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Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: Jimble on 03 August 2014, 13:04
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Sooo we had the 12 week scan on thursday and everything seems to be going fine which is great, i said from day one that the R probably wouldn't be ideal for anyone with kids but i didn't think i might need to put it to the test so soon! :grin: we know it's still early days in the pregnancy but couldn't help having a nose round Mothercare, mama's and papa's etc and my god it's a minefield!! One thing that struck me though is the sheer size of some of the prams and travel systems, most of which will go in the boot of the R but would need to lie flat rendering the rest of the space pretty useless. :rolleyes:
I've had a look around at a couple of different cars but keep coming back to the GTI but is that extra 5 inches in depth enough to make the change worth it or am i better off trying something else completely different or just keep the R???? :undecided:
Any advice one way or another would be great!! :cool:
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People will tell you it's manageable but the only real way to tell is to try them out. We have an iCandy Apple pushchair and the boot level in our GTD has to be set to the lowest position to even get it in, and as you say it has to lie flat and more or less renders the remainder of the boot useless.
We ended up having to buy some VW roof bars and a Thule soft box for weekends away.
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Jimble, can't wait to see you put roof bars and box on the R, definitely have to have an inters reunion for that one!
Great news though mate, congrats.
VeeDub ate bring out a twin turbo 240 diesel unit next year in the new passat, might be an option to keep you in family?
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Firstly congratulations.
We are just coming to the end of needing a pram in the boot.It does render the boot useless for anything else so the slightly smaller boot in the R than the GTI they have the same issues really.
I think yours is 3 door, 5 doors are better with a baby but I wouldn't swap if I hadn't had the car that long.You could say 3 doors are safer really as tha structure of car will be stronger at rear.
We only filled our boot doing the "big shop" so get it delivered now.
Just watch that you don't catch the rear bumper when getting pram out .
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Passat/A4 estate tbh.
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Cheers chaps! :wink: quite like the A4 tbh so is one of the considerations, i'm pretty sure we could "manage" sticking with the R and a roof box has crossed my mind, storage might be a bit of an issue atm but may change soon but thats another story!!
Had a look at a Tiguan R-line but the boot is dissappointingly small, the Passat would be ideal sometimes i like it sometimes i don't, plus the new one will be out soon but not sure when??
Hmmmm... :undecided:
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Congratulations Jimble :smiley:
If you can live without 5 doors (which makes life much easier) I'd keep the R for a bit. Never quite understood why people rush out and buy a people carrier the minute they have a child. When you've got a few kids, then ok, but one baby doesn't really warrant it.
Most prams fill up the boot but you find a way to fit other stuff in the car. I managed perfectly well with my mk5 GTI and a baby plus all the paraphernalia (another thing people go over the top on) and weekly shopping, no problems. You just become a master at packing and/or travelling light! If you do keep it put some protective film on rear bumper to minimise scratching dragging stuff in and out the boot.
Don't make a rash decision :grin:
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Had a hatchback for all of my daughters life - Alfa, BMW 1 series, Gti mk 5, Gti mk 7.... Never been an issue... Stick with this R!
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Cheers Booth! My R is a 5 door so thats not a problem, it's just crazy the size of some of these things! Even the Bugaboo Bee which is supposed to be the smallest on the market isn't exactly small! :shocked: We go to the Lake disrtict quite often to visit my brother but i can't imagine being able to get everything in the boot?? I don't really like the idea of having things loose on the back seat with baby for safety but i suppose thats what a lot of people do?
I dunno... :undecided:
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You've already got the right number of doors then Jimble. Just use a roof box for trips. As you say, don't want heavy loose stuff in back with baby.
I had initially had a Bugaboo Chameleon then switched to a Bugaboo Bee and it was fine. Btw, the Bee's a brilliant pram/stroller, lightweight and supremely manoeuvreable, avoid those 3 wheelers, ugly, heavy lumps :sick:
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I'm in a similar position Jimble (also approx 12 weeks lol) except I have a 3 door! I think you'll be fine with 5 doors, no problem.
I'm trying to convince myself that it won't change my lifestyle one little bit....
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Congrats James! :cool:
I see on the forums so often people panicking as soon as their wife develops a baby bump thinking they need a bus all of a sudden. Maybe it's a male nesting thing thinking they have to be sensible and grown up?
My eldest is now 18 years and we managed perfectly ok with my Polo G40 when he was a baby!
Face it, we go out and be all responsible and buy a huge expensive pram that costs hundreds maybe (mine didn't!!!) then decide we need to spend thousands more on a new car to fit it in. It should be the other way round - you have a £35k car so find a pram to fit! After a very short time pissing about with a huge buggy most parent resort to a cheapo fold up thing anyway that's light and nimble so can be carried up steps or onto busses and will fit anywhere - not least of all when you get fed up with your hallway being taken up by a massive pram!
The Golf is a big car and plenty big enough for lanky teenage kids never mind a two foot long baby.
Yes the boot on all mk7's is much smaller than a mk5/6 (I don't give a toss what VW say, I know for a fact as I've just come back off holiday last week) but it is still big enough for a pram.
As for the three door vs. five - it doesn't really matter. I did find when mine first started in front facing seats in the back that it was easier with a three door mk4 Golf GTI as the seat slid forward properly on the tilt and you could sit on the back of the front seat and lift the baby into the seat without too much bending or risk of hitting either your or the little'un's head as you got in.
A Golf R is an amazing bit of kit so why not just find a pram that fits the car not the other way round.
I wonder how those guys who are leasing one for 50pence a month would get on if they suddenly decided their circumstances changed mid-term? Off topic I know.
Oh, and as for trips, if space is that bad then it costs about £80 to hire a decent sized car for a weekend and you don't have to worry about the thing getting all muddy.
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Congrats Jimble, nothing changes your life like the birth of your kids :smiley: I had by first son with a Scirocco and it was fine. We have a bebeconfort lula pram which is prefect. Folds up quite small and the baby seat clicks into the pram base. With the 2nd one I changed to a 5 door GTi for the extra space.
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Congratulations! As a father of 2 I'd say don't get a pram! Go for something like the Quinni Zap and a Maxi cosi carseat with iso fix base, base good with 3 door as you just drop the seat on it and it clicks in. Carseat goes on zap when little and as they grow you change back to full seat. Zap folds nice and small in the boot. :nerd:
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This is great stuff guys! Keep it coming! :cool:
I agree totally about buying a pram/puschair or whatever to fit the car rather than the other way round but i was shocked at the size of even the smallest ones and wonder if there is one to fit the R? i think if they could be stood side on rather than layed flat it'd be better as most fold quite flat, i reckon the GTI would take most like that and i really don't want a big car tbh, however the longer i leave it the more it'll cost to change.
Being honest the GTI PP would be my first choice if i was to change as i've said before i prefer it in almost every way except the speed!! :grin:
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Congratulations! I'm guessing this is your first? Will completely change your life!
have a 1 year old and a GTI. I haven't had any issues at all. It can get a little tight when you do a full shop but otherwise hasn't ever been an issue. I was planning on getting an R but it wasn't out when my mk6 needed replacing. I have seen the size of the boot and you won't have an issue. You don't nowhere near as much as you would think.
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A Skoda Octavia VRS has a massive boot both as a hatch and an estate and has the same underpinnings as a GTi.
Generally considered to be the family mans GTi as long as you are not a badge snob
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I had this dilemma 9 years ago I was running a mk4 golf 4 motion lovely car at the time, but then one night a stork flew over the house & we had a baby boy so it was straight down to mama's & papas for a travel system which took up the whole boot , so ended up flogging the golf &buying a jeep (misses choice) big mistake had it for a year couldn't stand the barn door engineering anymore, so bought a mk5 gti & a bugaboo pram which left much more space , so I would say kept what you have because you might regret selling, I did.
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Congratulations! As a father of 2 I'd say don't get a pram! Go for something like the Quinni Zap and a Maxi cosi carseat with iso fix base, base good with 3 door as you just drop the seat on it and it clicks in. Carseat goes on zap when little and as they grow you change back to full seat. Zap folds nice and small in the boot. :nerd:
Exactly the travel combination we had, can't fault them for utility and compactness really considering all the other monstrositys on the market.
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Many congratulations Jim to you and your mrs.
I never had any probs with our first born with the 5dr mk6 gti so I'm sure your R will be just fine.
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Jimble congrats. Like others have said the baby stuff just takes over the motor. My GTD was delivered when my little one was going on 6 months before that I have a beetle loan car and getting the baby seat in is a whole lot easier with a isofix so that for me is a must. Pushchairs well don't get me started the sheer number will put anyone off. We ended up getting a mamas and papas one that folded flat at the click and pull of a button and is really lightweight as my wife has a bad back it does however fold flat and take up the whole boot. Like others have said I think roof box is a must for those long journeys. But trust me you will become a master packer by te time you have undertaken two/three lon trips with the little one. Otherwise as your brother to store some stuff at his house :wink: saves u having to pack it.
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Morning jimble congratulations I've got a mark 6 gti 5 door I had a 3 door mk 6 gti so when I found out I changed to 5 doors brought a roof box and bars. In the first few months we used the travel system but when she was big enough when ever we went out we just take the pushchair. Now we only use the pram for walking around the village. We have just got back from a weeks holiday roof box 2 bikes and all of the other stuff all fitted perfectly plus i think the gti looks cool with roof box on so what would an R look like :evil:
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Had hatches all through my boys 7 years and never had an issue, not sure why uoi need a bigger car, what exactly are people loading their cars with when they have a baby on board ?
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Jimble congratulations, personally i'd keep the 7R, nice and sure footed and good safety results, also couldn't think of anything better when you have to take mrs jimble to the hospital in when the time comes
makes me smile the amount of clutter people have, my mom and dad had an austin 1100 back in the day with me
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I don't really like the idea of having things loose on the back seat with baby for safety but i suppose thats what a lot of people do?
Dog Guard or Cargo net. I have the same concerns as you and this solves it.
If you value your back, consider a taller car like a Tiguan (sh!t packaging - small boot). or better still a Touran. Lifting kids in and out of a small low car is OK but not ideal.
The Touran is a boring a hell car, but it is a great tool for the job. You can even get a PD170 DSG.
Be warned though, I have two kids, and on a UK holiday the boot is still not really big enough, even with the dog guard which allows the parafanallia to be loaded right up too the roof.
My Touran has gone now, but it's replacement may need a roof box too!
:smiley:
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I'm in a similar position Jimble (also approx 12 weeks lol) except I have a 3 door! I think you'll be fine with 5 doors, no problem.
I'm trying to convince myself that it won't change my lifestyle one little bit....
ROFL:ROFL:ROFL:ROFL
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bugaboo pram travel system.
FTMFW.
:smiley:
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Like others have said the baby stuff just takes over the motor.
:rolleyes:
.. isofix so that for me is a must....
100% and better still look into the new "ME" standard. If the car supports it.
:smiley:
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Congrats Jimble!
I've got a 4 month old and a 2.5 yo - the travel systems all take up loads of room, but generally fit in. We ended up buying a small folding pram when he was 6 months anyway which takes up loads less room... (and to be honest would have been fine from birth)...
Now we've got 2 we've got a Phil and Teds thing which actually goes in the GTI fine and takes both of the kids.
A golf is a really practical family car - you might have a little less room in the back in the R, but it's not worth changing just for an extra few inches... My son calls mine "Daddies noisy racing car" and he wouldn't have anything else!
I'd get a bigger car for your wife and for longer trips and keep the R...
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.. isofix so that for me is a must....
It's a no-brainer. Just slot the isofix base in, leave it there and the car seat justs clips in and out as required. No faffing around with seat belts wondering if you've strapped the seat in properly or is baby going to be flying round the car at the first corner.
Apart from hols, you really do not need half the stuff people lug around with them. Other parents say "ooh I have to add an hour's getting ready time to get all the stuff prepared for every outing" frankly, it's b0ll0cks, let's face it you're never that far away from civilisation should you run out of a nappy or wet wipe :rolleyes:
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Congratulations James, top news!!
I had a mk 6 GTI when our little one was born and the missus had a Focus, which then changed to a Guilietta; never experienced any issues with space with a hatchback, everything fitted in nicely - IMO there's no need to change cars whatsoever. And yours is 5 doors so it's even easier. As someone pointed out, the car seat base fits into the isofix points and never gets taken out - you just slot the baby seat into it, piece of cake.
Enjoy those sleepless nights when they come :laugh:
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Thats great news James, congratulations!!
I'm going to offer absolutely no advice as i don't have any children and wouldn't have a clue about the practicalities of getting things in and out of cars :grin:
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We have a 1 year old son and a mk7 on order. We have lived for the past year with a Scirocco, which we are only changing as it is a little bit of a faff to lift him into the back now that he is heavier (and my wife is petite). The 5 door will be grand, and since the Golf boot is bigger and has a better opening than the Scirocco, that will make fitting the buggy in even easier.
We've just been to France and back in the Rocco and whilst a few more inches in the boot with the Golf will be handy, we survived.*
* Caveat - I am looking at buying a Caddy Maxi Life in a couple of years, but only because it will make transporting bikes and family to biking races so much easier, without the need for the roof rack. ;)
Congrats on the imminent arrival.
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Congrats, being a parent is the best job in the world....
My two are now 22 and 21 this month. When the first was born I had a two door 3 series and we managed. When number two came along 15 months later, i was changing jobs and decided an estate was in order.... After that I had a mix of hatchs, saloons, people carriers, 4x4s, estates, and such like....
Even now they are "grown up" their needs dictate what i drive, i run a huge Mercedes E class estate as uni trips at start and end of term require loads of space. The Mrs now has the fun car (the GTi) and i use that at weekends and when we dont need the space.
I wouldnt swap early to get a bigger car but I would get myself something that gave maximum flexibility when the time came - and if you ahve two cars, make the big one the wife's!
Ian
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Congratulations Jimble. Very exciting times ahead :grin:
I agree with the others, the Golf R will be fine.
We had twins and my Mrs insisted on a massive SilverCross pram. At the time (18 years ago) I had no option but to get rid of my Ford Escort and get myself an estate car as we already had a 4 year old.
The GTI of prams was great but was so big and bulky it soon got relegated to a fold-able push chair as soon as the kids were old enough for it.
What I'm trying to say is, chances are your initial pram will be big and elegant but for practicality they're not always the best so you might find it a tight squeeze for the first few months but you'll soon be onto something more appropriate and forgiving in a car. It would be a shame if you sold the R and lost out financially for what might be a short period. But then again once one comes along, you start to think it might just be as easy to have another one!! :laugh:
If you were thinking of selling the R and changing to something else, it would be worthwhile to sit down and see how it would affect you financially and would you actually be better off getting yourself a run around estate for a couple of years for the price it would cost you to change?!
A couple of years back I had a lot of DIY / garden work to do and was contemplating changing the Mk6 Golf for something bigger. Worked out I would probably loose about £800 to change cars. So went and bought a Skoda Estate off Gumtree for £350 with a years MOT and 6 months tax. Kept it for 11 months 3 weeks and got tons of use out of it. Sold it for £250. Even after adding insurance and another 6 months road tax, it made financial sense to me and kept the Mk6 good :rolleyes:
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Really appreciate the input guys and the insite from parents with experience of running Golfs, i had a look round an Octavia VRS hatch the other day and as has been said the boot is enormous!! Nice car however you can tell why it's cheaper than a Golf, little things like no vanity mirror lights and no fabric on the under side of the boot floor just ply wood among other things, still a very nice car though and without doubt it's the perfect family hatch. I'm going to have a chat with my dealer and see what the damage would be to change back to a GTI anyway as like i've said i actually prefer it to the R, we'll see though.
:smiley:
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see what the damage would be to change back to a GTI anyway
I'm sure you'll find someone on here to do a swap/deal with!
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Jimble, I thought of you today as I saw a guy in a lapis blue r infront of me in edgbaston birmingham he had what appeared to be a mahoosive pushchair in the boot but it was sticking out above the rear windscreen. I thought the boot can't be that much smaller than the gtd/gti. I think you will be ok with the r until you have to change.
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Yeah.... Leave the parcel shelf out if the car permanently and you'll be fine
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Keep the R - boot is only smaller by what 30 litres? :-)
I've got a little one and have had pretty much everything inside the GTi.