codrus
SuperDork
5/4/17 6:48 p.m.
smokindav wrote:
Incorrect. There are threads all over the VW forums about this topic and rear facing child seats fit just fine. In fact, I had one in my MKV Jetta when my son was born.
Edmunds seems to disagree with you and them:
link
In that review they only made it usable by using a small rear-facing seat and putting it in the center. The trend is towards later and later rear-facing requirements, here in CA they're now requiring it up to age 2 or a heigh of 40 inches. That's not going to fit in the small seat.
Update: the repair on the RX-8 wound up being below the replacement threshold, so it shall soldier on for at least another few months. Probably.
But I feel like the discussion is still worth chatting about.
As regards the GTI, for short guys like me, at least, the space is probably okay. The trick would seem to be finding one that's not beat to death for $5k.
Rear facing child behind the passenger seat.. Midsize cars will most likely be the only ones not having to sacrifice front passenger space at all.
My mazda 5 also has to have the passenger seat moved forward a bit. Roadtrips wife prefers to ride in the driver side middle row as it has more space to stretch out and recline.
Whereas we have several inches of clearance in swmbo's outback wagon and no sacrifice to front passenger space. Its not the kind of car you want at all but you might want to look at cars of that size.
She had a focus before. Front passenger space was terrible with a rear facing carseat.
Previous-gen Passat 2.0T 6MT. All kinds of nice features, a good amount of room, good to drive, and plenty more power is only an ECU flash tune away.
Matt B wrote:
Personally, I'm not a believer that kids just absolutely necessitate huge cars. I drive my twins to daycare everyday in rear-facing seats in a WRX hatchback. I'm 5'11" so the seating position is just a little more upright than I'd do otherwise, but perfectly comfortable. As always, YMMV.
I agree generally, but a lot of newer "smaller" cars, especially hatches (i.e. Focus, Golf, et al), don't offer as much room despite them getting larger and larger. But, I daily'd my XR4TI when the kiddos were small, and rear facing seats fit just fine in the back with plenty of adjustment left in the front. The only hassle was getting them in and out because it's a 2-door.
Btw, that reminds me... we also had an '03 Corolla that worked well with rear facing seats. Get an XRS with the 6 speed, add a decent set of coilovers and grippy tires, and they are quite fun to auto-x. Plus Toyota reliability and serviceability.
I can't say I've ever had to fit a kid's seat in the back of it, but my subaru legacy wagon fits four 5'11 to 6'1 200+ pound dudes rather comfortably. I'd assume the sedan version, which is way more common being 05-09 instead of just 05 for the wagon, is pretty comparable.