Jimny/Young Family

Some observations when my 2 were younger.

Looking back with the eyes of experience I would get a 4 door car or an estate with a good-sized boot, and an interior that is easy to clean. Getting the little ones in and out of the car seat(s) and getting the car seat(s) in and out is so much easier. Whilst you may find that you can get away with a small fold up pushchair as they get older, in the early stages and being a new parent you may tend to have all sorts of gubbins to lug around. Food, liquids and bodily fluids will find there way into all sorts of places in the car so the easier it is to clean the better it is for you.

I would find something strong and SAFE, cheap to run, practical, reliable and entertaining to drive if possible. Your new family will take much of your time, and your financial resources. You don't need the car being another drain on resources or time.

I have been driving for nearly 40 years now and have had many different makes and models of car. Over time I have experienced certain cars are practical, functional, reliable, easy on the pocket and entertaining to drive, and some are not. I happen like VW and more recently have become a big fan of Skoda. For a family, I think the Octavia is hard to beat.

Good luck with your choice and more importantly good luck with the new family.

Thank you very much for your replies everyone. I think I'll get something sensible (Subaru XV?) and if finances allow I might hold onto my 2004 as a toy. Thanks again!

Subaru XV - very nice; and looks like it would be a good choice size-wise.
A good friend of mine has a Subaru Forrester and swears by it - he's a very wealthy chap and has owned many cars he regarded as much more 'prestige and upmarket' but told me he thinks that the quality of the Subaru beats the others in many respects.

Sounds like a good plan

Having a VW T5 long wheel base as my other car i might not be the correct one to comment this.. We had a real problem when the VW broke down on a trip, and the insurance company offered us a Nissan Micra. We had brought our two dogs (100kg) and two horses. You cannot pull a horse trailer or fit the dogs in the boot of a Micra.

But I have a Jimny now, and had a high roof SJ413 when the girls where born. (Now they are 15 and 18)
he SJ was space wisw pretty much the same car as the Jimny.. You will need a spleit foldable rear seat that folds all down to a flat surface. then you can use half the space for a pram/push chair or other for the seat for the todler.. Not sure if modern seats are safe for a new born.

As a second car for picking up kids to and from Kindergarten, going shopping or small trips We managed fine with the SJ/Jimny. The real problem occurs when they get older and complain about the Jimny not having rear doors.

We always had small cars whilst the two girls grew up, the original mini, two mini metros and then the Jimnys. When we had the first Jimny in 2000 the girls were 15 and 18 so we mainly had the 15 year old with us. We got by with putting one seat down and using soft bags to fit all the nook and crannies when going on holiday. If you have one child you will be ok, however if you have twins it's going to be a struggle and no room for a pram...