How well does a car seat (rear facing for now) fit in the back of a WRX? I'm looking at an STi to replace my stang because nobody can sit in the passenger seat with a car seat in back. Plus the AWD would be nice around here. I'd like to be able to take my wife n kid in the car with me!

thanks

I have one in the center of the back of my WRX. My wife usually sits in the back with our baby. It's a little tight but OK.

It really depends on the size of the carseat. For my son we used one of the inexpensive, simple carrier/carseats and still my wife had to pull the passenger seat up till her knees were in the dash. Oh, she is 5ft 6 by the way so its not like she is tall either. We definately couldn't fit her larger 0 to 80lb carseat in there rear facing, it just wouldn't fit. When my son reached 20 lbs, which was the limit on the carrier, we bought a 0 to 40lb seat to go in forward facing and thats how it has been ever since. Now we are expecting our second child so I doubt we will all be riding in my car as a family, guess we will stick to her intrepid. Hope this helps you out.

:confused: I've tried our rear-facing car seat behind the driver's seat and I only had to move it forward one notch from all the way back. Putting 2 kids in the back should be no problem at all.

I got more room than my previous Integra and Mustang. Plus the 4 door makes it easier to get the baby in and out of the car.

I had a Graco infant carrier (rear facing) in there for a while (in the center) - since I ride with the seat all the way back it was a little tight, but worked ok. Now I have a regular full-size car seat (an alpha-omega or something like that) and it fits fine, but it is front facing (also in the center position).

I just installed my Graco rear facing seat. Had to go in the center or we had no room at all. Works great in center though.

Ditto on the rear-facing infant seat in both the center and offcenter positions. We even crammed two small adults back there with it for 1/2 hour at a time.

tlatoani,
Actually I just went through the same thing, I have a Probe(no backseat other than asthetic. I test drove the '04 Mach 1 and the '04 STi. The Mach 1 had loads of power but little direction to put that power to use. Don't get me wrong, it was great in a straight line, just DON'T turn. I'm a Mustang fan from way back, but the '04 STi drove unbelievable(go-kart like) and could fit the whole family(one forward seat and one rear facing). AWD, four doors, and a real back seat for the kids, no comparison! The only thing is if you make the buy, look for winter tires the stocks are great on dry road - Snow.....? PM me for more info.... :)

LOL screw graco...gerber whatever....JUST GET A REARCO RACING BABY SEAT!!!! they do make em.....I kidd you not. heres the linkhttp://kakimotor.com/web/products.asp?ID=207&CarAccessory=Recaro%20Baby%20Seat

im only kidding.....BTW i just wanted to show you guys somethin true/funny.

Wow, I thought I had seen the whole assortment of baby seats.... lol. Don't worry when the car is not in family mode, no seats are strapped in.... Best of both worlds, can be family mobile or one-man go kart with mo'power. Have a Happy New Year. :)

Rear facing seats should be no problem in the center position.

IMO, get a major brand seat (Graco, EvenFlo, etc) and make sure it's the kind that's easy to adjust. By easy to adjust, I mean you can change the harness strap length without removing the carseat. This sounds like a given, but many seats don't allow you to do this!

thanks for all of the replies...I'm still trying to sell my car so no luck on that front yet. We built up a lot of credit card debt while my wife was in school 3 years ago...and it's finally all gone! I guess it is time to get that "family car" eh? :)

My son is 6 months old now, so before too darn long we'll be getting rid of the rear facing seat. I'm really thinking an STi would be ideal...though I've considered an EVO (don't hit me) but I think I would sorely miss cruise control.

Yup, if your son is 6 months, you'll be getting a forward facing seat soon. You might want to stay away from the "convertible" seats as they don't usually clear the rear pillar when flipping the belt up. I've done much research on this. Good luck and remember the WRX, STi, and EVO are still "compact" cars (another baby would be a squeeze) :)

tlatoani,
We have two kids and plan on using the STi as our second family car. As gr8-wrx stated it is considered compact but doable with a family. The 'Stang really is not, can be done but mannn I wouldn't want to put the kids back there too often(tight quarters).
The 2001 Mustang Bullit you have should not be a problem moving(sweet ride), I would recommend listing at the following sites -

http://www.imboc.com/
http://forums.stangnet.com/forumdisplay.php?f=85
http://www.mustang.org
http://www.hemmings.com

There is still a strong draw for the Bullit cars, my only recommendation would be to sell it(if your still going to) prior to April '04. The 40th anniversary on April 17th 2004 is rumored to also be the release of the new body style(Ford may show it in the Jan. 4th North American show....?). The car looks(atleast from spy shots I've seen) outstanding -> but still no back seat and rear-wheel slide. This new body style may hurt the values of the previous('99 - 04), since most mustangers may want the new body style(more retro). Ford is also suggesting the bring back of the Shelby for '06, etc.... Carroll is under contract, SVT is taking a year off to prepare for SOMETHING new. The more Ford does that is off-the-wall with the new body style may hurt the unique-ness of your Bullit. Jeff Ford and Mustang Monthly would be another one to contact, Bullit junky. If you need help moving the car feel free to PM the information and I'll send it through mustang channels I know.
Coming from someone who has always been into Mustangs, the STi is a drive you can only put off for so long. I'm beyond hooked on this car! Not an SUV or mini-van to hold a lot of cargo, but fun and can support the family. Oh yeah, for strollers once your son or daughter is setting up pretty strong - check out McLaren strollers. Aluminum(light weight) and compact really tight(Umbrella style). The full size tank strollers take up sooo much room. Best prices are online of course. BabyRUs should have some also. How many of us would have guessed we be talking about this..... Hehe. Have Fun! :lol:

No matter how hard I tried I can not put forward facing graco car seat tight in 04 WRX wagon. I used l.a.t.c.h. system and belt, it still moves to much horizontally. I had the same problem in my old altima, and had no such problems at all in several american cars. It makes me think that there is some big difference in construction of seats between japanese and american cars.

My 18 months baby touches front seat with her feet when she is in carseat and my wife sits in the front. And STi has a liitle less room on the back than WRX, afaik. Probably new legacy will be a better deal for family car if you can wait and do not mind buying legacy.

Originally posted by olegkin
No matter how hard I tried I can not put forward facing graco car seat tight in 04 WRX wagon. I used l.a.t.c.h. system and belt, it still moves to much horizontally. I had the same problem in my old altima, and had no such problems at all in several american cars. It makes me think that there is some big difference in construction of seats between japanese and american cars.

My 18 months baby touches front seat with her feet when she is in carseat and my wife sits in the front. And STi has a liitle less room on the back than WRX, afaik. Probably new legacy will be a better deal for family car if you can wait and do not mind buying legacy.

If possible see if someone who is certified for installing seats help you out. I'm able to put the seat in very tight (I don't use the LATCH anchors). When I try to move the seat horizontally, the car moves instead.

Originally posted by gr8-wrx
If possible see if someone who is certified for installing seats help you out. I'm able to put the seat in very tight (I don't use the LATCH anchors). When I try to move the seat horizontally, the car moves instead.

I agree. One of the hospitals here hosts a group that does free help sessions. You drive your car right in to their ambulance garage (it's big) and they help get it in right. I was amazed how much it helped-I'm a fairly technically competent guy.

Originally posted by gr8-wrx
If possible see if someone who is certified for installing seats help you out. I'm able to put the seat in very tight (I don't use the LATCH anchors). When I try to move the seat horizontally, the car moves instead.


Hmm, I will call local police department. Probably they will help with this problem.

Thanks

Originally posted by olegkin
Hmm, I will call local police department. Probably they will help with this problem.

Thanks

I would try the pediatrics dept at a local hospital.

Originally posted by gr8-wrx
If possible see if someone who is certified for installing seats help you out. I'm able to put the seat in very tight (I don't use the LATCH anchors). When I try to move the seat horizontally, the car moves instead.


Thanks for making me think that it is possible to install car seat properly! :) During my last try I figured it out and it is very tight now. The "secret" is very simple - when you press carseat in order to tighten the belt, do not just sit in it. Instead, sit in it on your knees ( with your face looking toward rear window ) and put a lot of pressure on carseat with your knees toward the back of car's seat. This way I tightened additional good 10cm of the belt.
And if I try to move car seat, car moves instead :)

Originally posted by olegkin
Thanks for making me think that it is possible to install car seat properly! :) During my last try I figured it out and it is very tight now. The "secret" is very simple - when you press carseat in order to tighten the belt, do not just sit in it. Instead, sit in it on your knees ( with your face looking toward rear window ) and put a lot of pressure on carseat with your knees toward the back of car's seat. This way I tightened additional good 10cm of the belt.
And if I try to move car seat, car moves instead :)

You might want to consider using a large towel between the carseat and your backseat. I always do this in all my cars that have a carseat installed. My dad didn't do this when he installed a seat we gave him, and the cloth on this chair was rubbed off a bit from the sharp angle in the plastic seat back.