Ok, so my Mini is on her way. I can't wait to drive her, but I am wondering how everyone deals with their kids in the car? My son is 2 and sits in a car seat. My MC has the latch system so that is not the concern, how do you get them in and out?
Any tips? I can't wait for him to "tool" around town with me!!

 

Both front seats have releases to fold up and move all the way forward, not a problem to get them in and out. We do it with a 3 & 5 year old every day.

 

When I first got my Mini, are sons were 4,5 and 7 and they all use a booster or belt locating devises in are other cars. I removed the rear center buckle and installed 3 sets of 5 point racing seat belts across the back. They are now 5,6 and 8 and still have some room to grow. The lack of a space robbing car seat or booster really helps.

We have taken the Mini on trips of over 500 miles a few times. Though on those trips my wife could not come due to work, as well as no room for her.

It is fun to pull up to school drop-off with all the other "minivans and SUV's" as they drop 1 or 2 kids out of these huge trucks and then here is this little Mini dropping off 3 kids.

Enjoy the drive and share it with your kids.

 

Kids love to ride in the MINI.

 

We have a 3 YO (big) who sits in a booster in the back & loves it. It is actually considerably easier to get him in & out of the MINI than it is in my wife's 4 door Mazda Protege!

 

They will fit, but it isn't really a kid-friendly car per-se. Great for two people though.

 

I have an MCSc with a 2 yr old and a 4 month old. When the top is down, you just drop them in the seat, reach in and clip their belts. Nice and easy. My 2 yr old is getting good enough I just set her in the back and she gets in the seat and I just reach in and clip her belt when the top is up. And the Latch system on the MINI is MUCH easier to use then many other cars. With the back seat so close it is one of the easiest 2 doors out there.

 

Thanks everyone!
I can't wait to get her and check it out!!!
Happy Motoring!
TC

 

I guess it depends on your perspective, my 3 year old's been riding in the MINI since he was 5 days old. It's still has favorite car to ride in.

The thing to keep in mind is that the person who has to sit in front of the car seat may have to deal with their seat being kicked and/or a reduced amount of legroom to allow enough space for the carseat and child...

We've made many family trips (mom, dad, and boy) in the MINI including DC to NJ and SF to Vegas and were just fine.

 

I have a 7 and 4 year old and they ride with no problem. I don't go on any long trips in the MINI but around town it's great. I would recommend getting these however: http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html...sin=B000COW55M

 

We have one of those in our X5. My husband is 6'2 and when we are in the car my son likes to put his feet on the back on the seat....
I'm sure we'll get used to getting in and out. That is really my only concern is how to get him in and out of the back seat. He is 2 and when we looked at them he had a great time climbing in and out by himself. I'm sure he'll have a ball in there! It will be my primary car and the husband gets the x5 after almost 10 years in a Nissan Altima!
I'm counting down the days until she is home! Maybe by the first of November!!!!

 

Our MCS is my daily commuter 100+ miles for me, our 9 yo , 7 yo & 6 yo. The kids love the MINI and complain when we have to take our SUV. As they get older we just have them kick off their shoes and put their feet up X legged if we need more room for the seat.

 

I've got a 3 yr old and a 6 yr old. 3 is in a full booster and 6 is on a booster seat. I actually took them on my test drive to make sure they'd fit! 6 sits on the passenger side, and it makes the front passenger seat a little tight when the whole family motors. Mind you, on long trips we take the van, and with the ammount of stuff my better half has accumulated, there less room for her in her passenger seat than in the MINI's.

Still, the MINI has more rear passenger space than the '73 Karmann Ghia that my father used to shoehorn me into when I was there age

 

I'll second this suggestion. The backs of Mini seats scuff easily. I tote children ranging from 2yrs to 8 yrs old, and they all love the Mini. I typically have only one child at a time, so I am able to put the booster seat on the passenger side and have the kids climb through the folded- forward driver's side rear seat from the hatchback entry. They love having a "special kids only secret" entry into the car. It's probably a pretty funny sight as I pull up to my destination, open the hatch and out pops a child!

The narrow width of the Mini interior (compared to SUVs, etc.) allows me to twist backward from my seated drivers position and help the child latch their seat belt whose seated in rear passenger side.

Anyway, if you prefer a more conventional entrance for your children... fold/slide the front seat forward and then there's plenty of access to assist them.

 

My 3 year old was in a Britax Roundabout full carseat until a short time ago with no problems. She is now in a full booster and still no issues. My 7 year old is in a regular booster also no issues.

I second the seat back protectors - after the first ride I went out and bought them.

Also - my technique is to slide the front seat all the way forward. It gives you room to step into the back with 1 foot, duck your head into the MINI and buckle the carseat. Although now I sometimes get the 7year old to buckle the 3 year old. Daddy can be lazy soemtimes .

 

I have a 5yo & a 3yo. when the top is down (cabrio)...the kids get a lift out (flying...weee). when the top is (forgive me) up, the seats slide forward enough to get them buckled in and out easily.

 

I just ordered mine. I took my 2 year old on the test drive to see how he would fit. Also have an 8 month old. I can not wait to get them both in the new Mini.
Had a jeep liberty, Mini has about the same amount of room between the front seat, and the back. That is what surprised my wife.

- KP

 

I love it how people make it work minis and kids...
I've heard how some people avoid minis because they think
their kids won't fit....
I can't wait to have kids and fit them in my mini