Anyone ever tried a Regent in an older VW?

[desiree_leigh]

I drive a 92 Passat - I was thinking of trying to get a Regent in the sale but I have no idea how it'll install in my car - we have long buckle stalks that are basically 2 pieces of steel braided cable, wrapped in rubber. (this is one I found on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/VW-B3-REAR-SEAT-BELT-BUCKLE-BLACK-PASSAT_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33725QQihZ003QQi temZ130135865277QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1VQQtrksidZp1 638Q2em118Q2el1247 )I can twist them down (though I've been told I shouldn't). This is not a permanent car - it's more of a "get through til we can buy a Mazda5" so if it's an absolute no-go I might consider buying it anyway and just waiting to use it til the summer anyhow. Anyway - long and short of it is - has anyone ever tried this out? Thanks!

ETA: DD1 is over 40lbs so we're talking SBP/recline bar :)

[UlrikeDG]

Bump.

I'm not familiar with this vehicle or this type of belt, but maybe someone else will see this.

[azgirl71]

I will see if I can find this vehicle somewhere to try it Des. No promises though. They may all be smashed around here.

[Defrost]

That's what's in our '01 Golf, actually. I've never twisted the stalks, but it's entirely possible that ours are deeper in the seat bight than in the older models. Have you seen my pics of the Husky install (http://www.car-seat.org/showpost.php?p=302814&postcount=14)? Does it look like the buckles stick out about the same amount?

[desiree_leigh]

That's what's in our '01 Golf, actually. I've never twisted the stalks, but it's entirely possible that ours are deeper in the seat bight than in the older models. Have you seen my pics of the Husky install (http://www.car-seat.org/showpost.php?p=302814&postcount=14)? Does it look like the buckles stick out about the same amount?

Yeah mine stick up at least 6", probably more. I wasn't able to get the buckle to sit inside the belt path of the Radian, so I'm twisting them (against recommendation) - thinking this means it'll be about the same for the Regent then - unless I can get it in the belt path.... hmmm

[Defrost]

Yeah mine stick up at least 6", probably more. I wasn't able to get the buckle to sit inside the belt path of the Radian, so I'm twisting them (against recommendation) - thinking this means it'll be about the same for the Regent then - unless I can get it in the belt path.... hmmm

You might be able to get the latchplate into the belt path on the Husky, actually. In my car, the latchplate rests *just* inside the beltpath on the Husky, but it's well outside the beltpath on the Radian. So the difference is that the Husky's beltpath is actually closer to the buckle than the Radian's.

Where did you hear the info about not twisting this type of buckle stalk? It doesn't seem like a good idea to go against this recommendation - it seems to me like the cables could be damaged.

[desiree_leigh]

I was given an email address to contact at VW and I emailed her - she didn't know but emailed someone else who said no, I shouldn't. I've also spoken to many different ppl at different dealerships who have all said yes, it's perfectly safe, the cables are stronger than webbing, etc. I'm not really sure who to believe, but I know that without twisting down these stalks, I won't get a carseat in there. Quassee has a Regent, maybe I'll have to try out hers in my car (or ask her to try it, I'm not convinced I'd know how to install it!) My dreams of a new car are still a ways off... Thanks!

[UlrikeDG]

I'm thinking this is actually a good question for the CPSP list (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CPSPList).

[Defrost]

I'm thinking this is actually a good question for the CPSP list (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CPSPList).

GMTA! :) I was just thinking the same thing.

[Gypsy]

I do think it's a good idea to take it to the CPSP list, however, I'd bet money that if you called a dealership and spoke to almost anyone there that you would be told not to twist the seatbelt webbing on the female end of a buckle stalk, you may be told that it would damage the seatbelt webbing, but we know through NHTSA and Safe Kids that that is not true, it's an acceptable "fix" for installing a seat as needed. This is just another area where dealerships aren't trained in CPS safety. There hasn't been any caution about buckle stalks or twisting them in any of the literature I have read (and I am a bit of an encyclopedia), and never a concern in the nearly 5 years that I have been obsessed with child passenger safety.

If you absolutely have to twist it to get a good install, I would do it.

[desiree_leigh]

The other option (aside from just not using my car, which doesn't work) was for hubby to put in Jetta/Goft buckle stalks, which would be webbing, and he SWEARS they bolt up the same - we haven't gone this route but if I was told that ABSOLUTELY it's unsafe to twist my existing buckle stalks, I'd be tempted to let him go that route. Getting a new car right now, not an option - in the near future, yes. Thanks everyone for the input - what's the CPSP list?

[UlrikeDG]

Follow the link in my post above. Its a yahoo list for CPS professionals. Some of the biggest "brains" in child passenger safety are on it, including some of the folks who helped write the tech certification curriculum.

[Gypsy]

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/CPSPList/

[Defrost]

There hasn't been any caution about buckle stalks or twisting them in any of the literature I have read (and I am a bit of an encyclopedia), and never a concern in the nearly 5 years that I have been obsessed with child passenger safety.

This is actually reassuring (you're the best encyclopedia - faster than Google LOL!), especially considering that it seems to be a very common type of seat belt for VW. There's a 9-year difference between my car and hers, and they're different models. I would think if this was a huge safety issue it would have been brought up before.

I'll go ahead and post the question, as I see no one else has yet. :) Plus, I've got a picture of the buckles I can include.

[UlrikeDG]

Thanks, Debbie. Let us know what you find out. (It may take a couple of days, but you could even get a response from a VW rep.)

[desiree_leigh]

Any luck Debbie? I hate to harass you....

[Defrost]

Any luck Debbie? I hate to harass you....

Nothing definitive yet. I've had two "sounds like a bad idea," responses and one "twisting isn't really a good idea even with webbed stalks, but it's better than a loose install," response. No one seems to know for sure, but at least one person has submitted a request for more info from VW.

The main concern seems to be that twisting the stalks will damage them, particularly as they are older.

I'll keep you updated if I hear anything more. :)

[desiree_leigh]

Yeah I can respect that there is a damage concern. I'm starting to wonder if I shouldn't just let DH do what he wants, which is swap out the buckle stalks for those out of a Jetta (which will be webbing). Or, if they bolt up the same, maybe for ones out of a newer VW so at least they'll be shorter and twisting won't be an issue. Gaaaah I hate these decisions! Thank you Debbie, I appreciate it!

[Defrost]

Yeah - we've got a broken retractor in our VW and I keep putting off fixing it because I just *cringe* at the idea of messing with the seat belts! :eek: I know it needs done, but dh wants to have my dad help him, and while I trust my dad completely to do the job right, I still keep putting it off...

[desiree_leigh]

Yeah DH has had the seatbelts and everything out before and put them back safely, and has had to switch out his L/S belts in his Golf to lap-only, so I trust him, I just wasn't believing him that they bolted up EXACTLY THE SAME. I wanted PROOF that they were identical, not just that he could "make it work". Just like the 88 Cabrio he bought the other day that he was saying he was sure he could "make something work for tether anchors".... (which I found out they actually can have tether anchors put in - amazing!) but I digress....