volvo station wagon 3rd row seats

[Unregistered]

has anyone seen/heard any stats on the optional 3rd row seats..that is putting them into an older station wagon?

[CPSDarren]

I would have no problem putting kids into the third row of current wagons that have factory options for these seats. You do have to be sure your child is within the age/weight/height limitations.

I would be very careful about installing any aftermarket seating row or device that is not fully approved and tested by the vehicle manufacturer. If the manufacturer of your vehicle has an accessory 3rd row specifically for your wagon model, that that would be essentially the same as having had one installed at the factory and should be just fine.

[bazanna]

But are you talking about the ones that face the rear or face forward?

[CPSDarren]

Most wagon seats that I have seen are rear-facing. As long as it is an option made and installed by the manufacturer/dealer for the specific model vehicle, then it should be safe for occupants within the listed weight/height ranges.

Here's a link on Volvo rear seats. It's a bit out of date, but still interesting:

http://au.geocities.com/ozbrick850/crash-rear.html

[bazanna]

that was interesting and illuminating. so darren, would you put your children back there? the ones old enough/big enough to ride without boosters, i mean......

which brings up another thought....hopefully, we can keep our kids in some type of booster or alternative restraint (husky, bodyguard, or otherwise) until the 80 pounds (or more, in some cases)...so if you have that rear seat that can hold 2 children up to 88 lbs each....i have to ask what is the use of the seat, really? it doesn't seem practical to get it if you will only be using it for about 8 lbs per child...

i suppose it'd be good for the times you are carrying extra children (friends, playmates etc).....my question there would be how much would it be used? my kids are still little so we don't do much carpooling or carting around other people's kids yet...so i honestly don't know LOL

if you needed the seats for everyday use, would you just get a minivan instead, for practicality reasons?

i like the letter from volvo, especially the point they made about the alternative of having kids bouncing around the cargo area unrestrained (EEK!). it's certainly a better answer to that. i also appreciate the points he made about the safety of the various seating positions being relative to the others. that certainly is true.

personally before i read that letter, those rearfacing back seats were freaky to me, i was worried about rearend crashes...and i already knew the relatively small number of those that occur...but still i thought that kids look SO close to the rear window/gate, etc. i guess that discussion made it a little less scary for me.....

lastly...my sincere apologies to this thread's originator....i hope you don't feel i've hijacked your thread LOL! :)

[CPSDarren]

In fact, rear-facing is a big bonus for those types of seats. I would have no problem putting my kids in one.

I agree about the limited use over the 80 pound Husky limit. On the other hand, a lot of kids near 80 pounds will not be seen in a child restraint, but would be happy in the back of a wagon...

We did consider a Volvo wagon with a third row, but the minivan was almost 10k less expensive and a bit more flexible.

[bazanna]

i was impressed by that site's crash stories.....i've been wanting a minivan, hoping to get one maybe next year....now i'm entertaining thoughts of the volvo wagons ;)

[jst]

At what height is it safe to use the third-row? What about booster laws?