Question Rear facing in Mazda5 confusion

Hi. I need some help here. We just bought a 2007 Mazda5. We have a 4 year old in a Nautilus and a rear facing almost 2 year old (about 25lb). We need the drivers seat to be all the way back and my husband likes it to be a bit reclined. The seats we have available are an older Radian which rear faces to 30lb and a newish scenera (35lb). I installed the scenera using the latch and one noodle and it is rock solid. It's not at 45% though and I'm confused about whether that's OK or not. The drivers seat is not touching the scenera but only has about 5mm to spare. Is that OK?

I know I could get the angle adjuster and use the radian but I only have 5lb to play with and as we're in Canada, I don't even know if I could get it here. Does anyone know if it works out in a mazda5?

I could put the rear facing child behind the passenger but my 4 year old can't stop putting his feet on the seat and I think that would by so annoying for the driver that it would actually be dangerous.

On a slightly different note, can any one speak to the safety of putting a child in the third row. My friend was recently rear ended and their car was a write off. I keep thinking about seeing a car about to slam into the car when my child is only a foot away from the back of the car. Am I being irrational?

I can't speak to your specific car, but statistically the 2nd row would be safER than the 3rd row. For the exact reason you said.

Snugglebugz.ca has the angle adjuster (free shipping if you up your order to $25) - http://www.snugglebugz.ca/radian-angle-adjuster.html At the younger child's age, it could take a very long time to gain that extra 5lbs. So that might be worth it.

It's ok to have 5mm between the Scenera and the seat. Technically Dorel insists on a 45* recline (or whatever angle results when the line on the seat is level to the ground). Many people choose to install it more upright instead.

So...I guess you need to decide what will work best for you, and what you're comfortable spending money on. I hope the above helps a little.

Do you still have space between car seat and Mazda seat when both seats are occupied? I do when my seats are unoccupied w/ such a little distance, but once both seats are occupied, the space was gone and it was touching.

I have a friend that had an older RN and a Mazda 5, she had it RF in the 3rd row of seating w/ the seat in front of it folded down (out of the way) and the other 3rd row seat folded down so she could put her guy in/out and have the space she needed.

Also, Radian allows bracing (seats to lean on each other), does Mazda? Sorry, I only know that Toyota does not. So, if it does, could you put the Radian on the passenger side middle row of seating (safer)? Then, you may or may not need that Angle adjuster anyway. I'm *sure* we've had a RF seat in that place in my friend's car b/c I remember riding w/ my seat more forward than I'd have preferred to accommodate it, plus, w/ 4 kids in there, there would always have been at least 2 kids RF. At one point 3 kids RF.

tam