If your cars are in go condition then no need the to change just yet. I have 2 young kids and went from a 2 door Nissan Silvia to an Fabia estate. My main reason was because the Silvia was starting to play up. The Fabia has more room then the Silvia but really a Octavia estate would be better choice if you need to carry 5 people.

 

P.S. We still put both kids seats in the Silvia from time to time two years later (after buying the Fabia estate) and have no real problems for space.  

Touch wood, nothing wrong with either car and skoda had new engine fitted 4k ago. I have no intention of moving from the skoda brand and the fact it had a new engine such a short time ago makes me want to keep it and see how we cope. If we were to change it would be for a Fabia vRS estate. The Peugeot really is a good car and really is tardis like inside. Boot size is small but not unlivable with.

I Had a fabia Hatch Tdi as our main family car, with 2 kids aged 5 and 1, so one fixed child seat and 1 booster, we had no issues with interior space, the problem always came down to the boot, Pushchair and a weekly shop were a struggle, as is a week's worth of holiday luggage.

 

For me it had to go, Great car the Fabia in my view, but not a young family car sadly.

Edited 7 April, 201511 yr by tamiyaandy

Laura has said that regarding the shopping side of things we just have to plan our trips better and possibly use the delivery service more but I totally understand regarding the space in the boot. Its a shame as I really like our car but I think reality and practicality may have to overcome feelings for the car.

Re the isofix base. Useful for baby rear facing car seat, as you can remove this whilst child is sleeping. Once they get to 18months u prob will tneed an upright front facing chair. Both click in and out but it's difficult to get a sleeping child in the front facing chair and buckled in without them waken up. The only down side to the isox fix base, at least the maxi cosi one we had, was that it vertically raises and pushes forward the chair; this can cause every less leg room for the child / driver in front of child. alsi effects the head room when getting tot in / out of said chair, although my tot is very tall for her age, I'm quite tall too which didn't help. This was my experience.

Thanks for all the feedback. A real mix of views and opinions.

Thanks for all the feedback. A real mix of views and opinions.

I have a fabia estate, obviously cabin wise it's the same size. I've always considered the fabia a 4 sweater rather than 5 because the rear seat is so narrow you struggle to fit someone in the middle.

We have an 8 month old and easily fit her, all of her clobber, pram etc. For us personally I can see the fabia estate working perfectly when we have another child as we rarely, if ever have backseat passengers.

I do put my kids in the Fabia but its mainly only me in it, the only real problem is that I'm quite tall and if I have the drivers seat where I want it then the space in the back is to small for a kids seat.

 

as for isofix go for it, I would never buy a non isofix car seat!

I have a fabia estate, obviously cabin wise it's the same size. I've always considered the fabia a 4 sweater rather than 5 because the rear seat is so narrow you struggle to fit someone in the middle.

We have an 8 month old and easily fit her, all of her clobber, pram etc. For us personally I can see the fabia estate working perfectly when we have another child as we rarely, if ever have backseat passengers.

This is part of the dilemma we have. Because the car had a new engine such a short time ago and also because it is a new born the leg room in the rear wont be a huge problem but all comes down to boot space. We don't do a huge shop as we generally get it delivered to our door. Im only 6 ft but I do need all the leg room I can get in the front. For the other half it is a different story.

Listening to your dilemma tom sounds exactly what we went through 6 months ago ( apart from the new engine ) Its a tricky one for you to resolve as all options have there pros and cons.

 

And remember I am defiantly in the pro Fabia camp, its a great car, BUT when we got the Touran I could not believe how easy it makes family life, 3 Individual seats in the middle row, 2 in the boot if needed, and so much storage space and cubby holes everywhere.

 

But running an MPV is not for everyone, but for me the space, high driving position, 7 Seats, and 50+ mpg are enough to love it.

 

If it could do 0-60 in sub 10 seconds id love it even more!!

Edited 8 April, 201511 yr by tamiyaandy

Listening to your dilemma tom sounds exactly what we went through 6 months ago ( apart from the new engine ) Its a tricky one for you to resolve as all options have there pros and cons.

 

And remember I am defiantly in the pro Fabia camp, its a great car, BUT when we got the Touran I could not believe how easy it makes family life, 3 Individual seats in the middle row, 2 in the boot if needed, and so much storage space and cubby holes everywhere.

 

But running an MPV is not for everyone, but for me the space, high driving position, 7 Seats, and 50+ mpg are enough to love it.

 

If it could do 0-60 in sub 10 seconds id love it even more!!

Thank you for your feedback. It is a difficult one as part of me thinks makes the most of the new engine and part of me is saying go bigger as less stress. I do like the skoda a lot but if I had to change I would.

 

I haven't really been in many MPVs but not oppse them. I would certainly look into one. I quite like the S max and the new Picasso but I also like my estate cars.

To be fair Tom it will all come down to your personal taste etc, I spent hours doing research, and I mean hours!!

 

The one thing above all I found when looking at MPV's, And that is there are so many abused ones out there, I genuinely looked at 9 Touran's before I picked the one I have, Interiors get beat up badly, Scratches galore, then when you do find a tidy one, its done more miles than the starship Enterprise!!!

 

add to that the wife gave me a criteria of just 3 colours, and I wanted a 1.9 over the 2.0, and the SE trim over the S, And a non DPF Version.......

 

Yep its a nightmare! LOL

Best get looking now for buying next year!!!!

 

I do like searching for cars but they have always been hot hatches. Would have to get my sensible head on I think.

 

QUick question.

 

When did ISOfix become a standard in cars. The other half has asked because she has always lied the older MK1 octy estate in VRS guise but not sure if it had ISOfix back then.

Not sure on that one Tom, Never used the Isofix side of things, all the car seats we have had just require a 3-point seatbelt, and we have had several seats from all price ranges, I didn't even concern myself with isofix when looking to buy, Never used it.

Not sure abt ISO fix being standard. I had a mk1 fabia 54 p. But this was the "elegegance" model hence ISO fix was fitted.

I feel that I wouldn't want a car too old due to 'feeling safe' with a baby in the car. it would not be an easy decision tbh but whatever the decision will benefit from what I have read on here and peoples opinions.

You may find that until baby goes into forward facing chair that you can get away with the fabia. Before the Octy I had an Astra estate which had loads of boot space but as we have 2 small kids, once they went into forward facing seats that they just didn't have enough legroom as their legs go forward rather than down. Being 6'2" I had the chair right back and got kicked every time we got into the car, so for us the change of car was more for rear leg room than boot space. With the octy I don't have to have the seat right back and the kids have plenty of leg room. There's no need to rush to your decision though. Wait till baby is born and place car seat behind passenger which will give you the same amount of space needed now and time to live with the car and work out what's best for you. That way you can find out what works based on your needs rather than someone's random opinion.

Thank you for your feedback. It is a difficult one as part of me thinks makes the most of the new engine and part of me is saying go bigger as less stress. I do like the skoda a lot but if I had to change I would.

 

I haven't really been in many MPVs but not oppse them. I would certainly look into one. I quite like the S max and the new Picasso but I also like my estate cars.

This is why I plumped for a Roomster,though they too do have the narrow middle seat in the back,but the car is so versatile its unbelievable.All the seats lift out and aren't heavy to remove and the boot space with them still in place is damn good,its also easier for a lady driver to reverse park than an estate car and believe me,it drives like a car And trust me with the rear windows tinted [and if you;re lucky enough to find one with the panoramic roof your kids will love it ] The looks will grow on you !!

Having done a bit of talking with the other half we have decided to keep the car on a trial basis and see how we get on. As it has been mentioned, until the child is older and needs the leg room we will cope. We love the car and the fact it had a new engine swayed us to keep it.

 

One question that did arise, if we decide to change we are set on a fabia vrs estate, do they have larger leg room than the hatch or is it just the boot that is bigger. I suspect it is the latter but if some one can confirm.

I have 3 kids - all 11 and under - and a St Bernard dog.

 

Prior to our Octavia estate I coped with a number of VW Polos over the years as our one and only family car.

 

So my take on your situation - stick with what you have right now.  You will be able to manage with 1x child and all the necessary baby gear that goes along with it.

 

However, if your family gets bigger then ideally you will need to change.  Not sure about the Fabia estate because although it will undoubtedly give you more boot space, you'll also need more elbow space in the car.

 

I can honestly say that our Octavia estate is ideal for us.  This car can accommodate the five of us, dog, luggage and transport us up north to Aviemore in great comfort - Fabia hatchback or estate won't be able to do that, even although I prefer the smaller size of a Fabia and hanker back for a Polo GTI.

 

Just wait until your wee one is having a meltdown in the car and kicking the back of your chair while you are driving - bl**dy annoying!

 

All the best.

 

Just to add - I always see new parents panicking about the size of their car and going out and changing to larger makes/models at great expense (and regret decision later), wait and see what works then you will make an informed decision later.

Edited 9 April, 201511 yr by BA Baracus

Having done a bit of talking with the other half we have decided to keep the car on a trial basis and see how we get on. As it has been mentioned, until the child is older and needs the leg room we will cope. We love the car and the fact it had a new engine swayed us to keep it.

One question that did arise, if we decide to change we are set on a fabia vrs estate, do they have larger leg room than the hatch or is it just the boot that is bigger. I suspect it is the latter but if some one can confirm.

When my son was born we bought a Landrover Freelander and truth be told I'm not sure that was really that much larger inside , the boot was poor for sure , we relied on a roof box for longer trips away

Having done a bit of talking with the other half we have decided to keep the car on a trial basis and see how we get on. As it has been mentioned, until the child is older and needs the leg room we will cope. We love the car and the fact it had a new engine swayed us to keep it.

 

One question that did arise, if we decide to change we are set on a fabia vrs estate, do they have larger leg room than the hatch or is it just the boot that is bigger. I suspect it is the latter but if some one can confirm.

You'll find although there is an estate its built on exactly the same underpinnings as the hatch. The only difference is the boot, the interior space and rear leg space will be exactly the same as the hatch. So if morerear legroom is needed then the fabia won't suffice whether in hatch or estate form, this is why we bought the octy (although we would have preferred the yeti, but what with recently moving house and me being made redundant our budget just wouldn't stretch, so may be our next car)

New from a Dealer Yeti can be had from £14.500,  not much boot space with seats up 416 litres.

Octavia are also available at under £15,000,  Boot Space of 590 litres. Estates more.

A Rapid can be had new these says for rather cheap prices and has 548 litres with seats in place.

 

The Yeti is not up there for Boot Space when the Seats are occupied.

(A Mk2 Fabia is only 300 litres and the estate has 480.)

Edited 10 April, 201511 yr by goneoffSKi

Yeah I don't need loads of boot space anymore as no pram to cart around. Plus I never buy new cars. Grantednthe yeti boot space is small but would be ideal for our use but may not be for the OP. This is why I suggested that OP live with current car for a while. Everyones requirements are different.