[james1138]

I’m going to be moving into a house with a two car garage with my fiancé who has two 7 year old boys. I do my best to keep my car pristine and I’ve had no dents or scratches or anything but it’s still a new car. Any advice on how to keep it that way for those of you who have survived kids? Mostly concerned about dents and scratches.

I’m thinking of having her car be by the garage door entrance along with the bikes and the toys and try to keep a buffer between that area and my car. Or maybe I should just be on the idea that eventually something will happen?

[MVEED3]

[Blocke]

Prepare yourself mentally that something will happen. Over the years I’ve taken several precautions to prevent the wife and kids from messing my cars up, and inevitably something always happens. Most notably was when my wife left a collapsed Bob jogging stroller next to my S4 passenger side (which I could not see as I entered garage from drivers side). Scraped against my car as I backed out, $8k insurance claim to repaint half the car. Or the time she closed the garage door on my I3 and ripped the rear roof spoiler off.

Kids will brush against your car with backpacks, they will spill shit in there, they will scratch up your seat backs with their shoes, and sneeze all over your door panels.

The ONLY method I found that works is to buy a 3rd vehicle for all kid duties, and I only let them in my car in exception scenarios. Good luck!

[Westside Guy]

Stuff will happen, the bottom line is that you are screwed!

[jkoral]

All my kids are grown now, but no food or drinks in the car (except water), no eating in my car. When they were younger I supervised removing bikes, scooters, toys from garage and kept garage door shut. When picking up kids from school, etc, backpacks go in trunk.

My kids frequently told me I love my car more than them, but I survived 3+ kids with no dings, scratches and a mint interior (across all of the BMWs I've owned).

[arucano]

Teach the kids to appreciate what you appreciate about your car. Have them help you and teach them your values. It takes an effort but it can be a good bonding experience.

[tranquility]

Don't have kids. I never had any problems. 😅

[wtwo3]

My kids are still young... 1 and 5, but at least with the 5 year old (and soon once the one year old starts understanding things more) I've been sure to instill general expectations and behaviors. For example my daughter is conditioned to not even expect to be able to eat or drink anything in my car besides water. She takes her shoes off when she gets in so not to scratch up the seat back. When getting in or out of the car she steps over the sill so she doesn't scratch up the side skirts (this took months of constant reminding). When walking past the car she makes sure to keep a bit of distance so that her backpack doesn't accidentally scratch it. And she knows to not touch the car and get hand prints on it (this also took months and months of constant reminding).

My wife thinks I'm ridiculous but oh well. It may be trickier with you since the kids are already older, but if you take the time to explain that the car is to be respected, kids will eventually listen (provided you have a good relationship with them).

[3002 tii]

Simple don’t let your wife drive it.

My f10 is always clean. I always make sure to throw kids stuff away, nothing ever accumulates. Wife’s x3 on the other hand…

[james1138]

Originally Posted by tranquility

Don't have kids. I never had any problems. 😅

Lol

Too late! I’ve got a 15 year old and he loves car so that’s a blessing but the seven year olds are still young.

[james1138]

Originally Posted by jkoral

All my kids are grown now, but no food or drinks in the car (except water), no eating in my car. When they were younger I supervised removing bikes, scooters, toys from garage and kept garage door shut. When picking up kids from school, etc, backpacks go in trunk.

My kids frequently told me I love my car more than them, but I survived 3+ kids with no dings, scratches and a mint interior (across all of the BMWs I've owned).

This is the plan that I have in my head right now. Thanks

[nick3753]

Originally Posted by jkoral

All my kids are grown now, but no food or drinks in the car (except water), no eating in my car. When they were younger I supervised removing bikes, scooters, toys from garage and kept garage door shut. When picking up kids from school, etc, backpacks go in trunk.

My kids frequently told me I love my car more than them, but I survived 3+ kids with no dings, scratches and a mint interior (across all of the BMWs I've owned).

This. Though at some point I decided the car was less important than the stress I was creating. Then there is the time 3 days before returning my pristine lease I suddenly had scratches all over the hood and had no clue how they got there. Eventually my 5 year old (now 15) confessed that he wanted to help “polish the car” like dad and chose some 200 grit sand paper I had sitting around the garage. Luckily I was able to polish it out enough that it was barely noticeable. Good luck!

[classic_erik]

Nothing can be done. 😆

[cooolone2]

Buy another car for daily driving, get a garage nearby and store the car you want to preserve! Lol

Kids in the car is like letting a pet on the couch or bed at night, once you let it happen, it's over!!! Hahaha

Scratches, old food and candy found in the seats, spills, junk, stuff that don't belong, it will all find it's way into the car. Forget the outside, no way to protect it unless you want to do a full wrap! And that's limited too.

Like getting pregnant, the only real way is abstinence, or avoiding the issue/root causation, lol. No kids in car, no problem! Done! Car not in tight garage, no problem...

Good Luck!
Lol

[chowser51]

You get over it. People ask me all the time how I can have kids and dogs in my car. It's just a car.

But amazingly, other than fur, there's no scratches from her paws.

[ZL9M2]

Education. Have the kids help when you detail and service the car. Impress on them the importance of taking care of what you have; and that "stuff" is not disposable.

[POBEP]

Originally Posted by ZL9M2

Education. Have the kids help when you detail and service the car. Impress on them the importance of taking care of what you have; and that "stuff" is not disposable.

+1 ^
I have 2 boys 8/15 and they made no scratches inside or outside.

On the other note, unlike kids, (some) adults are careless.
Kids listen - and (some) adults simply do not care.

[dyezak]

Best method isn't to prepare your car for neglegence of kids. The best method I've found is to teach the kid. It's harder. But the added benefit is that you not only protect your car, but everything else in your life. Less damage to your house, your car(s), their clothes. Kids are mentally PRIMED to actively learn. I'm still working with my 7y old, but he understands the word "focus" now means to stop what he is doing, look around, and see what all he is impacting around him no matter if he is in the car, in a friend's car, someone's house, etc.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by POBEP

+1 ^
I have 2 boys 8/15 and they made no scratches inside or outside.

On the other note, unlike kids, (some) adults are careless.
Kids listen - and (some) adults simply do not care.

I agree that kids do listen, especially if they have an incentive. Growing up my son a was a Lego freak and the promise of getting new Lego games if he was careful helped to preserve the appearance of my cars.

[c1pher]

Either accept it, buy a car you don't care as much about or don't let them ride in your car. I let my kids in my car but they knew they would face a firing squad if they did anything. Might be why I'm divorced, so what do I know.

[shimmy23]

a 7year is completely aware of basic consequences to their actions. I have seat covers that protect from minor spills, but mostly protect the kid car seats from rubbing and damaging the leather. I clean the car out weekly, but its just a minor wipe down quick vaccuum. 15min tops on a saturday morning. I allow food inside the car, but the caveat is it has to come from a bag... chips, granola bar, etc. No yogurt or apple sauce! Drinks, water... but thats because our kids dont drink a lot of juice or sugary stuff.

Now the wifes car is free range. I dont care what the kids eat or drink in that car... i go in with the expectation that whatever happens happens and i'll just need to clean it up. Truthfully, the worst that has happened is my wife spilling lattes down into the center console!

[Forzanerazzurri]

You guys are fostering a new generation of OCD kids (just like my dad).