Thread: Hmmm Should I or shouldnt I???

Crikey Gatesy, slow down son !!.
First of all congratulations to you and the missus, soon to be SWMBO.
Now unless you've jumped the start you've got at least to the end of the year to sort this one out, even if you tie the knot tomorrow. It's traditional to wait at least a couple of days between engagement and wedding, let alone kids, but I'm an old bugger so may be out of touch with current romantic trends,(SWMBO reckonds I wouldn't know what romance was if it jumped up and bit me on the arse), can be cruel these shielas.
"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away................." I had a SII SWB and the child bride had a pocket rocket Mazda RX3, neither being optimal for the transport of infants and the huge amount of associated paraphanelia that is deemed vital for even the simplest of journeys. No baby seat capsule thingys then, bassinets in them days, sort of like a small transportable bed about as big as four box's of beer. Bloody awkward contraptions but slung in the back of the landy worked a treat till baby no 2 came along, then it was out with the centre seat, install bolt in baby seat, transfer baby no 1 to seat and install baby no 2 in bassinet. No worries. Worked fine till baby no 3, crunch time. Had to get rid of old girl, not the missus the landy, and get a sedan. A sad day, so if anyone out there has an old SWB SIIA with rover 90 diffs, headers and Vic rego KGW 761 give her a pat for me.
Anyway, I digress. I assume Gatesy that your 130 is of the dual cab variety ? and understand your reluctance to begin swimming lessons for your son/daughter and heir at such a tender age.
Yorkshire Jons' got the right idea. Disco 2a fits the bill perfectly without having to resort to the 'Dark Side'. Use the force Luke, err Gatesy and keep true to the Land Rover Alliance.

Deano

Your 130 is the perfect second-dad's-get away car.
Get some anchor points fitted; and if it worries you that much fit some sliders. It is as safe as the next if driven legally.
Initially you probably wont be 4x4ing with the baby, but as long as it holds a lot of gear like porta-cots and prams any 4x4 will do, you wont be going to far. Something to keep it all out of the rain is good, or suspend it from the floor just enough to stay dry.
I too found the height of a Defender beneficial not a hinderance with strapping in kids. Getting the rear doors to open wider is very helpful though. A Defender has the added bonus of when the kids get to 2, climbing into it is a good challenge and fun thing for them to do.


IMO a Defender is slow on and off road = calm dad, safe, predictable driving.
Navara is fast on and off road = potentially more stressed and dangerous dad; and bounce, bash, jump, over everything off road scrambling all inside with poor results.

My wife has a small run around city car, and yes a defender it a bit to much for her on top of the kids requirements. But guess what car the kids want to go in all the time.

Enjoy the engagement, then the wedding, then houses shopping, then the pregnancy, the birth, then sleep deprivation, then even less money, then kids wrecking all that you own......
Ahhh it's all good, congratulations