Child Size in Back Seats

[Tripps]

Along similar lines to another thread...

Does anyone have any feeling for how old a child would be before they would outgrow the Cerbera?

I'm considering consolidating my two cars into a single Cerbera but if the kids will be uncomfortable after a few years, may have to plan differently.

[SGirl]

I can fit in the back of the Cerbera with no major difficulties (except possibly a slight lack of headroom) and I'm over 21.

I'm 5'3". IMHO if your kids are less than 5' tall I can't see there'd be much of a problem with them sitting in the back of a Cerb. Of course, it also depends on how much legroom the adults in the front need as well - obviously, the further back the front-seat passengers have to sit, the less space there is for the rear-seat passengers.

Edited to add: I still wouldn't like to sit in the back of the Cerb for hours on end - I was in it for about an hour yesterday and that was okay, but more than a couple of hours might be a little enthusiastic...

>> Edited by SGirl on Monday 28th April 12:40

[Tripps]

Thanks SGirl, our oldest is less than 2' tall so far (at only 15 month), and the other isn't born yet, so looks like we'd have plenty of space for them.

Enough time to save for a 2+2 T440 or wait for the Cerbera replacement even... :-)

[olly]

I think under normal circumstances I'd agree with Sgirl, anything under 5ft is fine.

However, I've spent HOURS in the back of a Cerb now, and the most comfortable position is to sit sideways with your legs over the transmition tunnel. I'm 6ft, and have done Cambridge to Tunbridge Wells, and Tunbridge Wells to Virginia Water in the back of a Cerb & wasn't in any pain/discomfort after either journey. (also spent 45mins in the back of a famous Yellow Cerbera being driven round Blackpool, but thats another story)...

[SGirl]

olly said: However, I've spent HOURS in the back of a Cerb now, and the most comfortable position is to sit sideways with your legs over the transmition tunnel.

Now I'd have a go at that if it weren't for the possible safety implications - I can't imagine the seatbelts would be all that helpful as they run from the inside towards the doors?? Have you worked out a way round this?

Tripps, one problem to note with small babies - none of the rear-facing seats that you'll need until the baby is about 9 months old fit in the back. This is why I sit in the back and SBaby travels in style in the front! Good luck with the latest addition to the family!

[williamball]

Its not just the size of the kids, its also how much room the driver and front seat passenger are prepared to live with/without. Also, if kids have always been used to +2 seating rather than conventional seats it's easier to convince them it's luxury.

My son is 15, and 5'11", and my daugher is 12 and about 5'6". I'm maybe 5'9" and my wife is about the same and we can all fit in. It does mean that I drive with the pedals set low and the steering set as far forward is it goes, but we do fit! Did maybe 400 miles in a day last year. Can't say the kids enjoyed the room much, but is was possible, and certainly fine for short runs. Biggest problem isn't leg room but head room as they grow up.

WB

[Tripps]

SGirl said:Tripps, one problem to note with small babies - none of the rear-facing seats that you'll need until the baby is about 9 months old fit in the back. This is why I sit in the back and SBaby travels in style in the front!

Don't think my wife would let the newborn in the Cerbera anyway, and probably won't be picking it up until she goes back to work anyway, and got enough of a job justifying the Cerbera as a third family car, never mind then asking her to sit in the back!

[SGirl]

Tripps said: Don't think my wife would let the newborn in the Cerbera anyway

It's actually fairly safe, what with the roll cage and everything. SBaby likes it.

and got enough of a job justifying the Cerbera as a third family car, never mind then asking her to sit in the back!

Good luck! Let us know how you get on - if it helps, tell her our Cerb is our third car and fits in nicely between the super-functional and reasonably quick Volvo 850 T5 and the nice-but-dull Rover cabrio...

[rocket]

I agree with WB.....it really depends how far back the driver and passenger are. I'm about 6'1", and therefore have the seat quite a long way back. My little boy is almost 6 (dunno how tall...average?!) but is starting to complain about the lack of legroom. Also, as the rear seats are not very deep, his face is quite close to the rather hard back of my seat. Once when I was forced to break rather sharply, he banged his head quite hard on my seat....re-opening a recent eyebrow wound which was in the process of healing...hence blood, tears, etc.

[K1 CERB]

I have my seat 2 or 3 clicks away from it's extent. This reduces the real use of the rear passenger seat to part time for a long 8 year old. However, all my teenage children sit (almost comfitably) behind the passenger seat, which is moved slightly forward...so I would suggest 2 adults,+ 1 Teenager & 1 <7 is fine (Young Mr Tripps was very nice about my car @ Snetterton - would be happy to let The Tripp Family try it out for size)

K1 CERB