We've got a baby on the way.. I'm definitely not getting rid of the S but I'll need something as a backup baby hauler when I need to take the baby around. My wife has a Rav4 which will serve as the primary family car.

There's only one constraint, that it fits in my tandem garage. With the Rav4, the longest car I can fit into my garage is 177 to 178 inches in length. Parking on the street sucks so that isn't an option. I'd be storing the S2k at my in-laws when I'm not driving it.

It doesn't have to have 4 doors but it would be more convenient. The backseat just has to be big enough to hold a car seat.

I've been throwing around some ideas but I'd like to hear from you guys and what the pros and cons are..

Here are cars I've been considering:
02-06 M3 coupe (always wanted one, but two doors only and maintenance costs high)
Evo X MR (my wife would be able to drive it since it isn't manual)
Audi A3 (nice interior)
STI or WRX wagon (had this before, but might be interested again)
Civic SI sedan (practical and might be fun)
VW Golf
Honda fit (cheap, but might be too boring)
Mazdaspeed3
BRZ (Probably too small, and too similar to the s2k)

What do you think?

 

Whatever you do get something with 4 doors, car seats abide, in an out...etc...then comes the baby bag, stroller, and portcrib if they still use those. i am saying large trunk, or wagon...volvo makes exceptional cars that can be reliable and fun and safe as milk.
a large suv, while large and heavy, well not my thing....we did two kids with a 4 door, then a wagon, then a mini van. you have lots of choices.

4 doors, think baby seat, inlaws, other kids, friends, the kid, etc...all in the same car, everyone deserves a door!

 

'08 C63 AMG...can be had for around $40k...but @ 186" it aint gonna fit.

Or something more docile like a C350. 181" might not fit though either

 

^^ This Pretty much hit the nail on the head.

I'm a new father, with a 5 month old little boy. I have the S2000, which rarely get's any use since we've had the baby, An Evo IX, and a 98 Camry, which I've had for year's as my beater. We usually take my wife's GS350 (Loads of space) when we all go out. Everything Fit's in the Evo, but I typically don't use it with the baby, as I don't want him breathing the fumes it puts off. But Trunk space with the Evo is excellent, the interior has lots of space, even with the rear facing baby seat inside (something a lot of parents don't think about), plus, it would still let you be a "cool dad" if that matters to you.

So I vote Evo 10. Congrats on the baby by the way.

 

Honestly, a Civic will work just fine. Decent rear seat room, big trunk, fuel efficient, reliable, not too large and you could still get an Si model to have some fun with. Still, you have an S2000 - a basic Civic LX or EX would be fine to offset it. My wife uses one daily and it's been great.

Evo X has a tiny trunk - useless for a baby stroller or anything large. While fun, it's not a very good baby hauler, overall.

MS3 would be fun and the hatchback is nice to have. Rear seat room is a bit tight, I think, so you'll want to check how the car seat fits. The Fit is actually a bit tight for a full-size infant car seat as well.

A3, to me, is the same as an MS3 overall, just slower but nicer. Again, check back seat fitment of a full size car seat (rear-facing).

 

depends what your looking for, seems you still want something sporty, but if your wife cant drive stick and she needs to drive it, the eliminates all the good choices lol......no Evo, Si, STI, Mazdaspeed (those all cannot be bought in auto) and you gottta be outta ur mind to not get the M3 in stick cause that SMG tranny they offered with that car is a POS
Audi and VW are notorious for expensive maintenance

outta all those i would probably get the Fit, it would be cheaper than all of the above even for a brand new one.....

when i dont drive my s2k i drive a 2000 Lexus ES300, probably the best purchase i ever made, cost me 8 grand with 60 thousand miles on it, and it is awesome, leather heated seats, good stereo, nice smooth ride, and cheap maintenance and since its a toyota they will last forever!! and wife can drive it!! and she will love it too!

but like i said depends on what your looking for

 

Your rannge is too open. I would suggest a 4 door Si. I had a 8th gen coupe and it was a blast to drive. The only down point is the lack of torque. Is more present than in the S2k. Super realible. A MS3 is also a good choice. Decent power and good space.

 

Have you considered adoption?
Honestly I am way too lazy to go lookup the dimensions, but generally I'm not clear on the following:
-what is your budget
-why are you keeping the s if it will be away from you house? Realistically when will you drive it when you have a baby? Selling it can either get a great start on saving for college or if you're less responsible, get you a much nicer DD.
-does it really matter auto vs manual? Would your wife ever realistically drive it?
-what are you really trying to obtain- ie is it safety for the kid, storage space to lug around all of the baby crap, ability to drive the kid and the wife at the same time, avoid stares from people, or what?
-how many miles will you be putting on it?

 

Yeah I'm definitely leaning towards a 4 door. Like i said earlier, this won't be the primary car for baby hauling. Its more for if I have to take the baby and I don't have the Rav4, then I still have the ability to.


Yeah both of those are too long.

Budget: anywhere from 10k to 35k I guess.. obviously the less I spend the better. I would consider used cars.

I'm keeping the S because I still want to have it for track days. I know it will be a while before I can go to the track again after the baby comes but its not something I just want to call it quits on. I gave up my motorcycles already, this is my last piece of fun left!

It matters a little if its auto. I've tried to teach my wife how to drive stick and she didn't like it at all. I guess if I got a manual then she'd never drive it which could be a good thing.

Safety is a concern for sure, storage space is less of a concern since we have the Rav4. If we need to bring major baby stuff around we will just use the Rav4.

I won't be putting too many miles on it. Probably less than 7000 per year since I live less than a mile from work.

 

I'd go with the 4-dr Si. Cheap, reliable, basically safe yet has a bit of giddyup. Plus you can still row a Honda tranny.