Three car seats? - Page 2

iainmd · Jul 29th, 2014, 13:17

You could put a forward facing seat in the front, 2 seats in the rear and, only if you have the world's skinniest partner who doesn't mind being crushed and can operate as a transformer to put the middle seat belt on, your partner in the middle of the back seat.

We've done that twice for a very, very short distance and my wife cursed like fury. She had to train as a contortionist to get in and out as well.

Sorry, I know it's not an answer you'd hoped for but honestly we've had about every car seat money could buy tried by Mothercare in their car park and we've bought a couple of others as well to get narrow enough just to make the seatbelt points in an S40/V50 accessible for the car seats.

The S40/V50 has sculpted rear seats that aren't flat which doesn't suit car seats at all well. It narrows the useful width of the seat and makes the middle seat a bit of a token gesture.

Iain

KevinS40 · Jul 29th, 2014, 20:21

Oh nooooooo

That has just wrecked my evening. Sure I would loose a fair whack if I sold the S40! Can't believe my luck...or lack of!
Not what I wanted to hear, but thanks for the input.

iainmd · Aug 3rd, 2014, 19:25

I always intended to limit my child count to 2 for that very reason, plus the thought of 3 or more filled me with dread, although not as much as the thought of a Zafira or Citroen C4 Picasso (one of the few cars you can get 3 car seats along the back seat of)!

Friends of ours traded their V50 for a C4 Picaso for that very reason. They spent ages trying all sorts of cars for 3 car seats along the back seat and it was the only non-7-seater they found that fitted the bill.

There are consequences to having more than 2 kids unfortunately.

MacV50 · Aug 4th, 2014, 09:28

How much are you going to loose on the S40? Might be worth shelling out on the system that let's you have 3 car seats across the back.

However, with all the rubbish you have to cart around for baby, you'll probably find the boot lacking even if you do sort out the seats

I'm firmly in the no MPV camp but my partner has a daughter too and we find the V50 tight in the back with one seat, one booster and my partner's daughter in the middle.

The only thing I'll consider is something like a Discovery as we have a dog too so really need the space. Once my youngest moves to a booster it'll be a bit better in the back so hopefully we can delay the inevitable for a year or 2

Trog thou Meatier · Aug 5th, 2014, 10:57

We've managed two Graco Juniors on either side of a booster. Attaching the middle belt is a real pain though. If your five year old is big enough for a booster alone and your four year old is big enough for a Junior then you might get away with it if you can find a thin enough baby seat.

Having said that I do agree with the other posters - you really need a better solution.

nbuuifx · Aug 6th, 2014, 10:13

We've taken 3 kids and 2 adults a few times, we put one child seat in the front, one in the rear and a booster in the rear. Leaving the middle seat for the extra adult.

I didn't get too much moaning! We did select the smallest booster possible, it wasn't ours but we borrowed it. I got the impression it was just one of those cheap emergency booster seats (it didn't have a back and not much padding).

Don't know if that helps at all!

Our other car has no problem and can fit a full size car seat in every seat (Ford Galaxy) - you can get 3 across in the middle row plus another 2 in the rear and one in the front if you haven't got any adult passengers - so if you want to increase the family size again - they're a good choice for that!

KevinS40 · Aug 13th, 2014, 12:30

Thanks for the above guys. I'm yet to get my teeth into a plausible solution, really hoping not to change the volvo but will have to see. Had a look into the 3 bench seat, it's a whopping £1200 odd! No idea what I'd even get for the volvo now, too hesitant to look!

dme123 · Aug 13th, 2014, 14:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinS40

Thanks for the above guys. I'm yet to get my teeth into a plausible solution, really hoping not to change the volvo but will have to see. Had a look into the 3 bench seat, it's a whopping £1200 odd! No idea what I'd even get for the volvo now, too hesitant to look!

I know the things you're talking about. To be honest £1200 on that might be cheap compared to the cost of changing your car! It's called a multimac I think?

Bet it has resale value too once you're done with it.

Jul 29th, 2014, 13:17	#11
iainmd Member Last Online: Yesterday 08:06 Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Fife View Photos By: iainmd	You could put a forward facing seat in the front, 2 seats in the rear and, only if you have the world's skinniest partner who doesn't mind being crushed and can operate as a transformer to put the middle seat belt on, your partner in the middle of the back seat. We've done that twice for a very, very short distance and my wife cursed like fury. She had to train as a contortionist to get in and out as well. Sorry, I know it's not an answer you'd hoped for but honestly we've had about every car seat money could buy tried by Mothercare in their car park and we've bought a couple of others as well to get narrow enough just to make the seatbelt points in an S40/V50 accessible for the car seats. The S40/V50 has sculpted rear seats that aren't flat which doesn't suit car seats at all well. It narrows the useful width of the seat and makes the middle seat a bit of a token gesture. Iain __________________ Present: 2009 Volvo V50 1.6D DRIVe SE Past: 2004 Volvo S40 T5 SE

Aug 3rd, 2014, 19:25	#13
iainmd Member Last Online: Yesterday 08:06 Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Fife View Photos By: iainmd	I always intended to limit my child count to 2 for that very reason, plus the thought of 3 or more filled me with dread, although not as much as the thought of a Zafira or Citroen C4 Picasso (one of the few cars you can get 3 car seats along the back seat of)! Friends of ours traded their V50 for a C4 Picaso for that very reason. They spent ages trying all sorts of cars for 3 car seats along the back seat and it was the only non-7-seater they found that fitted the bill. There are consequences to having more than 2 kids unfortunately. __________________ Present: 2009 Volvo V50 1.6D DRIVe SE Past: 2004 Volvo S40 T5 SE

Aug 5th, 2014, 10:57	#15
Trog thou Meatier Junior Member Last Online: Nov 23rd, 2015 09:53 Join Date: May 2013 Location: West Cork	We've managed two Graco Juniors on either side of a booster. Attaching the middle belt is a real pain though. If your five year old is big enough for a booster alone and your four year old is big enough for a Junior then you might get away with it if you can find a thin enough baby seat. Having said that I do agree with the other posters - you really need a better solution. __________________ 2006 S40 SE 2.0D Euro 3

Jul 29th, 2014, 20:21	#12
KevinS40 New Member Last Online: May 9th, 2017 17:03 Join Date: May 2014 Location: Bristol	Oh nooooooo That has just wrecked my evening. Sure I would loose a fair whack if I sold the S40! Can't believe my luck...or lack of! Not what I wanted to hear, but thanks for the input.

Aug 4th, 2014, 09:28	#14
MacV50 Master Member Last Online: May 12th, 2024 15:23 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Aberdeen	How much are you going to loose on the S40? Might be worth shelling out on the system that let's you have 3 car seats across the back. However, with all the rubbish you have to cart around for baby, you'll probably find the boot lacking even if you do sort out the seats I'm firmly in the no MPV camp but my partner has a daughter too and we find the V50 tight in the back with one seat, one booster and my partner's daughter in the middle. The only thing I'll consider is something like a Discovery as we have a dog too so really need the space. Once my youngest moves to a booster it'll be a bit better in the back so hopefully we can delay the inevitable for a year or 2

Aug 6th, 2014, 10:13	#16
nbuuifx Senior Member Last Online: May 1st, 2015 23:01 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Staffs	We've taken 3 kids and 2 adults a few times, we put one child seat in the front, one in the rear and a booster in the rear. Leaving the middle seat for the extra adult. I didn't get too much moaning! We did select the smallest booster possible, it wasn't ours but we borrowed it. I got the impression it was just one of those cheap emergency booster seats (it didn't have a back and not much padding). Don't know if that helps at all! Our other car has no problem and can fit a full size car seat in every seat (Ford Galaxy) - you can get 3 across in the middle row plus another 2 in the rear and one in the front if you haven't got any adult passengers - so if you want to increase the family size again - they're a good choice for that!

Aug 13th, 2014, 12:30	#17
KevinS40 New Member Last Online: May 9th, 2017 17:03 Join Date: May 2014 Location: Bristol	Thanks for the above guys. I'm yet to get my teeth into a plausible solution, really hoping not to change the volvo but will have to see. Had a look into the 3 bench seat, it's a whopping £1200 odd! No idea what I'd even get for the volvo now, too hesitant to look!

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