What used car can fit 3 car seats in the back?

Question

Okay, so lots of people have asked this question & get answers like go buy an expedition....I only have about $5000 to spend and need something good on gas mileage. I currently have a 5 (almost 6, but only 36 pounds) 4 (almost 5) and 5 month old. The older ones are in booster seats and the baby is in a regular car seat rearfacing. Please no speeches on not having any more babies, got my tubes tied last week, thanks. I know a chrysler cirrus will work, but just want to have several options to look at...maybe a camry or a malibu...also i am not interested in buying the latest slim new carseats...just a newer bigger car....thanks so much

Answer 1

Look for a midsized car without the hump in middle of back seat. front wheel drive is your best bet.

Nissan : Altima

Saturn : S-Series

Volkswagen : Passat 4dr

Chevrolet : Impala

Honda : Accord

Chevrolet : Lumina

Mazda : 626

Chevrolet : Malibu

Ford : Taurus

Mazda : Protege

Suzuki : Suzuki Forenza

Toyota : Camry

Pontiac : Grand Prix

Mitsubishi : Galant

Pontiac : Grand Am

Dodge : Stratus

Nissan : Maxima

Chrysler : PT Cruiser

just to name a few good luck

Answer 2

What do you think about the 2000's or so Nissan Maxima.  that's a pretty big car and definately not a gus guzzler; i dont know where you live but in calif. they go for around $5K or so. you probably want somethign dependable,  so if you can try and stay away from american cars.  if they're new they're ok but the older they get they're not so reliable.

Answer 3

If you are not at all willing to purchase any new car seat you are quite limited on options, since its actually what car seats you have that matters more than what vehicle. Most vehicles can fit 3 across the backseat, just completely depends upon what car seats you have.

Another thing to consider - you're going to find it incredibly difficult, if not impossible to fit 3 across when 2 are boosters. The reason is that having 3 across leaves zip room for getting in between the seats and buckling up those boosters. It is much easier to have 3 seats across if they are all 5 point harness seats, b/c then they are permanently installed, and you just plop the child in and buckle the harness over them rather than scraping up your hand digging for the buckle on the vehicle seat.  All 3 of your kids would fit easily in to harnessed seats.

What would help is to know what seats you currently have at our house, including all harnessed seats that you have that are not expired.   Most likely the best configuration is going to be putting the baby in the middle and the other 2 outboard. Seats often work better next to each other when they are puzzled - different types of seats going different directions. And keeping them harnessed is safer anyway, experts say keep them harnessed as long as possible.

Compare the following crash tests for your self and see the major difference a harness makes.

Forward facing harness vs. booster: http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_seite...

A lateral test (the third view in) of a harnessed seat: http://www.oeamtc.at/videobox/index.php?...

A deep winged high back booster like a Parkway: http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_seite...

A shallow winged high back booster like the Turbobooster: http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_seite...

And a no back booster: http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_seite...

Crash test video showing a 5-point harnessed seat next to a belt positioning booster

http://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=NxfIuhL3cX...

Quite frankly, I'd keep the Honda Accord you've got - you CAN get 3 across in that vehicle, and you CAN do it for a lot cheaper than $5,000. It just obviously won't work with the seats you currently have.  Here's a pic of 3 across in a '96 Accord - one Radian65 and 2 Britax Marathons. so the opposite of this would definitely work, 2 sunshine Kids Radian65, and a Marathon in the middle. http://www.car-seat.org/showpost.php?p=3...

And a pic of 3 across in a Toyota Camry, including 1 booster that the poster admits was a major pain in the butt to buckle, a Radian65 and a MArathon: http://www.car-seat.org/showpost.php?p=3...

A great seat for fitting 3 across is a Britax MArathon or Fisher Price Safe Voyage Deluxe (made by Britax under Fisher Price name, scaled down no frills Marathon for cheap!) b/c of the base it sits on, it raises the seat high enough up to allow other seats next to it easily. And it will keep your 5 month old harnessed until age 5 or 6 years, so no more car seat buying for him for a good long time!

Here's the advice of a CPST (car seat technician) on getting 3 across: http://www.car-seat.org/showpost.php?p=3...

"1. don't assume.

A big car seat may fit in a 3 across in a small car. Even in a space where a smaller seat did not fit.

A combination of seats that seems impossible may work if you change what goes where. Or what child uses which seat.

Driver and passenger outboard positions are not necessarily identical.

2. Don't be afraid to try something someone else found impossible.

3. Don't measure. The numbers NEVER add up to enough space, but that doesn't mean squat.

4. You may end up with a car seat brand you said you would never buy. (I may have to buy another d@mn Radian in the near future)

5. Don't attempt a 3 across when you are really hungry/tired/annoyed with the world. You'll end up throwing something expensive down on the driveway in disgust.

6. Do keep your sense of humor when the cop stops to ask you what you are doing in your bathrobe throwing stuff around in the driveway at 2 AM.

7.Remember that new seats are almost always cheaper than new cars. Practice saying this in the mirror before breaking the news to your significant other."

another tip - be prepared to purchase a seat, try it in every position with 2 other seats, and possibly have to return it if it won't work. The Radian65 seats or a Graco Nautilus are the ones that will keep your older harnessed so you can actually buckle them in (actually, they can likely buckle themselves at that age, just check their work) and might work for a 3 across. Currently the Nautilus is mainly at Walmart, but amazon.com is shipping them on Feb25th, and some Baby Depots (burlington coat factory's baby dept.) already have them. Babies r Us and other stores should have them by the end of March. $150 for a seat that harnesses to 65lbs then becomes a high back booster then a backless booster. Great value.

Here's 3 across in a Honda Civic, a hard feat to accomplish in such a small car, done with 3 Radian65's: http://www.car-seat.org/showpost.php?p=3... And it would be your exact configuration, 2 forward facing and 1 rear facing.

Here's a link to a whole thread there devoted to getting 3 across in different vehicles: http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t...

So you are obviously not the only one who needs to get 3 across at times, and how dare anyone tell you to 'stop having kids'. However, I'd take whatever is left after buying seats that will fit your current vehicle, and start saving towards something a little more family friendly, or consider a car payment in the future, and use some of it as a down payment. b/c as those kids get older, its going to get harder and harder to work with. My current favorite to recommend is a Mazda5. Its a car that thinks its a minivan. :) Seats 6, 2 in each row (yes a CAR with 3 rows, so cool) has lots of storage space and doors that open like a minivan's.

And keep that baby rear facing AS LONG AS POSSIBLE< up to the maximum on his rear facing convertible. Not only is it safer, but it makes it a lot easier to get 3 across when they are going different directions.

Answer 4

Malibu