Topic: Want vs. Need

[carcrazed]

We have a 2009 Altima sedan that has served us well for the past 2+ years and with a first child coming in a few months, we are wondering if what we have is enough.

I've been wanting a new car for a while even without the newborn coming, but have held myself down since I knew I didn't NEED it.

We're probably going to buy one of those bigger strollers so we'll need all the room we can.  Do you gents/ladies think a regular family sedan will do the job?

If we go with a new car, we were thinking 2011/2012 Murano SL (significant upgrade with size/features).

Any thoughts you can share will be appreciated.

[Snowman]

[nohup]

Congrats on your new family member!

We have an 8 month old and just replaced our '02 Mazda Protege with a 2011 Rav4.  We also have one of those big strollers. The strollers are great for pushing the baby around, especially in parks where the path might not be paved etc but they definitely take up a lot of trunk room.

Having said that... we probably would bought a sedan or hatchback if we didn't also have a dog. The stroller fit fine in our Protege's trunk with room for the baby's bag, and a few bags of groceries, but not much else.

Of course the extra room in the Rav4 is definitely nice... especially if we decide to have another child.

So I guess I'm saying the sedan will likely do fine (they are called family sedans for a reason after all , but you might really appreciate the extra room of the Murano... and the extra cost?

[johngenx]

We easily hauled a ton of baby stuff in the C230, which is smaller than the Altima.

[rrocket]

We easily hauled a ton of baby stuff in the C230, which is smaller than the Altima.

People nowadays think they need a full size SUV to haul a baby.  They can't seem to leave the house without the entire contents of the baby's bedroom these days...


FWIW...IQ used a Ford Escort Coupe until her little guy was 3.

[Winklovic]

We easily hauled a ton of baby stuff in the C230, which is smaller than the Altima.

People nowadays think they need a full size SUV to haul a baby.  They can't seem to leave the house without the entire contents of the baby's bedroom these days...


FWIW...IQ used a Ford Escort Coupe until her little guy was 3.

Our family of five fit in a 1975 Dodge Dart Sport.

[1TSX]

An Altima is MORE than enough for a family of 3...

But hey, if you want a new car anyways, then why not?

[Jaeger]

I had an '01 Maxima when my daughter was born up until she was 4 or 5, then an '07 Altima until she was 9, and an '11 Sonata now.  I can't for the life of me conceive why you think you will need "more" car for two people and a baby.

By all means if you WANT a new car, buy one - you don't need to pretend that your current ride will be somehow inadequate to meet your familiy's needs.

Jaeger

[dr_spock]

Congrats on the baby.  New baby is a good reason to get a new car.   I replaced my family Sentra with a New Beetle when my daughter was born.  In a couple more years she'll be old enough to get her license to drive it. 

[rsxca]

I think it depends on how long you tend to keep your cars. If you keep them until they die then you have to consider  if you are planning to have another child. I have 4 kids. We own a Honda minivan and my dd is a GTI. The GTI is great for dropping off kids at school and I've even crammed in a stroller in the back.

If you're panning on having more kids I'd think about something bigger. New CRV, rav 4 forester?  The more kids you have th more crap you have to haul, not just a stroller.

[articsteve]

 Do you gents/ladies think a regular family sedan will do the job?

Absouletly not.

If we go with a new car, we were thinking 2011/2012 Murano SL

Bravo!

[carcrazed]

So far mostly status quo.. other than arcticsteve

We're thinking of having another child in a couple of years.

Cost-wise, we'll need to pay $180 a month more than what we pay now.. like more insurance as well.

I should also have added that my wife doesn't like the shape of minivan and wagons.

We really liked the Murano (SL, but SV is also okay for $3K less), but my head is telling me that the Altima is all we need for another year or two at least.

I'd like to take the Forester 2.5XT for a test drive.. maybe this weekend!

[articsteve]

Only 6 hours and you've ditched the Murano!   

[Juke1]

So far mostly status quo.. other than arcticsteve

We're thinking of having another child in a couple of years.

Cost-wise, we'll need to pay $180 a month more than what we pay now.. like more insurance as well.

I should also have added that my wife doesn't like the shape of minivan and wagons.

We really liked the Murano (SL, but SV is also okay for $3K less), but my head is telling me that the Altima is all we need for another year or two at least.



I'd like to take the Forester 2.5XT for a test drive.. maybe this weekend!

At my place of work with something like 1500 cars on the lot I see Civics, Elantra, Corolla, Sentra etc with 2 baby seats in the back!  Honestly why do you need bigger than the Altima? I hauled our 2 young boys in a 93 Eagle Summit and then a 2000 Echo then I got an 05 Xtrail because of all the travelling of competitive hockey. 

[Scarecrow]

Keep the Altima.  Add a roof rack and cargo box if you need to haul stuff.

[tpl]

A couple we know got through the first years of childrearing, first with a Mk1 Focus hatchback and lately with a Golf wagon.  They managed with the rearfacing giant child seat and the giant stroller ok.    Isn't the Altima bigger than either of those?   

Wanting anew car now that is a different matter.   Get what you want with the proviso that it hjas to fit an enormous child seat and carry a stroller. 

[CanuckG35]

Your Alty has MORE than enough room for the three of you.  I'm not sure why Articsteve thinks otherwise.  My main vehicle when I had my first child was a G35 and I had zero issues whatsoever regarding having enough room.  I too have a large Graco stroller and it fit into the trunk of my G35 no problem.  The trunk on the Alty is larger than my G35 too.  You may want a new vehicle, but you certainly do not need one.  Your Altima will do you just fine for some time to come. 

[Weexy]

Do you gents/ladies think a regular family sedan will do the job?

Absouletly not.

FFS.   

Get yourself into a Ford dealer and into an Econoline 15 passenger van right away.

[Snowman]

Do you gents/ladies think a regular family sedan will do the job?

Absouletly not.

FFS.   

Get yourself into a Ford dealer and into an Econoline 15 passenger van right away.

 

[tortoise]

With a kid in a large rear facing seat the most important dimension is rear leg room.   Having all that space in the hatch won't mean much when your passengers knees are squished against the dash. 

IMO,  see how it goes with the Altima.  If it has enough room for rear facing seats keep it until they're flipped to forward facing.  Then you'll be a lot less compromised in your options.

FWIW, we used the P5 for the first two years with our kid and it was more than adequate.  In fact, I can't remember the last time we even needed the roof box.  We only replaced it because it was getting on in years and mileage.   Well that and the wife insisted we get a new car.