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      08-02-2011, 01:33 PM   #1
oknish
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Back Seat Question

Does anyone drive a X3 with couple car seats in the back row? We will have a rear facing seat and a booster seat going in the back row and I am wondering how much room is left in the middle after the seats are put in. Have a skinny 8 year old too who will sit in the middle between his sisters. Any input from those who haul kids will be appreciated.
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      08-02-2011, 02:01 PM   #2
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The X3 rear seat is 53 inches wide at the widest point. Most children's car seats are between 20 and 24 inches wide, with the newer, well bolstered models being the widest.

If you have average seats at around 22 inches that gives you (53 - (22*2)) = 9 inches left over. That 8 year old would have to be "skinny" in deed, to squeeze in there. If your car seats are on the narrow side, it might be possible, but he's not going to be very comfortable or happy.

On the other hand, (3) medium sized adults who are less than 17 inches wide (I'm 5'11", 172 lbs) and my butt is less than 17" wide) can actually fit in a X3 rear seat if the center passenger doesn't mind having his/her knees in their chest.

Last edited by Lotus7; 08-02-2011 at 02:07 PM..
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      08-02-2011, 02:01 PM   #3
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I have not tried it yet, but I have a front facing car seat and a booster seat in the back. I can have an answer to you Saturday. We are taking an hour plus trip and my brother in law is coming along, so that means my wife has to sit in the back in the middle. I am a bit worried, I think my old Lexus RX had more room, but with the booster seats, you can always shift them over a bit closer to the door since they do not latch in.
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      08-02-2011, 02:07 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lotus7 View Post
The X3 rear seat is 52 inches wide at the widest point. Most children's car seats are between 20 and 24 inches wide, with the newer, well bolstered models being the widest.

If you have average seats at around 22 inches that gives you (52 - (22*2)) = 8 inches left over. That 8 year old would have to be "skinny" in deed, to squeeze in there. If your car seats are on the narrow side, it might be possible, but he's not going to be very comfortable or happy.

On the other hand, (3) medium sized adults who are less than 17 inches wide (I'm 5'11", 172 lbs) and my butt is less than 17" wide) can actually fit in a X3 rear seat if the center passenger doesn't mind having his/her knees in their chest.
We've had a toddler seat and two adults, one sat in the middle on the backseat. It is very tight for the guy in the middle! Also awkward to put your feet down because of centre bump. Not advisable for long distances

I always pictured you as having a slightly bigger butt than that Lotus
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      08-02-2011, 02:34 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sfax View Post
We've had a toddler seat and two adults, one sat in the middle on the backseat. It is very tight for the guy in the middle! Also awkward to put your feet down because of centre bump. Not advisable for long distances

I always pictured you as having a slightly bigger butt than that Lotus
stax,
Thanks for your thoughts - really appreciate it.
I actually have to be careful. The orange S1's driver's seat is about 15-1/2 inches wide and with the center console and side frame rails going straight up from the seat padding (which sits on the floor of the Lotus) I'm essentially a "press-fit" in the seat. My wife tells me it’s hilarious to watch me try to get settled into a 5-point harness with absolutely no room to move around. I try to do it when no one is watching. It's so close, that I actually have to take my wallet out of my back pocket to fit properly.

The X3’s Sport seat, on the other hand, feels luxuriously wide, even when set to a fairly narrow side bolster setting.
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      08-02-2011, 02:51 PM   #6
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I have a booster seat and a full size forward facing seat, for a 4 year old and a 2 year old (both boys, on the big size).
There is plenty of room for them and the seats in the back.
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      08-02-2011, 06:09 PM   #7
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Lotus, HOW DO YOU KNOW SO MUCH?!
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      08-02-2011, 07:22 PM   #8
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Darn it. I thought this was going to be a prom night thread.
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      08-02-2011, 07:30 PM   #9
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I have two seats in the back, there is around 7-8 inches between them, very tight. I would feel bad putting a kid there for an extended amount of time.
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      08-02-2011, 08:00 PM   #10
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Darn it. I thought this was going to be a prom night thread.

Hmmm, DHP set to Normal, Sport, or Sport+?
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      08-02-2011, 08:30 PM   #11
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Lotus, HOW DO YOU KNOW SO MUCH?!
I'm still amazed that he measures his arse!
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      08-03-2011, 08:37 AM   #12
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Quote:
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Lotus, HOW DO YOU KNOW SO MUCH?!
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      08-03-2011, 09:35 AM   #13
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Quote:
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Lotus, HOW DO YOU KNOW SO MUCH?!
According to my wife, who is the real scholar in our family (she has expert knowledge of thirteenth century French miniaturists, among other things), I actually know "very little about a lot of things".
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      08-03-2011, 10:05 AM   #14
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Lotus - a legend in his own lunchtime! Not often I laugh out loud reading this forum but Lotus the king of botty dynamics rocks. Oh and I will have a forward and a rear facing seat and luckily and rightly ass-umed a 3rd would not fit.
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      08-03-2011, 11:44 AM   #15
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I'm yet to measure my ass but I really hope it comes in at less than 17"
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      08-03-2011, 11:53 AM   #16
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We also have two baby seats in the back and this is the reason I took the special order back seat that can fold in the middle. Sometime I need to bring long things like the jogging stroller with the kids so that is a must!!

Depending how big you are, the space between the baby seat is small but I managed to sit there once while my wife was driving because one of the kid was crying non-stop. Obviously I am not very big
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      08-03-2011, 03:30 PM   #17
oknish
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THANK YOU all for the feedback and the laughs. To clarify, X3 will be the daily driver/city hauler so all 3 kids in back will be rare and, if it does happen, it will be for short periods. Guess I should measure my son's butt to be sure
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      08-03-2011, 03:53 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oknish View Post
THANK YOU all for the feedback and the laughs. To clarify, X3 will be the daily driver/city hauler so all 3 kids in back will be rare and, if it does happen, it will be for short periods. Guess I should measure my son's butt to be sure
Since many people are now wanting to measure their butt, we should consider re-naming the thread
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      08-19-2011, 08:07 AM   #19
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My 7 week old twins both sit at the back with mommy. this is how:



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