Minis, Families, and US Carseats/Strollers

[GeekLady]

My husband and I are both 26, no children (yet), and live in Houston, TX. We have one 5 year old pickup truck between the two of us, and we're considering buying a car in the next year or so. We don't need one now, but we will in a few years, and we'd like to keep the cars roughly 5 years apart so we don't have to deal with simultaneous car payments. Whichever car we buy, will still be in service when we have kids, so future practibility is a big concern for us.

Now I want to buy a mini very, very badly. My husband, while he likes driving the Mini, thinks there just isn't enough cargo room for it to be practical.

My opinion on this is that if we need to haul cargo, we already have a pickup truck, we live in a city, and the good gas mileage and flexibility in driving around downtown are big pluses for a Mini.

So, in order to convince him that a Mini could work when we have small children, I wanted to do some research on carseats and strollers that would work with it, but all I've managed to do is fall in love with the Quinny Buzz, and then become profoundly bitter that it isn't available in the US and the only infant carrier that fits on it isn't 'approved for use' in the US.

Which carseats and strollers that are available in the US work well in a Mini? And do you have any other advice on a Mini as a family car in the US?

[Paul]

I can't personally give you a US angle, but we have parents who visit who I'm sure can help (hopefully they'll pick up this thread).

However, a MINI (or two, in our experience) are fine for a 3 person family, we've had a MINI with our little boy from birth to three, and it's never been an issue.

[Ferroequine]

We've got a 5 y/o, with another one on the way. For the booster seat, we've got a Britax Parkway that fits beautifully; I believe it is also available in the US. He fits in the car great, and really likes riding in it.

You guys can't get the Quinny Buzz? We can get it through Sears, but it is an online order. Our Sears has the Quinny Zap in store, but I don't know if it fits or not.

For baby car seats, we've found that the Italian brand Peg-Perego seems to fit our MCS the best. They also have a wide range of strollers (that also all fit the baby car carriers), the smallest of which doesn't quite fit in the boot, but it is close. Their system is pretty cool, you purchase the car seat and stroller(s) separately, so you're not married into one combination.

You always have the option of having a roof rack carrier! Or if it is only mom or dad in the front, just fold up the mall stroller (with seat attachments) and park it in the passenger seat well.

Having said all that, we also own a full size SUV for larger family outings / vacations.

A MINI as a second vehicle should be more than doable!

[ChapSimon]

Quote: Originally Posted by MiniVee (original)

You guys can't get the Quinny Buzz? We can get it through Sears, but it is an online order. Our Sears has the Quinny Zap in store, but I don't know if it fits or not.

:

Quinny zapp definitely fits: Please see my gallery or the top of the forum sticky thread.

[Paul]

Quinny Zapp is an easy fit, could fit that in a shoe box if you tried hard enough!

[GeekLady]

I could order it from the Canadian Sears, but I'd have to ship it to someone who lives in Canada, they won't ship to a US address.
Turns out that the Buzz will be supposedly be available in the US in March 2007. So by the time i have both a Mini Cooper and a mini me, it shouldn't be an issue.

[buksimacska]

I can put my 2 kids in the Mini, a stroller and the shopping too! I have a 4 year old in a Britax Marathon. For my infant, I got a Quinny Zapp (love it!), which you can order through Ebay (it ships from NJ), and I have a Maxi Cosi Cabrio car seat that fits on the stroller to make a travel system. You have to order the carseat from Europe, but its worth every penny. I wouldn't trade my Mini for anything. 3 kids would mean leaving your husband at home, but hey, Mini is for having fun!

[lespurgeon]

OK,
I'm going to need a carseat in a couple of months. Looking at the Britax roundabout based on comments - but has anybody been using it in the rear-facing configuration in the MINI? Most comment I have seen are that it works well front-facing. Won't need that for a while. Thanks mates.

[minipak]

I bought my MCS a week before my wife told me we were expecting again. If I had known that I would have opted for a Minivan. Don't get me wrong, I love the MCS and my son loves it too.

I would not worry about car seats, They would fit, the strollers would be an issue. If you want to put in a convertable stroller (one which you use for infants in a car seat), that may not work. I haven't tried it but it would tricky.

I don't know how having two kids in the mini would work. Cargo is limited, especially if you want to shop at Costco and kids.

HTH

[heatherh]

Quote: Originally Posted by buksimacska (original)

For my infant, I got a Quinny Zapp (love it!), which you can order through Ebay (it ships from NJ), and I have a Maxi Cosi Cabrio car seat that fits on the stroller to make a travel system.

The guy in NJ now has the Maxi Cosi infant seats, too. Do you have your seat installed with or without the base that stays in the car? How's the spacing (esp if you have the base in)?

Also, how does the Maxi Cosi actually click into the Zapp? I can't tell from any photos I can find - trying to compare it to how the Graco seats click onto their complementary strollers.

Also, I can tell you guys that the Bugaboos (frog OR cameleon) and BOB Revolution do *not* fit in the boot of my MCSC. Very close, but no go.

Thanks!