Short story first:

Well after 10 days in Arizona driving a Taurus, I got home and was dying to take my FD to work. The Taurus was a good 'family' car but slow and mushy handling. Problem is that I need to drop off my 5 mo. old boy at child care in the morning. Decided to read the baby seat manual first and try the next day.

http://www.gracobaby.com/assets/pdfs.../ISPC021BB.pdf

Seems that on pg 24/25 of the above 'Safe Vehicle Belt Systems' that the FD does have the appropriate latch type (Combination Lab/Shoulder Belt with Locking Plate) for the infant seat.

With this in mind, and the fact that I've never seen any law which requires babies to be in the rear seat (it's just recommended, unless you have air bags which can't be turned off), I decided to try it.

Damn, it does fit! Have to recline the seat a little, but it is very snug. More snug than using the lab belt in the rear of my Ram 1500 Extended cab.

Took him the whole 2 mi. to the child care. Nice to see his face for once and he seemed to really enjoy the ride! Havn't tried it since but I think he has sport car in the blood like his dad Doesn't get the same gleen in his eyes when driving the truck.

Let the flaming begin, I'm ready

BTW I have researched on and on about the legality of the front seat, including the federal and state DOT sites.

Have to take a pic of my little bud with the big grin on his face (or is it more like this )

 

You gotta do what you gotta do. I'm just glad you kept the FD even though you have a kid. Thats dedication right there!

 

Your raising that kid right. He'll learn to love that mazda.

 

That's awesome. I wish i had that chance growing up.

Show the pics, I'm sure it would make a great photoshop endorsment for the FD.

 

Here is the best info I could find on the applicable laws. Let me know if you find anything else contrary:

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/CPS/newtips/tip1.html

Many of the other tips on this page also relate to child belt safety.

 

Lol, great idea heh.

 

That is illegal in Hawaii. Don't know about Federal laws though. What year do you have? Don't 94-on have air bags?

 

What do you do if you only have a 2 seater? What do I do if my 'family' car is in the shop. Also most trucks only have front seats. I have a '93 w/o passenger air bags.

 

I don't know...Don't have kids to worry about!! An rx is not the car i would want to tote my kid( if i had one) around in. WRX? There have been some recent changes in the law regarding child seats and ages here lately so i may be wrong. Like i said i have no need to look very deep into it. However i am glad you didn't sell the FD!!

 

My daughter loves riding in my FD. Everytime we go outside she says she wants to ride in daddy's car, not mommy's QX4. The car will be almost 25 years old when she'll be old enough to drive. Should I keep it?

 

glad to see i'm not the only one that had to do it. eyes lit up like christmas tree's

 

hehe my friend does the same thing in his miata

 

Keep it? Yes. Let your daughter drive it? No. You'd be putting your two most prized possesions in a very precarious situation. Don't let your daughter drive it.

 

Just for curiosity, BigIslandSevens...I don't suppose you can point to the law text that makes that illegal in Hawaii? I don't see how it would be possible to make it illegal, frankly. So, you have a 2-seater car, and then you have a kid...suddenly its illegal for you to drive him/her anywhere without buying a new car? That doesn't seem right.

About the child seat fitting...our older seat fit just fine. She's 5 now and we got a booster seat. Generally those are smaller, but this thing is a monster. I think technically it will still fit, but damn...its such a PITA now I'm hoping I don't have to do it anymore.

jds

 

Yep, I agree with this. It is legal to put a child seat in a truck...should be legal in any 2 seater.

Trucks with airbags have to have a switch for the passenger side, I think. What about other 2 seaters with airbags??

 

I know they have to have a switch now...not sure about when the passenger side bags first came out. My FD is a '93, so no passenger side airbag at all. I got a few funny looks from clueless parents at the daycare...I just told 'em what do you mean? It IS the back seat!

jds

 

My baby boy is due in a month.

I thought about boltin one of those Badass, Simpson Baby Racing Seats to the frame in between the seats. But the moms aint having it.
Maybe when he's old enough Ill try to undo my air bags and let him ride up front like that.

 

i dont see how it could be illegal to put a child in a 2 seater car. though if you do have an airbag, i would most def. disable it.

 

Nope, too lazy to look it up cause i don't have kids and don't really care. My girl is a family law lawyer and saw the post and made a comment. If you would feel better you can look it up on the internet to prove me wrong! As I said there have been many changes in these laws out here in th elast couple years so it's hard to keep track of. Geezz.... Like i was bashing the guy or something! I think it's cool he kept the car.As long as the kid is in no harm i don't personaly see a problem. But if you do something to hurt your child cause you don't want to sell one car to get another then you deserve to be hung!! ( not saying he's doing this) Sorry to dissapoint you with no law site!

 

.....be in my boat. I have twin boys that are 3yrs. No way I could get in 2 seats!!!

 

Boy do I need to teach you guys everything

A REAL car guy Daddy has to use the BEST seat in the car guy industry.

Introducing the Recaro Baby Seat


As soon as I order one for my son (He's 9 months), I'll take plenty of pics

 

Those are cool !! 5 point harnessees to?

 

LOL I wish!
They use the standard Lap/Shoulder belt system.

 

When my daughter was in a rear facing car seat I could lift her head off the back of the baby seat if I floored it.

My daughter loves to ride in the "race car"!

 

you always tell that story...
btw i have this one:

can you believe that actually fits in an fd...oh that ain't my kid either.