Three car seats

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Sun 19 Nov 2006 22:49
Three car seats - Busy Simon
I will have three children under the age of 2 (twins plus one).

Will two x (1-9 month) car seats plus one x (9month - 4 years) car set fit in the back of a Saab 9-5?

Are there any alternatives?

Thanks

Simon

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Mon 20 Nov 2006 13:31
Three car seats - Dyane 6 Mehari
My sister was recently in a similar situation - three year old plus twins on the way.

I took her up to a car supermarket in London and we took three car seats with us and spent the best part of a day seeing which cars could hold them. She wanted all three in the back, rather than two in the back and one in the front.

Leaving aside the big seven seater MPVs the only cars that we could do it in were;
- Renault Scenic (but not enough room for luggage - pram etc..)
- Citroen Picasso
- Citroen Berlingo / Peugeot Partner
- Renault Kangoo (just)
- Citroen C5

Surprisingly, cars she considered 'big' like a Mondeo and a Vectra couldn't take all three seats. The above isn't an exhaustive list but was based on what gtccar had in stock on that day for non-premium brands.

In the end she bought a Picasso. The C5 was tempting as massive depreciation meant top-spec, low mileage three year old car was in her budget but she's only a little thing and she couldn't see the front or the back (this was the estate).

Terry
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Mon 20 Nov 2006 15:12
Three car seats - boxsterboy
Volvo do the narrowest car seats I have seen for 11kg +. Can't remember the accessory number but they have detachable backrests so the squab can be used on its own if required. Some of the child seats on the market are of a horrendous size, and fitting 3 in a normal car is a complete non-starter.

I love it they way the government makes the use of car seats for under 12s the law (which means families with 3 kids need a big car) just before councils start talking about increasing taxes on ... big family cars!!
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Mon 20 Nov 2006 15:16
Three car seats - Jonathan {p}
You can put child car seats in front car seats, as long as the airbags can be disabled.

When I have occasion to have three children in my car, I put one in the front and two in the back. It means the wife has to squeeze inbetween in the back, but she's slim enough for short journeys.
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Mon 20 Nov 2006 15:28
Three car seats - Busy Simon
Thanks for the advice. I think i'll have to do the same and take three seats with me to test the cars out. The C5 is interesting.

I'm really reluctant to do so, but I am wondering whether a Ford Galaxy or Renault Espace may be a better proposition. Let's face it, it's function rather than fun that I'm looking for. This would mean grandparent scan fit in too - but then where do the buggies go????

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Tue 21 Nov 2006 14:39
Three car seats - bignick
If you hope to carry 4 adults plus three children in child seats plus buggies you are into the larger MPVs - Toyota Previa etc - Galaxy size have minimal luggage space when all seats are in use.
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Tue 21 Nov 2006 16:27
Three car seats - Gromit {P}
If 3 child seats, baggage and functionality are your requirements, have a closer look at the Fiat Dolbo. Its easily as wide as the Berlingo or Kangoo across the back bench, but there's still a surprisingly large (and high) boot behind the bench for buggies etc.
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Tue 21 Nov 2006 17:24
Three car seats - Brit_in_Germany
No problems stashing the bugies if there is no central tunnel - one lies in front of the middle seats and the other at the back.

BIG
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Tue 21 Nov 2006 20:10
Three car seats - Devonboy78
I'll 2nd Terry and recommend the Pic. Struggled with 3 car seats across the back of a 406 estate until that had an argument with the armco on the M5 and lost badly! Now have a Pic which has 3 proper seats at the back that slide back and forth to give more room in the boot (especially useful to get one of our double pushchairs in length ways) if needed. Admitely not quite as much overall space as the 406 boot, but for comfort it is far better.

Devonboy.
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