Dads and supercars

[Lambojim]

With the assistance of young Dion, I'm going to buy a Ford GT or a 575. I currently take my 2 year old son out in the 997 cab and he loves it - his mum isn't mad keen on the idea of him being in the front seat of a car (He already hates her KN...)- I know a number of you have young kids - is the front of say, a 575, as safe as the back of a 997?

Are there any specific seats that you'd recommend?

For non-dads, I apologise for one of the most boring threads ever

James

[Mosi]

I was once told my an insurance assessor friend that 80% of car crash fatalities was the front seat passenger.

A bit worrying really

[ferrarispider]

Ya also better check the front air bag safty. I dont recall the 575 having an on of switch. These can cause the most problems to children.

Edited by ferrarispider on Saturday 1st September 14:17

[traxx]

ferrarispider said:

Ya also better check the front air bag safty. I dont recall the 575 having an on of switch. These can cause the most problems to children.

Edited by ferrarispider on Saturday 1st September 14:17

Won't matter, the airbag thing is only a problem with rear facing kids seats, at two the kid will be in front facing seats so will be fine

[ferrarispider]

OK, got that thanks.

[andysv]

been taking my son out since he was two (now 5) in a graco child seat, needs a cusion underneath it to fit in a diablo nicely. mine has no passenger airbag but i'm told push the seat as far back as poss if you can't turn the bag off, not sure if that's official info!

[paul0843]

its possible to turn airbag off on 575..mines for sale...plug plug...red with mega mega spec

[Cooky]

even though we have rear seats in the cerb my lad (5) loves to sit in the front, he has one of those suction-cup steering wheels with indicators and a squeaker...what a buzz for the pair of us when we go a hooning.

[F355spider]

Biggest problem so far has been finding a suitable booster that fits correctly. Be worth investigating this ....particulartly a problem if it has the carbon sports seats fitted.

[andysv]

none of the seats fit properly, i put a cushion in between the bolsters to hold the seat in place, next i'm gona try a polystyrene based booster and shape it to fit.

[Robertf]

The airbag CAN be a problem for front facing kids if they are too near it.

Its been a while since I worked in the motor industry, but I believe it tends to be a bigger problem with cars that have fullsize airbags (US style) rather than the smaller euro SRS bags. Personally I wouldn't put a kid in the front without being able to turn the bag off. At 2 yrs old, he'll have a full seat harness so the bag would be irrelevant anyway.

And a friend of mine whos a fireman also told me the thing about more fatalities in the front seat as well.

Not trying to put you off, my daughter has been in the front of my old Maser 3200 loads of times, but always with the bag deactivated.

[tony h]

verdi fabbed a car seat for one of customers- pretty sure it was to fit f40 seat

[F355GTS]

I have a feeling the Airbag Off feature on a 575 was a chargeable option

[bromers2]

tony h said:

verdi fabbed a car seat for one of customers- pretty sure it was to fit f40 seat

I remember Verdi doing a middle seat for a 355, 3 up front would be good.

[traxx]

tony h said:

verdi fabbed a car seat for one of customers- pretty sure it was to fit f40 seat

I think I am right in thinking that Andy uses a Porsche kids seat for his two year old in the F40
I've had no problems getting kids seats to fit the Lambo and the 360, but none that I have tried fit well into the 430s race seats

[sjn2004]

bromers2 said:

tony h said:

verdi fabbed a car seat for one of customers- pretty sure it was to fit f40 seat

I remember Verdi doing a middle seat for a 355, 3 up front would be good.

Wouldn't it be illegal to drive with an extra as the car is only licensed as a 2 seater?(also invalidate insurance).

[London GT3]

My children weren't as young as yours but they have always loved being in the Caterham, a Porsche GT3RS and now a Ford GT. My wife has refused to go in the first two because she says that if she did she is sure that she wouldn't let the kids go in them !!!

If your two year old wants a ride in the GT just to be sure that he/she likes it then give me a call. I am just north of London.