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Currently have a Golf MK7 Hatchback, just had our first littlun, and have found the boot pretty much filled by the pram with not much space for anything else. Thinking of possibly changing for the estate version as I do like Golfs, any real world experience of the extra space gained by getting an estate or should I simply get a roof box for what I already have?
Or get an Octavia. Golf with a bigger boot.
I had Golfs, still have one, managed when the kids needed a pram easy enough. They’re not in a pram very long so not sure it’s that necessary but if you feel you need the room I’d go for proper estate not a stretched Golf.
When they grow out of the pram they'll have a bike, or something else. We have a Leon Hatchback (similar) and are going to get a Leon / Golf estate just so you packing (especially xmas) isn't such a stressful exercise. Only 25cm or so longer so not much difference in driving.
Bike rack.
We had a mark 5 golf estate and it was great, had it through the arrival of two kids and was going just fine until a chap in a BMW wrote it off for us (luckily not while the kids were in it).
We replaced it with a Passat estate which is bigger again. As kids get bigger so does the amount of stuff you have to shift around on holidays and outings, just had a towbar fitted so we can use the roofbox and carry four bikes.
I'd have had a transporter but Mrs Madhouse won't let me unless I become a plumber. (she didn't like my T2 much either).
Buy a smaller buggy? We had ickle McClaren folder for this, neighbours bought a people carrier to transport some huge lifestyle buggy around...
Also an Octavia Estate does it all better for less imho.
If you're looking second hand, look at a C-class.
We replaced it with a Passat estate which is bigger again. As kids get bigger so does the amount of stuff you have to shift around on holidays and outings,
I find we take less and less as they get older.
A bigger car just means you fill it up with more stuff, a Golf is more than big enough for 2 parents and one child.
My wife has a Mk 7 estate and the boot is plenty big enough, and will take both kids' bikes (Cnoc 16 & Beinn 20) no bother.
We did manage fine with a Golf V and an Astra when we only had one child; we did get a roof box for going on holiday, and when #2 was on the way we chopped the Golf for an Avensis saloon (which is soon to e chopped for a Golf hatch).
Kids now 7 and (nearly) 5 so are kind of past the age where they need vast amounts of clobber.
Passat wagon not meant to be much bigger inside?
Have two kids, one 3 years, one 9 months, and now on our second mk7 Golf.
Had a mk7 estate and yes, it's pretty roomy. You can either have the floor raised with masses of space underneath for things, or take all the plastics out and drop it down if you need the most space for airport runs or a week away.
However, it's been changed for a hatch (and a GTE at that, which has the smaller boot as the floor can't drop to the lower position). Can still fit the "big" Phil&Teds pushchair for 2 and a couple of bags which is all we need 99% of the time, and will likely revert to the small Maclaren soon which will leave plenty of space for other things. Once kids can can sit up OK you get a much better choice of pushchairs that take up way less space.
Don't forget with child seats you still have much of the rear footwells free, and if you've only got one kid then plenty of back seat space for overspill. I run roofbars anyway for carrying bikes so have been looking at roofboxes for the odd time when we go away and need to carry more stuff. Either hiring or considering one of the Thule Ranger ones that fold away.
Friends have a mk6 hatch and two kids (a couple of years older than ours), have never bothered with a roofbox and managed fine. We had a 1-series before the Golf wagon when we just had one child and managed weeks away with pushchair, travel cot, highchair, etc fine and that has less space than a Golf.
Get an estate if you need the extra space on a regular basis, else a roofbox is a perfect solution for a few times a year.
I’d go for proper estate not a stretched Golf
Whats one of them? Can't think of any estates that aren't stretched versions of either a hatch or saloon.
We have two kids and a Mk7 estate. One of the bits I like the most is being able to pack loads in and not obscure the rear window or leave crap on display in the foot well. I do sometimes want something bigger though. Our youngest is currently in a Besafe rear facing seat. This severely limits the front passengers leg room and means the gap is so small in the middle its painful to sit there.
When we had a Mk6 hatch and one child I did manage two bikes and a pram in the boot (along with all the clothes for a weeks holiday). I was a faff though.