Alfisti wrote

To clarify, I find the Diono fine for older kids but it is certified and used on very small ones. I put my kid in, and he looked like the one in this image, basically fully exposed.





Compare that to a seat that does not try to cover such a wide age range ......

Yeah I used dionos only after they were big enough to sit better supported. Who in the world doesn't use pumpkin seats with click on bases on kids under 18 months?

Typical American here we had 3 minivans and only 2 kids, of course we drove N.A. for hockey..it was a must. Toyota Sienna was great highway vehicle and drove fine. (love my lil Civic, but you do what is needed, cant imagine trying to get 3 kids in back of sedan...no way)

Highlander is nice hybrid and plenty of room.

I can't rec. any sedan for 3 kids. so nm ignore all this !

4Hockey4 wrote

I can't rec. any sedan for 3 kids. so nm ignore all this !

Tesla S seats 7 with 3 rows, that's the only bizarro mobile I can think of. I don't have children and that setup might not be too child friendly.

BlueM3Wagon wrote

Yeah I used dionos only after they were big enough to sit better supported. Who in the world doesn't use pumpkin seats with click on bases on kids under 18 months?

That's kinda my point. I also don't like the Diono as a stage 2 seat, to me it's a stage 3 seat. And fr stage 3, I find the Britax Pioneer far superior. Cards on the table I am a bit paranoid re. kids and cars. I don't even use a booster seat because in the unlikely event of a roll over even an 8 year old is more likely to fall out of the vehicle. I use the pioneer seats instead with a harness, kids love it and if she rolls they stay in the seat. Million to one i guess, but why not.

Alfisti wrote

That's kinda my point. I also don't like the Diono as a stage 2 seat, to me it's a stage 3 seat.

Your opinion has been voiced loud and clear in this thread.

I will not be buying an SUV or Minivan. I’m literally doing a side by side test of a my 3 series wagon and X3. The wagon is best for my wife and I. The two oldest who are well over 30lbs will use Dionos and the baby will continue to use his infant seat, which is fairly narrow. They will all fit in the second row of a larger wagon or sedan, which is easier for my 5’2” wife to reach across and into the back of. Unfortunately the E91 is a bit narrow in the rear and we need something a few inches wider which brings us into 5 series or E class territory.

This will blow your mind but we had an E82 1 series and E36 318ti for the first year of our oldest’s life and the E82 worked just fine. We were able to drive places, go to stores, even buy things and bring them home. We even went on a few road trips!

Enjoy your SUV or Minivan.

jstein55 wrote

Just like the E-wagon, the Model S uses 3rd row rear facing seats (like and old station wagon), probably not the safest spot for children.

I don't have kids, but if I had, I would never put them in a reverse 3rd row (I also can't imagine them not getting car sick).

However, the distance between the kids heads and them popping out the rear windshield in a rear ended crash is much shorter in a Model S than in an E wagon:

Model S:


E wagon:


That said, a model X has foreward facing 3rd row (and is I guess a minivan) but I also have doubts about that one when I saw that crash between a Model X and a GTR where the rear of the model X including the 3rd row was torn off completely. So clearly that 3rd row is not sufficiently within the safety structure of the car.

E series wagon it is then, i can' see anything else working. A macan is bonkers small for 3 kids.

I'm all for wagons, I drive one, but unless AMG they drive like shite anyways. More boat than sporty. Come to think of it, is there a sportyish full size wagon that's not 500HP or whatever, just set up a bit tighter? I don't think their is.

Jokes aside, he needs the Holden i linked to earlier. Looks good, huge back seat, goes hard, handles well. Aussies are weird creatures re. motor cars, we like big fuck off engines like americans BUT cannot stand traditional american handling and prefer a more euro set up.

Honda even offer two Accords, Euro and regular, regular being US variant, Euro tuned ... euro.

GuidoK wrote

I don't have kids, but if I had, I would never put them in a reverse 3rd row (I also can't imagine them not getting car sick).

My son lovedlovedloved the rear facing seat in our 1968 Saab 95. He kept a frisbee back there and pretended he was flying "the Starship Saabsurprise."

Not my car but you get the idea.

Is this Benz sold Stateside? A Huge succes in Europe.

Van with S class finish.

Alfisti wrote

To clarify, I find the Diono fine for older kids but it is certified and used on very small ones. I put my kid in, and he looked like the one in this image, basically fully exposed.





Compare that to a seat that does not try to cover such a wide age range ......

Right! Neck and head support is what's it all about for kids < 15 months. And of course reverse seating position.

EdM5 wrote

Is this Benz sold Stateside? A Huge succes in Europe.

Van with S class finish.

I don't think so but they sold the R63 AMG here briefly. The only "minivan" I'd consider.

EdM5 wrote

Is this Benz sold Stateside? A Huge succes in Europe.

Van with S class finish.

We get the Metris which is a plastic interior version of the Vito or V Class as I think they're called in Europe.

The Metris is SUPER base spec and you can't even upgrade the halogen headlights.

It's actually the most interesting van out there in my opinion, RWD and all!

Alfisti wrote

Jokes aside, he needs the Holden i linked to earlier. Looks good, huge back seat, goes hard, handles well. Aussies are weird creatures re. motor cars, we like big fuck off engines like americans BUT cannot stand traditional american handling and prefer a more euro set up.

Honda even offer two Accords, Euro and regular, regular being US variant, Euro tuned ... euro.

Sounds very relatable! Maybe I should move to Australia instead

wdb wrote

EdM5 wrote

Is this Benz sold Stateside? A Huge succes in Europe.

Van with S class finish.

I don't think so but they sold the R63 AMG here briefly. The only "minivan" I'd consider.

There were "fewer than 44" sold in the US. I've seen one totaled, so call it 42. Douglas Adams would be proud.

jstein55 wrote

CTS wagon but they are all too old at this point. Maybe the Jag XF Wagon but they are rare and come with the usual Jaguar reliability.

Always forget about that XF Wagon. They have seemed to hold their price really well for a Jaguar.

https://inventory.jaguarusa.com/used-certified/12552-jaguar-xf-s-sportbrake/

Red Bread wrote

wdb wrote

EdM5 wrote

Is this Benz sold Stateside? A Huge succes in Europe.

Van with S class finish.

I don't think so but they sold the R63 AMG here briefly. The only "minivan" I'd consider.

There were "fewer than 44" sold in the US. I've seen one totaled, so call it 42. Douglas Adams would be proud.

I've followed these on BAT, going for 30-50k depending on mileage. I'd think these will absolutely be highly sought after years from now. I've considered it rather than a new SRT Durango.

Calling it now, hellcat powered AWD grand caravan to make mini vans cool again.

I don't understand the stigma but whatever...

freakystyly wrote

Calling it now, hellcat powered AWD grand caravan to make mini vans cool again.

I don't understand the stigma but whatever...

For me, it's the sacrifice of performance, not straight line performance, but overall performance, braking, handling, etc. That's why I'd say E63 AMG wagon all day and every day. Wagons like that allow you to have your cake and eat it too, massive storage/transportation ability and massive performance. If we are going to throw the peformance/fun factor out the window, then sure, it doesn't matter, buy a van.

That makes sense but not sure OP is wanting to drop 75K+

E63 AMG wagon would definitely be more fun, but the E350 with sport trim is 85% of the E63 for half the price. Less maintenance cost too which may matter over time.

My advice is to buy car seats to do the job rather than a new car to fit cheap car seats

When my wife and I were shopping car seats for our daughter that had to fit in our 1er we came across car seats that could be fit 3 or even 4 across the back seat.

Sure, they're expensive, but not as expensive as buying a new car.

No reason to buy a minivan unless you have more than 3 kids.