How many of you have or are expecting an infant that still have their coupes? My wife and I are expecting our first child this summer. Our vehicles consist of my 2008 coupe, a 1994 530i and a 2011 328i wagon. For right now, I'm planning on using the 530i to haul the little one around. It's not as nice as my coupe (it's a 94) but it's more than comfortable. Thing is, is that I don't think I'll have an opportunity to drive the coupe that much for at least the next 3 or so years until I can fit a booster seat in the back. And even then, we're planning on having at least 2, if not 3 kids and I can't imagine taking my family in the coupe. On top of that, the 530i gets a fuel-sipping 14-16 mpg in the city, which is 99.5% of the driving I do (it's my winter car). Any opinions on trading the coupe in for a sedan?

 

Hmm not sure what the "Wifes" plans are for your guys, But why not get the sedan and drop the other two cars? Or at least one of them. My wife and I both have G's she has the sedan and I have the coupe.

 

^^ +1 on what he said.

 

I bought the 530i so that I wouldnt have to drive my coupe in the snow. And I guess I don't get what you mean by "wife" like you're trying to imply that I don't have one. Anyway, I'm thinking about practicality. How practical is the coupe in all honesty? Yes I do enjoy driving it but is it worth keeping if i can't? That's what im trying to get at here.

 

I have seen a lady pull a car seat out of a G coupe before. I was impressed because I figured it would be too cramped to fit a baby in the back. Since you plan on having more kids I say get the sedan. Even when I do have a kid I plan on keeping my Coupe. In the end you are the one that is going to have to deal with cramped space.

 

I'm assuming your wife is driving the wagon and will do most of the kid hauling. She should be fine. For the first 6 months or so you'll be using a reverse facing carrier that snaps into a base. You'll probably buy an extra base or two so you can keep them permanently mounted in the car. It won't be too hard to move the passenger seat forward and snap that in there but I wouldn't want to do it 3 times a day.

The hard part will come later when they need an upright car seat but are still too small to climb in and out themselves. I would want 4 doors at that point. There's a reason soccer moms like tall SUVs and sliding door minivans.

If I were you (and my assumptions are correct), I would probably just keep everything the way it is for now because you have the wagon as the primary kid hauler. Maybe when the kid is 12-18 months old I would consolidate the coupe and the 540 into something more practical but still fun to drive. A G sedan would work.

 

Right on the ball sir. We already have the car seat and an extra base which will be in the 530 (and in the wagon). Wife will be dropping the kid off and I will be picking him/her up. The hard part for me is giving up the sporty impractical luxury coupe for a practical vehicle. I love my coupe and that's where my dilemma lays. Do I give up what I want and get something that works better? or should I live with the 530 and not be able to enjoy something I love (maybe once a week or on errands I run by myself)? My wife actually wants me to keep the coupe because she enjoys it just as much as I do. Figure that one out!

 

Keep it for now. Maybe it won't be a hassle for you. If you do have to give it up it will be much easier to do so after the kid is born. It won't be the only thing you have to give up, trust me.

 

Well, when I was growing up dad drove convertibles. I had two brothers and a sister. I realize the "rules" have changed a lot in the last 66 years. I would try and keep the coupe. I would bet that you can get a child seat in the back.

 

Haha. That's what I've been told. That my life will change. I was just looking for people that own coupes that have kids and what kinds of issues/regrets they have, if any. I'm a planner and I like to have things laid out in front of me. If I end up selling, I'm going to want to bring it back to stock and once the little one is here, I might not have the time to be in the garage for hours at a time. It just suspension and wheels but all the same.

 

I had a g sedan for 2 years and recently traded in for a coupe and the difference is significant. I had to drive my toddler niece around when I first got the sedan and it was very practical, lots of room, still felt pretty good in terms of power, comfort, luxury. When I traded in for a coupe, I wouldn't even think about putting a child back there.. I feel like realistically, there's not enough space in the back seat (or the trunk for that matter) if you're going to be transporting little ones or need storage for groceries, etc. I'm not a tall individual at all, but even the space behind me or my girlfriend when she is with me is very very minimal..while the coupe just feels better for me as I don't have to drive any kids or passengers around anymore, and don't mind the small capacity in back seat and trunk, I say go for the sedan... It definitely is the more practical choice,.

 

My 2 year old isn't too difficult getting in and out of the back, I just use that as a weekend car mostly though. Normally we use the EX35 for daily duty.

 

I have two kids myself. My son is 5 and my daughter is 3. I have two forward facing carseats and they really have no issues being in the back. I don't see why it would be impossible to drive the car with only one child. If you have an extra base for the carrier I don't see any real issues with keeping the coupe.

 

No man, LOL I know you have one , Its just they always have different thoughts than us. I know when I got mine we talked a lot about the kids thing( None till next year she's still in school) but we talked about who would have what, She has always had sedans or small SUV's so I was able to get the coupe, An she got the sedan

 

Haha. Got it. Things might change for you when you have kids though. At least you'll think about it.

I know when I bought my coupe, I didn't think ahead and that was only 2 years ago and I was planning on having kids. I'm still on the fence. On the one hand I love the coupe; not the most practical but it gets looks and is fun as hell to drive. On the other hand, the sedan seems very nice (I drove a loaner one time, 7AT, very nice) but it seems so tame. And everyone around here has one, but not that that matters (but it kinda does). It seems I'm getting opinions on both sides too haha but that's good as I get to see how "easy" it is with a coupe. Any more thoughts would be appreciated! Thank you!