Passat on Porsche rims for £750! Right up your street!

 

[.J.a.m.e.s.]

whats more important, a child or a car....

 

[Sarah]

KEEP THE CLIO

Seriously i had a 106 gti for a while when ads was newborn and fitted fine

then went to a 'family' car as i thought i needed a bigger car and sold that within 6 mths and back to the clio

Its so much easier in the 3 door car to get them in and out at a younger age

If ur missus doesnt want a big car then seriously keep clio

I didnt have a parcel shelf in the 106 but i cud fit it in the clio

You wont have a big pram for long, once there old enough to sit up (6mths) then you can buy a little buggy in stead

 

[Nick_P]

I've been awaiting this thread tbh. Get something massive like a Citroen XM. ha. You cant sell the clio tbh

 

[Aluco]

Jus put baby in the boot, be right with a luggage net.

 

[Russ_16v]

I've ust bought a S plate Passat on Porsche rims for £750! Right up your street!

Beast? Lol

whats more important, a child or a car....

Redundant comment mate, im not saying im letting my child be carted round in some old cheap rusty metro, im not to only one on here who has a Clio as a toy and a cheap daily car.

A £750 Vectra/Focus will be just as safe as a Clio

 

[steviet]

why not insure her on your clio, flog hers and use that money for a bigger car??

 

[Aluco]

whats more important, a child or a car....

Easy, car.

(Don't want kids :rasp

 

[Sarah]

Redundant comment mate

remember this is CS....

 

[drhowser]

how about selling the 182, letting her use your 172 and you buy a bigger runaround?

 

[.Ben.]

Focus is a better bet than a Vectra, thing is you won't find a decent one for £750.

Mondeo maybe, Focus? Probably not. Have you considered a Mk3 Golf? Solid and pretty good given the budget?

5-doors is a major boon with a nipper (obvious really!).

 

[msa197]

Just get a smaller buggy, I had a Loola in mine no problem still have it, folds up very small.

Girlfriend has a 7 year old and mine which is about 16 months. We all went to Butlins last year and got everything in for a week.

But sold the Clio and got a Zafira VXR, job done................

 

[drhowser]

why not insure her on your clio, flog hers and use that money for a bigger car??

beat me to it..:approve:

 

[Gally]

For a new born baby, struggling in and out of a 3 door is a major pain.

So something with 4 doors is what you need.

Oh and congrats

I think it's proven that 3 door cars are better for your back when loading and unloading a child.

I also have never had a big car or a 5 door and probably never will. I have a 1 year old.

 

[Sarah]

I think it's proven that 3 door cars are better for your back when loading and unloading a child.

ive had both and you have to proper twist ur back to get a kid in and out of a 5 door car compared to a 3 dr spesh seen as it looks like hes after a small family hatch not a saloon car

 

[Scott S]

I have 2 kids (one 4yrs old and one 10mnths old) and we have a Clio and Punto on the road. Both more than adequate of shipping the 'family' around.

I considered selling my proton and getting a bigger car more than once, but didn't and ended up with my 172, plenty of airbags etc for piece of mind.

If we need to all go somewhere for a few days, everything fits in one car, it can be a little tight but it means we both keep the cars we like.

Going on hols in September, we will be taking the 2 dogs so will have to take 2 cars, but TBH this would be the same pretty much whatever car we had. Just going to leave one parked up once we get there as luggage out = room for dogs.

Getting a bigger car for 1 kid is (IMO) not really that necessary. If the clio is safe, why not keep it.

Driving a car you really like (again IMO) is better than having the space on the few occasions you'll need a bigger car.

*EDIT*

Sorry if I have re-covered something menationed earlier in the thread, I am at work and had to skim read a little.

P.S. congrats, if you had said earlier you wanted a kid, you could have had one of mine.

 

[Russ_16v]

Are these opinions taking in the long trips we will be doing guys? What do you do when you want to go somewhere with friends? We all can't fit in lol

Thank you for all the opinions so far

 

[Sarah]

LOL..its a very tight fit for 4 adults and a car seat in a golf/focus size car

 

[Brett]

I'd keep one of the Clio's and get a bigger family car. Best of both worlds. I'd avoid the 106, its a tin can, wouldn't feel safe in one myself let alone with a child.

 

[Scott S]

Are these opinions taking in the long trips we will be doing guys? What do you do when you want to go somewhere with friends? We all can't fit in lol

Thank you for all the opinions so far

Why do your friends have to travel in your car?

 

[DynamoDave]

I'm in a similar situation to yourself mate. The fiance's due in November and I've got my R3 which is far from ideal.

She has a FN2 type R which is plenty big enough but only 3 door.

I'm in the middle of battling to get my money back for my RX8 as it's knackered and will be looking to get a family wagon if I'm successful.

After seeing/hearing the amount of stuff you need to cart around with a baby, I can't think of anything worse than having to shoehorn everything into the car all the time.

As other folk have said...I reckon your best bet would be to give her your car to use and get something like the VRS for you.

Dave

 

[wicker man]

get a saab 9-5 safe, never go wrong good to drive etc can get a good one for under £1000

i picked one up just before xmas gone 1999 Vreg FSH 78K 3.0 V6 SE auto fully loaded for £900 gave it a good service & whatnot done 15K in it & sold it 4months later for what i payed for it

 

[Gally]

Once everyone has a baby go and buy a picasso! FFS!

How much stuff do you really need to take!

Dynamo don't let the baby alter your thoughts on cars, it's all down hill from there!

 

[Russ_16v]

Why do your friends have to travel in your car?

They don't always have to, but i go out alot with our families, and both have small cars, i get fed up of wedging in small cars without a baby,let alone with one lol, bearing in mind im 6ft 4

 

[DynamoDave]

Once everyone has a baby go and buy a picasso! FFS!

How much stuff do you really need to take!

Dynamo don't let the baby alter your thoughts on cars, it's all down hill from there!

People that buy people cariers have given up IMO lol

I'll still be buying a decent car as I spend far too much time behind the wheel to buy something boring and past experience tells me that a sensible spell doesn't last long!

If all goes to plan with rejecting the RX8 then I'll probably be looking to save a bit of cash as I'm going to have to support the fiance and the baby!

FD2 and Leon K1 are top of the list so far. Would love a Forester STi but not sure I'll get that one past her indoors lol

 

[Scott S]

They don't always have to, but i go out alot with our families, and both have small cars, i get fed up of wedging in small cars without a baby,let alone with one lol, bearing in mind im 6ft 4

If it means you get to keep the car you want to keep then is it not better to just take an extra car on these occasions?

Maybe that won't suit you, but suggestion to hopefully let you keep a car you want. We just sort it all out on a 'household' basis, those living in our house come in either my car or my lass' car, those living in my parents house go in my dads car etc.

If you really fancy something different then this is the perfect opportunity to change.