Kid seats?
 

Okay I'm new here and as yet don't even own an SVX... but that's going to change shortly.

As with most newbies I have a couple of questions.

First off I have two wonderful kids ages 6 and 1 (you can tell I'm a guy since I didn't list the youngest's age in months :) ). Before I commit and purchase an SVX I would like some feedback from some parents who daily put their children in the back. Right now I have an 02' WRX and even though it is a four door I hate putting the kids in it. I'm 6' 2" and squeezing in past my older daughter to buckle her belt is a pain. The opening on the Impreza's doors are pretty small. My mom's 93' Thunderbird (Uggggh!) is actually pretty user friendly and crawling into the back to secure the rugrats is easy (which is why I originally thought an SVX might work). Also with the use of child seats do they still have some leg room? The WRX doesn't offer much but works... I assume the SVX has more?

Secondly I noticed that the earlier SVXs have the goofy automatic front seatbelts (often times called a mouse) just like my moms T-Bird. I really don't like them and if I could avoid it I would like to. However I am not going to walk away from a really clean 92' or 93' just because I don't like the seatbelts. Can you install the shoulder harness from a later SVX or would I just have to grin and bear it?

Thanks for your time!

Ira

Occasionally I use car seats in the back for my 5 & 3 year old. It is kind of tight back there. I would say that booster seats would work better in the SVX because of the head room clearance.

My Daughter is 18 months and my XT6 is my daily driver. She's been in the SVX about 5 or so times, what can I say I like the XT more!. Key is to find a smaller seat which will work well in there (more straight up kinda like a Seneca Beach or something like that- cheaper one from K-mart but rates very good in every catagory!).

Yes you can install later belts but you need more than just the belts. Do a search I think Nubs has done it and there is a thread about it but not sure.

I have three children two of which are in a Graco booster that has the back included. There is no leg room…but the seats work wonderfully. I drive my SVX everywhere except on weekends. I have a full size conversion van that I love as well. But preferably I use the svx because it’s just a blast to drive. I might recommend if you like speed and fun go for an STS which is a Cadillac with a north-star engine…that is one of my husband’s toys. :D :D

Rigging my granddaughter's seat into my car is a minor pain, but getting her into it and buckled-up is easy. The front passenger seat will come way forward with one flick of the lever. Judging by the indentations left in the back seat leather, a previous owner of my silver clearly had a child seat in place for quite awhile.

There's zero leg room behind the driver's seat in mine 'cos I drive with the seat all the way back.

dcb

I have a 15 month old grand child and since I love to drive my SVX I deal with the seat issues. I do have this big expensive, highly rated, car seat because I felt it was safest....taking it in and out is a huge PITA. (because we have her from early Fridays till late Sundays :rolleyes: ) plus theres NO foot room for her if the passenger is of any size and cant slide the seat up. As far as room, my husband is 6'3" and weights about 240. and he hates getting in and out of my car.( Probably as much as I dislike him riding. ;) )

I have noticed that with the seats all the way back there is only about 2 inches between the back of the front and the rear seat. No kids so I cant say anything more than that. Other than my cousin, about 10yrs, could get her feet onto the floor until I moved my seat forward. I'm only 5'8" so it wasnt all the way back at the time.


I think you might want to consider a Legacy GT. The can be equally enjoyable and have more room in the rear than both the WRX and SVX.

The way I look at it we grew up in small cars without a problem. I can sit comfortably in my SVX at 6'1" with about 5-6 inches in the rear of the driver seat. I can sit in the back seat with nearly enough headroom. It isn't a bad kid hauler in the least but the issue is getting the kids in.

I have a 6 year old and a 4 year. When I had the SVX they loved riding in it, even though there was not much leg room. With my kids it was very hard for me to keep their feet off the back of the seats.:mad: And if there was no front passenger she would want me to slide the seat all way forward. I also found myself sliding the drivers seat forward to an uncomfortable position to give my 4 year old more room. I am only 6' tall, but normal position didn't leave much leg room back there even for a 4 year old. However getting them in and out was fairly easy because the seats slide so far up. The bottom line is that kids can be put in back as long as it is not a real long trip. Adults in back? Forget it.

I totally differ. When I bought mine I climbed back there with my 200lbs 6'1" frame, 2 crutches and a compound fracture of the ankle 5 days after getting out of the hospital. Sure it isn't a freaking PigUV but its still bigger than anything else out there in its class from the day. I fit fine and could sit there for an hour or so if needed. Its all about perceptions. When you grow up in PigUVs you need PigUVs.

Geez with a broken ankle they could have let you ride up front! :D Just the thought of my hubby getting IN the back seat makes me laugh. (he also wears size 15 shoes so his feet would pose a serious problem!) I used to love my "pigUV" as someone called it but since Ive had my svx I havent driven it 25 miles! :D

I was buying the car and won't buy anything that I would expect a friend to sit in that I won't or can't.

I understand. :D I just find it hard to do the baby thing with a large car seat. And since I love to drive my svx I deal with it. :D

Thanks for all of your feedback!

I see that the opinions vary.

I was basically raised in the back of a 1968 Pontiac Le Mans (a cool car by the way) which came stock with zero leg room in back. Almost identical to the Firebirds and Camaros of the day. I guess if I can live with it so can my kids. I don't remember suffering too much.

Probably the easiest solution is to take the car seat(s) with me, put them in the back seat and see what I think.

Ultimately though thanks to you guys I think the decision is made. I see that its do-able in which case by the end of the year I should be driving an SVX. That is if I can unload my Jeep Cherokee.

Anyone wanna buy a Jeep:) ? LOL!

Might want to consult with DreamingofSpeed about carseats, she knows her stuff:) If anything will justify using the svx for transporting your kids, its the fact that its safe. Hell, your surrounded by a built in roll cage of sorts
Rear legroom isnt bad, as long as the driver doesnt do the ghetto lean...but il refrain from a rant on that and state that I spent 14 hours in the back seat of an svx (7 of which accompinied by a driveshaft and some axles) and it wasnt bad. Its not so much that theres alot of legroom as much as it is the seats are comfortable. Headroom is a bit too little in the back, but otherwise it isnt bad

Oh, and swapping the power belts with manual belts is really easy...you just need the belts and the a pillar trim to do it