Child seat installation
 

Second day of owning the RX-8. Put the child seats in the back and ran errands and realized why this is one of the most incredible sports cars on the planet. Kids are easier to "load" than into our 4-door Camry. The kids (2 & 5) love the rear area -- it has a very "cozy" feel, they have the cupholders and console compartment to play with, and there is ample leg room for these ages. Being able to enjoy a sports car AND bring the kids along with such ease is just too hard to believe.

Anyway, I put our older car seats (no tether or direct seat latches) in using seatbelt locks. The dealer misplaced my owner's manual and all I've got to go on is the little blue Quick Tips guide. It says something about automatic locking mode for child seats and something about pulling "webbing." Anyone know what this webbing is and where it is located?

I suspect by webbing they mean the seatbelt.

If you pull the belt all the way out, it will go into rachet mode. Locking with each click inward. Pull the belt as tight as you can and feed it in. Then put your knee on the kids seat, putting all your weight on it and force the last slack into the racheting mechanism. You should be able to get it tight enough that you cannot move the seat, and it will be crushing the foam somewhat.

I use a towel under the kids seat to keep from stressing the cloth or leather.

There are Latch system attachments in the Mazda seat so if you have newer seats or want to update your kids seat, the RX 8 will accomodate.

Thanks. Sounds like a great feature. I'll try that tomorrow--beats the heck out of working those belt locks.

FWIW, we just bought a new seat with the LATCH system for our 11 month old. (he loves riding the 8, when I put him in the seat he says go go go!)

I had that seat installed in the back within 3 minutes and it seems way more secure with LATCH than with the seatbelt.

I have been wrestling with car seats of various designs in and out of 4 different cars for the last 8 years.

Last year we bought a Britax with Latch and for the first time I can have a seat installed correctly in less than 4 minutes without breaking a sweat.

Most seat makers have a kit for converting their existing seats to Latch for @30. Well worth it if your car has the feature. It gives more secure attachment with much less effort. Kneeling on the seat is still needed to get all the slack out. Also getting a rear tether kit is important as well if your older seat doesn't have one.

I have no affiliation with Britax, but without doubt they have the best built seats with the most protection features. They are expensive, but so far well worth the cost. We churned through 5 seats with our 2 boys before going to boosters. For our third, we went to Britax and it can accomodate her until she needs to go to a booster @age 4 or 5.