well I have my first complaint with my 2000 Jetta.. I bought a rear facing car seat for my newborn son and without moving the front seats up quite aways I can't get the car seat in.. Does anyone have any ideas or experince with this? Maybe I am missing something? Any help would be appreciated.
Baby car seat
- Thread starter STIFFLER
- Start date
owr084
Top Post Dawg
Since you can't move the seats forward, have you tried reclining the seatback to a more upright position? Do your seats have the "jack handle" on the side to raise or lower the seat? Try lowering it...
rdkern
Top Post Dawg
- Joined
- May 21, 2004
- Location
- Humboldt Co CA
- TDI
- Passat 1997 silver (sold after 11 years), Jetta 2000 atlantic blue
or try raising it... depending on what is catching.
lildevildee
Veteran Member
Yeah, baby seats have a huge footprint. If it's a carrier, we used to slide the seat all the way forward, get the carrier put in and the handle all the way down, then slide the seat back. A pain, but doable. Forward-facing makes it a bit better.
The new style Jettas have a lot more room in them making it much easier to get a carseat in. That may not be an option though!
The new style Jettas have a lot more room in them making it much easier to get a carseat in. That may not be an option though!
rdkern
Top Post Dawg
- Joined
- May 21, 2004
- Location
- Humboldt Co CA
- TDI
- Passat 1997 silver (sold after 11 years), Jetta 2000 atlantic blue
What's a couple extra $10k's between friends.... or purchaser and dealer.......
Yea, could not be an option. LDD - you can get the childseat back there? When my kids were that small, child seats weren't available, and seatbelts were just being required. What a difference a few decades makes.
Yea, could not be an option. LDD - you can get the childseat back there? When my kids were that small, child seats weren't available, and seatbelts were just being required. What a difference a few decades makes.
I never seem to have any issues getting either of the car seats in, we have a newborn 2.5 weeks old and he have an evenflow infant carrier with the base, instead of having the seat all the way back as my wife enjoys we moved it ahead a couple notches and tilted the front seat forward slightly. and on my side the booster seat fits well just having issues with the 3 year old and his feet on occasion when he decides to cick a little.
mparker326
Veteran Member
We had the same issues with our Golf and decided to buy a Passat.STIFFLER said:
supton
Top Post Dawg
Same problem too. Good thing I'm short. It was nice when we could spin his seat around though.
WeekendWrench
Veteran Member
Plenty of room in the passat for both rear/forward facing seats. Did see a jetta in the parking lot...they put the rear-facing carrier in the center..its a bit safer there as well as being able to go between the bucket seats in front.
Same problem here. We ended up putting the seat(rear-facing) on the passenger side in the back, with the front passenger seat pushed all the way forward. My wife has been sitting in back for 8 months now. There is NO way anyone with legs can sit in the front passenger seat of my Jetta! Once my son reaches the age/weight to be able to face forward, space in the car will be much better.STIFFLER said:
greengeeker
Vendor
Yikes! I purchased the Jetta in hopes of keeping it for a long time (ie. through several kids) looks like this is going to be difficult. Does anyone have pics of a rear-facing carseat in a Jetta? It may help me to convince the wife we're going to need to upgrade Thanks
Does anyone have pics of a rear-facing carseat in a Jetta? It may help me to convince the wife we're going to need to upgrade Thanks
supton
Top Post Dawg
If you wait a couple weeks I might be able to get a pic...
While I like the LATCH system, I find the leather seats (in my car) really stiff and harder to work with. I have to put the seat in the middle of the car, flip the seat bottom up, attach the innermost attachement, drop the seat bottom, locate the kiddie seat and then do the dance to get the last anchor in. Then open the hatch and remove the privacy screen, and attach the third attachment. Not quite as easy as a sedan.
Of course we have a Britax Marathon, it's a nice seat. Had the Evenflo Triumph, hated it. The Marathon is probably the bigger of the two, which doesn't help. The rear facing infant was a Graco something-or-another, which I don't recall being too much of a problem.
While I like the LATCH system, I find the leather seats (in my car) really stiff and harder to work with. I have to put the seat in the middle of the car, flip the seat bottom up, attach the innermost attachement, drop the seat bottom, locate the kiddie seat and then do the dance to get the last anchor in. Then open the hatch and remove the privacy screen, and attach the third attachment. Not quite as easy as a sedan.
Of course we have a Britax Marathon, it's a nice seat. Had the Evenflo Triumph, hated it. The Marathon is probably the bigger of the two, which doesn't help. The rear facing infant was a Graco something-or-another, which I don't recall being too much of a problem.
02PSDV8
Veteran Member
Join the club.... Buy a bigger car like I had to do. I also have a y2k Jetta and a 2 month old. My wife can't ride in the front passenders seat due to the baby seat being behind her. Not to mention she's only 5' 4" tall. It's a major bummer as a new family we can't go out in the trusty TDI any more. Acually, I don't feel very safe with my daughter in the back as the car is so small. I hate to think of all the what if's..... I acually bought a loaded Honda Ody for the wife. Perfect family car for the long trips but I still wish my TDI was a little bigger. I only put her in my car if I have to or it's a very short trip.STIFFLER said:
02PSDV8
Veteran Member
I could post a few ..... It isn't pretty.greengeeker said:Yikes! I purchased the Jetta in hopes of keeping it for a long time (ie. through several kids) looks like this is going to be difficult.
Brock_from_WI
Veteran Member
We have three in the back of the wagon. The rear facing seat was behind the passenger side, booster seat (just the bottom part) in the middle and regular car seat behind the driver. Then once the baby was big enough we went to baby seat face forward behind the driver, booster still in the middle and car seat behind the passenger.
We did shop around checking out seats and found the narrowest seats and the rear facing seats that didn't stick as far forward. As it is the side seats in back are sort of overlapping the booster seat in the center, but it works.
Of course we have another one on the way, due Dec 22, so were not going to fit in the wagon any more.
Someone on here had a 4th rear facing seat way in the back of the wagon attached to the latch anchor points from the back seats. He said his kids fought as to who got to sit back there. I might try this for those just in case moments, but would never intentionally travel that way, like if my wife’s van broke down or got stuck somehow. It’s funny considering when I was a kid my brother, sister and I rode in the back of our station wagon with all the seat folded down in our sleeping bags rolling around, playing and sleeping while we drove down the highway.
We did shop around checking out seats and found the narrowest seats and the rear facing seats that didn't stick as far forward. As it is the side seats in back are sort of overlapping the booster seat in the center, but it works.
Of course we have another one on the way, due Dec 22, so were not going to fit in the wagon any more.
Someone on here had a 4th rear facing seat way in the back of the wagon attached to the latch anchor points from the back seats. He said his kids fought as to who got to sit back there. I might try this for those just in case moments, but would never intentionally travel that way, like if my wife’s van broke down or got stuck somehow. It’s funny considering when I was a kid my brother, sister and I rode in the back of our station wagon with all the seat folded down in our sleeping bags rolling around, playing and sleeping while we drove down the highway.
Brock_from_WI
Veteran Member
Oh I should add way back when we only had one child, rear facing he went in the center in the rear, fit nicely between the two front seats. Actually even when we only had two the rear facing went in the center. But once we had three we couldn't get them to fit without the booster being in the middle.
supton
Top Post Dawg
If you shop around, you might be able to find a smaller car seat--it's better to spend more on a car seat (probably safer too) than far more on a new car payment ... Maybe borrow some seats to try out, see if there is a store that will allow you to try before buy.
owr084
Top Post Dawg
I grew up with all three versions of the "wayback" seats: rear facing (Chevy), sideways (Ford), and forward facing (Olds). The funny thing was that in all three wagons, the wayback seats all had more legroom than the backseat of a JettaBrock_from_WI said:
scott_the_sock
Veteran Member
The least the store could do is have someone walk out with you with the floor model to set it in the car to make sure it fits.supton said:
KansasTDI
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2005
- Location
- Overland Park, KS
- TDI
- 2003 Black Jetta Sedan, 5M SOLD NEW 2003 VW Beetle TDI 5M 95000 miles
We had two versions of rear facing car seats and one version of the forward facing car seat. All worked. Place the rear facing seat behind the passinger seat and move the front seat forward and tilt forward. It will fit. My wife is short and could ride in the front but she rides in the back seat to keep our baby company.
The issue of more money equals better safety for your child is a complicated one. Some advertising is based alot on fear. I always thought that a side impact (t-bone) accident to my car could result in my death or serious injury. It would depend alot on the other vehicle (Big SUV/truck vs. small car) and speed of that vehicle at impact (30 mph vs. 50 mph +). I ackowledge the risk of injury to my child is far greater than the risk to me. A baby with weak neck muscles is going to be at risk from this type of accident. Some expensive car seats make claims of greater lateral support to prevent injury in this type of collision. Have these claims been tested? If your child is very small compared to the seat size versus a much larger child?
The issue of more money equals better safety for your child is a complicated one. Some advertising is based alot on fear. I always thought that a side impact (t-bone) accident to my car could result in my death or serious injury. It would depend alot on the other vehicle (Big SUV/truck vs. small car) and speed of that vehicle at impact (30 mph vs. 50 mph +). I ackowledge the risk of injury to my child is far greater than the risk to me. A baby with weak neck muscles is going to be at risk from this type of accident. Some expensive car seats make claims of greater lateral support to prevent injury in this type of collision. Have these claims been tested? If your child is very small compared to the seat size versus a much larger child?
greengeeker
Vendor
Bringing this back up to see if anyone has had a chance to snap some pics of a car seat (or seats) in a TDI. Thanks
ANGELofDEBT
Well-known member
possible solution, if you only have one kid; place the seat in the middle of the backseat. That's what I was forced to do as my wife and I are both tall. It works out.
Brock_from_WI
Veteran Member
Well here are out three in the back, not the best shot but you get the idea.
Oh we also use that plastic clear film usually used on carpet to protect it during open houses on the back of the front seats so the kids have their feet against that rather then the cloth seats. It slows comes off and we usually have to re apply it every 2-3 months.
Oh we also use that plastic clear film usually used on carpet to protect it during open houses on the back of the front seats so the kids have their feet against that rather then the cloth seats. It slows comes off and we usually have to re apply it every 2-3 months.
greengeeker
Vendor
Thanks Brock. It doesn't seem that bad with them facing forward, but you also have your seats forward a ways (?). Great idea on the plastic.
Brock_from_WI
Veteran Member
In that shot both front seats are set so the front of them is at the same forward plane as the stick shift in neutral. My wife usually has hers a bit further forward, but right now she is 9 months pregnant so it's further back like mine. The kids have to climb across the seats or be lifted in to get in that way. If we move the passenger seat all the way forward the two bigger kids can climb in by themselves.
greengeeker
Vendor
Just wondering if anyone could let me know which car seats work in the back of a Jetta and which ones don't? We need to start figuring this outsupton said:
(finally!)GStreetE
Member
car seat
After visiting the local police station, and talking with the specialist at the hospital we bought a graco car seat. We found that most of the really expensive seats did not do better (not worse either) in test crashes than this mid priced seat. We knew ahead of time that the seat was going to be in a jetta so we test drove one just to put the seat in and test it out. The jetta we test drove had latch which is no worse or better than the belt method, just easier to install in my opinion.The jetta we bought only had the belt for center position. We use the center position so that we don't need to pull either of the seats way forward(and being the safest place), thought the wife does tend to sit in back to keep baby company.
After visiting the local police station, and talking with the specialist at the hospital we bought a graco car seat. We found that most of the really expensive seats did not do better (not worse either) in test crashes than this mid priced seat. We knew ahead of time that the seat was going to be in a jetta so we test drove one just to put the seat in and test it out. The jetta we test drove had latch which is no worse or better than the belt method, just easier to install in my opinion.The jetta we bought only had the belt for center position. We use the center position so that we don't need to pull either of the seats way forward(and being the safest place), thought the wife does tend to sit in back to keep baby company.
Griz419
Well-known member
I have a y2k jetta with a rear facing Graco seat. If you put it in the middle you can wedge it between the seats and there is absolutely no movement of the car seat. The seats should be at their lowest position, and I didn't have to adjust the tilt compared to where we usually have it set. I'm 6'1" and my wife is 5'8" plenty of leg room. It is a very safe feeling having the seat in the most central place of the car too, so, God forbid we were hit on the side, the door would not touch my son. You will always have to sacrifice a little when trying to put a car seat in just about every vehicle other than a mini-van, even most SUV's.