3 across in '03 Corolla

[HeatherB]

Hi! I need to get a new seat for my almost 1-year-old to use in my mom's car. She has a Toyota Corolla, approximately '03 model year. My older boys (6.5 and 4) ride in SafeGuard GOs in her car. She likes them for ease of install (though I recently found one not quite tight enough for my liking) and ease of use. They're also easy to switch between riders as the harness adjustment is so simple.

Typically she has the GOs installed outboard, though if she needs to have all three boys with her we've put one GO in the center with the seat belt (much harder for her to do, though) and then installed the baby's Companion base outboard with the belt. This got the seat above the arm rest on the neighboring SafeGuard seat, and fit snuggly.

Now, though, the little one is moving to the Roundabout in our car, and we need something else. I would love to have something more compact, a la Radian, but it needs to be pretty easy to install rearfacing, and most importantly, I need it to fit beside the two SafeGuard GOs. Something with a long life like the Radian also seems good, so I'm not investing in more and more seats for her car. (My parents live nearby so the kids visit often, but they're not needed daily.) My mom's home is small and her trunk often full, so really compactness and ease of storage is a big deal.

Any input much appreciated! Thanks!

HeatherB

[safeinthecar]

The Go is pretty narrow, so I think you have a lot of options. The RN will only fit rfing in the center seat of a Corolla unless the front seat passengers are very short. Maybe look at the Truefit.

[scatterbunny]

The True Fit is very wide and doesn't sit up a a narrow base like Britax seats, so I don't know that it will puzzle well in a small car. The Radian or a Roundabout outboard would be my first two choices to try out.

[HeatherB]

Thanks for the input so far. Thankfully I can try out our RA and see how it works in this configuration. I had wanted to buy the RN when it first came out, but was put off by some install difficulties. The center position is definitely not an option for it in this vehicle, either, so I guess it's out again!

[safeinthecar]

The True Fit is very wide and doesn't sit up a a narrow base like Britax seats, so I don't know that it will puzzle well in a small car. The Radian or a Roundabout outboard would be my first two choices to try out.


I can fit the True Fit rfing outboard in my Corolla with a ffing RN and a Bodyguard booster though. The shape of the True Fit works really well with the shape of the outboard seat, letting it sit closer to the door than many other seats.

[scatterbunny]

I've had great luck with the Bodyguard in three-across, so it helps to know that was one of the other seats, along with the ultra-narrow Radian. :) However, the BG isn't available now, and IIRC, the Go is a bit wider than the BG and Radian (and the OP is needing a seat to work with two Gos, if I understand the situation correctly).

[safeinthecar]

I've had great luck with the Bodyguard in three-across, so it helps to know that was one of the other seats, along with the ultra-narrow Radian. :) However, the BG isn't available now, and IIRC, the Go is a bit wider than the BG and Radian (and the OP is needing a seat to work with two Gos, if I understand the situation correctly).

The Go, The RN and the BG are all 17 inches wide :)

[scatterbunny]

Right, but isn't the Go's widest point at the bottom/seating area? The Radian is 17 inches but only up higher, in the middle of the back portion. It is significantly narrower at the base/bottom/seating area (14.5-15 inches, IIRC). The Bodyguard is 17 inches wide at the torso wings, but significantly narrower at the bottom/seating area. Where those widest points are matters just as much as how wide the seats are overall. :p

[safeinthecar]

Right, but isn't the Go's widest point at the bottom/seating area? The Radian is 17 inches but only up higher, in the middle of the back portion. It is significantly narrower at the base/bottom/seating area (14.5-15 inches, IIRC). The Bodyguard is 17 inches wide at the torso wings, but significantly narrower at the bottom/seating area. Where those widest points are matters just as much as how wide the seats are overall. :p

When the bottom of the BG is adjusted as wide as it will go, it is the same width as the side wings. The side wings hit up against the widest part of the RN, and even with the BG base adjusted out all the way, I can have about 6 inches to reach between and buckle.

Really, the Corolla is just a weird car for car seats. Things you think will fit, don't, and things that seem like they won't fit, do.

It might not work, but it might.

Maybe I'll pop over to Lullaby next week sometime and try it out.

[scatterbunny]

Wow, I'm impressed--three across in a Corolla with the BG's base adjusted all the way out. :thumbsup:

[safeinthecar]

Wow, I'm impressed--three across in a Corolla with the BG's base adjusted all the way out. :thumbsup:

The trick is to put the BG as close to the door as possible and use the lockoff to hold it in place.

Funny thing is I can get several combos of 3 seats in there, but 2 seats and my 12yo is a no go . If I need to put all 3 kids in the back seat Danny has to go booster-less (He fits the car, but I don't trust him to stay still. If Becky is back there with him she makes sure he stays in position.)