We have had so many cars over the years I am not quite sure why we just get bored easily I think. Currently we have two cars from the most extreme ends of the entire car market. We have our big family car TRex our 7 seater Ford Territory and my husbands midlife crisis I mean run around fast car our Jelly bean, MINI Cooper S. See what I mean one car is a Tank and one is a match box car!
We love the Territory we chose it as it has 7 seats, so if I spit another kid out we are good for a car, and it was one of the only cars that really comfortably fit 3 car seats across the back seat. However, we have had a few things go wrong with the old girl that to be honest it’s starting to shit us. The MINI is super cute and fun to nip around in, guys at the lights always try to race me, I’m like Dude I have two car seats in the back, not going to happen, but I give them a run for their money (within the prescribed speed limit of course!!!). The MINI’s only problem is it has 4 seats, yep, 4 so the whole family can’t fit in it. Stop laughing, it was my husbands dream car so I let him get it, it works we just all jump in the big car when we all go out and it’s nippy for just him to scoot to work and back.
Master 7 is now out of a car seat and the Territory is a thirsty pig on fuel, but a great car, so we have been talking for a while about trading it in. So today was spent visiting car yards to see what’s out there in the way of family cars. This is how our day went:
Test drove a new Kia Sportage, just didn’t feel right, boot on the smaller side, we have had a Kia Rio before, reliable brand just didn’t do it for me.
Test drove a Subaru Outback, thought it was my dream car, but I was a bit disappointed. Felt a bit smaller than I had imagined, the boot space was good, back seat good, but to reverse, I couldn’t see anything other than car frame, I’d probably run over something.
Test drove a Holden Commodore Sports Wagon, nice, safe, comfortable, bit sexy in black, huge boot space, comfortable back seats, ticked most boxes.
Looked at a Holden Captiva, Holden’s answer to the Ford Territory, stunning on the outside, black and silver, sun roof, but boot was too small, small backseats no cut out area for feet just a flat floor, disappointed. The Kia dealer told us they are known as ‘CRAPTIVA’ as they have lots of probs. I like it, it’s just small.
Looked at a Mitsubishi Outlander, nice but again too small. I have either been spoilt for space with the Territory or I am too fussy, but I cart a lot around, pram, shopping for a family of 5, school bags, one day teenage boy long legs, I need some serious space.
Going to stay away from anything European, very expensive to get parts for and expensive to service, A/Cs not built for Australian hot days etc.
So we came home confused, the Territory and MINI live to see another day. At least if anyone is thinking of any of the above cars, you now have had them reviewed by a mother of three. There is just so much out there these days it’s hard to pick, maybe today was just a lesson in being greatful for what we have, I guess fat and skinny are it for us, for now!!
Renee
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Get the Outback then we can match with my Liberty 🙂
Hi Renee, we are currently looking at purchasing a 7 seater – same reason 3 boys (who are getting big now) and we are thinking of having another child. We are really keen on the new Ford Territory titanium, but after reading your blog post now I am not sure. Are you able to tell me what it is that you has gone wrong with yours + how old it is? Thanks so much.
Hey, the Territory is a good car, what’s good about it is it’s so big, wide and safe with lots of room for 3 kids, prams and shopping etc. The downside is it weighs 2 tonne so it costs a lot on fuel, a lot. The new diesel options would be better economy for sure. Along with being big and wide enough to fit the 3 car seats means it can take some extra thought when parking as it takes up the entire regular park. When I was pregnant getting in and out of tight parks got pretty hard. Also not much room left to open doors and do up seatbelts. Ours had an issue with the computer that stabilises the wheels (that’s girl talk so everyone understands) which needed to be fixed and also scrubbed out the tires, which needed to be replaced. They said it was just unlucky, not common, but very expensive to fix. It has niggly little Ford problems like electric windows that the motors keep dying and are now stuck shut, the boot door is starting to not shut. It’s a 2005. I now have a Commodore Sportswagon and love it to bits. R