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Confused about car seat regulations? Find baby car seat advice here.

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Confused about car seat regulations? Find baby car seat advice here.

Car seats

3 car seats in a row

36 replies

toastytea · 01/02/2021 17:47

If anyone has a pre- 2015 touran, can you fit 3 car seats?

Also looking at Ford galaxy/s max 2013.

Group 0, 1, 2 car seats.

Appreciate any info!

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toastytea · 02/02/2021 09:07

Anyone? I know there are other threads about this but none specific to pre-2015 tourans.

Would also be interested to hear what combination of car seats everyone has if they manage to fit 3 in the back!

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Howzaboutye · 02/02/2021 09:13

Galaxy and smax will fit them in

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toastytea · 02/02/2021 14:17

@Howzaboutye thanks, I did the the fit finder and for some reason my current car seats aren't compatible with an s max. I'm going to buy new seats anyway but thought it odd as they are compatible with the smaller touran.

Also more drawn to touran as it looks simpler and smaller. No use to me tho if can't fit every one in!

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BertieBotts · 02/02/2021 16:41

Is this article of use at all? You will need to go to part 2 to look at VW.
erfmission.com/car-seats-3-across-in-the-backseat/

It can be a bit trial and error with 3 across, as in you just have to try different things out and see what will fit. Tricky at the moment and/or if you don't already have the car!

I'd also look into contacting a local independent nursery store (just look up stockists of any car seat company e.g. Britax and then pick the closest one that isn't a chain) and/or somewhere like the In Car Safety Centre, as they have a lot of experience with things like this and might be able to help.

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BertieBotts · 02/02/2021 16:45

It might be that there are storage compartments in the S-max, and not in the Touran, or that the storage compartments are reinforced in the Touran or something.

If you have car seats with support legs they can't go onto non reinforced storage compartment lids, as the lids might snap with the force of the child seat if you had an accident.

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cakeallday · 02/02/2021 16:49

Yes you can. We bought it for this reason. We had a newborn, 2 yr old and 4 yr old.

We had an 07 plate and kept it for 10 years. I was sad to say goodbye to the piece of metal that carried us on so many family outings and holidays with my babies . Very versatile car.

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toastytea · 02/02/2021 18:04

@BertieBotts that article was very useful, I'm surprised I haven't already seen it! I have scoured the internet, what feels like every forum looking for info and could not get a definitive answer. That one showed a 2012 touran with 3 car seats sitting nicely in the back.

My seats need replacing so am buying a new car and seats. Would like erf but not the ones we have as they aren't great. Also a 5 point harness forward facing when time comes - not that common in the UK it seems.

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toastytea · 02/02/2021 18:07

@cakeallday ooooh this has excited me! I have my eyes on a touran but kept reading on other forums people saying that the middle seat was too narrow and that even if it is possible, it's too much of a squeeze!

Roughly how many miles did you get out of it?

I know it's not that long ago but were seats any smaller then?

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cakeallday · 02/02/2021 19:10

@toastytea can't remember the mileage sorry, we sold it because we didn't want diesel any more. There was nothing wrong with the car itself.

The middle seat is narrow but it was perfectly doable (unless you have massive hands and can't get them down the gap to do their seat belts up maybe?!). Baby in middle seat. Sorry I don't know if child seats were narrower back then. Good luck!

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toastytea · 02/02/2021 19:21

@cakeallday Normal sized hands here thanks, need to just be brave and choose one. I know buying a used car approx 7/8 years old I can't expect it to have no issues but I'm so nervous about buying one and the dpf goes or having a zillion recurring electrical faults that cost a fortune to repair.

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BertieBotts · 03/02/2021 09:52

If you want 5 point harness forward facing over 18kg, make sure whatever car you get has top tether. This is the part which is rare in the UK and has only been mandatory since 2013, so before then it's a case of physically looking in the boot.

OTOH if you rear face to 25kg, you won't need the forward facing harness part, you can go straight from RF to seatbelt booster.

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BertieBotts · 03/02/2021 09:52

Seats haven't really changed in size in the last 20/30 years. Except that the FF harness ones are wider.

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Quit4me · 03/02/2021 09:55

The only way we bought a car and could be sure they fit, was to physically take the car seats to a car garage and put them in when looking at various cars!

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toastytea · 03/02/2021 10:17

@BertieBotts I was wondering when the top tether came into play. Currently our seats are secured by seatbelts but are rearfacing. I may replace with seats that rearface up to 25kg. Thanks.

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poorbuthappy · 03/02/2021 10:20

Had all 3 of those cars.
Yes they all fit 3 in a row.
But there is more room in the smax / galaxy between the seats than the touran.

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toastytea · 03/02/2021 10:24

Thanks @poorbuthappy . Which was your fave to drive?

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toastytea · 03/02/2021 10:27

@Quit4me we're buying new seats so happy to buy seats to fit a car, just want to buy a car where it's definitely poss in the first place and not a really awkward squeeze!

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poorbuthappy · 03/02/2021 10:33

Oooo now this maybe controversial....

I think the S-max because it's the most sporty, but it's been the most unreliable car we've ever owned. Owned it for 2 years. We;ve had more engine management alerts than hot dinners.
But we can't write off Ford because the Galaxy has been an absolute workhorse for us and is still nice to drive.

Looking back the Touran was slightly less nice to drive, bit less solid (?) but after the issues with the Smax we are thinking of going back to VW!

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toastytea · 03/02/2021 11:02

@poorbuthappy very interesting! I've not heard that about the smax before. The touran definitely looks like the more basic car, that's kind of what appeals to me. I had heard that maybe it was less reliable. This is all based on me reading lots of forums
So between the galaxy and the touran, which would you choose?

I think this would be a far easier choice if I was buying a new car. When you're getting a car 7/8 years old you have to really weigh up the options.

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nuggles · 03/02/2021 11:09

I test drove the smax, galaxy and touran and ended up with the touran.

The fact that you can move each seat in the middle row makes it so much easier. I have the outer seats in isofix fitted maxi cosi pearls, and the middle row for my 6 year old in a maxi cosi rodifix attached by isofix and top tether.

We all love the touran. Personally for us it felt like the better drive and a safer quality build. Ford gave us options of two older smax's and both had so much wear and tear - just our luck with that at the time

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poorbuthappy · 03/02/2021 11:18

@toastytea
I think I'd have to go with a Galaxy...

We have family who have driven S-Max for a few years and they reckon that the models before 2014 were better made than the later models, but this is the model we've had nothing but trouble with!

The only other thing I'd say is be careful of garages who offer you a warranty,
We had 12 months 3rd party warranty with the SMax and the head gasket went after 6 months. We couldn't claim because the garage had gone bust. In today's climate this could happen to any garage, even a well established one. We should have remained firm on a discount as we were cash buyers.

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toastytea · 03/02/2021 12:14

@nuggles thanks, that's helpful. Was it a pre-2015 touran? I know the 3rd gen ones are bigger.

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toastytea · 03/02/2021 12:16

@poorbuthappy The last car I bought I was a cash buyer and they weren't interested in providing a discount. I think if you were to use a finance agreement you'd be more likely to get a discount as the dealer makes more money.

I don't think dealerships want cash buyers these days!

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Howzaboutye · 03/02/2021 12:35

Galaxy middle row seats are all full size by the way. Drop the back 2 down and you have a big boot.
Drop em all down and you have a van.

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toastytea · 03/02/2021 12:51

@Howzaboutye yeah the galaxy definitely wins on space, I just don't want to be struggling parking. It's quite tricky turning into my drive!

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