Tips for installing Regent in Neon...

[daycaremom2002]

After talking with my friend and comparing information from this great site, we will be going to get her little one a Regent next week. She really has no choice in this matter. He is now 38 pounds.:(

I am pretty sure she said her car is a 2000 or 2001 Neon. I have NEVER even seen a Regent in person. Do you think it is ok to install it with the SBP right away? That way we don't have to worry about reinstalling it next month.

Does anyone have any experience installing this seat in this car? Any tips? What about the recline bar? I have seen mention of pounding it in with a rubber mallet? Will I need to bring one with me? Do I put the recline bar in the seat cushion part way up, or does it go towards the bight of the seat?

I am going to install the seat at the store to make sure it will go in tight. I think he will probably need to be outboard, so that she can get him into the seat, and she can use the other side for another passenger.

Any suggestions on installation of the Regent will be appreciated. We really need to make this seat work. He is already to wide for the MA, and is almost to heavy for the Cargo that he is in now.

Thanks everyone. :thanx!:

[Jeanum]

I don't have real specific install tips, but I do remember a tech on another board who drove a Neon and had to tilt her child's Husky sideways to fit it through the rear door opening. Then all was good once she got it through the door and could position the Husky upright on the back seat. Hopefully others will have more specific pointers for you. :)

[nisi]

I don't have real specific install tips, but I do remember a tech on another board who drove a Neon and had to tilt her child's Husky sideways to fit it through the rear door opening.

:ROTFLMAO:
I'd forgotten about that! Not sure I'm the tech you remember, but I do remember doing the same thing. Getting it in the door was probably the hardest part. :)

It's been a while since I put the Husky in there, but here's what I remember. Keep in mind mine was a 1998 so it'll be slightly different from your friend's.

I wasn't happy with short belt path install in the center, but I can't remember exactly why. Long belt path wasn't "legal" because I had a lap belt in the center.

Outboard seat belts were just barely long enough to install long belt path without recline bar.

Recline bar was weird - in the center it kind of stuck into the crack in the seat where it folds down for trunk access, but it worked ok. Outboard, I couldn't use it (even if the seatbelts were long enough) because the fold down crack thing got in the way. Hard to describe, but hopefully you won't have to see what I mean.


Good luck.

[Jeanum]

LOL, you too, eh Nisi? :) Thanks for chiming in with much more specific advice. :thumbsup: I think it was a tech named Peggy/inmomx3 on iVillage who also had a Neon and a "sideways to fit through the car door" Husky. :D

[heathernick06]

We have a regent in our 2004 Neon, but I have never tried to install it outboard. I also use LATCH instead of a seatbelt so I can't help you out there, sorry. But it does fit really well with latch in the center, and the recline bar wasn't a problem, no need to pound it.

[daycaremom2002]

Thanks everyone for the tips. I am not sure now if she is even going to be able to afford it yet. We are starting to look at the Apex. Thanks for the tips though. Eventually, he will have to be in the Regent in that car.