I'm considering getting a 07 MCS, but I have two children 5 and 7 and I'm curious to hear what other Mini owners have experienced, dealing with car seats, and space issues related to children. I'd probably get the roof rack and add a cargo box for trips of any length. Our other car is a Jeep Cherokee but I just know once I have the Mini I'm going to want to drive it everywhere! Any thoughts would be appreciated!

-Dave

 

When I got my Mini my kids were 6 and 9 (now 10 and 13) so I didn't have to deal with car seats at all.

They love the car, we do weekend trips (3 to 4 Days) pretty much with no problems. We have all learned to pack better, and only what we really need.

They actuall get bummed when we don't take the Mini.

Nik

 

We have 5 & 7 yr old who love to ride in my mini. We take it for drives to grandma's house (1.5 hrs) and lots of around town errands. I don't use car seats, since they fit well in the back seats, and the straps seem to hit them in the right place. The side benefit of that is thay can buckle themselves in without mom or dad having to lean into the backseat to do it. The downside is that they tend to kind-of collapse on themselves (or the hard plastic) when they fall asleep. A couple small pillows are very welcome when traveling around during the sleepy hours. Cargo space is limited (two backpacks, a couple of jackets and a briefcase fill the boot - so a stop at the grocery on the way home is limited to what can go on the floor in the front seat.

And so far, they haven't complained about having to climb in & out of the back or having to wait for me to let them out.

Net-net. We carry less, and the kids have a great time trying to spot other Minis in the game of "punch-mini" (variation on punch-buggy).

PS - and they loved coming out to see dad drive the mini in his first autocross!

rip

 

Kids are very adaptable. You are, too. Get it! Driving will become one of your favorite things to do.

 

A couple of younger tourists admiring my car at the Biltmore House...

 

I've got a 4 and a 6 year old who love the car - I even took them on the test drive to make sure that the seats fit. They're both in boosters, but not the kinds with the full seats (although we did have one in there too). We still use the Minivan for long trips, but the kids prefer the MINI for getting around town. When all of us motor (me, my wife, and the two kids) my wife gets a little smushed up front in order to give the 6 year old some legroom. I think that would improve as she gets taller and her feet hang down properly.

 

This is great news!! Thanks to everyone so far for the feedback. I want a mini sooooo badly, the kid concerns are really the only thing holding me back!

 

Go for the MINI - like some of the previous comments noted you'll find ways to compensate for the size of the car plus your kids will love it. If push comes to shove you can always get a MINI trailer.

 

I've got a 12 year old she loves it, I can get her and 2 friends in no problem go for it.

 

Both my 5 and 7 year olds fit comfortably in the boot with absolutely no issues.

Other than that the back seat also works quite well, I would suggest that you get a simple booster seat for the 5 year old as that will leave a little more room back there. Something else to consider is large pads for the shoulder harness portion of the seat belt as you don’t want to garrote them in a quick stopping situation.

The MINI is quite easy to get the ruggers in and out with plenty of room left over, to the point; I have added a 5th passenger (small adult) on occasion (Have a specially rigged Seatbelt thingy to accommodate them).

The great thing about bring the rats along is you will have a very active cheering section to notice and wave at all the other MINI’s you happen across while entertaining fellow motorist on the highways. If your are any thing like mine you’ll have the youngest screaming to go faster, faster in the turns while the older one is rapidly getting car sick.

 

LOL!
My oldest is pretty much out of her booster, and my youngest is in a booster now, was just thinking worse case scenario.
Sounds like a blast, especially when they are both already pointing out Mini's to me on the road.

 

Our 4 and 8 year old love the MINI. Both are in booster seats (as required by law) w/ the 4 year old having the high back w/ wings. They are both able to buckle themselves in/ out. Loading them in is no more difficult than my STi or the TL we traded in. We use the padded seatbelt covers (Moss mini) to give them extra comfort. The 4 year olds seat sets on a cover that is waterproof and has pockets in the leg/ foot area to cary small stuff like toys, sunglasses, etc.

The kids love the MINI. We had no problems when we went to MITM (800 miles) when we added a cargo rack on the back. (No roof rack on cabrios). Most of the extra room was needed for cold weather gear. Both kids can see out just fine. However visibility is more limited in the back of the convertable.

Unless you have little kids and have to put them in a rear facing seat go for the MINI. Your whole family will have perma-grins.

 

I took my sister, nephew and niece on a trip to see family a couple months. I was surprised at how easily both carseats fit in the back seat.

 

I have a 4 and 7 year old and have no problems at all. I have one full child seat and a booster seat in the back. I use the MINI for all of our around town trips and when we go out of town we take the Pathfinder bus. I say go for it, you only live once!!

 

I fit 4 teenagers (including me) in the car for an hour and a half drive to Six Flags.

On the way back, I had 4 teenagers + a HUGE 6' tall stuffed animal shoved in the car. Everyone was comfortable.

Hope that helps

 

Now that sounds familiar, my oldest gets car sick all the time while the younger one doesn't at all, just like my wife and I. We all love teh MINI but I can say that i don't like doing anything other than around town with both kids in the back as they both have high back boosters right now and with me at 6'3" I have to move up just a little too close to the wheel for comfort when hauling them around. Once the oldest can legally and physically sit on the sit proper that wissue will be solved as I sit with the seat high enough that her feet will fit under mine no problem.

 

This is the best support group ever! Thanks everyone for the info, you are all putting my mind at ease.

-Dave

 

hope that you go with the Mini! Kids love it!

 

Unless you are +6'4", you wont have a prob, once you get to that mark the driver seat tends to touch the backseat

 

I have two boys 7 and 10. The seven year old is still in a small booster, both self-buckle. We slide the seats up a bit in the cabrio when they're back there, but no worries. When I'm a little aggressive in the twisties, my 10 year old is yelling "YOU'RE GOING TO KILL US!!! I'M CALLING THE COPS!!!" and my 7 year old is simultaneously yelling "AWWWWESOOOOMMME!!!!". It's a hoot.

I took them both for a test drive before I bought, and both said "Buy the MINI!"

 

we took the Mini on a 4 day vacation to the Historics and still had room

1 stroller, 1 portable crib, 1 large suitcase, 1 travel swing, too many toys and blankets, 1 car seat, 1 4 month old and 2 5'9" parents. Thule racks and a Yakima rocketbox were our saviors.

btw, our Peg Perego rear facing seat, Britex Roundabout and Recaro Start all fit in the back just fine. There is not much leg room for the kids though.

 

Both my kids love it when I say "Hold on". If I ask if they want a fast corner I always get a yes. When my daughter was about 2 she would say "Vroom, vroom" wanting to go fast.

We test drove with the kids to make sure everything was good. They loved the MINI with the convertable being an extra bonus.

Our kids have plenty of leg room as my wife and I both run the seat fairly far forward. She is 5' and has the seat all the way up and slid back 1 notch. I'm 5'8" run with seat all the way down and slid all the way forward.

 

BlimeyCabrio- That is hilarious "I'M CALLING THE COPS" !! It's funny how the younger ones have no fear, I've noticed it too with my kids.

Retrohasen - Thanks for the pics! That's exactly what I was thinking for trips with the cargo box. Have you run into any issues using Thule Racks? I read somewhere the load rating is with aftermarket racks is only 60lbs. or so. I was thinking of going with the factory racks but am not thrilled about putting holes in the roof. Just curious what your experience has been going the route you did. Also, I am totally impressed with your inventory of what fits!

-Dave

 

Do the racks/rocketbox work well with a sunroof? Or not so much?

 

Sit in the back seat yourself. I think you'll find out it's much more spacious than it appears.

The real problem with kids and a MINI, eventually they turn 16!!!