Just to jump on the current 'what car?' bandwagon - our 407 is great but the boot is a bit restrictive for all the clutter that comes with a baby being lugged about for longer jaunts away from home. Do we p/x it for an estate or just buy a roof box for the odd occasions that a larger load has to be transported?
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New car or roofbox?
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Posted 2 years ago #
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the roof box option has the added bonus that come summer you can lay in it and drink cider whilst gesturing wildly to passersby and other traffic!
Posted 2 years ago # -
roofboxes are fine for ocasional use but would upset mpg for prolonged use.
I used one on my Alfa 156 'estate' when we went camping - don't take long to fit (especially if you can leave them fitted to the roof bars when taken off).
I've got a humungous (forget exact litres but it was the biggest they sold) one you can have for £35 if you can collect from Hove.
Posted 2 years ago # -
That is a very kind offer and if I already had all the roofbars and what-have-you I'd be tempted.
Posted 2 years ago # -
If you've somewhere to store it then get a roofbox. The hit on MPG isn't that bad but we were always towing a trailer or caravan so never more than 60mph anyway. Never liked the idea of an estate packed to the gills in case all that stuff comes forward in a crash.
Posted 2 years ago # -
The safe load is something that had crossed our minds and the fuel consumption factor would only be on holidays so, again, a consideration but a minor one.
Posted 2 years ago # -
babies don't NEED huge amount of clutter
Posted 2 years ago # -
travelcot+ pram and your car is full
Posted 2 years ago # -
What Junkyard said plus the little trailer thing for her would nearly fill the boot by itself as it has to lie flat in a saloon.
Posted 2 years ago # -
You can't get as much in a roofbox as you think as they tend to be quite shallow.. And you they take up a wodge of space in the garage - less if they can be hung from the roof.
The weightload on ours is 60kg but we never go over 29kg as the limiting factor is me being able to lift the load over my head into the box.That said, for use once or twice a year they're fine.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I've just had a crawl through the internet shops for the boxes and we need 90cm internal width, which none of them have. New car it is then by the look of things.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Thule do some that are more 'fabric on a baseboard' than a 'roofbox' as such - they tend to come up wider and squarer.
Posted 2 years ago # -
If you go looking for a new car take the things you want to fit in with you as boots come up different shapes as well as sizes. I would have thought with a sallon the limiting factor would be the boot oening as you just cant pile stuff on top of each other the way you can with an estate. As a plus estates are good for biking as they give you some where to sit as well.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Roofbox. But the big baby clobber in the boot (prams etc.) and everything else in the box. I use one for camping - got it for £40 off ebay. Had a crack which I covered with Duck tape to make watertight and all is good...
Posted 2 years ago # -
The thing that puts me off a roofbox is the additional faff of taking it off and putting it back on.
Posted 2 years ago # -
If you put a dog-guard in the back you can stack the boot to the rafters.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Not sure I want to travel in the back of your car!
Posted 2 years ago # -
cheap to buy a new pram/baby-whotsit then change your car
Posted 2 years ago # -
I (we) have this problem of babies & car aswell, we also have a big dog.
Posted 2 years ago # -
travelcot+ pram and your car is full
These things usually fold down, you know you don't have to take them built.
He said he had a 407 not a smart car.
Used to get everything for our one child into a 306 (including its bike) with our suitcases for a week, with the parcelshelf in.
Just need to rationalise what you pack and pack it well.
Depends on how old the child is and if any more are planned. The above lot, plus another pushchair, and travel cot etc for a second smaller baby makes it difficult. Once second one arrived we switched to a MPV
Posted 2 years ago # -
I used to have a 306 too and you are right, they are Tardis like in their ability to swallow stuff. Herself wants a pick-up to bung all the clobber in.
Posted 2 years ago # -
babies don't NEED huge amount of clutter
ZzzzzzzzzzzzWe have twin 7 month old girls and a Mazda 3. It took us about 4 weeks to realise we needed a roofbox because the pushchair/travel system takes up all the boot and we won't put anything in the car that could be dangerous in an accident. When we go away overnight we need a travel cot, changes of clothes for the girls and us, food, toys etc. We went for a large box (about 165l I think) as we decided we could get something too small but never too big. As we don't have much space to store it, it stays on all the time but it doesn't seem to have effected fuel economy that much.
The reason we decided to buy a box rather than change car? We weren't planning on changing the car yet and are happy with it. To change it would cost us money (unless we sold privately and did two great deals) and we could sell the roofbox system for about a £50 net loss over new price when we DO change car (at which time we will get something bigger).
Posted 2 years ago # -
we need 90cm internal width
For what? If it's a specific item like a pram, then even if you can't put that in the boot and other stuff in the roofbox, can't you attach it straight to roof bars without bothering with the roofbox.Personally I've considered a roofbox (despite having a big estate already - but then I used to fill that with my toys when going away, and don't seem to have room for those any more), but really need to go the bigger car route given I tend to carry roof loads already (windsurfer or kayaks), so don't have space!
Posted 2 years ago # -
For what? If it's a specific item like a pram, then even if you can't put that in the boot and other stuff in the roofbox, can't you attach it straight to roof bars without bothering with the roofbox.
YOu couldn't put a pram directly onto roof bars (if that is what you are suggesting). What if it rains? The seat will be soaked. Unless you manage to wrap it in something waterproof so with all that faff you may as well use a roofbox.Posted 2 years ago # -
Maybe we should put baby in the workhouse, thereby avoiding all this mess.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Maybe we should put baby in the workhouse, thereby avoiding all this mess.
This.
Posted 2 years ago # -
babies don't NEED huge amount of clutter
Zzzzzzzzzzzz
i didn't give a list of what could be deemed essential. i just know that having had three baby-type people, Ex-Mrs took an endless pile of crap that was totally unnecessary. obviously twins in a small hatchback will be problematical.
Posted 2 years ago # -
babies don't NEED huge amount of clutter
We used to go on camping holidays with 3 kids under 5 in a Ford Sierra - without too much trouble - even when they were all babies - it's just a matter of realising that you can still easily manage without a lot of the paraphernalia
I've just had a crawl through the internet shops for the boxes and we need 90cm internal width, which none of them have
Have a look at the biggest AutoformPosted 2 years ago # -
Ex-Mrs took an endless pile of crap
But she will over-rule any of your objections to the 50 nappies 'required' for a night away.
Have a look at the biggest Autoform
Loking at the basic dimensions it may be a nadge too narrow.
Posted 2 years ago # -
YOu couldn't put a pram directly onto roof bars (if that is what you are suggesting). What if it rains? The seat will be soaked. Unless you manage to wrap it in something waterproof so with all that faff you may as well use a roofbox.
Well of course you can. Exactly how much faff is putting it in a heavy duty plastic bag (note, don't use bin liners, they're not strong enough)? I manage to put my windsurfer in a protective bag before it goes on the roof. Anyway, the whole point was that he couldn't find a roofbox to fit it in!Posted 2 years ago # -
i didn't give a list of what could be deemed essential. i just know that having had three baby-type people, Ex-Mrs took an endless pile of crap that was totally unnecessary. obviously twins in a small hatchback will be problematical.
We used to go on camping holidays with 3 kids under 5 in a Ford Sierra - without too much trouble - even when they were all babies - it's just a matter of realising that you can still easily manage without a lot of the paraphernalia
No-one NEEDS 99% of the things they have but when they have them why should they do without and then later wish they had them with them? For example, we could leave our big pram behind when visiting friends as we don't *need* it - then we could get everything else in the boot. But on several occasions we have used it when taking the girls out for walks that weren't planned. It is just a case of making your life easy and if it means a roofbox (or a bigger car) I say do it - why put yourself out needlessly?
Posted 2 years ago # -
I had a 406 D9, which shares a lot of its technology with the 407.
My advice normally would be to keep the car you have and get a roofbox. Better the devil you know, less hassle, lighter car with better MPG for the rest of the time and so on.
But in this case, you have a 407. Sell it. Sell it now. Sell it before it breaks and Peugeot take 12 weeks to deliver the parts. Sell it before it causes you to fall behind on your mortgage repayments and your wife to leave you. Sell it!
Get something German instead.
Posted 2 years ago # -
A quick thought for those worrying about stuff in the car during a crash.
I've rolled a car. Anything in the car will go wherever it wants to inside a hatchback. Parcelshelves are generally made of cardboard, and stuff can smash down the folding rear seats.
If you often carry big and heavy stuff, get a cargo net and a guard.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Get something German instead.
You bung me a few grand to meet the badge/cost gap and I might consider it. Thus far the Pug. has been reliable bar a sticky electric window which is easily remedied.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Having had a few cars, I'd happily take a German car that's a few years older over most others. Japanese stuff is similarly reliable, but dull as ditchwater and parts prices are horrendous.
Posted 2 years ago #
Topic Closed
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