Efficient commuter and kid hauler

[hoping2retire35]

I am considering selling my current commuter for one that will be big enough to haul three kids, barely. Doesn't need to be big, just large enough for three boosters with backs. This also needs to be as fuel efficient as possible and not cost too much, $2-3k. So three considerations; pretty cheap, high mpg, and can hold three car seats.

1. Jetta- might be too small for seats, a little nervous about a car this small. Diesel would be awesome mpg.
2. Passat- hard if not impossible to find in the right price range. Mpg even in diesel is a little low, would be a great size. Wouldn't be harassed by family by putting kids in a small car.
3.maybe some mid-size mid luxury domestic sedans, most don't have good enough mpg to be worth while. Great purchase price.

I know these usually dissolve into get a minivan, but this needs to have virtually no cargo room. Mazda 5 wouldn't be bad, but they are difficult to find and are too expensive.
Any suggestions or specific cars I should consider.

[Milizard]

We only have 2, but it looks like you could fit 3 boosters in the back of our Honda Accord.  However, they can be a pita to buckle the seatbelts.  I would imagine 3 would be even worse, just to warn you.  Might just be because of the leather seats, though.

[catccc]

What are you currently driving?  How old are your kids?  The answer may be to get different carseats, not a different car.  Diono Radian seats (can be boosters, can be 5pt harnessed) can fit 3 across in most smaller vehicles.

[Thegoblinchief]

What are you currently driving?  How old are your kids?  The answer may be to get different carseats, not a different car.  Diono Radian seats (can be boosters, can be 5pt harnessed) can fit 3 across in most smaller vehicles.

+1

If you do have to replace a car, VW are horrible IME. Not super reliable and expensive to fix when they do break, especially since the things that tend to break are hard for even relatively skilled DIY folks to track down, like electrical issues.

Sub-$3K is mostly really shitty cars in my area, not sure about yours. Older Accords would fit the bill, but they’re not particularly fuel efficient. Civics hold their value better so often you’re talking quite old and high mileage before they are below $3k in my area Not sure about mileage, but Escorts or Focus are usually very cheap, decent cars and cheap to fix.

I don’t think Fit or Matrix falls into that price range yet, occasionally I’ve seen a Vibe that low, but the one I test drove at $3k needed at least $500 worth of work to make it safe to drive.

Overall you will probably need to buy a domestic rather than an import in that price range, but every market is different.

[Thegoblinchief]

Also if the current commuter has a passenger airbag disconnect you could just put the oldest kid up front.

[Milizard]

Just wanted to mention a website,  in case you weren't aware of it: fueleconomy.gov

[charis]

What are you currently driving?  How old are your kids?  The answer may be to get different carseats, not a different car.  Diono Radian seats (can be boosters, can be 5pt harnessed) can fit 3 across in most smaller vehicles.

+1

If you do have to replace a car, VW are horrible IME. Not super reliable and expensive to fix when they do break, especially since the things that tend to break are hard for even relatively skilled DIY folks to track down, like electrical issues.

Here, here.  Do not get a VW.  Ask my Jetta how I know.

[acroy]

+ 1 avoid well-used VW's
-see if your current car will work with narrow seats
-Suck it up and pay 5-7k for a good used Mazda 2-3, Yaris, Scion, Prius, etc

[hoping2retire35]

Thanks for the replies all.

Current car is a two seater, so keeping for a kid hauler is a no go. Z3 which is ok on gas but since it is premium it is like I am getting a lot worse mileage. I would miss the drop top, but I am just tired of paying (in gas) for that luxury.

I realize most of what I would like is $5k and up but then the savings from having a fuel efficient car is lost...

I used to drive my parents old Buick le saber which got 26+mpg. I know I could get that for under $2k.

I guess Mazda 3/focus (same platform) can hold three in the back easy enough?

[Turnbull]

I can't imagine a worse idea than a $2-3k European car. Please buy Japanese or American in that price range.

[Xlar]

Thanks for the replies all.

Current car is a two seater, so keeping for a kid hauler is a no go. Z3 which is ok on gas but since it is premium it is like I am getting a lot worse mileage. I would miss the drop top, but I am just tired of paying (in gas) for that luxury.

I realize most of what I would like is $5k and up but then the savings from having a fuel efficient car is lost...

I used to drive my parents old Buick le saber which got 26+mpg. I know I could get that for under $2k.

I guess Mazda 3/focus (same platform) can hold three in the back easy enough?

Yes, with the right car seats you can fit 3 across the back of the Focus.

[Arbitrage]

What are you currently driving?  How old are your kids?  The answer may be to get different carseats, not a different car.  Diono Radian seats (can be boosters, can be 5pt harnessed) can fit 3 across in most smaller vehicles.

+1

If you do have to replace a car, VW are horrible IME. Not super reliable and expensive to fix when they do break, especially since the things that tend to break are hard for even relatively skilled DIY folks to track down, like electrical issues.

Here, here.  Do not get a VW.  Ask my Jetta how I know.

I was going to echo the anti-VW sentiments, but wanted to let previous owners chime in.  Never had one myself, but I've had a number of friends and relatives with them - lots of issues (reflecting the statistics you can easily find).

[catccc]

I don’t think Fit or Matrix falls into that price range yet, occasionally I’ve seen a Vibe that low, but the one I test drove at $3k needed at least $500 worth of work to make it safe to drive.

I have a 2005 toyota matrix with 196K miles on it.  We are going to sell it before next February, before the next annual state inspection on it is due.  I'm happy to hear that I could possibly get a few thousand for it.  But maybe not with that mileage.  I'm sure some people here think we should keep the car/drive it until it dies, and I'm not totally opposed.  Our main reason for getting rid of it soon is that we want to buy a replacement vehicle and be able to take our time and shop around, and not be under pressure because we are short a car.

We are considering a Mazda 3 for our next car.

So does your 2-3K budget include proceeds from the sale of the Z3?

[Thegoblinchief]

@catccc in my area as long as it isn’t super rusted or have obvious major mechanical issues, you could probably get $2.5-3K easily.

[vivian]

I have 3 car seats in my Camry Hybrid.  Only the oldest is in booster with a back. To be honest, he can’t buckle it himself because it is hard to reach. When I pick him up from school, I pre-buckle it, so he pulls out the seatbelt, slides his legs in, and moves shoulder belt over his head. It works for us. On very rare occasions, he pulls too fast and it gets stuck, so I have to get out to buckle him.

Fitting 3 car seats is not just about the car, but the seats. Some seats are more narrow than others. My other kids are in the Diono Radian, which is pretty narrow front facing, and a Safety First infant carrier. We have the Evenflo Amp booster seat. Very narrow.

Are the kids triplets? I find it a little odd they are all in boosters with backs. I think it’s usually a small size range when that is necessary. If any are big enough for no back booster, that would make it much easier to buckle.


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[hoping2retire35]

I would like to sell the z3, have a few acceptable cars picked out the day I sell so I can almost immediately buy the replacement and I would like to have a few thousands dollar spread between my z3 and the replacement, at least $1000+. I can drive my van for aweek if I need to.

Catccc- where I live worrying about rust on cars is non existent. Not sure about the condition of your matrix.

[alsoknownasDean]

Would a regular plain-Jane Camry or Accord (or Fusion, etc) do the trick?

[CCCA]

second the Diono radian car seat.   Definitely couldn't get three regular boosters in the back of the prius.  But we only have 2.  Great mileage though.   I would also suggest getting seat belt extensions that extend above the top of the booster so that it's much easier to buckle in and you don't have to fiddle around looking for the seat belt.

[Just Joe]

How important is the MPG? Are you driving alot?

15K miles @ 30 mpg vs 7500 miles @ 23 mpg. Do some cost per mile comparisons.

You might be able to buy a less than ten year old CUV or minivan and still drive affordably that still gets low 20s. These vehicles might not require an engineering study on how to put three car seats in them.

I've owned many small cars but as a family hauler I'm not convinced they are necessary (diminishing returns on efficiency plus some added safety risk) in an era of $3 gasoline.

We have a clown car for trips out of town and a very cheap, presentable 90s domestic sedan for trips within the county. It gets ~31 mpg on the highway. 

[catccc]

I would like to sell the z3, have a few acceptable cars picked out the day I sell so I can almost immediately buy the replacement and I would like to have a few thousands dollar spread between my z3 and the replacement, at least $1000+. I can drive my van for aweek if I need to.

Catccc- where I live worrying about rust on cars is non existent. Not sure about the condition of your matrix.

If you have another car you can drive for a bit, I don't think it is a bad idea to sell the z3 and keep an eye out for the replacement. Maybe list the z3 on the high end with a firm price and see what happens?  If you aren't in a rush, you might be able to wait for a buyer that is willing to give you top dollar for it.

@catccc in my area as long as it isn’t super rusted or have obvious major mechanical issues, you could probably get $2.5-3K easily.

My matrix... the rims are rusty.  Lost the hubcaps over time and never replaced them, so it's not the sharpest looking thing.  Other than that I think it is in good shape.  It is manual transmission, though, that will probably be a little harder to sell.

I would also suggest getting seat belt extensions that extend above the top of the booster so that it's much easier to buckle in and you don't have to fiddle around looking for the seat belt.

Seat belt extenders are for people that are too large to fit in the regular belt, and not for child safety seats.  Here is some language from a site that sells seat belt extenders:
"Seat belt extenders are only for use by those who otherwise cannot wear a seat belt as required by each user’s country, state, region and/or local municipality... Adults and children who can use the vehicle’s existing seat belt should not use an extender. Such unnecessary use, including with child restraints, could result in serious personal injury or death... Extenders are not for use with child restraints..." (emphasis mine)

Also, most, if not all, car seat manufacturers prohibit the use of seat belt extenders with safety seats, and most vehicles prohibit it as well.  All CPSTs will you they are not safe.

Here's the workaround- leave the seat buckled and have your child slide in/out.  Occasionally if they pull out slack too quickly when sliding in, they'll have to let it retract and start again.  Or if they pull too much slack and lock the belt, you will have to let the belt completely retract and then rebuckle it.  Slide in/out isn't that bad.  On rare occasions when we have a 5th guest in our Matrix, I am the only one small enough to fit in the back middle seat between our two radians.  But because there isn't much space, and the buckle is at a funny angle where it wants to sink behind the radian, it is nearly impossible to get the seat belt buckled once I am sitting.  So I buckle it in advance, pull a lot of slack on the hip belt, slide it, tighten at the hip, and the move the slack to the shoulder portion and pull that over my head.  It's a bit of commotion for an adult, but for a booster sized kid, it's probably fine.

[ToTheMoon]

Mazda 3 hatchback, 3x Diono Radians, and you still have the luxury of space in the hatch for diaper bags, shopping, school bags etc.  We have an '06, but the Lemonaide Guide says the 09-12's are the best value/reliability so far. 

Not going to win mileage contests compared to some, but still decent and actually fun to drive.  If you plan to put lots of km's on, look for the SkyActive models (I hear - I don't own one.)

Also, when kids are bigger and 3 across boosters might pose a problem: https://www.amazon.com/mifold-Grab-Booster-Seat-Slate/dp/B01H5VJJTE/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?s=boost&srs=12034488011&ie=UTF8&qid=1521004595&sr=1-1&keywords=mifold

(My sister and I both have a few of these Mifolds between us for when we need to shuttle each other's children around last minute, or if the kids are heading to friends houses.  They fit in the glove compartment or a backpack when not in use.)

[Lance Burkhart]

I fit 3 in the back of my Honda Fit.  I have a MiFold and an inflatable booster and a Britax for the 2 year-old.  A Mazda 3 is great but hard to find used IME.