Question for you twin mommies...

What kind of car do you drive? My husband and I will need to purchase a vehicle (I have a 2 door Honda civic and he drives a Trans-Am ) but we're just brainstorming at the moment as to what would be best....

Mini-van?

SUV?

Sherman Tank? hehe

What would you recommend and why? Thanks y'all!

Summer

 

I drive a midsize sedan (mercedes E300) and its perfect for us--gets great fuel economy (diesel) and plenty of room for me and the kids. My husband drives the same car, different year. We also have a big truck (F350 Duallie with a crew cab) that we put an extra set of car seat bases in it. I don't like driving the truck because I have to lift the carseats over my head to put them in. Not fun. I think a big SUV would be the same...

 

If I could do it again, I'd get a mini van. I knew I was preggo when we bought our Rav 4, but thought it was just one. We need a lot more room than our "compact suv". Mine has good gas mileage, but after driving to my mom's when the boys were 3 months old, there just isn't enough room. I also can't go anywhere with any of my friends (they all have kids). If I had a mini van, we could car pool to playgroups/baby showers/etc. DH has a VW Jetta. Great gas mileage and the car seats fit fine. My car has such tinted windows that the boys don't like DH's "bright" car as much.

Hope this helps! Good luck with your search!

 

Don't get a Jeep. Two rear facing car seats do not fit in it well. We have one in the middle and one behind the front passenger seat. The passenger seat has to be all the way forward which means my knees touch the dash board (and I'm only 5'5") and DH always has to drive because he can't sit in the passenger seat that close to the dash board.

 

When we found out we were having twins I started researching larger vehicles. We decided on a minivan due to the cost difference between that and an SUV. I purchased a used Nissan Quest and I love it. I've only driven with the girls a few times, but it's very roomy, it fits the stroller in the back (very large back), has a 3rd row of seats to fit 7 people, and isn't horrible looking.

Good luck!

 

I have a ford escape, and DH has a dodge durnago. if I were to do it over again, I think i'd opt for a mini-van, just because there's not too much room left in the escape.

 

Definitely a mini van. I have an SUV with only one row of seats and 3 kids. It's a logistical nightmare. DD is in the middle so she has to go in first, then the boys on either side of her. It was a real hassle this winter getting everyone loaded into the car. Also, I think the sliding doors are much more practical than regular car doors. It allows you much more room. Good luck and congratulations on your twins!!

 

I have a Grand Cherokee and have no issue with having two rear-facing car seats. I'm 5'8 and my husband is 6'2 and while we might have to move the seat forward a tad, it's not even enough to bother us. Our problem is just not being able to accommodate all six of us at once. But, we have a Britax Roundabout and two Graco's across the back seat and it works out fine.

If you have a choice, get a minivan. I bought my Jeep while I was pregnant with DS2 and if I'd known we were going to have more kids (especially so soon!), I would have done that instead.

 

Right now I have a Chevy Silverado 1500 4dr, and next week I am getting a Chevy Tahoe with the 3rd row seat. There is plenty of room in the cab portion of the truck for the car seats (we started off with the snug rides and now we have the Britax Marathons), but there is no room for anything I need to take with us. We also have a VW Jetta and we tried putting the car seats in there once and will never do it again, its WAY too small. My DH is 6'4" and I am 5'10" and we had to push the front seats so far foward it was bearly driveable. GL in your choice!!

 

I'm probably in the minority here. I have a 4 door Jetta. We could not afford a large car and I really don't want one - especially w/ gas prices!! The trunk is large and fits the stroller w/ plenty of room to spare. The car seats fit in the back. If DH drives, he is a little uncomfortable, but when I'm driving, it's fine.

 

QUOTE(4lilmonkeys @ Apr 25 2008, 07:14 PM) [snapback]739810[/snapback]
I have a Grand Cherokee and have no issue with having two rear-facing car seats.


Ours is a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee and we have Graco Snugrides. Maybe it's the combination that doesn't work.

 

I drive an Acura MDX and to be honest, it's not that big inside even though from the outside it seems it would be plenty big enough. The carseats don't allow the driver or the passanger to be back very far....for me it's not too bad but my Dh gets irked because he is very tall and has like no leg room. The cargo space is nice though, roomy enough for snap n go, diaper bag and numerous amounts of bags.
DH has a BMW but we don't ever use it with the babies.
I'm embarresed to admit that we are actually contemplating getting a mini van.....there...I said it. I ALWAYS insisted that I would never be one of those moms who drove a minivan but honestly....it's about convienience right now. It's SUCH a pain in the rear for me to hoist those heavy carseats into the SUV and have the doors flopping in the wind. I like the idea of the roominess of the MV and the fact that the doors slide open is very appealing to me. By no means is it for the 'look' or 'coolness' of it. Oh...well....I am a mom of twins now...convienience is KEY for me.

 

It really depends on what you want. Are you going to have more kids? If so, skip over the whole car/small SUV thing and go strait to minivan or SUV. I must say with twinfants a van is WAY easier than an SUV!

 

We had to get a different car when we found out we were having twins, too. We were sad to say goodbye to our little toyota truck, but we are loving our Honda CRV. We got a used 2002 one for a decent price. The twins' seats fit really well. There was just enough space for DH's skinny little butt between their infant seats last summer. And big cargo area in the back for the dog, stroller, pack n play, and diaper bag. We fit all that stuff plus suitcases and presents over Christmas!

The best part for me is, it gets pretty get gas mileage for how much room it has. I believe we get right around 30 mpg.

Good Luck with your little ones!

 

I just want to say that I drive a toyota corrolla (same size as your civic) and it works just fine. The carseats, stroller, and diaper bag fit without a problem. We even packed it up for a week long trip at Christmas and although it was tight, everything fit.

 

We have a camry and a suburban. The snugrides fit okay in the back seat of the camry, but the front seats were uncomfortable for us. Also, we almost had to tip DD on her head to get her seat through the door. Also, if I needed to ride in the back with the kids, there's not much room. We went shopping once and barely had room in the trunk for the snap n go and the box of diapers we bought. We bought the suburban shortly after the twins were born and it is so much easier to get the twins in and out. There is also room for me to sit in the back seat with them and room for us to go out with our friends because of the third seat. Plenty of room for strollers and groceries and anything else we need. MPG isn't a big issue for us, as we walk to most everything we can. I think the suburban gets 16 - 18.

We stayed with the inlaws for a week and they have a Ford Winstar, I think. The sliding doors were nice, but with six of us going everywhere, Mom and I had to crawl in the back seat and then put the kids in the middle row. If we forgot, we had to crawl through the front. Not exactly easy. Also if I needed to feed the kids their bottles while we were moving, I had to sit in a very uncomfortable position in order to reach either of them. I could barely reach them with my seatbelt on. With our stroller and luggage, 3 large bags, there wasn't much extra room. I had never wanted a minivan, even though I thought they would be really practical for our situation. After that trip I was glad we had gone with the Suburban.

Hope this helps. If you can, test drive a couple vehicles and practice taking your seats in and out. You'll see what you are comfortable with.

 

We went out and bought a Toyota Sienna and could not be happier with it!!

 

congrats on your pg!

we also did some car shopping while i was pg, and were going to go with a minivan, but found the cargo space limited (same with suv's with a 3rd row seat)--we ended up getting a chevy colorado truck--we have lots of room for stuff, the 4 doors, and the 2 car seats fit--a bit tight, but they fit....that's DH's car, but what we use for trips

around town, i drive a chevy equinox, which has awesome rear seat space for the carseats, but the cargo space is sort of limited (not enough room for 2 pnp's, a swing or jumparoo, stroller and luggage).

as pp's said, try your car seats in different cars you are considering

HTH

sandra

 

We recently bought a van. It is so much easier to get them in and out and it has so much cargo space. By the time you get 2 babies, a huge stroller, 2 pack n'plays, and luggage for a family of 4 in, even it is full to the max.

My hubby drives a station wagon and it has a lot of cargo space as well. If you want a car, that may be an option.

We got the van as we want more kids and needed the space!

 

minivan!! didnt want to get one but am so glad we did. we got the dodge grand caravan and the second row has built in car seats which will be great when they get ou of the infant size and theres lots of storage room under the seats-in the floor area. plus the trunk is nice and deep and fits a double stroller, single stroller and groceries! Also the 3rd row has split fold down seating which offers more trunk space and still a seat.

 

I drive a Dodge Magnum and my husband has a full-size Tahoe. It works fine for us, even with 3 kids.

 

[SIZE=10pt]I drive a trailblazer and although roomy and comfy and very safe feeling it is HORRIBLE!!!!on gas. Just thought I would share that, but I do love it.[/SIZE]

 

Congrats on your pregnancy! When my girls were born I was still driving my Ford Taurus company car. The car seats fit fine but I felt like we were pretty cramped in it. I didn't go back to work so we had to buy me a new car. We bought a Honda Pilot with 3 rows and LOVE it!! I must say though if we have another child we may end up having to buy a bigger vehicle. Right now the Pilot is great because I keep the 3rd row down and often times have 2 double strollers and lots of other gear in the rear space. HTH!!

 

I have a Hyundaii Elantra and it works, but I am looking forward to upgrading to a minivan soon. It fits the seats but I can't carpool which is a pain and to go on trips is tight to get everything in plus the stroller. I don't want an SUV bc it is big to drive around, don't want to lift kids that high, sliding door are more convient, better gas mileage.

 

We have a Prius. Car seats, stroller, and stuff fit fine, and I love getting 50 mpg!

 

I drive a saab station wagon, but this summer we will sell it and buy a minivan (probably the sienna). While the car seats and gear fit into the station wagon, there isn't room for much else especially now that the girls are using a mega stroller (as opposed to my beloved double snap n go). GL with your car shopping and the rest of your pg!

 

We traded in our camry (which I loved) for a Toyota Sienna - it's great!!! With the Camry, we would have had to put the seats up as far as they would go to fit our Combi car seats. I am 5'10" and DH is 6'3" - it would have been extremely uncomfortable. The mini-van is great for getting the girls in and out - no bending down! We got the basic model - did not splurge on doors that open themselves - we figured we could open them ourselves!

 

We bought a Toyota Sienna. At one time I had a Mitsubishi Montero and there was very little room in there and that was with one child so for me an suv didn't seem like an option. Unless I got something huge then I guess it isn't considered an suv anymore. Good thing we got a minivan because we have a surprise on the way and a car never would have worked now. BTW I love it.

 

I got a minivan, after being the worst anti-minivan person ever. I was just visualizing walking towards the vehicle with my hands VERY full and opening the doors with a push of a button. I got a Toyota Sienna and I love it.

 

I'm not in love with my minivan, but with three kids, it's really a must. We did a long road trip recently, and with two pack n' plays, the double stroller, and all the gear for a family of five, we *barely* fit in it, and had to put stuff up on the roof.

Anyhow. I have the Honda Odyssey. It's very easy to drive, and you can't beat the convenience of doors that slide open at a touch of a button.

 

I was driving a NIssan Pathfinder with the 3rd row and it was a nightmare! Our seats were pushed so far forward and I am only 5'4'' and my DH is 5'10'', my mother could barely get in the passendger seat and she is 5'9''. I was very concerned about safety and if there was an accident my DH and I were in the windshield. we got our carseats checked and they told us the seats should not touch the infant carseats for safety reasons-the carseat should be able to move forward if there was an accident.
anyway-my DH drives a Jetta-we have never put them in there and I now drive a 2006 Dodge caravan-a loan from my parents until they drive it back to Florida next winter. I LOVE it and we are already researching getting a mininvan of our own when our truck lease is up next year. It is so easy to get the carseats in and out of. Plus with the seats stowed in the back there is a TOn of storage room.
Good luck with your purchase!

 

We have a Ford Expedition (took over payments from in-laws when we found out we were having twins). It can comfortably seat 4 adults, one slim adult, and two huge carseats. I know this automobile is AWFUL for the environment and our finances, but I feel so incredibly safe in it and that's worth it to me. I have been in several accidents in cars and it's neve been pretty. I am a VERY nervous driver so it's really important to me that I feel as secure as possible when driving my babies around.

 

THANK YOU LADIES SOOOOOO MUCH!!! Lots of great input here - I appreciate it all!

Keep the thoughts comin'!

Have a blessed day!
Summer

 

Have you considered a wagon? I have one and love it because... I get better fuel economy than most SUVs or minivans, it drives like a car and not a truck, and I have plenty of room in the trunk for my monstrous double stroller (the MBUD).

That said, if you need to ferry around more than just yourself, DH and the two babies -- you'll need a van or an SUV with third row seating.

A sidenote on safety -- SUVs and minivans are not as safe as a car in the event of a crash. They are more top heavy which makes them more likely to roll over. Vans have the added minus of not having as much crush space in the front -- instead of the front of the car taking the impact, the front passengers take more of the impact in a head on collision. There are ways you can drive safer -- give yourself more braking distance, take turns slower, etc. -- stuff a mom would probably naturally do anyway. Hope I didn't offend anyone with an SUV or minivan -- I have a minivan myself, in addition to my wagon. I had to do a public awareness campaign on SUV/minivan safety, that's where I got the above information from.

 

We have a GMC Envoy and while I love it, I would have rather had a mini van. I'm short and sometimes it's hard for me to lift those car seats up into the back seat. And it's not going to get easier since they're only going to get heavier.