Just an fyi, the graco snugride did just fine, as long as the seat was almost all the way forward. Didn't really have to tip it up all that much. But your wife will HAVE to ride in front- I had to let my husband drive anytime the three of us went anywhere, because it was pretty tight. BUT, after we switched to forward facing, there's plenty of room back there. It's just that first year that's a bit rough!

 

Should have been turned around , my 2 cents.

 

Infant car seats faces rear. Our Peg Perrego SIP fits perfectly on our rx-8. The anchors were easy to access. As our child outgrows the infant carrier, we plan to order the Britax Marathon. I have no doubt that it will fit too.

 

Those Peg Perreg SIP are still carriers. Depending on how big your 'kid' is, between 7-12 months, they should be in a regular seat rear facing. The carriers aren't the issue, it's the Toddler seats that have a huge extension when facing rear. Unless of course your passanger is 5"4.

So this breaks down to taking the 'family' car instead of my 8 when we're all going somewhere.

 

Just want to say thanks for the advice. My wife and I will test some seats to see how well they fit. I'll keep you posted in case I come across something new.

Cheers

 

Thank you,
Please come back and keep us posted. I have a week to research a new seat for our 9 month old who is outgrowing (length wise) her Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP.
My gf current is looking at this one:
http://www.babyage.com/products/331_...e_car_seat.htm

But we haven't even seen it in person let alone fit in the car.

 

I love this thread so much great info....I'm expecting my first in January 2009 so I am doing all my research now. i want a nice seat that looks great in the 8 and most importantly protects my bundle of joy.

I am also thinking of getting either a "sling" thing that you wear and the baby slips into it on your chest and possibly a small collapsable stroller for the trunk...

Quick question does anyone have the Sparco baby seat and have specs on it? I saw and heard about it years ago but it seems to be no where on the market even when I google it nothing turns up. I was considering the Recaro seat because I had read it is perfect from newborn all the way to 80 lbs which is great and it is convertable rear to front facing.

 

I haven't decided what I'm going to get yet. We've got a Graco 3 piece job that will be in mom's car, and a regular car seat (Graco - but I don't know which model off-hand) that I can use in the 8. Somewhat unnecessary atm, but that will change by this time next week. I figure I've got about 6 weeks to decide, but the Recaro seats are not that much more expensive, and really end up being much more economical in the long run since they handle up to 70 lbs.

Anyone have reasons that might refute my simpleton math skillzzzz???

Grats Klepto. I just found a place w/the Recaros on sale - putting them at nearly the same damn price as something that will only go up to 40lbs or so.

Clicky!! 225 for the Signo & 191 for the Como


EDIT: Completely random, but made me Lol - one day at target we were browsing the baby stuff and a random dad walking by w/his kid in one of the carriers on his chest felt he had to tell us the carrier was the "greatest thing ever" and we "had to get one." We already had (shower gift) but I've heard plenty of people rave about them.

 

thanks bro I am so excited....and anxious to put the baby race seat in that is my next most important mod for the 8.

Thats not terrible pricing on the seats considering I was looking on ebay and found it for like $250-275 for the convertable.

If I end up getting the recaro its deff gonna be the convertable one. It holds a new born up to like 30lbs or something like that rear facing and like dmc27 said holds up to 70-80 lbs front facing. So in the long run this is good for lets say up to a 5 year old? Because at 70 lbs that is booster seat time if I am not mistaken...I'm new at this, lol...so forgive the ignorance and I appreciate all the tips possible.

 

I'm with you on relative cluelessness on car seats. There is quite a bit of overlap in the 3 or 4 options, as far as I can tell. The convertible ones seem to be the way to go to keep you covered for the first few years.

Why there are even options for infant, then toddler, and on from there @ nearly $200 per is beyond me. Who chooses to buy each one @ $200 rather than a convertible that works for 2 or 3 stages for the same damn price??

 

You got me bro....$600 vs $200/300...no brainer to me. I mean I'm sure there are specific reasons people buy each individually...but from what I have been reading the Recaro convertables are great bang for the $$$ and last decent amount of time and are cleanable.

In terms of fitting in the 8 I'm sure it does I just hope its comfortable. Im thinking of putting the seat behind the driver side and have my GF sit on the passenger side. Was considering putting the seat onthe passenger side to make easy for me to look back when I'm alone w/the baby but my GF won't fit behind me I'm 5'10" and I've looked at the amount of room behind me...I have to move my seat for someone to sit behind me.

Luckily for my GF and I her sister has left over seats strollers etc...so one goes in my parents car and one in my GF's car. It's funny cause when we found out we were expecting a week later I send her a link and tell her I'm buying this next later on in the year...and she had a gutt feeling it was a car seat she got a kick out of it being a race seat for the 8, lol. LOOKING FORWARD TO IT....very excited.

 

When the baby is under 1 you need to use a rear facing car seat. For the rear facing we used a Greco (not sure which one). It really did not work since the front seat had to be moved far forward to accomidate the rear facing car seat. So it really just worked when it was me and the baby. Now she is 14 months and is in a forward facing car seat. We got a Britax Roundabout. I think this ran about 200 on sale at Babies R Us. This one works with the latch system which is great. There are two hooks in the bottom of the seat, it buckels right up to it and anchors on the thing above the headrest. And there is now plenty of room to scoot the seat back.

As far as accessibility, the RX-8 works better for a car seat than any other 2 door. Much better than my Mom's Beatle, which I have to climb in the car and have some one hand the baby to me and then strap her in.

All in all, the car work with a car seat, but it is not great. We primarily use my wifes SUV, but the RX-8 works when needed.

 

Oh yeah that I have been reading basically for the 1st year more or less the baby sits facing the rear. Then after that they face the front.

Thats the good thing about the Recaro convertable seat...holds babies from new born all the way to 70/80 lbs. can sit in it. IT has the head support etc...my only concern is how it fits in the RX8. I can deffinately see it'll bea easy to get in and out w/the baby but the concern is the room.

 

I think the safe assumption is the baby will only be in the 8 when it's just me & him. Any time mom is around and the three of us are going somewhere it will be in her car b/c the front passenger seat of the 8 will need to be jacked pretty far forward.


The 3 piece "travel system" was bought by her dad and the car seat she wanted was bought by a Dr. at work as a baby shower gift. I just have to decide if I use the car seat in the 8 or just store that for now & buy an extra base for the travel system one. Everyone keeps saying the same thing - the baby basically spends the 1st 6 months in the infant carrier. So having a second base (which only costs ~$30) means not having to wake a sleeping baby to move him to the car seat. Decisions, decisions. lol.

 

Our Peg Perrego infant carrier fit onto the rear passenger seat without a problem. The challenge is to place the baby in it. It's easy if you carry the entire carrier out. This is rear-facing of course. Front facing should be even easier.

 

Britax fits no problem!

 

Here is a question guys...Im looking for a stroller for the trunk of the 8. Now what i want to do is putit in across from wheel to wheel in the trunk. I have my spare tire assembly in the trunk. DO any of you have any suggestions or strollers that you own that fit across in the trunk?

 

only two strollers ever fit in my 8. the graco snug rider stroller (or anything like that) and my umbrella stroller. gl.

 

We have a Graco Metro Glide fits but not sure about getting it in with the spare tire cause I don't have one. Best thing is go to a Baby's R Us becasue you can take there demo units outside and try and fit it in. Just ask one of their staff to take it outside with you. They can't put it in but you can. It worth the time to see what fits well and what does not.

 

thanks....Im gonna have to just go and spend some time trying out compact strollers in the trunk.

 

Our Peg Perego Prammette doesn't fit through the trunk opening. Unless I really shove it in. But I rather not risk tearing any rubber trunk lining or break parts off the stroller.
We might get a Maclaren when our daughter grows up more though. Those will surely fit.

 

I used something like this to keep an eye on my little one when he was little: http://www.buy.com/prod/flip-down-ch...201752200.html

Makes it very easy when they start crying and you're actually moving down the highway. And most of these mirrors are big enough that they can see you as well which is very soothing for a baby.

 

I recently purchased my RX so I could still have a sports car and be able to carry our son. I had so much trouble finding real photo's and experience (other than general recollection on what should work) that I am adding to this post.

I have a 3.5mo old baby boy, we have a Chicco Keyfit 30 Infant Carrier (that I swear he will not make it past 9 mo. in even though he's solidly in the middle of the normal charts). I put that one in last week to take him somewhere, the seat fit great and getting him in and out was cake. My wife is 5'1" though and wasn't crazy about the upright seat angle (afraid of the airbag). She commented that if someone was over 5'4" this probably would not be comfortable at all.

Here are pics of the Chicco infant carrier:

(See Attachments, links not working)


Phase 2:

I ordered a Recaro Como Convertible baby seat (since getting another base for the seat above which will be outmoded too soon seemed dumb). I'm very very impressed w/ the quality of the materials and construction on this. You will see in the pictures below that I actually got a couple more clicks back on the seatback BUT, I need to mess with it further to try and get that base closer to level.

I had to roll up a towel at the front to get it this far and probably need to loose the 2nd towel on the top (for seat protection). I may later today see about removing the seat bottom if that will further lower the seat.

As-is the seat is very very tight so I know he's not going anywhere, I will have to put in him from the driver's side though which will be fun but it won't be long term and I know this thing will be perfect as soon as I can put him forward facing.

Note, this is our 2nd car and will not be used for the baby on any regular basis (Nice, big Murano lovely wifey drives does that duty 95% of the time). Meaning my personal assessment is that for someone willing to comprimise a little comfort and ease to have a car they enjoy instead of an appliance this will work, but it would not be ton's of fun (at least while rear-facing).

Pics of the Recaro:

(See Attachments, Links not working)

Sorry for the long post but I wanted to get some (hopefully) helpful info out there .

Travis

 

The angle of the car seat on the 8s slanted back seat has an easy fix - pool float tubing - google "pool noodle" to see what I mean. I took mine to the police department to have them checked (my car & the missus' car) and the officer who does that went inside and came back out with a section of this stuff and cut off what he needed. Done, and done!!

And a note for those that don't know it - every police department has at least one officer trained in the proper installation of child restraint systems. It's free, and they're smart enough to know not to hassle people about things like (illegal) tint and such.



EDIT: Congrats sobama!!

 

Most of the Graco infant and toddler seats work well with the RX-8.

All the umbrella type strollers, like MacLarens, fit well in the trunk.
I can fit 2 MacLaren Volos in the trunk, but that leaves very little room for anything else.

Our flat folding strollers cannot go past the trunk aperture, so we use the umbrella types when using the RX-8.