Carrying kids in 992 GT3

[MissedTheApex]

Hi all,

First post, after lurking for a few decades.

I'm about to buy a 992 GT3 with the carbon buckets. However, I'd like to carry my 8-year old as well, and wonder if there's any path to doing so. I read the previous thread on this topic from a few years back, which ended up in a Mumsnet conversation on parenting, but did not answer the question.

I had a GT4 several years back when my son was 2-3, but sold that because I could not use it enough with him, and bought a 918 GTS 4.0 with child seat preparation on the seats. Not planning on selling the GTS 4.0, as it's too good.

My son is now 8 and so is a little more compatible with proper seats.

Two questions I wonder if anyone can help with:

1) Assuming the 992 GT3 doesn't come with air bag disable, has anyone had it retrofitted by the dealer? I've read a few threads that suggest it's possible for £500 (which sounds incredibly cheap for Porsche), but is it really feasible for a GT3?

2) While I'm undoubtedly a terrible parent and will be judged to eternity by those who are perfect parents who do a risk assessment on everything their kids do, I'll initially look at a booster seat. Yet if that doesn't work, my second option is to put a 4-way adjustable seat in the passenger side. Sure, sacrilege, I'll then be judged to eternity by all the purists, and likely I'll instantly lose £50K of value on the car, even if I reconvert it to standard before selling (so be it). But is it possible, and at what price - my guess is £5K?

Final option is for the GT3 for me only, and he can only go in the GTS 4.0. Not ideal, but OK.

Cheers for any insight here.

[David W.]

MissedTheApex said:

Hi all,

First post, after lurking for a few decades.

I'm about to buy a 992 GT3 with the carbon buckets. However, I'd like to carry my 8-year old as well, and wonder if there's any path to doing so. I read the previous thread on this topic from a few years back, which ended up in a Mumsnet conversation on parenting, but did not answer the question.

I had a GT4 several years back when my son was 2-3, but sold that because I could not use it enough with him, and bought a 918 GTS 4.0 with child seat preparation on the seats. Not planning on selling the GTS 4.0, as it's too good.

My son is now 8 and so is a little more compatible with proper seats.

Two questions I wonder if anyone can help with:

1) Assuming the 992 GT3 doesn't come with air bag disable, has anyone had it retrofitted by the dealer? I've read a few threads that suggest it's possible for £500 (which sounds incredibly cheap for Porsche), but is it really feasible for a GT3?

2) While I'm undoubtedly a terrible parent and will be judged to eternity by those who are perfect parents who do a risk assessment on everything their kids do, I'll initially look at a booster seat. Yet if that doesn't work, my second option is to put a 4-way adjustable seat in the passenger side. Sure, sacrilege, I'll then be judged to eternity by all the purists, and likely I'll instantly lose £50K of value on the car, even if I reconvert it to standard before selling (so be it). But is it possible, and at what price - my guess is £5K?

Final option is for the GT3 for me only, and he can only go in the GTS 4.0. Not ideal, but OK.

Cheers for any insight here.

As a general point re airbag, and I haven’t researched the law on them, obvs for a rear facing baby seat they need to be switched off but for a child (3+?) in the front in a child seat or on a booster cushion wouldn’t have the protection of an airbag in an accident be a good thing? Asking for an interested Grandad!

[rrroro]

I’ve read the original post a couple of times, and I’m not sure there’s an issue. I initially thought it was about baby seats and compatibility with buckets (I wasn’t able to find a suitable baby seat myself at the time)

However the relevant part of this post is that a while back a mate wanted me to give his boy (also 8 years) a passenger ride, so popped his booster seat in and away we went.

I’ve had a look on gov.uk, and I think it’s saying you only need to disable the airbag if using a rear facing baby seat in the front
https://www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules

Presumably then, if it’s not rear facing but some other (booster) seat, the airbag must NOT be disabled. Good luck with your research!

[MissedTheApex]

Thanks, that's helpful. It made me realise I didn't understand the rules around disabling the passenger airbag well enough. Rear facing seats is obvious, but I thought it was necessary for front-facing seats and younger kids as well. There are a few links (which I cannot post as I've just joined) which says leaving the passenger airbag on is fine providing that the forwards facing seat is pushed back as far as possible. This makes sense as kids car seats are so bulky they could easily end up too close to the dashboard if the seat wasn't moved back.

So there's no need to get an airbag disable, and I just need to find a booster seat which can fit in carbon buckets. Any recommendations?

[athomp04]

Try the trunki booster seat - whilst I don’t have buckets this was the most narrow booster seat that I could find for another car which I now also use in the front of the 911

[rrroro]

MissedTheApex said:

Thanks, that's helpful. It made me realise I didn't understand the rules around disabling the passenger airbag well enough. Rear facing seats is obvious, but I thought it was necessary for front-facing seats and younger kids as well. There are a few links (which I cannot post as I've just joined) which says leaving the passenger airbag on is fine providing that the forwards facing seat is pushed back as far as possible. This makes sense as kids car seats are so bulky they could easily end up too close to the dashboard if the seat wasn't moved back.

So there's no need to get an airbag disable, and I just need to find a booster seat which can fit in carbon buckets. Any recommendations?

No worries at all. I asked my mate which one he uses, and it’s a trunki like the chap above posted. This one doubles as a backpack too, Trunki BoostApak search on Amazon they’re about £55

[MissedTheApex]

Thanks for the advice! I've got one on order.

Another possible issue is that the exposed carbon where the harnesses feed through may be around head height for some kids. Which means they have no cushioning behind their heads in the event of a rear accident. Though this isn't just an issue with kids. Years back, my wife complained about one of my cars where the harness feedthroughs on the seat (on a standard car, not race seats) were at the same height as the back of her head.

An easy solution is to take a travel pillow and wrap it through the harness gaps in the seat to provide a cushion. Though there might be a better approach.

[n12maser]

worth giving RPM Technik a call - they've cracked putting rear seats in 991/992 GT3, not that this is what you're after, but given their experience I imagine they will have some ideas for passenger seat...

https://rpmtechnik.co.uk/blog/991-992-gt3-rear-sea...

[marky1]

MissedTheApex said:

Thanks for the advice! I've got one on order.

Another possible issue is that the exposed carbon where the harnesses feed through may be around head height for some kids. Which means they have no cushioning behind their heads in the event of a rear accident. Though this isn't just an issue with kids. Years back, my wife complained about one of my cars where the harness feedthroughs on the seat (on a standard car, not race seats) were at the same height as the back of her head.

An easy solution is to take a travel pillow and wrap it through the harness gaps in the seat to provide a cushion. Though there might be a better approach.

Could you let us know how it fits once it arrives? Thanks

[braddo]

If the trunki booster doesn't fit, get a bubble bum inflatable booster. I put a folded towel underneath one of these in a folding bucket seat. The towel helps with the lap belt positioning and also the child's head height versus the harness holes.

[JQ]

MissedTheApex said:

So there's no need to get an airbag disable, and I just need to find a booster seat which can fit in carbon buckets. Any recommendations?

I had carbon bucket seats in my old trackday car (Tillet Screamers) and went to an upholstery shop to secure some very firm padding which I cut and moulded to the seat. It lifted by son high enough that the harness straps were properly on his shoulders and it was a 6 point harness which stopped submarining, plus the crotch straps passed though the padding. I was happy enough, as were the scrutineers at several trackdays. Some may think it was dangerous and I was a bad parent, but my son absolutely loved the experiences he got and he's still here to tell the tales.

[athomp04]

I used the the bubble bum seat in my search however ended up sending at least two back as they deflated on longer journeys so gave up on them.

[braddo]

athomp04 said:

I used the the bubble bum seat in my search however ended up sending at least two back as they deflated on longer journeys so gave up on them.

I wish it had a valve, they're a bit tricky to seal the air in but thankfully mine doesn't leak.

[MissedTheApex]

Well, as I'd bought the Trunki Boostapak and Trunki Yondi Monkey car pillow, I felt I was committed to the GT3.

The Gentian Blue GT3 that was at Cambridge is now off the market, and I'll pick up on Saturday.

Insurance is the main niggle, as Manning's won't cover the car on a driveway unless it's gated. So I'll try Howden's tomorrow.

[edit] Thanks for all the suggestions, and I'll post some pictures of the seat fitting when I can.

Edited by MissedTheApex on Monday 26th February 22:32

[braddo]

MissedTheApex said:

Well, as I'd bought the Trunki Boostapak and Trunki Yondi Monkey car pillow, I felt I was committed to the GT3.

In for a penny...

[s_mcneil]

JQ said:

I had carbon bucket seats in my old trackday car (Tillet Screamers) and went to an upholstery shop to secure some very firm padding which I cut and moulded to the seat. It lifted by son high enough that the harness straps were properly on his shoulders and it was a 6 point harness which stopped submarining, plus the crotch straps passed though the padding. I was happy enough, as were the scrutineers at several trackdays. Some may think it was dangerous and I was a bad parent, but my son absolutely loved the experiences he got and he's still here to tell the tales.

Not suggesting anything but I was led to believe a harness for kids was a big no no, as they're neck muscles etc have not developed enough to withstand severe trauma should the harness actually be needed, actually the same reason I also only wear Hans when harnessed with helmet. The lap belt is designed to give enough to slow movement and reduce injury. I'm using a booster and lap belt in a GT3 bucket for this reason, rather than the 6point. I may be completely wrong but that is my understanding.

Edited by s_mcneil on Tuesday 27th February 11:27

[JQ]

s_mcneil said:

JQ said:

I had carbon bucket seats in my old trackday car (Tillet Screamers) and went to an upholstery shop to secure some very firm padding which I cut and moulded to the seat. It lifted by son high enough that the harness straps were properly on his shoulders and it was a 6 point harness which stopped submarining, plus the crotch straps passed though the padding. I was happy enough, as were the scrutineers at several trackdays. Some may think it was dangerous and I was a bad parent, but my son absolutely loved the experiences he got and he's still here to tell the tales.

Not suggesting anything but I was led to believe a harness for kids was a big no no, as they're neck muscles etc have not developed enough to withstand severe trauma should the harness actually be needed, actually the same reason I also only wear Hans when harnessed with helmet. The lap belt is designed to give enough to slow movement and reduce injury. I'm using a booster and lap belt in a GT3 bucket for this reason, rather than the 6point. I may be completely wrong but that is my understanding.

Edited by s_mcneil on Tuesday 27th February 11:27

Don't worry, that sounds quite logical and as a child of the 70's I'll be the first to admit that I do take a rather laissez-faire approach to safety. The harness is certainly safer then when I was a kid travelling round in the back of my dad's Bedford Rascal van sitting on an upturned milk crate - that was awesome. And the result is my kids are now adrenaline junkies - said son did his first bungee jump at 13, drove Oulton Park at 11, skis like a demon and has broken several bones downhill mountain biking. He's currently counting down to his 16th birthday when he'll be legally permitted to do his first skydive.

[pete]

Not sure if anyone has mentioned it, but depending what booster you put in the carbon buckets, be careful that it's easy to get to the seat belt release button when the (3 point) seat belt is done up. In previous GT3s like my 991, the owners' manual explicitly forbade the use of child seats in the front buckets, but not the normal sports seats. When I inquired about this with Porsche, they said one concern was whether a child would be able to release their belt in the event of an accident, as the belt release tends to be wedged between the booster and the bucket seat. Not being able to turn the airbag off was more relevant to rear facing seats, or very young kids in front facing seats.

In the way of anyone who learnt about child safety in cars in the 70s rolling around the boot of a series of Fords (even a Capri at one point), I ignored the manual, but I did put the seat all the way back to reduce the chance of premature kid/airbag interface, and I also chose my booster seat carefully. The Recaro from our family shed blocked the belt release, even though it fit snugly into the bucket, but a Britax Romer was perfect, as the belt guides / arm rests were very small. I had many happy drives with both my son and daughter in the GT3 - not at the same time, obviously - from age 5 upwards, and would heartily recommend anything you can do to get them hooked on noisy, fast cars before they're all in museums.