can you fit 3 kids car seats in the back seat?

[OhioSDL]

I had bought my 300 SDL just before my first son was born and now we are about to have our third boy.
my wife really misses that enormous back seat of the sdl for putting the car seat in there.
does anyone have experiance actually fastening in 3 of the little tykes in the back of a 126?
the problem is the width across with a booster seat and 2 car seats.
im trying to avoid becoming the minivan man.

and a question for the more seasoned vets here.
before the minivan/suv how did one cart all these kids around?

[thesst]

Sounds like you need a 300TD.

[t walgamuth]

When these cars were new the seat requirements were different, I think.

As far as fitting I think you would just need to try it. I suspect that they all would fit but tightly.

I never succumbed to the mini van thing either, but had a Suburban in the household for about 20 years running as the kids were growing up.

Good luck, I am behind you!

Tom W

[Stoneseller]

Originally Posted by OhioSDL

and a question for the more seasoned vets here.
before the minivan/suv how did one cart all these kids around?

http://www.texas442.com/wagon/Holland%2071%20Vista.html

[SW]

Our child is now 6 months old and I've put her once in an infant seat in my '83. I had to move both front seats up. We now have a 4runner as a family vehicle (hey, its much cooler than a mini van!)

I imagine that in a w126 three seats will "fit" but the driver and front passenger wont be very comfortable. You might have to shop around for a combo of seats with the smallest base and width.

[SwampYankee]

Originally Posted by OhioSDL

I had bought my 300 SDL just before my first son was born and now we are about to have our third boy.
my wife really misses that enormous back seat of the sdl for putting the car seat in there.
does anyone have experiance actually fastening in 3 of the little tykes in the back of a 126?
the problem is the width across with a booster seat and 2 car seats.
im trying to avoid becoming the minivan man.

and a question for the more seasoned vets here.
before the minivan/suv how did one cart all these kids around?

I've had 2 car seats and a booster seat bottom in my TD without too much trouble. It was on the tight side and wouldn't want to drive any long distances like that but it was definitely doable for regular running around and shorter trips. It all depends on how much your kids like/can tolerate each other's company. Infant seat in the center and the car seat and booster were on either side.

After kid #2 we broke down and bought a minivan. I couldn't imagine life without one now! Although my vanity went out the window a long time ago. Being able to spread them out and still carry everything you want or need goes a long way.

Before the minivan/suv a lot less people used car seats as long as we do now. My father bought a '66 Corvette Coupe because he could throw my brother and I in the back. Seatbelts? Overkill! (Although he always fastened up. Hmmmm....)

[Jordan G]

My vanity has long ago perished. With 3 kiddos, a minivan was necessary - although a 'burb is/was tempting. My wife loves the power sliding doors though. It's amazing how lazy we've become, we can't even open our own doors anymore. It's hilarious - my family will just walk up to the doors (unlocked) and stand there. I'm like, what are you waiting for? You don't need to wait for me to press the button....just open it.

I'm really holding out for a diesel honda odyssey - but until then, my 240d and dodge grand caravan are our faithful steeds.

I personally can't imagine fitting 3 in the back seat (I realize a SDL is larger than my 240d) - but I suppose it depends on the width of the car seat bases. My middle daughter has this huge throne of car seat - it would make a pharaoh jealous - so no way 2 other bases would fit in there with hers.

and congrats on your 3rd boy

As somebody else pointed out - I'd just give it a try - it's undoubtedly going to be a snug fit, if it does work.

[vstech]

Originally Posted by OhioSDL

and a question for the more seasoned vets here.
before the minivan/suv how did one cart all these kids around?

... in 1979, my father bought a subaroo... GL I think, it was a small wagon, there were three seat room in back, and I am pretty sure there was a fold up seat in the cargo area too... not sure, but we never used it, all the kids (5 of us) just roamed free in the car without tethers at all. "stop touching me, no you stop touching me" over and over and over... we also had a 79 Crown Vic wagon that was HUGE with the wonderful Olds 5.7 Diesel.
before that when we lived in Iran... we drove a govmnt issue ford wagon, no idea what model but it was huge. before that... a used 72 Pinto wagon, I think there was a VW bus in there, dad was always working on VW's... lets see, in iceland, we had a pickup with a camper top and a crawl through window... I don't remember much before '73...
I guess my point is... nobody really used car seats back then.

[LaughingGravy]

There are narrower booster seats to be purchased. Even fractions of an inch may make a difference.
The main reason for the boosters is to prevent the 3 point seatbelts at the neck.
If the child is in the middle, where there is only a lapbelt, they may not need to be in a booster at all. Definitely check local laws for that.
In our state, it's either 8 years old or 80 lbs (your choice, go figure) of when they don't need to be in boosters.

Let's see...growing up, my parents used to let me ride behind the back seat of a Beetle. It was nice and warm just above the engine.

When they bought a Corvette in '76, we were put in the back with our faces inches away facing the rear window and our feet straight back over the spare tire/fuel tank area.

My brother has that car now. Very cool. Different times.
Different and fewer drivers, too. No cell phones/gps/videos and people generally aiming there car in a direction and then correcting at the last moment while they fiddle , which I see a lot of.

[TX76513]

Don't forget SDL's have a huge trunk!

[Chad300tdt]

I agree that you can find three seats that will fit. I have room for three in my wagon, but only have two kids.

When I was a kid, my Dad had a Dodge pickup with a cap. My brother and I were given folding beach chairs to sit in while in the bed. My Dad's idea of safety was to yell at us if we weren't "sitting down". These chairs weren't bolted down or anything. We would slide all over back there and occasionally get our hands pinched between the chair and the side of the truck. We also had to sit in the back of the MGB, the Corvette, the Chevy van with empty cargo rear (no seats or carpet), and I used to sit in front of my dad on his BSA and hold the handlebars while we rode. Once I turned 5, my Dad thought I was big enough to sit behind him during the rides.

[Dee8go]

Just get a wagen, put one of those wire "pet dividers" between the back seat and the cargo area, and you'll be all set. Just throw the kids in there. They'll LOVE it back there!

[kerry]

I've got a 74 Olds Custom Cruiser. With a little effort, a minivan could fit inside it.

[LaughingGravy]

Based on the responses so far, there was clearly a "survival of the fittest" climate with a little luck thrown in about 30 years ago.

Adding to that, my wife said she and her friend used to sit on the collapsed convertible top with their legs in the seating area of a Karmann Ghia when their legs got too big for the convertible back seat. It was only for short rides, but still nothing you could get away with today.

We used to have a hard top Ghia, where the back seat did have more room.

[vstech]

's funny how many of us had corvettes in our childhood. ( my dad got one when I was 22) but all the little kids in my family got to ride around in it in the back... I of course got to drive it! it's good to be the oldest of the siblings!