A minivan loses a 2nd-row seat for access to the second row.
jefftk
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Six-Door Cars
They reviewed a draft for this post over email, which seems reasonably close?
We had previously borrowed their some car some, more informally, and reimbursed them approximately based on what it was worth. The main change here, though, is moving to a system where we can use the car without asking first, which is pretty useful to us.
What part do you think we are overthinking? For example, I think it is important for us to be on the car’s insurance, and I think it is important for us to figure out a good system for who uses the car when.
I think placing this trust in our housemate is justified, given how well we know them and our level of community overlap.
Sharing a Car
Seatbelt Extenders and Booster Seats
Making a Kingfisher Video
since most bigger cars with a full second row also have a collapsible third row anyway (at least as a premium option)
Not in the US; here that’s mostly only fancy European imports.
I don’t think it would be legal for me to be in the front seat at all at the ages I was sometimes sitting in the middle front seat
At least in Massachusetts, there aren’t actually any restrictions on children riding in the front seat. They strongly recommend that children don’t until age 13, but it’s not the law: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/frequently-asked-questions-about-car-seats https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXIV/Chapter90/Section7AA
I imagine rear crumple zones also have some sort of increasing minimum requirement.
Maybe? But three-row SUVs are not especially long vehicles? For example the Volkswagon Tiguan is 185“; compare to a Toyota Camry at 192”.
you will now have 3 cars at your house, and 2 off-street parking spaces, meaning your house will require an on-street parking space
Our driveway does fit three cars, but unless they are interchangeable that’s a lot of hassle. Currently, one of our housemates uses the driveway and the other parks on the street; I think we would use the inner driveway space.
I think you’ve had your house about 5 years, and have said you plan to have it a long time. If even your family previously car-averse is likely to have a car for half or more of the time you are in the house...
Why are you only counting time as a homeowner? We lived in Cambridge/Somerville almost 10y as car-free renters first.
I feel that the parking situation in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville generally supports that parking and housing are not yet ready to be as decoupled as you’ve proposed.
I think we should:
a) Auction off the right to park in the street, and distribute the money among all residents: https://www.jefftk.com/p/pricing-benefiting-everyone
b) Allow people to sell the right to park in their driveway
c) Allow construction of housing without off-street parking
d) Invest in public transit and bike infrastructure
I don’t see why us getting a car would change whether any of these were good policy? At current levels of cost and convenience, it is worth it for us to have a car. If those changed, it might not be.
No, I agree! We shouldn’t get a new car.
(I wasn’t properly accounting for interest or depreciation; self-financing makes them less obvious)
I don’t think these are allowed in the US, but they do make adapters: https://www.multimac.com/p/multimac_1320_4_seater
The Cost of a Sixth Seat
We live in a house that has been divided into two units, and we live in the upstairs unit. The (smaller) downstairs unit has a separate kitchen, and the two downstairs housemates are vegan. We do communal food, and I can general use the downstairs oven if I need more open space, but only for vegan things. I think it is partly smell and partly that it’s rude to cook things in their oven if they’re not going to be able to eat them.
I think you’re not taking into account that we are not expecting to drive very many miles, and so per mile costs are less important to us than average?
If you plan on taking long trips in the car
I don’t think we’re likely to do much long-distance travel, no
if there is any possibility of a fourth child
While I don’t think we are likely to have a fourth child, if we did we could sell this car and buy another one. It’s not like moving into a rent controlled apartment!
I’ve put three car seats across the back of many small cars, including the ones we are considering like the Honda Fit. As long as your seats are reasonably narrow, it’s quite practical. See https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/AgrxwzhkFWwbQrRuz
I’m not sure what you’re thinking about in terms of “safely” and “legally”?
Sorry, I should’ve included that!
(Anna is five now, and Lily is about to turn seven.)
If we yootle for repainting the spare room and I bid $1.2k to your $1.5k, we should probably just hire a painter.