Moral dilemma

[Aldaris]

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Getting into the back seat is really not that bad. I don't understand why people complain about getting into the back of 2-door cars so much.

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Try putting a baby in the back of such a vehicle. I'm in the same boat (Monte Carlo) and I thank my lucky stars that we have a minivan that we can use 99% of the time when we're going somewhere with my son (currently 19 mos). By this time next year, I expect the Monte will be traded in favor of something with a couple more doors.

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They don't stay that small THAT long. We still had an 86 Tempo with all three kids in the back. Now, sure, the minivan was NICE in comparison ...but we really didn't NEED a $330/month payment (IIRC = bought with virtually no money down) with a young family. $100/week (higher insurance due to higher value)in 92 $$ can handle a decent level of hassle, imo. We also needed two cars anyway (always did) ..so it ended up meaning the retirement of my beater Courier (rusted Mazda w/Ford innards) pickup.

My son has a paid for 00 Cherokee (and a 96 NEON beater) ..but bought his SO a new Sedona because the Cherokee "didn't have enough room for carting the kids around (nearly 1 year old and a 2+ year old)".

So?

Just looking back at how we managed to make excuses for spending money needlessly. Then again, if your wallet is thick enough ..or you realize that you're not going to really do anything productive with the avoided costs ...why not??

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Well, people these days over accessorize their children. They have gigantic (and I mean HUGE) baby strollers, a full array of toys, a big pack of diapers, baby food, sippy cups and other nonsense that they tote with them EVERYWHERE THEY GO.
Me and my sister were fine from ages 5 to 10 in the back seat of an E30 BMW coupe. Even on 1000 mile road trips.

 

[Gary Allan]

We did all of those things. Portable playpen (folded into a neo-lawn chair type size class) ..full infant/toddler regalia (my wife got all the trick stuff in en vogue child rearing accessories). Cramped in the trunk? Sure. We couldn't afford to do too long an excursion anyway ..so we could pack light for us two. Sponge vacations were easier. You get to use your host's laundry facilities.

I had many a year with a diaper bag slung over my shoulder. Never quite took to it like the wife ..but ..

I do have to qualify this by saying that there have been some (many, actually)evolutions in child restraint requirements since I engaged in the child rearing enterprise. That is, we never had to have two car seats at one time, IIRC. Mine out grew the 1st Gen seats. Boosters were acceptable earlier on back then.

 

[tigrpal]

In 1963, my parents moved themselves, their 5 children, and all our belongings in a Rambler American station wagon(push button transmission) pulling a U-Haul trailer from LA to Milwaukee. Three in the front seat, three in the back seat and I, the youngest, at age 5 sat behind the back seat in a space about 2' x 2'. We drove for 5 days like that. We called that our "vacation" for years after that.

 

[Aldaris]

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In 1963, my parents moved themselves, their 5 children, and all our belongings in a Rambler American station wagon(push button transmission) pulling a U-Haul trailer from LA to Milwaukee. Three in the front seat, three in the back seat and I, the youngest, at age 5 sat behind the back seat in a space about 2' x 2'. We drove for 5 days like that. We called that our "vacation" for years after that.

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[Matt_S]

Another problem with a coupe is that if someone in the back wants to get out, a person in the front has to basically escort them out, making it more difficult for everyone. If I'm dropping the kids off at school several years down the road, I don't want to have to get out of my seat so they can exit the car.

Also, I'm not talking about getting anything huge. In fact what I get (probably a Saturn Astra) will be smaller than my Monte Carlo, but I'm sure it'll be much more convenient with regard to back seat usage.

Finally, I'll bet my Monte Carlo can out-PITA a Toyota Corolla ANY day WRT child seat installation.

 

[mstrjon32]

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Try putting a baby in the back of such a vehicle. I'm in the same boat (Monte Carlo) and I thank my lucky stars that we have a minivan that we can use 99% of the time when we're going somewhere with my son (currently 19 mos). By this time next year, I expect the Monte will be traded in favor of something with a couple more doors.

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I have a Monte Carlo myself, and the passenger seat comes so far forward on these newer models that it's no problem at all. I'm not putting kids in back (and don't plan to have that problem for quite some time to come) but I honestly don't see it as being that big of a deal.

When I was growing up my parents had a Buick Regal coupe (with the Landau top, as I recall...) and a Cutlass Supreme coupe and I don't recall there ever being a problem. I guess if it's that much of a problem for you, then buying a new car is what you need to do; but I just don't see it as that big of a deal.

 

[Matt_S]

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I have a Monte Carlo myself, and the passenger seat comes so far forward on these newer models that it's no problem at all.

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Not when you have power seats.

Actually, it will come quite a ways forward, if you're willing to accept the gray hairs you'll have after waiting so long. In my experience, most people still have trouble twisting around and manipulating their body in such a way as to make a smooth exit. In the best case, it's still at least twice the effort.

To be clear, I enjoy my car very much. If it was still just me and my wife and I had this to do over again, I'd buy that car in a heartbeat. But IMHO, kids and coupes aren't the best match. As a kid myself, my dad had a '71 Pontiac Catalina coupe. We were MUCH happier when he finally bought his '79 Chevy Malibu Classic where we actually had our own doors. (The vinyl seats were enough to singe the flesh off your legs, though).

 

[crw]

Gee, when I sold my Mustang V8 convertible, someone got a good deal. Regular oil changes with MC semi-syn and MC filter at 3000 miles or less. New O2 sensors. New shocks. Flowmasters. New plugs and wires. New fuel filter. Hmmm... I'm probably forgetting a half-dozen things. Most of these were done, not because the car was desperate for them, but because I loved the car.

Point being, buying a car from a BITOG'er is usually a good deal.

This forum really needs a "For sale" and "Want To Buy" section...

 

[crw]

Oh wow! There is a "For Sale" forum! Doh!

 

[gedcruise]

Maintain the car as you always have. It's not as though it will cost you all that much more, and you might find yourself keeping it.
I have never slacked on maintenance on my vehicles, since good maintenance and good records (FSH, as the Brits say) make them easier to sell, and give me the option of keeping them, should the need or desire arise.

 

[Titan]

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The terms "dino,synthetic,blend,conventional" are marketing derived; not scientific.

Titan, there certainly are"scientific" differences between synthetic and dino. Highly/severely refined (Group II/III) petroleum oil is not synthetic. Even the A.P.I. recognizes the difference, with groups I to III categorized as dinos and Groups IV/V categorized as synthetic. While some here at BITOG have jumped on the group III "bandwagon", chemists understand the difference between dino and synthetic. Moreover, it is the marketers that have attempted to create a perception of "no difference".

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That is a quote I got from one of Terry Dyson's posts. It's a good one, I'm sticking with it!

 

[trixman]

Even the Cheapest ST oil is SM rated. As long as you do not go over 5K with the cheap stuff, You can sell the car with no pang of conscience.

 

[mstrjon32]

What year Monte do you have? Mine is a basically a fully loaded '06 (except for the heated outside mirrors and upgraded sound system) and a power passenger seat wasn't even an option.

The passenger seat has a level on the top corner of it, you pull it forward the seat folds forward and slides up a good 20" or so, allowing plenty of room to get in. The driver seat has the same levee, which basically only tilts the seat forward, because it does have the power controls you were talking about and if you want to move it up you'd have to slide it up electrically.