Carseat...kids...and Marriage

[YW-Slayer]

Originally Posted by Philly

I just got a Raven FR-S and I'm planning to install a child seat. I need a few more months of rear facing before we switch to front facing. If anyone is in a similar situation I would love to share ideas on how to do this.

Hey man, I'm in a similar situation. sportsguy seems to be in the best position to advise. We have a MaxiCosi ISOFIX base and a Pearl, which is still rear-facing, and I think they may be a bit tight. My wife MAY have to sit at the back. Anyway, we'll see.

[EsoBOFH]

Chiming in... if you're married with kids, this will be a second vehicle.

I have car seats in the back of my FR-S (two boys, 4 & 2) - they fit, but have to cross their legs in the car seat because there is zero leg room for them.

I've done the grocery run, and fit an entire costco cart in the trunk.

It's a bit inconvenient getting them in and out, but it's definately doable.

I traded my tundra on this car, which was used to tow a utility trailer, travel trailer, boat etc.. travel trailer is sold, but I plan on upgrading my wife's Toyota Corolla, to a RAV4, to tow the boat and utility, and for family camping excursions etc.

So.. it can be done, but it's really not ideal for kids, groceries etc... plan on a second vehicle.

[greenguy101]

Originally Posted by EsoBOFH

Chiming in... if you're married with kids, this will be a second vehicle.

I have car seats in the back of my FR-S (two boys, 4 & 2) - they fit, but have to cross their legs in the car seat because there is zero leg room for them.

I've done the grocery run, and fit an entire costco cart in the trunk.

It's a bit inconvenient getting them in and out, but it's definately doable.

I traded my tundra on this car, which was used to tow a utility trailer, travel trailer, boat etc.. travel trailer is sold, but I plan on upgrading my wife's Toyota Corolla, to a RAV4, to tow the boat and utility, and for family camping excursions etc.

So.. it can be done, but it's really not ideal for kids, groceries etc... plan on a second vehicle.

^^^ I completely agree. I have a 10 YO and 7 YO. They do fit but it is not ideal. There is plenty of room for the 10 YO up front and the 7 YO fits behind him fine but throw my wife in the mix with both kids in the back and it is very tight. We have a Ford Explorer as our family hauler so this will be "Daddy's Daily Driver"!!!! lol That is once I am able to buy one. As of now none of the local dealers have my color/transmission choice in stock.

[pacent]

Married 32 year old here, with a 1 year old son, and here's my situation...

Prior to our first kid, my wife drove an Evo, and I had an S2000 and an RSX Type S. When we decided to have our first, I knew some compromises had to be made. It was impractical for me to have 2 coupes, and it just made sense for us to get something taller to make it easier to get the kids in and out of, as well as hauling his stuff around. I ended up getting rid of both the S2000 and RSX, inheriting her Evo, and she bought an SUV.

Now, I'm looking at the BRZ/FRS as a DD. My son typically rides around in my wife's car, as she takes him to daycare, picks him up, etc.... He has ridden in the evo maybe 3-4 times in total, but its nice to have the option of putting him in there in a pinch. If I didn't have another car to drive my son around in, the BRZ/FRS wouldn't even be a consideration.

[86'd]

Originally Posted by pacent

Married 32 year old here, with a 1 year old son, and here's my situation...

Prior to our first kid, my wife drove an Evo, and I had an S2000 and an RSX Type S. When we decided to have our first, I knew some compromises had to be made. It was impractical for me to have 2 coupes, and it just made sense for us to get something taller to make it easier to get the kids in and out of, as well as hauling his stuff around. I ended up getting rid of both the S2000 and RSX, inheriting her Evo, and she bought an SUV.

Now, I'm looking at the BRZ/FRS as a DD. My son typically rides around in my wife's car, as she takes him to daycare, picks him up, etc.... He has ridden in the evo maybe 3-4 times in total, but its nice to have the option of putting him in there in a pinch. If I didn't have another car to drive my son around in, the BRZ/FRS wouldn't even be a consideration.

That's the opposite of me. I wouldn't say I'll be Mr. Mom, but I live closer and have a schedule, where I'll be picking up the kids after work. I'm not going to be trying to squeeze out a baby in a baby seat or two from the FRS's back seat.

Plus my wife is 5'7"-5'8", there's no way we'd all fit anyway.

LOL. Now I remember why my dad sold his TR7 when he had me. If it weren't for all of these safety regulations and car seats I would have kept my S2K too. My mom just held me in her lap in the Triumph and I came out OK.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by 86'd

...LOL. Now I remember why my dad sold his TR7 when he had me. If it weren't for all of these safety regulations and car seats I would have kept my S2K too. My mom just held me in her lap in the Triumph and I came out OK.

I held on to my MK1 MR2 for several years after my Son1Hawk was born. He rode many times in the front seat in a carseat (no air bags).

Way back "in the day" my Mom, my Aunt, 2 sisters, a brother and I plus my aunt's full grown German Shephard made a trip from E. NC to KY (600 miles) in a 1960's Volkswagen Beetle. 3 kids and a dog in the back, 2 adults and the baby in the front.

I guess its just good we didnt know any better.

[mountainside]

You could try what my husband and I did: avoid children at all cost!

Seriously though: if I got pregnant and if we decided to keep it, I'd probably get something like a IS250 AWD or a Volvo S60 R and keep the FRS as a summer car. Don't get minivans. They just scream that you've given up on life. Wagons/estates are a lot better to drive and have plenty of room.

[barney]

This could be THE deal breaker for me. I have struggled with giving up my roadster for an FR-S. Roadster has no back seat at all; no trunk space but is the biggest blast to drive. FR-S is almost as fun to drive and slightly more "practical" - but I need to be able to get at least one car seat in the back; maybe two - without fooling myself. Oh man...

[Razz]

Then go get the last model of the RX8, plenty of back seat room in there.

More than Mustang or Camaro

[YW-Slayer]

I'm not too concerned, as we do have a sedan which we will keep (Legacy on the left) with the BRZ as a second car. But it would be good to be able for the 3 of us to go out in the BRZ if I feel like it. I hardly drive the Legacy as it is, since I don't use it to commute (I think the most km I've ever done in it in 1 month is around 300-400km, and usually it's more like 100-150km).

[luscious]

Originally Posted by whtchocla7e

This is why I'm single. No compromise.

In my case....this is why I don't have kids =) My wife drives her Porsche, I got the FR-S =)

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by whtchocla7e

This is why I'm single. No compromise.

Interesting because I would consider being single is a compromise.

[troek]

http://www.securatot.co.uk/klippan-triofix

its advertised as the most compact rear facing car seat on the market, but your child has to be approximately 20lbs.

[rice_classic]

So here's the plan in the next 24 months:

For her: (Only with a Diesel!) Who knows, maybe the CX5 for her and the 310ft/tq mazda6 wagon for me!

OR the


For the Family (so they can join me at the Racetrack!):



For me:




And whatever race car I decide to put in it. FRS, S2k, CRX... whatever.

[mx5 2nr]

We've got my FRS, my '90 Miata & her '12 Mustang; and we're not doing the kid thing... but... if one happens to pop out, I'll probably lease some sort of anti-adrenaline machine until the kid is ok with squeezing into the back seats of her car and/or mine.. I ain't getting rid of my toys.. sheeeit...

[naikaidriver]

My wife would KILL me if I ever got rid of the FR-S! When I fly out on business, she drives it instead of her own car!

Besides, she knows that when the day comes that we have kids in the next year or so I am buying her a Range Rover so she's good with that. Thankfully I married a woman that is 100% anti-minivan!

Scott

[MVJ1975]

My girlfriend despises minivans as well.

I personally think they are only acceptable if you stance them out on bags with tasteful wheels and perhaps an aggressive aero kit. Otherwise the aura of uncool will ultimately turn you into a square, for which there is no cure.

You will begin to like your minivan, and begin using phrases like "grounded to the ground".

[gily25]

A member here found a way to drag the kid's bike along with you though...

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29963

[SilentAngel]

My plan, Not getting married, not having kids, problem solved lol. IMO just not worth the hassle. Can date a girl for awhile if i want to, and then call it off and be single again. Will never have to worry about abandoning my car that way. Just keep drivin!!

[luuser75]

I'm still young so I probably won't get married until 10 years later. The FR-S is my daily right now since I don't need to drive anybody besides my girlfriend. If all goes well, I plan to keep it a long time so it can become my weekend car and just get an economical daily like an Accord or Camry haha. Hopefully a bulletproof plan for the future wife =X

[brillo]

I'm married with a 3 week old and we have a CX5 (bought last year), my wifes old Accord (my daily/beater) and my FRS. The FRS is tough for really little kids due to the rear facing carseat taking up so much room. Kids in front facing car seats should fit fine. I'm glad I have the Honda though as a backup and beater to drive to work, makes the FR-S that much more fun when I get in and drive it.

[BryanGT]

My wife has a new X5 to hall the kids around, but I did put a rear-facing child seat (11 month old) in the back of my BRZ for one trip and it compromised the front passenger seat and getting him in and out was like reenacting his birth.

SO baby seats and rear facing seats wouldn't be practical, but once they're old enough for front facing you could be in business.

We're getting two of these seats to take on airplanes, and they're so small that I think they would be perfect for the BRZ:
http://www.albeebaby.com/diono-radia...hadow-old.html