Carseat...kids...and Marriage

[mankarn86]

Question for you guys out there that are newly wed and either have young kids, or are looking to get kids rather soon...

Just talking to uncles and other folks, many of them around my age (25) had a fun 2 door car, tight backseat etc...ALot of them gave up the car when they were about to have kids...one of my uncles actually gave up his supra and bought a camry

We've established that a rear facing childseat is a no go in this car...so likely having kids, driving in-laws...being a good husband etc...it's all gonna be a hassle in this car when the time comes....

So what are many of you guys' plans when you get this car...to sell it when the time comes? to have a daily? to buy your wife a minivan...the reason I ask is cause it's something to consider for guys our age...Maybe someone can chime in from experience?

The reason that I ask is cause the top gear article said something VERY interesting...this car is a compromise...there are cars out there that will sacrifice ALL practicalliy, and prove to be better sports cars...so if that's the case, I would feel shame in buying a daily for this car...when I could have bought a used S2000, or another high end used car with a daily....
The real apeal to me about the FRS is ACCESSIBLE Sports car experience...it's not too expensive, it has a back seat, it's some what practical, you can daily this car, get by, and still have a ton of fun...

so thoughts?

[Smitty_89]

buy your wife a minivan...this is what I would do, have a family car aka wife's car and then have your FR-S/BRZ

[YukiHachiRoku]

Originally Posted by Smitty_89

buy your wife a minivan.

Look for Honda Odyssey with H22 VTEC turbo swap minivan!

[whtchocla7e]

This is why I'm single. No compromise.

[Alias]

Originally Posted by mankarn86

so likely having kids, driving in-laws...being a good husband etc...it's all gonna be a hassle in this car when the time comes....

So what are many of you guys' plans when you get this car...to sell it when the time comes? to have a daily? to buy your wife a minivan...the reason I ask is cause it's something to consider for guys our age...

so thoughts?

I plan to simply avoid the whole social interaction aspect so I don't have to deal with any of those difficulties, fuck getting married, I'll enjoy my cars thank you very much.

[Smitty_89]

Originally Posted by Alias

I plan to simply avoid the whole social interaction aspect so I don't have to deal with any of those difficulties, fuck getting married, I'll enjoy my cars thank you very much.

true...fuck my friends too, I'm usually the driver in the group but with this car thats gonna change since I'll only be able to carry one other person, not the usual 3 or 4. They can walk for all I care

[neutron256]

My plan is to not have kids but if that changes we'll have my wife's Fit, keep the BRZ, and add something practical.

[Calum]

The wife drives a Matrix and I've got a Neon for a winter beater. Either can fit the wife, two kids, myself, a double stroller and groceries.

If I can manage it, I'll have one car seat in the FRS so I can take my oldest for fun drives. When the little one gets old enough to face forward I'll put his seat in to. (I should probably mention that we currently have four car seats.) If it's too much hassle to get them in and out, I'll just put my two seats in the Neon.

[df.dima]

Originally Posted by mankarn86

Question for you guys out there that are newly wed and either have young kids, or are looking to get kids rather soon...

Just talking to uncles and other folks, many of them around my age (25) had a fun 2 door car, tight backseat etc...ALot of them gave up the car when they were about to have kids...one of my uncles actually gave up his supra and bought a camry

We've established that a rear facing childseat is a no go in this car...so likely having kids, driving in-laws...being a good husband etc...it's all gonna be a hassle in this car when the time comes....

So what are many of you guys' plans when you get this car...to sell it when the time comes? to have a daily? to buy your wife a minivan...the reason I ask is cause it's something to consider for guys our age...Maybe someone can chime in from experience?

The reason that I ask is cause the top gear article said something VERY interesting...this car is a compromise...there are cars out there that will sacrifice ALL practicalliy, and prove to be better sports cars...so if that's the case, I would feel shame in buying a daily for this car...when I could have bought a used S2000, or another high end used car with a daily....
The real apeal to me about the FRS is ACCESSIBLE Sports car experience...it's not too expensive, it has a back seat, it's some what practical, you can daily this car, get by, and still have a ton of fun...

so thoughts?

Hey Big Nate!
how's life? cars keep rolling out the factory doors in Cambridge? . I hope you recognize me.

I had the same beef with my wife about the car. Basically I'm in the worse position than you now, because kids are imminent for me (starting next year its time). After a sit down and talk we got it sorted out. Basically the problem is there only in the first year or two of the child, because after that regular sitting position is doable in the car. You can get by with this car. Look at people in Europe, most drive small ass cars and manage to survive with kids. My wife does not necessarily want to drive a van (she'd be more happy in a C class or an IS or something along those lines), but for now she decided she'd lease a regular small/mid sedan as she's just done school and starting out her full time work in the fall. Her car would be functional for kid(s). As far as my situation, I don't expect to have to drive kid(s) too much, and if I do, I can always ask my dad to do it or swap cars with him. Ultimately, as we move out of the townhouse within a few years (where parking space is premium), we going to be getting a van or an suv (3rd vehicle) and I might even park up the fr-s for the winter.

As for you, why are you even worried? I'm not sure on your relation situation, as we never talked about that at work, but you're still a few years away from having kids I'd assume. I chose not to worry about this now, things change in life, a few years down the road you might think differently.

Regarding another used car: I think I'm done buying used. I want to molest my car myself from day one. So I'm not going to buy higher end cars and I find fr-s/brz to be about perfect balance of performance/looks/expense to maintain vs price.

[ESBjiujitsu]

i plan on having my cake and eating it too. the wife soon to be wife does not drive. she doesn't care what car we have so long as im happy and its safe. so i figure a frs with a roll cage is as safe as it gets

[Alias]

Originally Posted by ESBjiujitsu

so i figure a frs with a roll cage is as safe as it gets

Yeah, roll cages on the road are the safest things EVER!!

[S2kphile]

Nope forgo marriage until 30's-40's by them I'll have accumlated enough wealth to purchase SUV and keep my sports car. No compromises and always wear the rubber.

[st162celica]

Take the front passenger seat out. Rearward seat will fit. Get ur wife to squash in the back behind you. Problem solved.

Or buy a rex for 1 year

[sastexan]

Originally Posted by mankarn86

Question for you guys out there that are newly wed and either have young kids, or are looking to get kids rather soon...

We have an Odyssey and my wife's old Camry as a beater. The LATCH is very accessible; my 4 year old (and my 1 1/2 year old) sat in the back of the tester at the Baltimore drive event without an issue, in approximately the position for the car seat. This certainly is not the car to get if you are going to carry stuff / people around (the trunk pass through is helpful but there is very little height). You would do better with a WRX (which I am also still considering).

However, for the past 14 years, I have driven a sedan. On my own, I liked having the flexibility to carry stuff (with the trunk pass thru I could fit a ton of ikea flat packs, even hanging way out past the trunk lid for a desk / bookcases) and would drive friends around. Now, I have a dedicated people carrier. Will there probably be some times I wish I had the extra space? Sure. But I'm guessing they will be fewer and further between; rarely in the past few years have I carried more than one passenger or large cargo in my car.

Only you can plan for your lifestyle. Good luck!

[df.dima]

Originally Posted by S2kphile

Nope forgo marriage until 30's-40's by them I'll have accumlated enough wealth to purchase SUV and keep my sports car. No compromises and always wear the rubber.

That is definitely an alternative, but the only disadvantage I see would be my age vs kids age. I don't want to be 60+ when my kid goes to school/finishes and starts of his life and realizes that parents are not those annoying tyrants taking away the toys and that they can actually enjoy time with us.
If we lived to 100 and were in decent shape till 80-90 that'd be fine with me .

But whatever each person's priorities are, we choose our own ways in life. .

[meekhotglass]

Exactly this is what has me cross-shopping a ford focus st. I want the BRZ, but am worried that I'll need to trade it in a year or two when the kiddies come along. Focus ST seems to be pretty good - but maybe too refined... not really what I want.

I've been going back and forth, but the BRZ is the one I really want. One thing I've found is life never really works out quite the way you plan - better to make make the most of today and get the car you want.

[michaelahess]

My wife had an MX-6 and I had a Celica when our first was born. I would have kept it that way had my car not been stolen. Then I bought a mini-van, it was wonderful to be honest, but I preferred our nice little cars, kids or not.

If you can afford both, that's your best bet. Or if your wife is like mine and loves sports cars, it's a much easier to sell idea of only having sports cars.

[FML]

I traded in my is350 4 years ago when I had my first child and bought a 4 runner. Now that shes 4 and she can fit in a forward facing seat I'm selling the 4runner for a brz or frs which ever I can get first.

[dookie11]

Subaru WRX if you need to fit the family, BRZ for yourself. /thread

[Enemies]

Originally Posted by FML

I traded in my is350 4 years ago when I had my first child and bought a 4 runner. Now that shes 4 and she can fit in a forward facing seat I'm selling the 4runner for a brz or frs which ever I can get first.

Watch your wife get pregnant in 3... 2... 1...

[Deslock]

When the time comes, buy whatever 4-door your wife wants (with all the bells and whistles... make her happy). Use her car anytime you go somewhere with the whole family and use your less practical car otherwise. Depending on your usage, this may work for the FT86 with up to 2 kids.

A caveat is that lifting an infant seat in/out of the FT86's rear seat would be a PITA (I got rid of my GSR coupe for this reason). Once your kids can buckle themselves in, having a tiny 2-door is a lot easier.

[stevo_12v]

But seriously.. keep the BRZ/86 and get a Minivan for the wife