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Original poster

Who has to sit in the middle seat?

72 replies

RenegadeKeeblerElf · 15/04/2023 10:19

Help me out with a frequent dilemma in my house (car!).

Honda Jazz, 3 adults and 2 large teens. Who should have the middle seat in the back?

Person A - 41 years, 5'2, size 16. Aunt to persons B and C

Person B - 15 years, 5'3, slim with long legs, approx size 8

Person C - 12 years, 5'4, more of a medium build, approx size 10-12

When the children were in car seats it was easy, aunt squeezed in the middle. When they were out of car seats but still small it was obviously the youngest child. But now it's more tricky - should it be the youngest (person C), the skinniest (person B), or the shortest (person A)?

Disclaimer - this is a fairly academic discussion as person C accepts her fate as the youngest and just naturally takes the middle seat. I'm still interested in what is fair though, and whether that would change as the 'children' move in to adulthood. If it matters, person A has her own car but often chooses to travel with the other family when they are all going somewhere together.

OP posts:

Holliejollie22 · 15/04/2023 11:43

Just reread the OP the Aunt is 41 - well able to join in the middle seat sharing!!

Original poster

RenegadeKeeblerElf · 15/04/2023 11:44

napody · 15/04/2023 11:42

Strictly it should be smallest arse.... however, this.

Show quote history

Definitely agree with this which is why we make sure we distinguish between these two based on height not size!

OP posts:

BecauseLifecanBeHard · 15/04/2023 11:47

B&C alternate.

Interested in this thread?

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Families

BecauseLifecanBeHard · 15/04/2023 11:49

We have this but it’s a golf and the three individual concerned are 6ft.

47 adult always gets an outside seat. 14 and 16 alternate and bitch. The backside of the 44 year old and the 70 in the front are far to wide so can’t possibly join in.

RemoteControlDoobry · 15/04/2023 11:59

I don’t see what difference it makes how big someone’s bottom is because it’s one big seat - the middle bit of the seat isn’t smaller🤨.

Kids generally find these things easier and take things in their stride more than adults. I don’t ever remember being particularly bothered about being in the middle but these days, even as the driver with a car full of people I feel like screaming!

MichelleScarn · 15/04/2023 12:00

Eggseggseverywhere · 15/04/2023 10:20

Person A as the squatter needs to suck it up!!

Yep!

MichelleScarn · 15/04/2023 12:02

Posted too soon, does A decide she wants to be chauffeured about or is it offered to her?

Chewbecca · 15/04/2023 12:02

I don’t see what difference it makes how big someone’s bottom is because it’s one big seat - the middle bit of the seat isn’t smaller🤨.

It usually has less leg room too, having to put your feet either side of a hump. Plus sometimes an awkward seat belt and head rest. I hate sitting in the rear middle, even though I am short.

Original poster

RenegadeKeeblerElf · 15/04/2023 12:04

MichelleScarn · 15/04/2023 12:02

Posted too soon, does A decide she wants to be chauffeured about or is it offered to her?

It's kind of just assumed from both sides. Her car is smaller and much less comfortable so she only drives if it's just the two of us and I want to drink!

OP posts:

Doristhesparkie · 15/04/2023 12:09

In this scenario Person A. The middle seat is the least safe, therefore the kids always get the safer seats.
If there are three kids, then the smallest bottom goes in the middle.

nurseynursery · 15/04/2023 12:09

PussBilledDuckyPlait · 15/04/2023 10:21

My experience of ageing is that my joints get stiffer and more inclined to ache as time goes on, so squeezing into a middle seat is more uncomfortable for me now than it was when I was a teenager, so I would give it to the oldest person.

Evil thinking

PussBilledDuckyPlait · 15/04/2023 12:11

nurseynursery · 15/04/2023 12:09

Evil thinking

Show quote history

Evil thinking? What on earth do you mean by that? I understand you might disagree with my reasoning, but why is it 'evil'?

nurseynursery · 15/04/2023 12:15

@PussBilledDuckyPlait
I think it's maybe as I'm closer in age to A and feel for her aching joints

TeenLifeMum · 15/04/2023 12:15

Teens swap - one on outward journey the other coming home. Alternate each time. If the seat is flat with no hump then width doesn’t matter but the older adult shouldn’t clamber over to the middle.

nurseynursery · 15/04/2023 12:18

@PussBilledDuckyPlait
To clarify. You've said it is probably more of an issue for her comfort wise then you say she should have the middle (smaller, less comfortable) seat.

PussBilledDuckyPlait · 15/04/2023 12:19

nurseynursery · 15/04/2023 12:15

@PussBilledDuckyPlait
I think it's maybe as I'm closer in age to A and feel for her aching joints

Ah, I see what you mean - I phrased my answer in a misleading way, I think, sorry. I meant the older person should get the better seat 😂I see now that it reads as though I'm suggesting a stealth way of getting A out of the car. I'm older than A so totally feel her aches and pains.

Phoebo · 15/04/2023 12:19

Never the aunt. Youngest, sometimes skinniest can alternate so youngest doesn't get a complex.

MrsAvocet · 15/04/2023 12:19

Chewbecca · 15/04/2023 12:02

I don’t see what difference it makes how big someone’s bottom is because it’s one big seat - the middle bit of the seat isn’t smaller🤨.

It usually has less leg room too, having to put your feet either side of a hump. Plus sometimes an awkward seat belt and head rest. I hate sitting in the rear middle, even though I am short.

Agree.
I think every car I have ever been in has less space in the middle. It may be one continuous seat but you still have to fit in the space between the seatbelt anchorage and buckle which in my experience is often narrower in the middle seat and often awkward to manage. Plus as you say your feet are often either side of the transmission tunnel, and if the other 2 passengers are big you are being compressed a bit from both sides.
I am only just 5ft and fairly slim, and I've got 2 teenage boys, so if we have an adult guest, especially an elderly one and I'm not driving then I will sit in the middle in the back as it's the most sensible use of space. But I really don't like it and would never sit in the middle by choice. I don't think many people would. If all the back seats were really equal then you would see two passengers taking seats 1 and 2 rather than 1 and 3, or a lone back seat traveller preferring the middle wouldn't you, but I don't think that happens very often. Most people prefer the sides because they are more comfortable.

Violaviolin · 15/04/2023 12:27

The teenagers take it in turns.

TenoringBehind · 15/04/2023 12:28

not the aunt unless she insists.

b and c alternate

cherish123 · 15/04/2023 12:34

All young. Does it matter.

23456v · 15/04/2023 13:23

PregnantQuestions · 15/04/2023 11:42

Why can’t person A drive her own car? She’s not a skinny woman and the teens would have more room without her there. I’m the eldest of three children and I always sat in the middle seat because I have always been the skinniest and shortest (and the car seat needed to be at the end). I’m still put in the middle seat when I’m in a car with four other people.

Because fewer cars on the road is a good thing generally.

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