Help me buy a new vehicle AND new carseats, please?

Mom2KaylaAndTwins · Aug 23, 2010

We need to keep it under $8,000, preferably, $10,000 max. I just need something to get us through the next 2 years while I complete Nursing school. We have 2 FF twins who are 2 months shy of 3. My 3rd is 9.5 and not in a carseat.

I have been looking at Envoy or Explorers, but am not finding much within my price range. Any ideas on a car that can seat 3 kids? If I go that route, I would need to find the slimmest carseats availble to allow my oldest daughter sufficient seating room in between them. We drive a Pontiac Montana now, I am not interested in having another MiniVan.

We just need a 3rd vehicle since the 2007 Ford Mustang we drive cannot seat our family of 5.

TIA!

MomToEliEm · Aug 24, 2010

How much do your kids weigh? What seats are they currently using? Are they outgrowing their current seats?

Maybe take a look at this long thread showing successful 3-across carseat installs to give you an idea of which seats work well in tighter spaces. It might also give you an idea of which vehicles provide more room in the back seat.
http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=33226

Melanie · Aug 24, 2010

I think you'll get the most bang for your buck with a sedan. There are a lot of mid sized sedans than can easily fit 3 across (or two car seats and an adult sized person). At your price range, you should have a nice selection. Look at that 3 across thread.

You'll probably need to do seat belt installs to get the most room. We just got rid of DH's 03 Nissan Altima. I could put an adult, a Frontier and a RF Marathon in it.

Mom2KaylaAndTwins · Aug 24, 2010

The twins are in Maxi Cosi Priori's right now, but those seats are going to stay in our minivan. We need to buy another vehicle because I'll be dropping them off at Pre School on my way to school, and my husband will be picking them up. It has been a non-issue up until now since we work at the same place so we just swap vehicles (I drop them off, he picks them up).

I have no idea what their stats are, but my DD is around 27lbs and my DS is closer to 30/31. In the Priori, they are just above the 2nd to last harness slot.

I will check out that thread, thanks for the input. I want my oldest to be comfortable. I hate to make her uncomfortable because of money's sake, I have been looking at 3rd row SUV's, but its very slim pickin's with my price range.

luckyclov · Aug 26, 2010

With your oldest not in a seat, I'd probably go for a sedan...Altima, maybe? I had a 2003 (may have been an '04, I don't remember) Altima several years ago and the backseat was *really* roomy - I can't imagine there'd be an issue with two FF'ers (depending on the car seat) and a child in an adult seatbelt back there. Awesome car.:thumbsup:

Help me buy a new vehicle AND new carseats, please?

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