Children on the back of a SL?

Although some SLs do have children seats on the back (as my 1990 300 SL-24V has) I am reluctant in sitting my 3 year-old there.

The abdominal seat belt poses some problems:

(1- Any car, any make) In case of accident it will put all the body "pressure" on the kids abdominal area increasing the probability of serious injury

(2- MB SLs) Given the available space between the front and rear seats, any child using an abdominal seat belt will definitely hit the (hard) front seat with the head

Is there any way of adapting a safer shoulder seat belt on SL rear seats? Where can I order?

[Malc]

Hi

I have 4-point harnesses in the rear seats - lap strap with two static shoulder straps. The shoulder straps are anchored to u-bolts fixed under the scuttle that houses the folded soft-top.

However, I'm still not sure I'd put a 3 year old in them! (Probably not legal here anyway.)

[G-Benz]

The rear canopy seat is a cute idea, but I wouldn't consider letting my 7-yr old ride back there for any reason...

...that's what the four-door MBs are for...

[DALE DORIA]

The SL is a two seater.....is a child's life worth "adding" another seat???

[RDL]

I have a 94 SL500 and let me put my two cents worth in here. I have seen SLs with kids in the back, and it would worry me a lot. On at least two occasions, when driving over a fairly bumpy road, my roll bar has activated. If there was a kid in the back seat, he or she wouldn't have faired very well. I don't think it is just my car, as the dealer specifically warned me about putting anyone in the back when I bought the car. As I said, just my two cents, but that roll bar comes up very quickly.

Thanks for your post RDL

However I wouldn't worry about the roll bar: all you have to do is to lift it up manually using the console button for the purpose. That means you would drive with it in the open position whenever you have children on the back....

If you read your owners manual it should say precisely this, lift the roll bar whenever someone is travelling on the back (exceptions just for mothers-in-law )

I have a 2-year old son and I would not even take him with me in the front and the rear of a SL.

ChicagoLand:

Why would you not consider to take him even in the front seat (as far as you would use the appropriate children's sear)?

lperei01:

It just one of the "Old Habits" of not driving infants and toddlers in a "true" two coupe. Its just not enough room for impact. Maybe, I see too many Suburbans in my neighborhood! I am currently re-thinking my decision to buy a 2nd car for my wife. She loves SUVs. I feel with the way she drives, she needs a station wagon. Maybe a '97 MB E320 wagon with 4-MATIC. I love the new
C320 wagon!