If you’re a sports car enthusiast with a bundle of joy on the way, your heart is probably starting to sink into the pit of your stomach. This feels like the worst thing that’s ever happened to you. You’re going to have to give up your sporty dream car. …Or are you?
A growing number of families are bucking tradition and opting to stick with their prized coupes, even though they have a family (or one on the way). And guess what? It’s working out for them.
Now, it’s important to note that a coupe won’t work for every family. But you should know that giving up your dream car isn’t necessarily the only option. There are plenty of families who keep the coupe without having to sacrifice anything. And there are other families who sacrifice a little but find that it’s all worthwhile in the end. After all, they’re only little for a short time.
Here’s why you can have a coupe and a family:
A coupe can be your second car
If there are two drivers in your household, it often makes sense to use two cars. And it doesn’t cost any more make one of those cars a coupe. In fact, the only sacrifice you’d have to make is that you’d have only one car designated to the family.
It’s true that car seats don’t fit well in the back of most coupes. But if you only have one car seat for each child, that negates the convenience of having two cars anyway.
This works especially well when the person driving the coupe isn’t the one responsible for picking the kids up from school. If you and your spouse both work away from home and need to split pickups and drop-offs, the coupe may not work as a second car.
It’s important to evaluate your situation before you decide. What works for one family may not work for another.
Some boosters work with coupes
It won’t be safe to transport your infant in a coupe, unless it happens to be roomy enough to fit the seat. But there are some booster seats that are specifically designed for smaller cars. Backless boosters are good examples. You’ll have to check the regulations and the specific manual for any booster you’re considering, but it may be a good option for people who have older kids.
Since all kids are different, they may be ready for a booster at different ages. Five-years is a good general rule, but you should always consult the height and weight requirements and your state’s guidelines before you put your child in a booster seat. If you have any questions, ask your child’s pediatrician.
Not all coupes are equal
You may think of a small Mazda Miata coupe when you think of this sporty car type, but not all coupes are tiny. It’s true that most coupes are on the smaller side, but this doesn’t mean there’s no legroom. The BMW 4 Series Coupe and Honda Civic Coupe are two examples of coupes with roomy interiors. If you’re thinking about getting a new coupe, take the car seat with you on a test drive. Also, check what the manual has to say about car seats. If the car you’re looking at recommends car seats of a certain size, you should be able to get away with staying within that range and using the coupe as a family car.
Not every family is large
If you’re a family of three and choose a coupe with a roomy backseat, you may find that it works quite well. You will run into trouble when you try to add two or three car seats in the back of any coupe. And you’ll probably find that trunk space is lacking for all the gear you need with multiple kids.
It’s silly for anyone to make a blanket statement about coupes and families. Not only are all coupes different, but all families are different too. You may have one child, older children or multiple cars. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t have what you want. Explore the options for yourself before you make that determination.
