Choosing a car?

[DebbieL]

I have a sedan corolla. I easily carry my daughter (14) and two of her friends in the back. She's 5'6" and 110 pounds. Most of her friends are bigger (heavier) and it works fine. It is a 2003 corolla sedan. My husband is 6'6" as I said, and he and I drive everywhere in it.

PS - I grew up in a family with 5 kids (I was the youngest). I remember taking road trips every summer. Back in those days, seatbelts weren't yet mandatory (happened here in about 1977). Depending on how many kids came on the trip (my oldest siblings were already teenagers when I was born and didn't always come), I remember having to ride on my brothers/sisters laps. I remember my brother complaining about my bony arse, lol. Good times...

[Scanner]

We drive from NJ to Disney World every year. Saves us a bundle.

I dispute that, DisneySteve.

I live in NJ and when I figure the mental institution costs for having me committed while driving my 9 year old and my 4 year old sons down, it doesn't pay to drive a minivan for 20 hours.

[poundwise]

More important than the class of vehicle is the safety rating. Some compacts are hideous and I would never plan to have one with or without children. Other cars, though small, have good crash ratings. So, my first answer is to choose safety for your family.

Secondly though, I believe the notion that a family of 4 or 5 NEEDS a SUV or minivan is ludicrous. If you WANT one, then fine. But I get sick of hearing people saying that they need one because they have 2 or 3 kids. People had kids before SUVs and minivans you know? A basic Accord, Camry, etc. will easily hold 3 children safely and comfortably.

It is just a matter of choice.

[DebbieL]

I agree Poundwise. I also don't NEED a cell phone. People get need and want confused. My corolla works just fine for carrying 5 people.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Debbie do you have a new or older corolla? I have to say carrying 5 people in my 99 corolla is not easy, nor do they fit when they are huge men. I've tried but the back door doesn't close on three men over 6' each. My uncle, two cousins, uh-uh.

I also tried three carseats, I had friends with three kids and I wanted to test out my theory in front of DH that 3 seats wouldn't work, I couldn't close the damn door.

But my corolla is the older model that is SUBSTANTIALLY smaller than the newer models.

[DebbieL]

It is a 2003 model. I find it no problem with my very tall husband and I in front and 3 teenagers in the back. I don't know about the 3 carseats in back as I've "thankfully" never had need to test that theory, lol. It could easily hold 2 for sure - not certain about the middle seat in back, but like I said maybe it could - I don't want to find out, he, he.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Debbie, the 2003 corolla is about 4 inches more leg room than the 1999 and about 3 inches higher and wider. Have you sat in a 1999 Corolla? I think the newer models are as large as camrys.

[tabbycat31]

I came from a family with 2 kids, and my parents had a Corolla as a family car, and I am not scarred from it.

Personally (as a single girl) you could not PAY me to drive a minivan. Aside from the fact that they're ugly, I am not comfortable driving larger vehicles. The largest car I've driven is a Forester.

[disneysteve]

Personally (as a single girl) you could not PAY me to drive a minivan. Aside from the fact that they're ugly, I am not comfortable driving larger vehicles.

My wife is just the opposite. She is petite, 5-foot-1, and she much prefers being higher up in the van. She feels much safer and has a better view of the road that way. Having driven one for 11 years now, she hates when she has to drive my Camry.

[tabbycat31]

I'm 5'6 so I wouldnt call myself petite. However I've never even driven a car the size of a Camry before, and since I've been in Drivers Ed, I've only driven compact cars.

I know people that are shorter than me that are comfortable handling a Suburban, but I wouldnt be. I don't think height has anything to do with it.