Keeping B while becoming a father

I have a bambino on the way, due in January. Totally excited. Everyone (and I mean everyone - its getting boring now) likes to tease me about getting rid of the Barchetta. My girlfriend and I have talked it over and decided I should keep it. I could put bubba in a seat next to me when its the two of us. We have Caroline's BMW and if things get difficult I could get a third car - just a cheap runaround.

Any mum's and dad's have any Barchetta advice? Car seats etc?

Well, I cant give any advise other than 2 cars are needed!

I have 4 kids, and I got the Barchetta so that my wife could keep the family car at home, beeing mobile, while I was at work. Family car is a Hyunday Santa Fe with 7 seats. The 2 oldest ones walk to school by them selves, and I bring the 3. one to kindergarden in my B. Its a short drive, so he just sits on a pillow. Well, this fall both of the youngest ones need to be brought to the kindergarden, so I guess the wife will have the Barchetta ...And she doesn't even like it!

Anyway, Congratualtions and best of luck to you, life as you know it is about to change!

Some friends of mine that I've known for decades ran an mx5 and a mondeo/ similar for last 9 years. Have just sold mx5 cos its old & needs a rest. Their 2 kids are now 6 and 4.

That's 5 kids? has your neighbours given you one of theirs without noticing

Nicholas congratuations Very happy for you and forward you and your partner my very best wishes.

Re the barchetta if you have a passenger airbag you will have to turn it off (if you can?). I didn't have that problem. Grand daughter got her first run in the B with the top down when she was about 3 months old

!!Congratulations!!

My first born will be here in five weeks. We found out Laura was pregnant within a couple of weeks of buying the B. To begin with Laura was certain that I should sell the car just before or soon after the baby arrived. However after coming with me to the Nottingham meet in January she agreed that Barchettas and their owners are lovely and that we should keep the car.
For practical purposes we bought a mk3 Golf GTI 5 door. Not certain about baby seat fitting in the Barchetta, we had enough bother getting something that fitted in the Golf.

Congratulations to the pair of you Nick! Excellent news - keep the b, its not an issue!

We have a Picasso bus for the family transport and I have the b, we figured that if we go anywhere as a family we use the bus, if we are going in opposite directions at the same time (ie 2 kids parties in opposite directions!) then there are never more than 2 people in either cars - trust me it works!!

I have had car seats in mine before, my 9 year old no longer needs a booster (by law) but my 5 year old uses one and is fine. I have also had a baby seat in the car and its not been a problem.

Don't do anything too drastic, you will have enough baby stuff to spend your money on over the next year or so! See how you get on with the b, if it does not work out replace it but don't give up on it yet!

Also, I would highly recommend one of the pram come buggy come car seat come carry cot affairs, cost a little bit but are well worth it!

I'd add that fitting car seats (particularly for the 1 year olds and over) is actually much easier in the B than in other cars as the seat belt fixing sits quite proud compared to the recessed fixings in the back of most cars.

I only got the B about 2 months after having my third son, and he then took a first ride in it with the top down from about 3 months old too. Others here are right - most families don't need 10 seats, you just need one car with enough seats for all the family and a two seater to get you to work; works a treat for us anyway!

Matt

Congratulations Like the others say, keep the b, the kid will love it.

my daughter is older now but she loves it.

Thanks everyone. Love Alan's picture. Caroline says that if things got really difficult we could keep the B in her mum's garage but that would be a last resort. We're not having twins so should get by with the one seat for now. I tell everyone that the Barchetta is my son/daughters inheritance.

Becs is due in the next three weeks but no chance the B is going, we will even keep the Audi TT. We have the 55 VW Bora so can get away with keeping the two sports cars.

- livin' the dream!!

Although I would not be surprised if you chop the TT in for an S3 after a couple of months of parenthood!

How about hiring a 'live-in' Nanny and getting her to follow in her car with the baby

A 'live-in' Nanny would be great but a cleaner is whats needed first thats for sure.

Jet washer fella, for all of those nappies!!