Coupes and Babies??

Posted By: Anonymous

Coupes and Babies?? - 23/07/2006 18:25

Hey there im about to purchase a fiat coupe but i was wondering if anyone can tell me if baby seats fit in the back of the car? also what sort of boot space is there, is it a practical car when it comes to babies and stuff?? Also any one out there got a baby they take in there coupe? I drive a bmw compact at the moment and im now wondering if i should keep a hold of this also and not sel it after all

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Coupes and Babies?? - 23/07/2006 19:30

I don't know from first hand experience, but I do know that there of lots of owners on here that say the coop is baby friendly compared to most other coupes.

The boot is pretty large for a coupe, there is a handy ski hatch that a folded up pushchair could slip through - can anyone confirm?

There aren't that many owners on the forum at the weekend, so you should get more responses in the week.

Posted By: came2dance

Re: Coupes and Babies?? - 23/07/2006 19:38

Yeah there are a few coopsters with babies. There are a coupe that have got rid of when #2 has come along though

I would say the coupé is more practical than most three door cars on the market. Plenty room in the boot as Europa says and I've had 4 adults in mine quite a few times. Five on one occasion

Then again I once got twelve kids in my Reggata

Posted By: Flea

Re: Coupes and Babies?? - 23/07/2006 20:02

I have 10 month old little girl and she has enjoyed the coupé very much

We have a 5 door Honda VTi-S also but it very rarely gets used as the coupé is more than practical. I have an adapter base in the coupé so it the car seat just clips in although it will fit no problem with the normal seat belt wrap. Boot space is great with plenty of room for a medium sized buggy and pushchair and shopping etc. I have had three sets of gold clubs in there too so it goes to show it's not limited

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Coupes and Babies?? - 23/07/2006 20:24

I have a 3 year old and a 9 month old and we do go out in the coop as a family now and again.

Getting the nippers in their seats is not as easy as it would be in a 4 door car but still fairly easy as you can sit/squat on the front seat folded forwards to do up baby seat clips etc.

Room in the boot for a pushchair and a baby bag or two - comparable boot space to the wifes 156 tbh.

We wouldn't cope having just the coop - but the wife having the 156 for day-to-day use makes things easier. We go out in the coop as a treat now and again.

People cant believe kids will go in the back - I once pulled into a parents/babies parking place at Tesco and got a load of abuse! "Where the hell are your bloody kids then mate!!" I casually pointed in through the rear window and said "There". I took extreme delight in getting them out as he cursed while looking up now and again and grumbling under his breath while he put his shopping in his car.

The car surprises on so many levels!

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Coupes and Babies?? - 23/07/2006 20:29

same here, our seventh month old seems to enjoy the journeys in the coupe

Make sure that when you buy a car seat that the seat belt in the back is long enough to fit the seat. I tried a couple in the back and the belt didn't fit.

Plus the boot is plenty big enough.

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Coupes and Babies?? - 23/07/2006 20:38

thanks for the replies guys, you have boosted my confidence tenfolds in going for a coupe even more now!!

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Coupes and Babies?? - 23/07/2006 23:58

Quote:

Make sure that when you buy a car seat that the seat belt in the back is long enough to fit the seat.

Definitely check this - ours is a very vight fit - the belt only just goes round.

Posted By: came2dance

Re: Coupes and Babies?? - 24/07/2006 00:11

So don't pick up any any fat passengers either

(how embarassing would that be if the seat belt didn't fit)

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Coupes and Babies?? - 24/07/2006 00:30

My 2 year old boy LOVES to go out for a ride in daddys coupe

I have bought him a Recaro child seat and fits in the back perfectly and he loves it!

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Coupes and Babies?? - 24/07/2006 14:07

I often take my sisters babies out in my coupe. The rear seat belt only just fits on a rear facing baby seat but it does fit. The other thing you might want to check is the space between the front seat and the baby seat. I'm quite a short person who has my drivers seat almost as far forward as it goes. If you need the drivers seat quite far back you may not fit a rear facing baby seat in behind it.
You'll have no probs with forward facing seats.

I think I heard somewhere that the child seat law is changing soon and older kids will need a car seat or booster seat too.

My mamas and papas pushchair fits widthways in the boot fine. The only problem I hate with the boot is those bloomin great hinges that hang down. When you pack you need to leave space for them. Quite a problem if you have a full boot.

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Coupes and Babies?? - 24/07/2006 15:43

I have two children, six and two-and-a-bit and we've had the coop as our only car for nearly three years now.

I found the rearfacing baby seat could only really fit on the passenger seat but everything else is fine. The boot's even big enough for the pram, travel cot, 6-bottle steriliser, daytime hammock-ey thing and all the other baby stuff you seem to need to take everwhere with you. Thank god they're older - now I just need to shuffle them around at the back to keep my legroom.

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Coupes and Babies?? - 24/07/2006 17:51

Coupe is suprisingly good as far as space goes. Our infant carrier (Britax) fitted rearward facing in the back no problem and after that the front facing kiddies seat (Maxi Cosi) also fit no problem. Just make sure you get them fitted properly by the supplier.

The only problem we had as the coupe was our main family car was bending into the rear seat constantly to put in baby/toddler that was getting heavier and heavier. My wife complained that it was pulling her back so we had to rethink our family car situation. The solution was to keep the coupe as daddies car (yippee) and buy a more family friendly car with four doors for my wife.

Boot space is very good, several prams fit in there no problem. Just watch those hinges as they swing down.

We sold our new Mini and bought the more practical coupe just before our baby was born as we wanted a stylish but practical car and it amazed us how good it was.

Just to pick upon 'japs' comment above, we too had people tutting and scowling at us in car parks as we loaded the car up with baby and trappings. They obviously are ignorant to the fact that the coupe is actually a practical 4 seater.

Best of Luck!

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Coupes and Babies?? - 24/07/2006 18:01

I have my 2 year in the back of the coop quite often, we have a maxi cosi priori xp with adjustable tension and fit's no problem.
The buggy fits in the boot not bad too.
The only thing i do is fit the seat behind the passenger seat as he kicks the drivers seat back which is a bit annoying!!
Plus he can watch his DVD player strapped to the headrest better.

Posted By: Wishy

Re: Coupes and Babies?? - 24/07/2006 23:58

Quote:

The only thing i do is fit the seat behind the passenger seat as he kicks the drivers seat back which is a bit annoying!!

LOL there's a 2 1/2 year old regularly behind the passenger seat in mine for exactly the same reason! Although that does mean he'll then constantly play with the interior light, switch on, switch off. Will get that sorted sometime, just need to borrow a chainsaw to chop his arms off

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Coupes and Babies?? - 25/07/2006 15:34

AND they pick the security stickers off the windows. Kids eh!

Posted By: Wishy

Re: Coupes and Babies?? - 26/07/2006 00:05

Hasn't got round to that one yet and I've just fitted my club stickers. Just hope he doesn't read this and get ideas

Posted By: Theresa

Re: Coupes and Babies?? - 27/07/2006 05:56

I have a 10 week old grandson, who fits in his car seat fine at the back if he sits behind the passenger seat.

His car seat is a Graco Autobaby 2 model, which is part of one of those all in one things.

If he sits behind my seat though, we find that we have difficulty putting the seat belt around the car seat as it's a very tight fit.

I'm 5ft 8in's and have the seat as far back as my left leg will allow for clutch purposes.

So, it could be awkward if you have two tall people in the front or have two babies to go in the back and the driver is tall.

As it's mainly men that own Coupes and often over 5ft 8in tall, then it could be a problem.

Saying that though, it could all depend on what seat you are using too.