2 kids in an Abarth?
Discussion
Looking at replacing my wife's car soon and she likes the look of the 500 so obiously I want an Abarth.
Question is, how easy is it to get a couple of kids in the back?
Typically she collects one of the kids (2) from nursery each day. The exception is one day per week when she has to drop off and collect both, which means - depending on timings - getting two into the back.
My eldest is 3 and a half and can get himself into the seat but not buckle himself in.
Too much faff and I should look for a 4 door? Anyone have relevant experience?
Thanks in advance
Question is, how easy is it to get a couple of kids in the back?
Typically she collects one of the kids (2) from nursery each day. The exception is one day per week when she has to drop off and collect both, which means - depending on timings - getting two into the back.
My eldest is 3 and a half and can get himself into the seat but not buckle himself in.
Too much faff and I should look for a 4 door? Anyone have relevant experience?
Thanks in advance
No relevant experience but I'd say you'd be ok so long as it had the standard seats as opposed to sabelts, the area where you may find it awkward is with boot space, I'd recommend taking along anything that you are likely to want to fit in when you are at the dealers to check it fits. The boot really isn't too bad but with kids it just might not be big enough.
Edited by DELTAHPE on Saturday 13th October 12:20
I admire your optimism but with my experience I’d be very cautious.
Two main issues.
The seat mechanism itself if utterly useless. Many a time I’ve pulled the handle to flip the seat forward and it doesn’t slide as well. Cue having to put the “package” down (kid, bag or whatever..) to have to manually use the lever under the seat to move forward and then wrestle the back rest into place because it’s then jammed folded.
Usually when it’s raining.
Second issue is the space itself. My daughter is 5 and unless the passenger seat is fully forward she hasn’t got enough leg room. The seat itself is very upright and with the intrusion of the suspension pillar her full car seat when younger didn’t fit properly. She’s ok now on a booster type seat but I’d “try before you buy” if it’s a younger child with a proper seat.
Also, the shape of the front seat (not sabelt- I’ve no idea with those) is such that the seats squabs are quite tall and as a consequence the car seat doesn’t fit properly there either. Even her booster seat is to wide to lay flat on the seat cushion.
Beware wife doesn’t do what I do- sorry can’t take the kids they don’t fit in the car!
Two main issues.
The seat mechanism itself if utterly useless. Many a time I’ve pulled the handle to flip the seat forward and it doesn’t slide as well. Cue having to put the “package” down (kid, bag or whatever..) to have to manually use the lever under the seat to move forward and then wrestle the back rest into place because it’s then jammed folded.
Usually when it’s raining.
Second issue is the space itself. My daughter is 5 and unless the passenger seat is fully forward she hasn’t got enough leg room. The seat itself is very upright and with the intrusion of the suspension pillar her full car seat when younger didn’t fit properly. She’s ok now on a booster type seat but I’d “try before you buy” if it’s a younger child with a proper seat.
Also, the shape of the front seat (not sabelt- I’ve no idea with those) is such that the seats squabs are quite tall and as a consequence the car seat doesn’t fit properly there either. Even her booster seat is to wide to lay flat on the seat cushion.
Beware wife doesn’t do what I do- sorry can’t take the kids they don’t fit in the car!
Gmlgml said:
Second issue is the space itself. My daughter is 5 and unless the passenger seat is fully forward she hasn’t got enough leg room. The seat itself is very upright and with the intrusion of the suspension pillar her full car seat when younger didn’t fit properly. She’s ok now on a booster type seat but I’d “try before you buy” if it’s a younger child with a proper seat.
Your daughter must have very long legs! I’m 6’3” and still manage to fit someone of 5’6” behind me (in fact I’ve had 2 adults in the back a few times. Only short journeys of 30-40min though. A few times I’ve had the niece and nephew in the back of mine on booster seats with no issues although they’re at an age where they clip in themselves with no issues.
I can fit a full grown adult in the back so no issues with space, though you need to slide the seat forward a little.
The main issue is the front seat mechanism. It is a little stiff and to get them to slide you need to lock the backrests fully forward. There is also no memory on the passenger seat. You then need to pull the handle to release the backrest again to put it back up. It can be a little awkward.
On the plus side, folding the back seats down is really easy so the practicality is good in other ways.
The main issue is the front seat mechanism. It is a little stiff and to get them to slide you need to lock the backrests fully forward. There is also no memory on the passenger seat. You then need to pull the handle to release the backrest again to put it back up. It can be a little awkward.
On the plus side, folding the back seats down is really easy so the practicality is good in other ways.
Friend managed fine with 2 kids in a regular 500 for a few years.
Older one forward facing behind driver. Depending on age of the younger one, a baby seat that can be dropped on to a base, or a swivelling seat like a Recaro zero.1 or Maxi Cosi Axiss. Front passenger seat may need to be a bit forward, but then it needs to be for a rear-facing seat in most cars.
Definitely more awkward than a 5-door hatch but perfectly doable if that's a car you really want.
Older one forward facing behind driver. Depending on age of the younger one, a baby seat that can be dropped on to a base, or a swivelling seat like a Recaro zero.1 or Maxi Cosi Axiss. Front passenger seat may need to be a bit forward, but then it needs to be for a rear-facing seat in most cars.
Definitely more awkward than a 5-door hatch but perfectly doable if that's a car you really want.
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