At last a baby seat that fits like a glove for your 996

[After Eight]

After trying many makes and a strong desire to find a seat that reclines (so the little one can fall asleep with the head droping forward) and with a double strap harness to stop her climbing out. The Mamas & Papas Pro-Tec is the answer for just £115. Fit's perfectly and has won awards for saftey/praticality.
To save another few inches I'm considering removing the back seat uprights, this would help the reclining action have van even better angle. Has anyone done this?

[Barry_J]

I use the Pro-tec too - fits great in the back of a 996. see this earlier thread:
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=48&h=0&t=195122

I haven't removed the uprights but if you do, I'd be interested to know if you get any extra room and are therefore able to let the front passenger seat go back a bit more?

[stouffer]

I've just bought a Recaro baby seat (£115.00) which fits nicely and snuggly in the back of my 993. It doesn't recline though and even if it did, I'm not sure there would be enough leg room once tilted back.
Does yours or do you need the front seat far forward?

I road tested it at the weekend and it's perfect when awake, but 'floppy head' syndrome when the little guy is asleep!

If you find out about the removal of the back panel, can you let me know.
Regards,
lee

[After Eight]

Barry, it was thanks to you I found out about the pro tec in the 1st place so I owe you a drink! If time allows I'll remove the back seat uprights to see how secure the seats become at the weekend. From looking at the positioning of the back seats they do make the baby seats sit more upright than they need too. I also have a Recaro Start for my 5 year old so I can also check the effect on that one too. When you recline the Pro-tec, it does take up more space but when the baby is asleep you can cross the legs together, bit like a yoga position which means the passenger seat doesn't need to moved forward.

[Barry_J]

After Eight said:

Barry, it was thanks to you I found out about the pro tec

No problem; thats the great thing about forums. The problem for me is that my son prefers the driver's seat...

[After Eight]

Great news!

I've just managed to remove the back seat uprights. And it does save a good 4-5" of extra leg space for both the Recaro Start and The Mama & Papa's Pro-tec. They are also just as stable as before.

To remove the seats you need to pop off the small centre cover between the seat, it's hinged to the seat so it pops up with a flat screwdriver. You need an allen key to unscrew the bolt, The each seat side has another black plastic cover that also pops off with a flat head screw driver. A larger allen key is needed to remove the bolt from both sides, then the 2 seats just slide up and out togther. Note, Due to the design you can not leave 1 seat back in, either they both come out or both stay in. This job takes less than 10 minutes.

Cheers

[Barry_J]

Thanks for letting us know. I'm surprised that you gained 4-5 inches of leg-room. Is it really that much?

Also, is the Pro-tec still able to recline fully?

[After Eight]

The saving of 4-5" is for the protec as the design of the seat back leans more at the top than the bottom part, once you take the seat backs away the bottom part of the protect now sits flush, allowing the top part to lean much more. I'd say 3" for the Recaro.

[911fan]

Does that mean that the M&P baby seats etc. are just as good as the Porsche own-brand seats?


Also, would be grateful if anyone can recommend other roof boxes since the Porsche ones are too small.

[After Eight]

I nearly brought the Porsche baby seat, but it doesn't recline, and when I tried my 21 month old in the seat she hated the extra big lap cushion you must place over their legs to hold the seat belt in place, also it didn't recline and cost £425!, even if it cost £115 like the Mama's & Papa's I'd definately go for the pro-tec every time. I really needed the recline function otherwise you can forget about going on long journeys as it's not fair for your young child to flop forward whenever you brake.

[berryd]

Thanks for the previous info, does anyone know if the Mamas & Papas Protec seat fits as well in the back of the 997 Cabriolet?? I am assuming that the rear seat is removed in the same manner as After Eight described...

[After Eight]

Berryd

It will work just the same, the only difference is coupe owners can gain extra reclining action by wedging something under the front bottom base of the baby seat. This provides a few more inches of recline, which cab owners can't get as the seat uprights are more vertical for the hood. It will still recline ok the normal way. One good tip I had for extra front legroom when the baby is in the back is: When your baby is awake keep the seat in its normal position., when the baby falls asleep, carefully cross the babys legs (bit like the yoga position) then recline the seat right back. Obviously as the seat reclines it gets closer to the front seat and unless the front seat is well forward you'll squash the babies legs, so by crossing them over you can still keep the front seat quite far back.