I might be in trouble.

[ajporter03]

As most of you might remember, I was the one who traded away my 06 5 for a Nissan Pathfinder that I hated. Back in November I traded that in on a brand new 2010 5 that I love. My wife and I have a 5 year old and 3 year old. They love the 5. They especially love the DVD system. Fast forward a few weeks and we find out we are going to have another baby. A little unexpected, but we figured the 5 would still be adequate. Fast forward to yesterday. We go in for our 10 week ultrasound. Guess what, it is twins! I am not sure what we are going to do now. I don't know if the 5 is big enough for our rapidly growing family. Please share your input about what you think I should do.

 

[fam]

3 and 5 year old in the very back and babies in the middle...using the very small umbrella based double strollers it can be done...but honestly with 4 kids youre going to have no room even for groceries....really youre going to be looking at a full size minivan...the new toyotas and honda vans are awesome. A microvan isnt really going to work with all 4 kids. You keep it up youre going to have to buy a sprinter like kate plus 8.

 

[DKaz]

Is your Tundra a six seater?? Use that for the grocery trips. lol.

 

[markuszoom5]

Roof rack Android cargo box MAYBE?

 

[fam]

Access to the back row is non existant unless youre 90 lbs and good climbers...The 5 year old can probably buckle themself but not undo the buckles...the 3 year old wouldnt...

its minivan time....with 4 kids sometimes you have to do whats best...unless you take the 5 to a limo company and tell them to stretch it for you ;-)...then youd need a turbo to keep up.

 

[sanblaster]

Please share your input about what you think I should do.

Stop having kids!

 

[Silentnoise713]

Congrats on the new additions. The ONLY option you have at this point is a full sized minivan, not even a SUV with 7 seats will do. It will make life a whole lot easier than trying to 'get by' and squeeze everything into a small car. The stroller situation along will warrant the need for a much bigger trunk. Look to buy used to avoid some depreciation b/c you're gonna need all the money you can save.

 

[bazooka joe]

yup, you're in trouble more ways than you realize! good luck and congrats!

 

[petitevan]

Congrats!

It is going to be a lot of work with 4 kids but it's better to have them earlier than later.

If you two can coordinate and take turns with running errands, then it is going to be fine when one of you keep the twins at home (assuming that there is a second car at home).

If you and your wife always go everywhere together and do not like to leave anyone behind, then 5 won't work any more as an everyday car. You will need a real van. Not just because of capacity issues but also for safety concerns. I have been carrying my two boys in the five since they were 3 and 6, and they would totally love to be in the third row. However, I am nervous about putting them in the third row because of how close their heads would be to the rear window.

If I were in your shoes, and assuming that my spouse and I are on the same page about most things, I would get another 5 and have a roof-top box installed (that is how much I enjoy the 5). I would also coordinate with my spouse so that we will be sharing the duties. When the whole family has to be in one car, I will either pack light for the 5 or rent a van.

 

[WhiteStar III]

It is going to be a lot of work with 4 kids but it's better to have them earlier than later.

If you two can coordinate and take turns with running errands, then it is going to be fine when one of you keep the twins at home (assuming that there is a second car at home).

If you and your wife always go everywhere together and do not like to leave anyone behind, then 5 won't work any more as an everyday car. You will need a real van. Not just because of capacity issues but also for safety concerns. I have been carrying my two boys in the five since they were 3 and 6, and they would totally love to be in the third row. However, I am nervous about putting them in the third row because of how close their heads would be to the rear window.

If I were in your shoes, and assuming that my spouse and I are on the same page about most things, I would get another 5 and have a roof-top box installed (that is how much I enjoy the 5). I would also coordinate with my spouse so that we will be sharing the duties. When the whole family has to be in one car, I will either pack light for the 5 or rent a van.

+1,000,000

If OP has any reamining doubt or gets talked into trying to make do with the Mz5 then read this:

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2011/02/has-the-time-come-for-rear-crash-testing/

 

[DKaz]

Get snipped.

Sorry, I was 14 weeks late with this advice. Congrats on your upcoming double bundle of joy!

Will the dealer take the car back for a refund? Or maybe ask to trade it in for a used minivan they have in stock.

 

[petitevan]

they are right. i recall reading about another fellow 5-owner who had to deal with the same scenario and ended up getting a van.

 

[thaxman]

As most of you might remember, I was the one who traded away my 06 5 for a Nissan Pathfinder that I hated. Back in November I traded that in on a brand new 2010 5 that I love. My wife and I have a 5 year old and 3 year old. They love the 5. They especially love the DVD system. Fast forward a few weeks and we find out we are going to have another baby. A little unexpected, but we figured the 5 would still be adequate. Fast forward to yesterday. We go in for our 10 week ultrasound. Guess what, it is twins! I am not sure what we are going to do now. I don't know if the 5 is big enough for our rapidly growing family. Please share your input about what you think I should do.

Whoa, slow down everybody. I have all of my seats filled, and we get by just fine. Of course, ages are different: 10, 7, 4 <1 yr. but all 3 of the older kids can do all their own belts. Your 5 yr old should be able to do both back seats by now - just have the older one help the younger one. Kids need to have some jobs anyway. The real bummer is that Mom is going to have to put 1 twin in, just to go all the way around the car to put the other one in. Oh, and be sure to have another 6-seat vehicle (like a truck, hint hint) for times when you need more cargo room. We have the 5 which my wife uses to ferry kids, I have the 7-seat V70 which we use for travelling since its got a bit more interior room, and when they get bigger, I will dump my 6-seat Club Cab for a 4-door Crew Cab which will become the road trip vehicle even though I will lose 4-6 mpg hwy when we stop using the V70. Anyway, DON'T make any rash decisions - you have 5 months to plan this out.

 

[5zoom]

The new Nissan Quest looks like it might give the Odessey/Sienna vans a good run. If it were me, I'd get a bigger vehicle. I think having the extra space will pay for itself on long trips, runs to Home Depot, and not having to "pack" everything in all the time. What you might consider is getting a used super efficient commuter vehicle and using that for work/business. This way you won't be driving an empty box all the time/draining your wallet at the gas station.

 

[Sounbwoy]

The new Nissan Quest looks like it might give the Odessey/Sienna vans a good run. If it were me, I'd get a bigger vehicle. I think having the extra space will pay for itself on long trips, runs to Home Depot, and not having to "pack" everything in all the time. What you might consider is getting a used super efficient commuter vehicle and using that for work/business. This way you won't be driving an empty box all the time/draining your wallet at the gas station.

You beat me to it..Saw one today..At first I thot it was a new remodeled Flex! Something that size is what you probably need. While keeping the 5 would be a good thing, for some people, the time and effort needed to coordinate can be a hassle. Whatever decision you make, it has to suit you and your family...

 

[DKaz]

The third row of the 5 can't be any more dangerous than the back seat of a Fiesta or 2 or the defunct Canadian Echo hatchback, and I see lots of young families driving these cars.

Drive safe. When you're stopped in traffic, always have an escape route in case the guy behind you can't stop in time.

 

[ajporter03]

Well, I appreciate all that advice that everybody has given. I would love to be able to purchase a mini van. But that just isn't going to happen. We owe too much on the 5 to trade it in. As well as the 5 was reaching the upper end of our budget. Plus we love our 5 and the features that it has. So, we are going to keep it and make it work. I am thinking we will just have to utilize the cargo rack on the back more often. Or we will just start taking 2 vehicles places. But, with gas going up in price like crazy, I don't want to rely on that too much. I have also looked into getting a roof mounted cargo box, but I wouldn't be able to park in the garage with it on. I might end up forgetting it is up there, and that could end in a disaster.

 

[fam]

Cargo box is your best option along with the thin strollers that are umbrella like that can fit in the floor in between rows or in front of seats...that way you can still buy groceries but you may have to bust open the pack of paper towels and separate them.

OK..for safety..

My 3 was hammered in the rear at a stop light by a dakota quad cab going 35mph...and honestly...if the seats were as close as the 5s to the back..the seats may have moved an inch or two but they would have been safe...3's and 5's are quite safe....plus the baby on board stickers will be a must.

It can be done.

Also...trailer hitch and tiny little cargo trailer (like trunk size) could also fit the need.

PS I still own an 08 5, and have owned 3 of them...(my car is the 3 thats why you see that in my sig).