3 door or 5 door for a new mum?

[bozwellox]

Hi guys,

As a happy Seat owner myself I am looking to get an Ibiza for my wife (who is due to give birth to our first littlun in a few weeks). There seems to be less choice of models in 5 door and I'm wondering if anyone on here with young children has experience of either a 3 or 5 door Ibiza? Are 5 doors really better?

I've heard mixed opinions - 5 doors obvioulsy have their advantages but at the same time the 3 door models presumably have longer doors so may not be that much more hassle to get access to the baby seat.

Any opinions welcome!!

Thanks all.

 

[Craig Senior]

I found that when my little one was a baby it was easier to get him into the car seat in the wife's 3 door than my 5 door.

In a 3 door it's a lot easier to get them in the seat and strap them in as you have access from the front of them instead of having to lean across from the side. The larger doors aren't always an advantage though, especially in car parks when space is limitted.

As kids get bigger 5 doors become easier. My Altea XL is ideal for a 5 year old

 

[bozwellox]

Thanks Craig, that's kind of what I was thinking! Thanks for the reply.

 

[Ibiza Dan]

With a 3door, when you put the front seats forward you have loads of room to access the front of the child seat as said above.
I used to work for halfrauds a long time ago and fitting child seats in 3doors is alot easier aswell

 

[Chriswaite130]

I'v got a five door ibiza, and the back doors are tiny, it is quite a chore getting me nephew in and out. Probably be better off with a three door.

 

[fat andy]

I've got a 3 door and the child seat for my 10 month old daughter is usually in the back behind the driver. It is a bit of a pain to get her in and out as you need to climb into the back with her through the passenger side. Although I haven't used a 5 door Ibiza, other 5 door cars I've used have been a lot easier than my 3 door, might be woth considering something like a Skoda Fabia (am I allowed to say that on here?) If the seat is going in the front should be no problem though.

 

[bozwellox]

I've got a 3 door and the child seat for my 10 month old daughter is usually in the back behind the driver. It is a bit of a pain to get her in and out as you need to climb into the back with her through the passenger side. Although I haven't used a 5 door Ibiza, other 5 door cars I've used have been a lot easier than my 3 door, might be woth considering something like a Skoda Fabia (am I allowed to say that on here?) If the seat is going in the front should be no problem though.

Thanks for the advice. I have suggested a Fabia but she's having none of it - she's a car snob (personally I like the Fabia!). The car seat will be going in the back behind the passenger seat so might just have to wait around for a decent 5 door Ibiza to pop up.

 

[Ibiza Dan]

Go and test drive and take a car seat and a sack of spuds to imitate a baby haha

 

[Ultra_Joel88]

I had this consideration when looking for a car and in the end went for a Fabia VRS as they seem to have that extra bit more room inside and there are plenty about, unlike 5 door FR TDI's

 

[bozwellox]

Go and test drive and take a car seat and a sack of spuds to imitate a baby haha

Good plan. Might go the whole hog and take some Farleys rusks and Ribena, smear them around the back seat and test how well the fabric it holds up. *Shudder*

 

[andycupra]

one kid/baby id say 3 door is fine.

However, note that if you intend on having others in the car, then the baby seat can be a PITA in a 3 door.

 

[Daniel1431]

Yeah i would say 3 doors. The doors are very big on them and they open very wide

 

[keefy]

My sis reckons that getting her two into her 3dr Polo is much easier than her husbands 5dr Laguna for the exact reason mentioned in the first reply from Craig.

You can get access to the seat from the front, rather than the side. Also with the sliding front seat on most 3dr Ibizas (passenger side) you get great access to the seat.

5dr cars you have to lift them over the seat and into it while holding them sideways - it seems to be much more awkward.

Only issue is space require to open the doors, so probably worth seeking out mother/baby spaces with larger gaps either side!

 

[immersion]

Ive seen two child seats in Cupra dunno if its practical as the above posts say testdrive both and see if your child seat / carrier fits bearing in mind kids grow to!

 

[st10587]

some of the 3 doors came with easy access seat where they tilt then slide foward which give huge amounts of room. im 6ft2 and i can get in and out to strap my sisters kid in easy enough

 

[NickyJam]

I had this consideration when looking for a car and in the end went for a Fabia VRS as they seem to have that extra bit more room inside and there are plenty about, unlike 5 door FR TDI's

that may be a good thing 5 dr if you do a lot of picking up and dropping off passengers hehe P.S. i don't have much trouble getting my 3 yr old god-daughter in the back of mine with her child seat

 

[RichieRich]

i would say 3 door too for the same reasons, can u tell i used to help look after my ex's neices often? lol was easier in my 3 door ibiza than my 5 door leon!