Does anyone have a Galaxy ...

[millie1]

If so, do you know whether the back row of seats take car seats such as Maxi-Cosi Rodi? We looked at the Galaxy today but forgot to have a good look at the seat belts in the third row - from what I can recall they had some sort of a hook on the end as well as the standard catch.

Also ... do you think a baby seat (newborn) could be safely used in the middle seat of the second row? Expecting twins and trying to work out access to back row for other 2 children when the twins are in their seats. First thought was twins on outside of middle row and boys climb over folded-down middle seat BUT a few days of this and the back of the seat would be filthy dirty. Also makes it very hard for us to access back row if we need to. If the babies sit in outside and middle seats, then other outside seat can be tipped forward for rear row access. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

I've got a Seat Alhambra (same car,different badge). Rearmost belts are lap & diagonal, I assume you mean the clip where it anchors to the floor-as far I can tell that's to use if you take the seats out and need to secure the load. In my car it only has a lap belt in the middle,but dd4's (22 months) seat will fix with that. The seats all fold down quite easily so access can be via the side door and over the folded seat to the rear or I sometimes make mine get in via the boot. It also depends how good they are at fastening their own belts-I found it easier to reach through the boot and fasten from behind. The Britax site is also good for telling you which of their seats will fit where in different cars.
Hope that makes sense.

We've got a Galaxy (2001) and I've got an elder DD and younger DTs hence the Galaxy! We currently have a booster seat for DD1 on one outside seat and a Maxi Cosi Priori on the middle and other outside seat for DTs.

Not sure what you mean about the hook on the end of the seat belt. But the one for the middle seat obv comes down from the ceiling, and works fine to secure a baby seat. We had DTs in the same middle and outside seat in Maxi Cosi Cabrios when born with no problems at all.

I think keeping an outside seat to fold down sounds sensible, esp as will mean babies are less disturbed by clambering children if they are asleep.

Thanks for the info ... especially good news about the seatbelt which suspends from the roof being suitable for a baby seat. From what you say, theslownorris, I think it sounds like the rear row is fine for carseats. We hope to go for a test drive soon and will try the seats at that stage to see how solid it all feels.

Do you both like it to drive? It seems so big compared to our Passat but I guess I'll get used to it!

I love my car . It did take a bit of getting used to but now I hate having to drive dh's Golf-it feels like a pedal car. Mine's a diesel so not always quick off the mark but it's great around town and on longer journeys. I drove from Dorset to Lincolnshire and back towing a trailer with no problems. I would definitely have another one.
Mine does have a VW engine though-dh won't touch Ford (he's only ever had VWs for himself) so I don't know if engine-wise it compares directly to the Galaxy.

Must go and look at the Seat on Autocar, theslownorris. We're tossing up between the Galaxy and VW Touran ... I've had VW's for the last 6 yrs and love the build and quality but have read that the Touran is even more expensive to service than the Passat. And my Passat has cost a fortune to service at the VW dealer although it hasn't had any problems. Must say though, that the Galaxy has a nicer, and more car-like, dash than the Touran. Decisions, decisions.

Do you need all the seats? We had a galaxy and removed the centre seat for a while. Car felt incredibly spacious and kids could get in and out of back really easily. Depending on ages of kids in back they may find it tricky to maneuvere the side seats forward. Our kids also liked to get in and out of the back row via the boot.

i did but i ate it, arf!

I have the alhambra. All the seats are pretty much identical, so you can put the seats anywhere you like really. I have one of the rear seats in the loft to make some boot space for the double buggy. I have the dts next to each other, one in middle and one behind the passenger seat, so I can see them easily. dd sits behind me on a booster. Her seat tips up and forward like in a three door car, so it's easy for ds1 get in and out of his seat behind her. But it won't tip if you have an infant car seat in it and the seat belt plugged in.

I loved the car, but have just come back off hol where I drove a chevrolet uplander for a fortnight and now I'm falling out of love with it. The visability isn't great when driving it, and its starting to feel a bit cramped as the kids get bigger. Plus the chevrolet had far better access to the back row for buckling belts, and a bigger boot.

I have the petrol sport version, and it is quite nippy for an MPV, but fuel consumption is crap, even on long runs.

the chevrolet also had miles better petrol consumption. I could get 500+ miles out of a tank even though it was a 4 litre car. I only get about 270 out of mine, and it costs about £75 to fill.

Allmytimeonmumsnet ... No, we don't need one of the seats but we have been told that the seats don't actually lift out, only that you can fold them 'flat' ... and flat is actually quite elevated as opposed to into the floor. With the Sharaon, on the other hand, the seats actually lift out. Was your Galaxy one of the new models ... I'm wondering whether that's something they changed when they gave it a facelift last year?

Off to look the Chevrolet up Chopster.

I find mine fine to drive, I also generally keep one of the seats out of the car, would echo what others have said about poor fuel consumption, I also find it goes through tyres very quickly.

I think the way everything works depends on the year and model.

Some older ones only have a lap belt in the rear middle seat; we've got an '04 Galaxy which has a proper 3-point belt, so it works just like the outer two. All our 5 rear seats lift out, making it quite van-like if you need to ferry big stuff around.

I was quite nervous when we got the Galaxy, as it was much bigger than the cars I'd driven before. I love it now though - it's been totally reliable, tows our caravan well and is a really good all-round family car.

Geogteach ... are you driving the Galaxy or something else ... sorry, I've got lost! We've heard the Galaxy does quite good mpg with a diesel engine whereas the Sharan struggles to do 30mpg.

Good recommendation Birdly!