The #1 factor in keeping the child safe ina car is to install and use the car seat correctly.

Forward facing is no problem (Children atleast 12 months old and atleast 20 pounds) rear facing is both tight because of the car seat touching the vehicle seat and a little difficult to get the child in and out. Another important part is getting the seat installed correctly. Getting a rear facing seat to have the correct angle in an RX8 is difficult because of the angled seat base.

I have done over a thousand car seat installs, 100's of different car seat models in hundreds of different model cars. 95% of the seats I install were wrongly installed or used by the parents.

Atleast 75% of the seats were not tight and secure, meaning that you could move the seat base 3" or more easily with your hands and or the belt was not locked.

Atleast 35% of the seats were installed at the wrong angle.

Atleast 75% of parents put there kid in the seat wrong. Belts too loose (you want the belt to be snug, most leave the belts sloppy loose) or the belt straps are too high or too low (rear facing you want the belt at or below the childs shoulders. Forward facing you want at or above.)

And atleast 25% do something else wrong.

My recommendation to all parents is to carefully read the install manual , do your best and then go get it checked by a professional for FREE. http://www.nhtsa.gov/cps/cpsfitting/index.cfm

For a rear facing seat in the RX8 I suggest a infant carrier (base and seat), not a convertable seat (rear facing and forward facing after 1 year and 20+lbs). With a carrier, it is easier to get the child in and out because you only have to squeeze a handle or push a button, they are smaller and they are easier to install properly. Most convertable seats will not install at the correct angle (reclined at 45deg).

 

I'm 6'6" so my drivers seat is all the way back. I could not drive with a baby seat behind me, forward or rear facing. My wife has a ford flex, so we have no issues with room in that thing. I didn't buy the 8 as a family car tho, so we rarely all take it places.

 

So you already have 2 cars that are "big enough" and an 8 on top of that? Buddy, she doesnt like your car. She probably hates the idea that you have an interest, your car, in something other then her.

 

and a big stroller fits in the trunk

 

I LIKE IT! NICE MATCHING UP! Yeah 8's make great family cars. That is why I did not get the Mercedes. Have more fun.

 

damnz !!!! he is one lucky son.... so young and alreadyz got the chance to seat in a recaro... The only recent recaro seat i sat down was on the plane... designed by Recaro...

 

Wow, lol agree with someone else that you are fail for posting on an RX8 board trying to keep one that isn't even yours lol.

In all seriousness, I have an 8 month old with a rear facing baby seat. At 6ft tall my seat is all the way back. I have to put the baby on the passenger side with the front seat pushed all the way forward. But that's in large part because her seat is freakin huge lol. Its like the Cadillac of seats huge haha, but it does work and the job gets done.

As far as the SUV you are the one that needs to trade up, not her. My wife has a CX7 and she is the one mainly transporting the baby. Its been a real space saver for the three of us on space when taking long trips. Owning even a small SUV should be a priority.

 

You probably need this with a rear-facing seat (especially infant carrier) in an RX-8:

http://www.amazon.com/SafeFit-50050-.../dp/B000058DOB

Even in the "good to go" zone with our Graco snap-n-go, my daughter's head would fall forward, and she'd have trouble breathing, and bumps were scary to watch.

Even in the "most reclined" setting, our car seat just wouldn't lean back enough to counter the deeply inclined rear seats. It was still in the "ok" zone, but at the edge of being too upright.

With this bit of foam wedged in place, it's now closer to the most reclined position that's still safe. Which makes me a lot happier.

Further, you only need one of these for two cars. It's meant to be cut down to size, and half is about right for fitting between the latch anchors in both our RX-8 and our WRX (which has almost as steep of a seat angle).

Good luck, dads!!!

 

i just installed a base in my car. we started out with a Safety 1st Air 35; that base had no stability in the 8 b/c of the seat bolsters; i wouldn't have felt comfortable using it in my car. we ended up exchanging it for a Chicco KeyFit 30, and that base/seat fits like a glove right between the bolstered sides. the base has a pop-out leveler, and with it the base sits correctly (the base has a little level indicator on it). with the seat installed, the passenger seat is moved forward a little but is still workable for my 5'3" wife.

thanks for the heads up Woody; I'll be sure to do a reality check once the kid actually gets here and is in my car for the first time.

 

Between my F-150, Galant and Rx8 my 3 year old says "Daddy I wanna take the blue car!!!"

 

I'll post mine once I get my car back from the dealer; new engine and cat being done on her.
and babies Looooooooove the sound of the rotary!!.....makes them fall asleep everytime when you are not pulling 1 G around a corner.

 

Heres mine

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a28...-31-35_504.jpg

 

Before I bought my 8 I wondered if a carseat would fit due to the fact my son is still rear facing. Well low and behold......the Graco Myride fits just perfect. Ethan thinks so too. :-P

 

One of the main reasons that I bought my RX8 was that I could fit baby-seats in it (I had a Fiero prior to that). And with the suicide-doors, it's probably the easiest car to get him in and out of.

Here's a pic of my son in his Recaro seat:


Also, our full-size Graco stroller fits in the trunk, although barely. You have to put it in a certain way, but once it's in there, there's still a good amount of space for other stuff.



We have baby#2 due in Sept. At that time it'll be a bit more of a squeeze, but I think we'll fit ok. My son's seat will move behind me (I'm 6'3" and he fits behind me, but it is tight.) and then baby #2 will be in their carrier on the passenger side.

I should note that my RX8 isn't my daily driver, but I do plan on driving it with my kids a fair amount.

 

We have the Maclaren Easy Traveller stroller (for taking an infant carrier). It's very, very compact when folded up.

http://us.maclarenbaby.com/from-birt...veller?lang=en

Although it doesn't say it's meant to be used With the Chicco, the Chicco KeyFit 30 fits into it nicely.

 

What do people do to protect the back of the front seats once they swap the kids over to front-facing? I see from a bunch of the photos that their children are in socks only, no shoes.

 

We use the original Ferrari seat, it fits very well and has the same colors as our interior.

 

It fits great, and this is a pretty big seat. This seat can be used forwards or backwards but I did not take a backwards picture. I was able to fully slide the passenger seat back.

PS: Old thread

 

There is actually a surprising amount of room in the back of an RX-8. We have 2 kids rear facing back there. My original plan was to switch the older one to front facing when the 2nd one came along, but since we worked out how to fit them both rear facing they have stayed that way. It's quite funny to show up to a track day and then pull out 2 car seats to leave in the paddock :-)

Here's what we have fit:

Rear facing behind me driving (I'm ~5'10)

• Chicco Keyfit 30 Infant Car Seat without Base
• Combi Cocorro Lightweight Convertible Car Seat

Rear facing behind the passenger seat:

• Chicco Keyfit 30 Infant Car Seat with Base
• Chicco NextFit Convertible Car Seat rear facing

Here's what did not fit rear facing (would fit front facing)

• Recaro proride - not enough clearance to get the child through the door and into the seat
• Diono Olympia Convertible - passenger seat had to be too far forward

The other thing you need is minimal baby gear to fit in the trunk. Umbrella style stroller + a front baby carrier and then a diaper bag fit nicely.

 

My two oldest kids are in booster seats and they finally fit in the car in comfort. When I have to take a third kid with me I have to move my seat up a little. Its a tad uncomfortable but I think the 8 is more than accommodating given its performance potential.

 

my wife is trying to say the same thing lol!

 

Is it safe to have a rear facing car seat for a 13 week old baby??? Coz at the moment, i found one that i want to buy. Not sure to buy it though.

 

yes. both of my kids came home in rearward facing car seats from the hospital after being born. they road in them until turning forward and all the way through to boosters and past needing them. this car was my grocery getter with babies. there is no reason NOT to have your babies in it.

 

Yep, my babies (22 and 17 now) were raised in mine most of their lives. I never understood why people need so much room.

 

Where can I get that kind of car seat.