Compact, convertible baby seat suggestions?

[gtivr4]

I just picked up a 1997 E36 Sedan (M3) that I plan to use as a secondary baby hauler (we have an Odyssey as primary). I need to get convertible car seats for it that will fit, and wanted some suggestions on what might work. The twist is we have twins (4.5 mo old), so one will have to fit behind me, so no buying one seat and pushing the passenger seat all the way forward tricks need apply.

Any suggestions for a compact, affordable convertible (infant to 65lbs ish) car seats?

[crawford]

Good luck with that one!

I don't know how tall you are, but I gave up on fitting seats in my E46 sedan pretty quickly. I also have twins and there was no way I could fit a rear-facing seat behind my drivers seat. If you can wait until it's time to turn your kids around, there are some relatively compact seats out there like the Radian. It's narrow, but the recline angle when rear-facing will make it impossible to fit. Pretty much any of the convertibles will fit when forward-facing.

Best bet is to go to a store and try a couple out for yourself. Or head over to http://www.car-seat.org There are a couple of E46 threads over there.

[gtivr4]

I actually just went out and tested a few, and a couple JUST fit with me being only mildly uncomfortable, so it is doable. I am reasonably small (5'10"), and like sitting close to the wheel, plus no need for clutch action helps too.

[firefighterjunkie]

Which ones fit?

We are looking at convertible seats now for my daughter (10 months) and we want one that can rear face in our mkiv gti (should the need arise - I daily a B5.5 passat wagon). I'm leaning towards the Britax Marathon 70 right now.

[Diamond Dave]

I'm leaning towards the Britax Marathon 70 right now.

I'm a HUGE fan of that one. We had those for our kids from ~12mos to 4yrs and after all the years of use, they worked great and looked great; unlike most of the other car seats that friends have.

[woofster]

Which ones fit?

We are looking at convertible seats now for my daughter (10 months) and we want one that can rear face in our mkiv gti (should the need arise - I daily a B5.5 passat wagon). I'm leaning towards the Britax Marathon 70 right now.

Our little guy is 10 months old too and we just bought a car seat last weekend, the Britax Marathon 65. He's still in his Peg-Pérego Primo Viaggio infant seat right now but we're ready to switch over to the Britax (still rear-facing) when he reaches that 30lb mark!

[woofster]

Just wanted to add that we also looked at the Diono Radian R100/R120 which can be used as a booster seat when he's older as well. The big feature of the Radian, aside from being one of the narrowest car seats on the market, is that it's collapsible and can be carried around if you so choose. What we discovered, however, is that this car seat is very heavy and somewhat upright (non-adjustable). I simply can't imagine anyone carrying this thing around, nevermind that woman in their marketing ads who's smiling away as this thing is slung around her shoulder.

[Vision33r]

Just wanted to add that we also looked at the Diono Radian R100/R120 which can be used as a booster seat when he's older as well. The big feature of the Radian, aside from being one of the narrowest car seats on the market, is that it's collapsible and can be carried around if you so choose. What we discovered, however, is that this car seat is very heavy and somewhat upright (non-adjustable). I simply can't imagine anyone carrying this thing around, nevermind that woman in their marketing ads who's smiling away as this thing is slung around her shoulder.

I got 3 of them, they used to be called Sunshine Kids. Dumb name, glad they changed it to Diono.

Absolutely beats the overpriced and overrated Britax and Recaro.

[firefighterjunkie]

Edit: I thought those seats were like $300-$350...just looked and you can find them on Amazon for a tiny bit more than the other two brands.