Daily drive for short trips with small kids NOT in car seats?

[CedN]

I drive my kids almost evey day, sometimes they are both in the back seats, and sometimes both on the passenger side. The biggest issue is to have the 5yo behind me, since his legs are to short to put the feet on the floor, so it gets to tight and my driving position gets a bit tough. With the 8yo it works better.

[Sasquachulator]

Originally Posted by nick112288

So obviously the back is smaller, but those saying they wouldn't want to deal with it because it's cramped for the rear passengers, or because them getting out is annoying because the lack of rear doors?

Because my current truck has no rear doors so have to get out currently to remove them.

Its just very small back there, and the front passenger seat doesnt stay in the "open" access position so you have to somehow keep it slid forward with something. (AFAIK the 2nd gen doesn't stay either).

Its kind of in this weird size spot where the backs seats arent 100% completely useless like in an Audi TT, or a Jag XR Convertible (or any luxury coupe convertible for that matteR), but its not very spacious either like say a Scion tC or any midsize 2 door.

The car being as small as it is to begin with you'd think the back seat is one of those completely useless ones.

[greengs]

We have 3 kids too. 12, 10, 8. I can only take 2 kids with me since none of them can fit behind me. My wife can take them all since she is much shorter.

I'm 6'1" Still, liked the car too much to stop be from buying it.

[Flarpswitch]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Subaru has you covered!

So, that is what the rear seat in our Ascent looks like. Honestly, I haven't seen it in almost four years. There was one time that the dog had to give up his second row seat to sit back there. He wasn't happy. He didn't like riding in back of my 2017 BRZ with the seat back up or down either. He liked to ride shotgun in front for trips to the dog park. The rear seat in the BRZ is not fit for man nor beast. If there was a decent kit to yard out the rear seat, I would. The same for the third row on the Ascent.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Flarpswitch

So, that is what the rear seat in our Ascent looks like. Honestly, I haven't seen it in almost four years. There was one time that the dog had to give up his second row seat to sit back there. He wasn't happy. He didn't like riding in back of my 2017 BRZ with the seat back up or down either. He liked to ride shotgun in front for trips to the dog park. The rear seat in the BRZ is not fit for man nor beast. If there was a decent kit to yard out the rear seat, I would. The same for the third row on the Ascent.

We have had the Ascent for a couple of months and used the rear seat about 6 times so far. I resisted going that big saying "we will never have 7 people in it" but was wrong.

[mr.whiskers]

Originally Posted by Ohio Enthusiast

I'm 5'11" as well, and my kids are 10, 8 and 4. The 8 years old sits behind me in a booster, and when I'm driving with just the 10 years old she sits behind me as well (the passenger side rear has a child seat for the 4 years old). This works fine for up to a 20 minute drive. For longer trips we use the minivan.

I think that you would be fine for a few years, but once your boys start really growing it would be a squeeze. Still, it depends on how tolerant they are in the car - if it's a short drive that's done infrequently they should be fine. I can fit behind myself, with just a lack of foot room and head room making it less than ideal.

Hmm

I am only 1" taller, but with my comfortable driving position even my 4 year old has no room where to put her feet behind me. I actually have to bring the seat forward and drive in an uncomfortable position if I need to take my kids along with me. Mind you I have done it, but only for like 10 minutes. Otherwise we also have a minivan to drive the kids on longer trips like OP. Driving them to school everyday... might get annoying.

I would suggest to take your kids to the dealership, hopefully they would have a car there all can get in and see if this is doable. Otherwise its all guesswork and even with same height people have different proportions

[Ohio Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by mr.whiskers

I am only 1" taller, but with my comfortable driving position even my 4 year old has no room where to put her feet behind me. I actually have to bring the seat forward and drive in an uncomfortable position if I need to take my kids along with me.

...

Otherwise its all guesswork and even with same height people have different proportions

Absolutely right. Torso/legs proportions and preferred driving position matter a lot. No replacement to sitting in one, adjusting the seat for you and seeing how much room is left behind the driver.

[X25]

For such a long daily commute, anything besides EV no longer makes sense in my opinion. You'd save so much money on gas, perhaps you could even consider buying a BRZ on the top.

If you want cheap, Chevy Bolt EVs are very affordable at the moment. You should also consider Teslas if you have the budget and not need it urgently.

And yes, EVs are very fun to drive, more fun than anything else for street use with their instant power and amzing handling due to low center of gravity..

[nick112288]

Originally Posted by X25

For such a long daily commute, anything besides EV no longer makes sense in my opinion. You'd save so much money on gas, perhaps you could even consider buying a BRZ on the top.

If you want cheap, Chevy Bolt EVs are very affordable at the moment. You should also consider Teslas if you have the budget and not need it urgently.

And yes, EVs are very fun to drive, more fun than anything else for street use with their instant power and amzing handling due to low center of gravity..

Other than a Lighting, not many EV's would work for me. My driveway is too steep for anything that sit's remotely close to the ground, and I'm not installing a 240 charing service on the front extrior of my house to charge an EV.

But none of it matters anyway unless I find a BRZ on a lot that either a dealer ordered and hasn't some how been snatched up, or someone backs out of one coming in. Spoke to dealers around here and no new orders on BRZs, and no idea of when orders will resume.

[soundman98]

Originally Posted by X25

...And yes, EVs are very fun to drive, more fun than anything else for street use with their instant power and amzing handling due to low center of gravity..

that is not at all how i felt about test driving a nissan leaf.

[X25]

Originally Posted by soundman98

that is not at all how i felt about test driving a nissan leaf.

You should not judge EVs by test driving a pre-Tesla era vehicle: )

[nick112288]

Originally Posted by X25

You should not judge EVs by test driving a pre-Tesla era vehicle: )

Technically the first Tesla came out in 2008, Leaf came out in 2010...........

[soundman98]

it was a 2nd gen leaf...

i also will never drive or own a tesla out of principle. i will not bow to the holy musk.

[X25]

I don't know who cares about Leaf anymore besides Carlos Ghosn who had to flee Japan in a box.

Anyway, Teslas have amazing engineering. Just because its CEO has mental issues, you won't consider it? Haha : )

Fine, take a look at Ioniq5, or BMW i4, or even Bolt with its torque steering FWD; they all have amazing handling (Bolt is OK) and are so much fun to drive, thanks to physics : )

I use a '19 Corvette Z06/Z07 manual and '23 BRZ manual for road course track, but sorry, EVs are so much more fun for street use; there's no competition in my opinion.