[ezrally]

Quote: Originally Posted by daver

For teh record teh passenger airbag CAN BE disabled by your dealer. This has been an official message from BMW, following the results of the NCAP-crash-test, they even would make it more clear(bigger stickers I presume) that it is a no do, putting a childseat in front when the passenger airbag is not disabled.

SO if you dealer states that he can not disable the airbag, contact MINI/BMW-HQ or get another dealer.

Safe driving

MINIUSA dude said the pass. seat bag could be disabled, call the dealer and see.

MKE and 1 dealer in north CHI says they can't and won't do it.

So, I have stopped w that idea, and our 11 month old will continue to ride in the right rear.

Hardest part is belting the child & seat in back, as we crawl into the back floor to do it.

Safety and driving then is the easy part for us!

Erik

[Eric B]

My 5 and 6 year old girls ride in mine all the time (and they can buckle themselves now too )

[cook1e]

Quote: Originally Posted by monica

Any supporters on this out there?

I use my MINI to ferry the kids to and from Nursery sometimes, I have a 17 month old girl and a 3 year old boy. It was a bit of hassle finding a suitable car seat for my girl at first but as per other threads on this forum there are some that fit. My boy is now big enough for a booster type seat and I've had no problems with getting this to fit in the MINI. The kids love travelling in the MINI and my boy is a real fan of the full length sunroof.

The only issue with the MINI as a family car is the lack of boot space but we have a Citroen Picasso people carrier as my wife's car so don't have to use the MINI for Holiday's etc usually. I did however manage to take enough gear for a weekend away with the family (including a travel cot) when I went to the Cotswolds run a couple of weeks ago, this was a tight squeeze

One thing that helps is that we've managed to find a cheap small buggy that fits in the rear seat foot well behind the front seats. Saves having to use valuable boot space for the buggy, although it will jsut a bout fit in the boot.

My other car a GT6 is however totally inpracticle for kids although my 3 year old does sometimes travel in it in a booster type seat. The GT6 makes the MINI seem a very practical family car!

[addman]

The EuroNCAP testing doesn't test rear impact. They don't seem to give an answer for this on their website, but I suspect the following: if you're rear-ended, the amount of force transmitted to the occupants will only be equal to the friction that prevents the car from moving forward itself - i.e. the resistance of the brakes applied at the time and the tyres. Beyond the braking force, the vehicle will be shunted forward. I guess I'm suggesting that the danger of injury from being rear-ended is possibly lower than you might suppose. I'm not an expert, just thinking it through, and suspect I might be flamed for this. Just wanted to chuck in some food for thought.

[Otter Boy]

My kids, 13, 15 (tall) and 5 love this car. We all fit in comfortably, and depending which teen is in the front we may change the seat of the 5 year old to the other side to allow leg room.

We all feel quite safe, and have a grand ol' time.

Kids seem to be less of a pain in the ........ when riding in this car, vs. the minivan with Mom.

It's just the FUN of it!!

[MaryFlute]

I'm probably going to order a MINI in the next few months. I have a 2 1/2 year old and we are thinking about having another child. For those of you who have 2 kids, how can I get 2 car seats and a stroller in the car? I'm wondering if I'd be able to manage with so little room in the back. I have a van now and am used to having a ton of room. Any advice?

Thanks!
Mary

[simeds]

i have a 7 and 3 year old, one has booster seat other child car seat, no problems fitting both in. As for stroller, we've found a few different ones that fit, they do exist!. When going away we do need a roof rack though and leather seats are very good when they throw up !
If people think 2 kids in a MINI is difficult, they should try 2 kids in old mini..... its great fun

[lshill]

Mary,

Get the Mini..........hold off on the second kid, or got for two Minis and stick with the one kid.

Problem solved....lol.....aren't you glad you asked.

But then again my view my not be for everyone:

One wife, one daughter, one dog ( mini dachshund ), one cat........four cars.

CYA

PS. With all my fancy-smancy other cars my 9yo daughters favorite is the mini. Go figure!

[MaryFlute]

Imeds - I didn't think about a roof rack. Great idea. What kind of stroller did you get? Did the infant seat fit on top of it (a travel system)?



Ishill - I can't wait any longer for another kid (tick tick). It's now or never so that's why I'm confused. (I do like your suggestion to get 2 Mini's and stick with the one kid - LOL.) I'm sure this is how it will go: I decide NOT to get the Mini and I don't get pregnant. I DO decide to get the Mini and I get pregnant. Things always seem to work out like that for me. But, if I get the Mini and don't end up getting pregnant, I still have a great 2 1/2 year old son!!

The only other problem I have is that my mother sometimes needs a wheelchair when I take her to the Doctor. We have a folding one and could probably get it in with 1 kid and her. 2 kids, mom, wheelchair - I don't think so. I wonder if I could put the wheelchair on the roof rack?

[simeds]

[quote=MaryFlute]Imeds - I didn't think about a roof rack. Great idea. What kind of stroller did you get? Did the infant seat fit on top of it (a travel system)?
didn't get travel system, just push chair from 3-6 months upwards.Also used a babybjorn sling. Found that a maclaren volo stroller fitted in boot at an angle if you take out one of the covers to the compartments in boot. Dont know if these are available in usa

[cook1e]

Quote: Originally Posted by MaryFlute

I'm probably going to order a MINI in the next few months. I have a 2 1/2 year old and we are thinking about having another child. For those of you who have 2 kids, how can I get 2 car seats and a stroller in the car? I'm wondering if I'd be able to manage with so little room in the back. I have a van now and am used to having a ton of room. Any advice?

Thanks!
Mary

Mary,

We've had no problem getting two car seats in the back of the MINI, you just need to ensure you get a seat that fits OK, see some of the other threads in this forum as only a few seats fit OK due to the contour of the Rear seats and the position of the seat belt socket which is further forward than on most cars.

Regarding a stroller, we already had a couple of strollers and a double buggy and neither fitted the MINI, however some friends of ours gave us a small stroller that fits OK either diagonally in the boot (boot = trunk in US speak )or across the rear footwell behind the front seats, after all you don't use the footwell when your kids are small enough to be in a car seat!

The stroller in question was actually purchased by our friends while they were on a holiday in the USA as they hadn't taken a stroller with them. It's made by a company called Cosco, never seen them in the UK but I notice you are in the US so you may be able to locate one. The stroller is pretty basic so was probably very cheap but it's OK for us as we only use the MINI occasionally for family trips as we have an MPV as the main family car which takes our more robust strollers or double buggy.

Cheers

[MaryFlute]

Hi Cook1e,

Thanks for your advice. I actually have a Cosco carseat that I hope fits in the Mini. I'll have to look into the stroller you mentioned.

I guess if we really had to go somewhere with a lot of stuff, we could take my husband's F250 truck. It's huge!

Thanks again,
Mary

[lshill]

Pic of my daughter ( 9yo) in our new MCS. She has previously said she wanted a blue convertible Bug for her first car............but I think the Mini is getting under her skin already!!!!!!!!

Let the BRAINWASHING begin !

[MaryFlute]

What a cutie! I guess kids love Mini's too! What's not to love, right?

[MonkeyMan]

My 2 year old is positively nutty over the Mini. He has some toy ones (of course) and runs to the window every time I pull in to the driveway. He and his full-sized car seat fit nicely in the back, though it positions him perfectly to kick out the rear speaker.

[ncdave]

I carpool kids to school in the MINI. Although there are minivans available for the ride, the MINI is the first choice so they can arrive, in their words, in a "cool" car. Even if they sit in the back. We also arrive earlier than when they are transported in normal transportation.

[MandaBoo]

On another forum someone said that he found a travel system, Peg Perego Aria GM, that fits in the boot. It's a bit pricey, but several folks said it fits well.