Raevik

So, there's gotta be a trick.

There's nothing in the manual to explain how this is supposed to be used...but I'll be damned if it's not the most insanely inconvenient thing I've ever seen.

I'm trying to put in a carseat using the LATCH system, and I finally got it. It took me about 45 mins of scraped knuckles to get the clips on. Do you guys remove the seat to get access or something?!

For the uninitiated, the LATCH system is a set of hooking points to secure a carseat for a baby. In the RX8, these hooks are through tiny gaps in the seat. Only problem is, the opening takes a 90 degree down turn and is down about 3-4 inches. The opening is BARELY large enough to fit a couple fingers into...so imagine trying to clip on a large metal clip to it.

Well I finally got it in, and of course, my wife wanted me to remove it (don't ask). I have NO idea how I'm going to get this thing out of there...

dynamho

Which seat do you have? I have tried Britax and Graco. Britax fits only backwards (for infants), so I have delegated that into my other "normal" car. Graco seems to be the best fit for the bucket type seats. All other models do not have the central spine that Graco does to facilitate a good fit. To remove the seats, you need to lengthen the straps before trying to unhook. It takes a little practice and becomes very easy once you get the hang of it.

Raevik

Using a Graco seat.

Did you have to actually remove the car (as in the RX8's) rear seat to get the hook to latch on? It took me forever to get the clip in there...almost seems like pulling the bottom part of the seat out would be easier!

dmc27

Haven't used it myself, but my dad had my 8 when I needed his blazer & he didn't mention having a hard time getting a seat in for my nephew.

My nephew really liked the 8, BTW.

Design1stCode2nd

The RX8 hooks are a bit further in than most cars I've put them in but its pretty easy. Getting a rearfacing seat out after it's been cranked down can take a minute or two.

If it's forward facing and you have the option put it on the driver's side so the tighting part of the strap is on the right (more room to work. First give yourself as much slack as possible on the strap and reach down under the babyseat with the latch hook in hand (clip part down). Then feel around with your figers through the slits in the seat until you can feel the latch hook. Then wiggle it in and clip it on (puch forward and tehn down). Now move the babyseat out of the way as much as possible and clip in the rightside clip like you did the left. Take up the slack, put your knee on the seat (you did move the front seat up as fas as possibile didn't you?) and yank on the strap while rocking left and right and it will crank that sucker right down. Then put your top strap on the top hook.

For rear facing its pretty much the same but I'd put it on the passenger side. Not alot of room to crank down the strap next to the console.

If you need any more help let me know, I'm feel like an expert on babyseats (did an install in less than 2 minutes in an e46 M3 once). Then those are fairly roomy and the clips are really easy to get to.

Miker

I don't put my toddlers in the back. I courier them to my destination.

Best: FedEx. Worst: UPS (the brokerage fees are ridiculous).

Raevik

Nice Miker

D1C2, thanks for the details. My biggest problem right now is getting the damned thing out. I've got it pretty well cinched down and getting my fingers in the slit (this post suddenly got uncomfortable) to get the clip off isn't hard, it's impossible. I just don't see how people can reach down to the latch point with enough room to manipulate the clip to OPEN...

I'm seriously considering just taking out the bottom part of the rear seat. Back when I installed my subwoofer, I removed the seat to run wire. I can't remember how I got it off though...

StealthTL

iTrader: (1)

To remove seat bottom - lift front (2 clips) Pull, Done.

...seat back has bolts, but bottom is easy.

S

Design1stCode2nd

To get it out once you have it cinched down you need to get some slack in the belt. No way in hell are you going to be able to take off those LATCH hooks with it cinched down as it should be. Your Childseat belt should have a buckle on it like any lap only belt. You need to push on the metal tab, work it back and forth actually to get some slack in the belt. Only then can you get the hook off.

Let me reiterate you can not take the child seat out without loosening the LATCH belt. It's not gonna happen.

I'll try to take some pics.

Is yours rear or forward facing and which side is it on?

zoom44

i take th eseat from the 8 everytime we go somewhere that we fly.for instance this past week we drove to the airport where i then took the seat out in less than 2 minutes. then we took it with us to PA for Thanksgiving where i installed it in my dad's none latch equipped van in about 5 mins for the ride to the in laws house. at the inlaws it was taken from my dad's van and installed in the in laws latch equipped jag s type. install took maybe 5 minutes. it was there for 2 days when i then removed it and put it in my moms none latch equipped chrysler for a day trip into philly. again tops 5 mins in and a minute out. then it went back into the jaq for a couple days. then finally out of the jag and into my dads new quad cab chevy pickup which is latch equipped. brand new the install took less time than in the jag maybe 3 minutes. the jag has more padding so was a little more difficult at first. oh i did have to redo the top strap on my dads truck so add another minute taking it off then putting it over instead of under the head rest(the distance going under the headrest was too short for me to tighten the strap down where i wanted it.)

then it was out of the truck at the airport in philly and then back in the 8 in under 5 minutes back here in portland. thats in and out 7 times over 10 days. not difficult at all.

you really should have no trouble getting to the attachment points. on a new install i could see there being an issue just getting used to it maybe some padding in th4e way a little(like in the jag) maybe since you had the seat out once before you did not put it back in position all the way and that was a hinderance?

Raevik

That's possible. All I know is that reaching the latch hooks just with your fingertips (nevermind the actual latch hook) requires:

1. inserting fingers into gap between back and bottom of the seat...it's about 1 1/2 inches wide and near the corners of the seat. I can get two fingers in max, three and I'm scraping my knuckles up.

2. Pushing back until I hit metal

3. Doing a 90 degree turn down for another 2-3 inches

4. Now, by wiggling around my fingers, I can barely touch the latch hook.


So, looking at that, you can imagine how easy it is with 2 fingers to hold the clip, navigate the turn, and manipulate the clip OPEN so it will hook. It took me 45 mins, and like I said I have NO I idea how I'll get it off. I understand D1C2 what you're saying about the buckle being tight and needing to be released. I'm referring to just REACHING the latch clip at this point to unhook it.

I'm going to just remove my bottom seat cushion to get at it. It should bypass this whole problem.

RexApex

That doesn't sound right to me. The latch loops are straight in, no more than 1 1/2" down. Maybe you missed them and are hooking onto something else instead? When I had mine hooked in, the latch was mostly out of the slot, and quite easy to undo once the tension was off of the strap.
--R.

balefire

iTrader: (2)

i agree, it doesn't sound right to me either. it took me only 5 min the first time to find the latch, and now i can do / undo it in 1 min. i think you are latching the baby seat to the wrong anchor. the anchor is hidden "between" the vertical slits in the cushion between the back and seat pad. just probe any vertical slit in the back crease and you will eventually find it. if latched correctly, there is absolutely no need to remove the seat bottom. gl.