Question about car seat and a two-door car...?

Question

My husband and I have decided we want to have a child. But first we would like to buy a new car. (Mine is old and unreliable... with no a/c. I would hate for my car to break down on the highway with a new born!) The car that we are in LOVE with is a two-door, so I guess my question is should we get the car that we really want, or a four-door car to save ourselves the hassle of getting the car seat in and out of the back? If you have experienced a situation like this, please comment. Thank you.

You'd think a two-door would be cramped, but the one we're considering is SUPRISINGLY spacious. Lots of room in the back, and truck. Very reliable ratings and great gas mileage. My only concern was a car seat. There is plenty of room for it, just getting it in and out is what we're questioning...

Answer 1

actually i drive a 2 door (mercury cougar) and its easier to get my 4 month old sons carseat into our car than ANY 4 door car ive been in (impala,corolla,sunfire,protege,even a van!) theres enough room once the drivers seat is pulled forward to actually hop right into the back seat and use your weight to push the carseat into the seat to get the seatbelt fastened. i worried about this also but its been great for us

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Two Doors Car

Answer 4

I have a 2 door car and it is a pain in the ****! I practically have to climb in the back seat to buckle my daughter in her car seat. It's a lot easier now than it was when she was a newborn and in an infant seat. My back seat isn't cramped either but that's not the problem, only having 2 doors is. I would really search for a 4 door car that you love otherwise I can guarantee that you'll regret it. I purchased my car before my husband and I were even thinking of having kids and now I hate the thing and curse it everytime I have to drive it. My car will be paid for at the end of this year (thank God!) and we are already looking for a sedan. I can't tell you how many unforeseen problems I've ran into.

Answer 5

Sorry guys. Say goodbye to the door cars. Be happy with a four door. This is your new life. After you've had it a long time, and you decide to have another child, then soon after that you'll begin wondering about the SUV or the Mini-Van. It's a cycle. Now that you are old enough to buy and enjoy that sports car, it's time to have kids and buy larger cars.

It is so much nicer and easier to get children in and out of a four door as well. I don't know how people can do it with only a two door vehicle.

Answer 6

I had the same problem, and learned that since I loved my truck so much, it was something that I would have to deal with. I then moved my daughter to a Britax Marathon at 5 months and used the back of the carseat almost as a slide to get her in from the front. Now that she is forward facing, it is even easier.
A 2-door car does mean more hassle, but try this, locate a dealership near a babies R Us and ask them if you can swing by there and test a carseat in it. I know both the dealerships and Babies R Us by us do this for customers.

Answer 7

My first question would be - doesn't it come in a 4 door model? LOL My child was a surprise and with no money, I didn't have a choice. I have a 2 door Honda Civic. It is definitely easier to have 4 doors, but, it is not the HUGE deal everyone is talking about. My son is now 3, and it has gotten easier and easier as he got older and climbs in himself. I just lean in to buckle his harness or sometimes I step in behind the front seat and do it. This isn't too bad b/c the passenger seat in the Honda Civic is equipped with a kind of 'memory' seat - I pull the lever to push the seat forward and fold over, and then it will go back to the same position. Because its not enough to just fold the front seat up, you will need to have it slid up all the way most of the time to be able to lean yourself in and buckle the child. The infant carrier was actually more of a problem, b/c it was hard to fit in and out of there. Its easier to fit a child in and out than a child in a heavy carrier. My car is small enough even that when its raining, I have him climb in over my front seat, get in his seat, I get in my seat, and then I reach back and buckle him so I don't have to stand outside the car and do it. A 4 door would certainly be easier, and if I had a choice, I would get one. But I don't have a choice, and the 2 door isn't that big of a deal anymore. Do remember that when a car is small, a rear facing car seat will take up a lot of space, and the passenger seated in front of it will not have a lot of leg room. If you put the rear facing car seat in the middle back position, sometimes it works perfect that it extends right in between the 2 front seats and doesn't hinder leg room. When my son was still rear facing, any front passenger I had didn't get very much room. It was doable, but not incredibly comfortable for a tall person. And this is something to think about, since babies are supposed to stay rear facing AS LONG AS POSSIBLE! The AAP says to leave them rear facing until they reach the max weight limit of a convertible car seat rear facing, preferably until they are at least 2 years old. 20lbs/1year is outdated advice. Anyways, so if you are wanting your child to come out well in an accident, then you will have a rear facing seat in there for the first 2 years or so, a big chunk of time to have no leg room.
If you plan on having more than one child, I would even more so consider the 4 door. I cart my 9 year old sister and my 3 year old son everywhere, and it would be a lot easier to have 4 doors. They get in on the passenger side, so I don't have to constantly readjust the drivers seat, so she always has to climb over my son.

Answer 8

I would say get the 4 door. I have 3 children. When my oldest son was born I had a two door. When they are in car seats it is hard to get them in and out. Then as they get older they put wear and tear on your seats. It is so much easier with a 4 door. But you get what you think. But I would never with children have a 2 door. Hope this helps :O)

Answer 9

We had a 2 door cougar when our daughter was first born, getting the infant seat that sits on a base in and out wasnt so bad I suggest you buy the car seat first and make sure you can either anchor it in properly to the new car or that when you use the seat belt it can be run through the base of it and still have it sit properly (we couldnt and that was a kinda hassel for us my husband had to take her out and put her in for the most part) soemtimes you can only put the seatblet through teh carseat part in 2 door vehicles that adds tot he hassel like we had

i much prefer our 4 door suv now that we have it - but if you love the car, its good for your needs go with what you will love not what you will hate for 4 year or so and wish you had gotten the one you loved instead.

good luck

Answer 10

Don't get a two door! We have a four door and recently had to drive a two door, it was horrible. My son is 30 pounds and I have a bad back, I couldn't get him in and out. Not only that, it's hard in a parking lot when you have people parked beside you because a two door car has longer doors and for you to get in and out of the back seat, they have to be completely open or somebody holding them for you as to not bang the car next to you.

It's not as hard when they're small, but when they are no longer in a carrier type seat, you'll pay for it! Consider a nice sporty four door, trust me, you won't regret it!