Z4 and baby on the way

[sammyz]

Keep it! My grandkids ( 4 & 6 ) love going out in 'John's red sports car'. They will always fight to see who gets to come with me if I have the Zed out on a family run. Connor thinks it's Lightning McQueen

As long as you run two cars in the family and can swop around cars to cater for pick ups etc it's a 'no brainer'.

 

[Bing]

I actually miss having my son's booster seat in the car (he was 7 when I had my first Z) - stopped things rolling off the seat, and the cup holders were perfect

We only have one child and manage fine with an Accord for the wife and family trips. Bit of a hassle when the Accord is broken, but nothing unbearable. To be honest, in my experience, whilst they are in a rear facing seat you'll not have them far from their Mum anyway, so the airbag thing is not so important. Isofix seats are a good thing if you have them, but a decent child seat fixed correctly will be fine. If you can avoid selling it then you should

 

[Mowflow]

That Recaro seat is a nightmare.

We bought that exact seat and took it back for an exchange after a few days. The problem is that it's bloody massive and the side bolsters/wings come out so far that its virtually impossible to get a child into the seat from any position other than directly in front of the seat. So if you have a standard hatchback/saloon or are putting the kid in the front of any car then it's very hard to get them in without mashing them off the roof or back of the front seat.

On that note. I actually find it much easier to put my son into car seats in 3 door cars because you are placing him in from a position that is more in front of the child seat. His grans E93 is easier than nearly everything apart from high 4x4s. On the e90 it was a bloody nightmare. The doors didn't open very wide so you had to kind of shove him in horizontal and head first at right angles to the seat then rotate him all while keeping your own head and body out of the car for space meaning you were doing it blind.

By comparison the Z4 is pretty easy. Roof down and plop him in. Job done. His buggy also fits in the boot roof up or down.

 

[inkey$]

That Recaro seat is a nightmare.

We bought that exact seat and took it back for an exchange after a few days. The problem is that it's bloody massive and the side bolsters/wings come out so far that its virtually impossible to get a child into the seat from any position other than directly in front of the seat. So if you have a standard hatchback/saloon or are putting the kid in the front of any car then it's very hard to get them in without mashing them off the roof or back of the front seat.

On that note. I actually find it much easier to put my son into car seats in 3 door cars because you are placing him in from a position that is more in front of the seat. On the e90 it was a bloody nightmare. You had to kind of shove him in horizontal and head first and hope for the best while keeping your own head and body out of the car.

Good to hear first hand experience. Maybe more style over substance then. Any seat recommendations?

 

[a11y]

On that note. I actually find it much easier to put my son into car seats in 3 door cars because you are placing him in from a position that is more in front of the child seat. His grans E93 is easier than nearly everything apart from high 4x4s. On the e90 it was a bloody nightmare. The doors didn't open very wide so you had to kind of shove him in horizontal and head first at right angles to the seat then rotate him all while keeping your own head and body out of the car for space meaning you were doing it blind.

Damn you, you know I've just bought an e90 as family transport!

I was looking for an e92 but all my mates with kids persuaded me down the 4-dr idea...

 

[Mowflow]

We bought a Maxi Cosi priory or something like that. Does well in all the reviews, is easy to fit with belts and can sit in an Isofix base if you fancy spending even more money. Grandparents 1 have a Britax and that's very similar to the Maxi Cosi we have.

The problem with the Recaro was just those massive bolsters although the tilt function on it was also crap. I bought it for the same reason I'm sure many do, it looks like a little racing seat so would look cool in the car. I think it may be better once junior is able to climb in and out of the seat themselves, the fact it can do a child all through the duration they need a seat is a big bonus but sadly I think that's it's down fall. It's trying to be all things to all people. Recaro do other seats that are less ridiculously over designed.

a11y, it won't be a problem while the wee one is in a chair that you carry as you just sling the whole thing in the door. When junior goes in a front facing seat just use it as an excuse to get a E92/3

Granny number 2 has this and it makes life very easy http://www.maxicosiaxiss.co.uk/

 

[inkey$]

Good advice Mowflow. Shall investigate for a future purchase

 

[FAARN]

Keep it.

We have just had our Baby (2 weeks ago, little sleep!) and I sold my A4 avant and bought a Z4 6 weeks before it was due. The wife has a Ford Focus and although I was dithering, she persuaded me to go for it.

Now I know sometimes a woman's logic can be a little strange :wink: but she said "Lets face it, the baby will only ever need to go in one car so it doesn't matter if it can go in a Z4 or not". Basically I (and my wife) have the Z4 and the baby has the Focus. This time, her logic was spot on.

For the same reason you don't need to be able to turn the airbag off either.

 

[Mowflow]

I don't understand people that buy massive cars to accommodate a baby. Have you seen babies? They are tiny.

 

[ranski]

I don't understand people that buy massive cars to accommodate a baby. Have you seen babies? They are tiny.

Have you seen the amount of stuff you have to carry...?

It's like moving house


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bing]

I don't understand people that buy massive cars to accommodate a baby. Have you seen babies? They are tiny.

True - but have you seen all the baby related sh1t you end up carting around ? And I am not just talking about dirty nappies

 

[a11y]

I don't understand people that buy massive cars to accommodate a baby. Have you seen babies? They are tiny.

True - but have you seen all the baby related sh1t you end up carting around ? And I am not just talking about dirty nappies

I do understand it, but the one thing I'll never understand is people carriers: that's like giving up on life!

Hopefully my e90 will prove to be a decent compromise for my purposes...

 

[inkey$]

...but the one thing I'll never understand is people carriers: that's like giving up on life.

+1. I never understood the people carrier thing unless you had a really large family or were a taxi driver. IMO if I end up having to 'go large' I'll either get a 3/5 series, S5 or go crazy and get myself a type 2 VW camper.

 

[Bing]

...but the one thing I'll never understand is people carriers: that's like giving up on life.

+1. I never understood the people carrier thing unless you had a really large family or were a taxi driver. IMO if I end up having to 'go large' I'll either get a 3/5 series, S5 or go crazy and get myself a type 2 VW camper.

+2 - a11y, you'll have more than enough space for 1 (or 2...) in yours, no sweat. I had a Lexus IS200 and and Accord when mine was little, they were more than big enough. Even with a bootfull of out-size child Christmas presents when we had to trek up the road home to the Bay for the holidays. Mrs B was a big fan of your car when I showed it to her - she now wants one to replace her Honda :roll:

 

[Mowflow]

I don't understand people that buy massive cars to accommodate a baby. Have you seen babies? They are tiny.

True - but have you seen all the baby related sh1t you end up carting around ? And I am not just talking about dirty nappies

I have a loft full of said sh1t. About a month into parent hood you realise you will never need half of the crap you've bought.