How do you feel about convertibles and carseats?

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wendytthomas

Admin - CPST Instructor
Staff member
Boy that's a cute car.

Without knowing statistics or anything, provided there was a roll bar or some other form of roll protection, I would be ok with it. The "just around town" argument doesn't really stand for me, as most collisions occur within a mile of home. I know what you mean, though, not out on the highway at 70 mph. It's cute. I'd probably go for it provided there was roll protection on the car. Especially as we use a tall Wizard which provides the height Piper would need above her head as well as TSIP.

Wendy
 

lovinwaves

New member
Boy that's a cute car.

Without knowing statistics or anything, provided there was a roll bar or some other form of roll protection, I would be ok with it. The "just around town" argument doesn't really stand for me, as most collisions occur within a mile of home. I know what you mean, though, not out on the highway at 70 mph. It's cute. I'd probably go for it provided there was roll protection on the car. Especially as we use a tall Wizard which provides the height Piper would need above her head as well as TSIP.

Wendy


Yes, I too hate that "around town" saying also, but the only safety concern I have with this car is the "open top". I think everything would be ok as long as we were never in a roll over.

That said....Cars are definitely not known for rolling over like trucks, suvs, and vans are, so when they DO(cars) rollover what is the dynamics. Is it usually at high speeds only? For some reason I can really only picture a rollover with this car going at high speeds, hence the "around town" comment. What do you think?
 

beeman

Active member
I don't think the open top is an issue. It's really the same as driving with windows open, as long as there is no roll over. The back of the rear seat looks fairly high, which will help offer protection in a roll over. I'd say go for it.
 

lovinwaves

New member
AAHHHH...for some reason I am just so hesitant about it. I just can't get over the whole "openess" part of it. I was hoping you all would say "NO WAY". :p
 

BlueDragon

New member
I agree with Wendy that a rollbar would put me at ease. However, off the top of my head I have to question that the openness is not a problem. Most parts of the car help absorb energy when there's a crash. The less car, the less stuff to absorb the energy. There must be studies on this. On the other hand, with the top down and the windows rolled down there would be less glass breakage too. But I think the energy argument is a stronger one.

I'm not a new-car-tester, so take my post with a grain of salt. I do know that it takes them years to test a car. They have to test it in all seasons, for example, and they don't typically ship them to the other hemisphere to do this... There must be good data on performance of convertibles in crashes.
 

lovinwaves

New member
I agree with Wendy that a rollbar would put me at ease. However, off the top of my head I have to question that the openness is not a problem. Most parts of the car help absorb energy when there's a crash. The less car, the less stuff to absorb the energy. There must be studies on this. On the other hand, with the top down and the windows rolled down there would be less glass breakage too. But I think the energy argument is a stronger one.

I'm not a new-car-tester, so take my post with a grain of salt. I do know that it takes them years to test a car. They have to test it in all seasons, for example, and they don't typically ship them to the other hemisphere to do this... There must be good data on performance of convertibles in crashes.

You have made some very good points, thanks for your input. I am just thinking about things flying around in a car crash. Glass, car parts, items from inside the car, etc.... Ok, I guess we will keep it on the list of preferred cars.....:)

Does anyone have any links or research on convertible car safety?
 

Jeanum

Admin - CPS Technician Emeritus
Staff member
No links to help you readily at hand, sorry. I loved riding in some rental convertibles on vacations or when DH rented one pre-kids. While fun, it's also a very vulnerable feeling to not have a solid roof over your head even if the top is up, KWIM? Convertibles are also exempt from having top tether anchors, something to consider if you plan to keep the convertible long term for when you turn your kids FF. I think they aren't required to have top tether anchors because the usual location in a coupe, above the rear seat, is where the convertible top lowers and stows when you put the top down. A convertible is also unlikely to be equipped with side curtain airbags. I wouldn't really feel comfortable having my kids ride in a convertible at all, but that's just me, the safety freak. :rolleyes: I don't even want a car with a sunroof anymore as a primary vehicle, lol.
 

lovinwaves

New member
Thanks Jean, you have brought up SOOO many things I never thought about.

The Eos though is a hard-top convertible, so that is a plus, but you are right about it not having top tethers. So definitely something to think about for forward-facing. It does have integrated rollerover protection system in the headrests. That could be a problem for some carseats that require the headrest to be removed for correct installation. The headrests are removable OR adjustable...:(
 

ccjones

New member
Yeah, I agree with Jean. I don't want my kid to be in any kind of convertible car, either. The only exception is a Jeep Wrangler, simply because it sits higher off the ground and has a fighting chance if it gets hit by another SUV. Also, since Jeeps are designed to roll and they come with roll bars, I wouldn't have the fear of anyone's head hitting the pavement in the event of a rollover, even without curtain airbags.

Like Jean, I also am leery of getting a car with a moonroof, even though they are made with the same glass as a windshield so they won't shatter. In fact, the Pilot I'm going to buy (4WD EX-L) comes standard with a moonroof, and to be honest, I'd rather not have one. But I want the leather seats, and this is the only trim that has leather seats! LOL

Colleen
 

BlueDragon

New member
I am just thinking about things flying around in a car crash. Glass, car parts, items from inside the car, etc....

Hey, you're right about that. With the top down, if you accidentally have any hard toys in the car that you shouldn't have, chances are in a crash, especially a rollover, they'll just fly out rather than bounce off the roof and hit the passengers. But that's speculation, and a minor point.

True we don't feel as secure when there is nothing on top of our heads, but roll bars are great things, and I'm sure they've designed the bejeezers out of them.

I hope you can find that safety information. Why is it so hard to find these links? Are we supposed to just believe that if it's on the market it's safe? We all know better than that...
 

Morganthe

New member
I don't know about the EOS spec and the link decided it didn't like me. But on a lot of German convertibles, there's a pop up roll bar that is 'smart' enough to come out in a rollover. Perhaps the EOS has one?

A couple of years ago, there was a NOVA episode where a camera on an autobahn had recorded an accident. A Mercedes convertible came flying around a corner, missed the roadway after oversteering, went up an embankment and rolled over at least 4 times down the road. After it stopped, driver emerged, dizzy but uninjured. He staggered around, then kind of shook his head and was completely ok. In seconds, the roll bar had extended into place as soon as the wheels left the ground. Very impressive. Considering that corners on the autobahn are designed for very high speeds, he had to have flipped at around 100mph. I think they said he had dozed off or was looking downwards. The episode topic was about how technology had made our lives less dangerous and delved into the technology of this pop up roll bar that was completely hidden when unneeded.

Pretty cool, but it still didn't make me want to run out and drive a convertible. :p I'd rather keep my skin fresh, young, and hydrated. Sun and wind is no fun... and why get a convertible only to keep the windows and top up all the time? :rolleyes:

I can't advise you what to do or say, other than it really depends on how strongly you feel about this car. If you dislike the idea of it, then use the battle veto. In my household, since we occasionally drive the other's car, either one can overrule a purchase due to practicality or absolute dislike. On the other hand, rarely do we ever disagree on vehicle taste, so disagreements don't ever seem to happen. :cool:
 

Jeanum

Admin - CPS Technician Emeritus
Staff member
Melissa/Lovinwaves, FYI, the new January issue of Car and Driver has a review of the Eos. I haven't even had a chance to read the article but noticed the blurb on the cover and remembered your thread here, lol. You may want to seek a copy out. I don't know if you can view C&D reviews online at www.caranddriver.com, or if it's by subscription only, but wanted to let you know. :D
 

lovinwaves

New member
Melissa/Lovinwaves, FYI, the new January issue of Car and Driver has a review of the Eos. I haven't even had a chance to read the article but noticed the blurb on the cover and remembered your thread here, lol. You may want to seek a copy out. I don't know if you can view C&D reviews online at www.caranddriver.com, or if it's by subscription only, but wanted to let you know. :D

Hey Jeanum, I'm already on top of that. Thanks for thinkin' of the thread!! I stayed awake until 1:00am last night reading my new Motor Trend that just came in the mail. Of course I couldn't put it down until I read my fav's on the Final List for Car of the Year! I am going to do a post about the new Hyundai and Kia.

That Eos is so appealing except the price. Dh is now just thinking about the Golf GTI. He likes to play when he drives, if you KWIM! LOL I think he kind of likes we have the ODy now, because this means he doesn't have to have a "family" car like his Passat anymore. Silly boys...:D
 

Jeanum

Admin - CPS Technician Emeritus
Staff member
LOL, my DH is so not into cars and doesn't care what he drives as long as he has enough head room, but he's always trying to upgrade or replace the computer/video game system/electronic whatever. He's a geek who views his car as an appliance and necessary evil, lol. I even taught him how to drive after we were married, lol.
 

lovinwaves

New member
LOL, my DH is so not into cars and doesn't care what he drives as long as he has enough head room, but he's always trying to upgrade or replace the computer/video game system/electronic whatever. He's a geek who views his car as an appliance and necessary evil, lol. I even taught him how to drive after we were married, lol.

OH My, yes we have total opposite husbands.LOL!! I can't really say I wish DH wasn't sooo into cars, because then he would never understand my obsession LOL!:D
 

twokidstwodogs

New member
Melissa, my older daughter has been in a convertible once in her life, and both of us hated every minute of the drive. She was about 18 months old and was FF in a Roundabout (yes, over its 30 lb RF weight limit already!) . We took her out in my MIL's convertible to get ice cream. I hated it because I was afraid (irrationally, I'm sure) that something would fly up and hit her, or that we'd get in accident. She just seemed so vulnerable. I don't know why she hated it; I'm guessing that she didn't like the wind in her face. Then again, she's pickier about such things than most kids.
 

skipspin

New member
My DD has only been in a convertible once, and that was when she and I went to test drive a convertible VW for fun. (I had owned a bug before and really like them.) She loved it and so did I, but she is used to riding in our Jeep with the top off.

We do own a Jeep Wrangler that DD rides in all the time with the top on or off. She has loved it since she was little and has always fallen asleep faster in that car than anywhere else. The other days she begged to take "my Jeep." We are even considering trading my Saturn Vue (which we really like) on the new 4 -door wrangler. It has side airbags as an option and lots of ther great safety features that our 97 doesn't have and would be my daily driver. WE are in FL so we would use it all the time with the top off!

Anyway, I am comfortable in the Jeep with her, but it is different than a convertible in a lot of ways. I would have to do more research to decide for myself about one for all the time. I'm sure I would let DD ride in one now if it came up for some reason, but that's different than all the time.
 

groovymom2000

New member
DH got one, and the kids ride in it fairly infrequent;y--except for DS(6 today!) who rides in it in the morning to school--about 4 miles away. I don't take them on the highway with it--mostly because DS(2) doesn't like that much wind, but the older one loves it. It has a pop up roll bar, and does have tether anchors. Ya'll are familiar with my epic saga of finding an harness seat for the younger one,(safeguard go), but DS #1 rides in a Parkway in there. I was not thrilled, but it's not a primary vehicle, and it wasn't my decision. I think we've ridden in there all together about 3 times so far? I'm ok with it, but a bit leery at the same time. If there were no top tethers and no roll bar it would be a no-go, though. I have to say it's a lot of fun, though. Sunscreen and hats are a must! :D
 

LuvBug

New member
I dont have much to say as I have only ever been in a convertible once lol! But I remember something about those types of headrests being an issue for installing seats, so look into that. I cant remember what the problem was or where I read it but it jumped out of my memory for some reason. And it may not be on all of them but the one I read about.

Man dont you hate when you know you remember something but cant remember it? :confused: lol!
 

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