I got my wife a 2009 MC Hard Top in September after her shitty Saab kept breaking. Now After driving it and being a previous BMW owner (E46) I am trying to sell my VW and buy a 2010 MC HT myself. Any of you guys have kids? We have talked about it in the next couple years and wondered about putting a car seat in a MINI and if it would be a PITA. I was bouncing between the idea of a used E92 Bimmer or a new MINI and I would much rather have a MINI. They are just so much fun to drive and the mpg is great I just have a hard time not adding a 2nd one to the garage.

 

Car seat is no problem in a MINI so have at it. A two MINI family eliminates the problem of who gets to drive the MINI, promotes harmony.

 

With kids, I think the only time it was a pain was during the rear facing stage. I had to come in from the opposite door to place the baby in the seat so it took some maneuvering if you were holding the baby while doing this. If you had your wife with you, it was no problem going in first and then have her hand you the baby. A year later and with a forward facing seat, it's not that bad as you can just step in on the same side and put the baby in the seat. Still a bit of a stretch, but alot better than the rear facing stage. Would I do it again and get the MCS? Absolutely, as putting the baby in and out of the car is a few seconds to a minute at best. Driving with a smile on your face for the rest of the day more than makes up for the trade off in a bit of incovenience, imo. Of course, when I bought my MCS, there was no option for a Clubman or the Countryman for 2011 so soon to be parents have more choices nowadays if they want a MINI with a bit more room.

 

Love my MINI... and I hate to disagree with others here... but IMHO car seats in ANY 2-door car are a giant PITA. Been there, done that.

I know it can be done... many people on this forum use their MINI for kid-hauling duty... but I wouldn't do it. Tight back seat and very little trunk room for all the kid-related flotsam and jetsam that always seems to be necessary. The Clubman wouldn't be much better, again IMHO.

Buy something bigger, 4-door, and more boring for kid transportation duty. Driving Fun is way down the list of importance when you have kid, car seat, diaper bags, strollers, groceries, etc. etc. etc. to cart around. Utility and space are king in that situation.

Use the MINI you already have for "second car" duty - get your fun-driving fix with it on those weekend errand runs and solo drives to work or whatever. The best of both worlds.

Plenty of time to get a second MINI later, when the kids are old enough to climb in the back and buckle themselves in.

Just my opinion, of course.


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We got a chance to ride in the backseat of a Clubman last weekend and were pleasantly surprised at how roomy it was. It seems like it would be easy to do a carseat in one of those, but since I've never had to deal with one, who knows?

 

Unless you have tried this in a Clubman please refrain from commenting. Many Many Many Many people over in the Clubman forum have used child car seats and say how much easier it is to use the car seats in the Clubman over the Coop.

NO driving a car can still be fun with the kids in the car in fact many people that go and run "The Dragon" in their MINI's have kids and enjoy driving the twisties with their kids. So buy a Clubman and have at it.

NO buy a Clubman and have the best of both worlds all the time.

 

My niece has two kids and a Clubman... No issues at all. They even made a 800 trip to visit. Each kid in a car seat and they have their own DVD player strapped to the back of the the front seats...

 

I've had car seats and still shuttle the kids(now ages 10-14) in the MINI's and have always managed just fine.

 

I just can't see buying a used vehicle and paying $250/Month when I can buy a brand new MINI with my down payment and only pay about $250/Month it may be for one extra year but to me having no money for maintainence and a warranty may be worth it.

 

I use my 09 MCS occasionally to pick up my daughter who is 4 months old and needs a rear facing seat. It requires a few gymnastics to get her in but not too bad at all. I agree with the poster above...the rear facing seat and coupes in general are a bit of a pain but very doable. If you get a clubbie then the suicide door on the right side should make this task much easier. With regard to stroller, the only one to my knowledge that really fits in the boot is the Quinny Zapp which is ultra-compact.
It takes some energy but getting kids around especially when they are a bit older is very much possible