Small-ish sedan that will fit three seats

[gbpmama]

We are looking at selling our second van and getting a small-ish sedan for around 5k (used, of course!). We wanna buy private party, though I'm maybe entertaining the idea of a dealer, since we could finance then.. hmm.. and only then would we probably want to spend 9k max.

We have two Compass boosters and a TrueFit (well, we will have them.. ). TF will be FF.

Any rec's? I'm just beginning car shopping. I'd love to get a Camry, which isn't small-ish, I know. But we are wanting good MPG with the gas prices (our current 2nd van gets 14 MPG.. ugh). But the Camry is out of our price range, as we'd like to get something 98 or newer.

Sorry for the rambling. Basically, if you have a sedan that is 98 or newer with space most likely for the seats I mentioned (or tell me what seats you've done) - recommend it, please. I hate to waste time going to check out a vehicle only to find the seats won't fit. :/

[TerisBoys]

I had 3 seats in my Chevy Corsica, which is the same size as a Chevy Malibu.

One thing to keep in mind is head restraints in the back - once your kids outgrow boosters, you'll need them.

I'm looking for a sedan as well - my van's getting up in years and the gas mileage is killing me right now (19mpg at $3.59/gal). Here's where I asked this question: http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.p...ghlight=sedans

And another similar: http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.p...ghlight=sedans

And the on-going "Three Across" thread: http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=33226

[scatterbunny]

I don't want to sound pessimistic, but the Compass seats are known for being pretty wide (both the booster and the convertible), and they don't even really have any wider and narrower parts that will "puzzle" well together. I wouldn't hold out hope that those three seats will fit three-across in a smaller sedan.

I am in the same boat, although I want to get rid of a 99 Windstar and get something like a 2001 Focus. Gas prices are killing us!

[BW1426]

I hate to be a party killer, but I don't think you're going to puzzle three across in a sedan with a TrueFit. They're wide. I can just get 2 turboboosters and a RF radian in my Escort. You're best bet for getting three across is either going to be an Impala or a Taurus or a Buick. Many Buicks have LATCH three across as does the Impala. Any smaller than that though and I'm afraid you'll be out of luck. (I'm in the same boat right now. I actually went to the dealer to test drive last night except my biggest issue is fitting a RF radian so I need the width for three across but also the leg room ) With that said, I was very impressed by the Taurus.

[gbpmama]

I guess I maybe mean a 4 cylinder sedan. DH brought up the Impala as a possibility, we were guessing it would be wide enough.

Will respond more later. Thank you all so far!!

ETA: We have two Graco TurboBoosters that we can use in place of the Compass boosters, if that matters.

[elle7715]

We drive a Chevy Cobalt...probably smaller than what you're looking for. My suggestion is to go to a dealership on a slow day/time and bring your carseats. The True Fit is really wide...I'm having a hard time imagining two boosters (other than Fisher-Price ones) in a small sedan fitting with anything but a Radian. You won't know till you try though. Good luck! Make sure you're able to buckle the boosters.

[lukensophie]

We used an Impala last week during my CPST class. I was surprised at how wide the back seat was. It was so wide, in fact, that the back seat had three sets of LATCH anchors. Most cars only have two because the anchors must be spaced a certain distance apart and there is no way to fit in that middle set of anchors. However, I'm not certain you will be able to find a 4 cylindar Impala. I'm pretty sure it comes with a standard V6.

My DH has a Mitsubishi Galant ('04). The back seat in it is surprisingly large. i am pretty certain I can fit three across in it in some configuration. I'm not sure about fitting the exact seats that you want to fit into it. The one thing that you do have in your favor is that the Compass boosters do have the moveable armrests to make buckling a little easier.

HTH!

Holly

[gbpmama]

Well, I'm now entertaining the idea of a V6.. as long as I get 18ish+ MPG, I'll be okay with a V6, I guess. I just can't compromise much on the car seats, kwim? It was suggested by a friend to look at Impala's, funnily enough.

But the Compass boosters are sold. They wouldn't fit in our Explorer nor my MIL's Camry (which has a pretty big back seat even). So whatever car we find will have to have TB, FF TF and TB. (or FF TF outboard if I can find a car with a shoulder belt in the middle for the TB)

[skaterbabscpst]

The Turbo tends to not play well with others in tight places, so they may or may not work either. The only way to find out is to try them.

[gbpmama]

Really? I was thinking the Explorer (97) didn't have the biggest rear seat but the TB's fit great beside the TF.

[BW1426]

You may want to entertain the idea of ordering two of these fisher price boosters. The width is adjustable and they are narrow to begin with. They could probably open up a lot more vehicle options for you and $60 for two new boosters could really help you save alot on gas mileage in the long run by allowing you to get a smaller sedan.

[Rosey]

I used to fit two roundabouts FF and a Turbobooster in the center in the back of my 2-door civic when I babysat in college. The TB was a pain to buckle but they all fit. Not sure you could do that with the Truefit though. You had to put the TB in the center first then the RAs with seatbelt installs.

I should ad, I don't recommend a 2-door with three kids, not too fun But you can check out the 4-door.

[skaterbabscpst]

We had Turbos for our boys for several yeas and the space issues wasn't that big of a deal until we got a '96 Cherokee. That thing is so tiny the only way all thre kids fit in the back seat is with Parkways. lol

[Marinesfamily5]

the Dodge stratus... like 2002?
they are pretty wide and have a good bench as far as car seats go. we had one as a rental and I wanted to keep it lol

[safeinthecar]

You can look for an older model Ford Crown Vic (maybe you could even find a Lincoln Continental in your price range, the Continental is a nicer version of the Crown Vic). My mom has a Continental and it gets 25-28 MPG (hers is a V8) I've had two Huskys and a Britax Bodyguard in it.