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I am considering buying a new 2011 Mazda CX9. Right now, we have two car seats, a FF Boulevard for our almost three year old and a Chaperone for our five-month old. We are foster/adoptive parents, and we were just told to expect a new baby in Aug/Sept from our children's biological mother. So, that means we will be in need of three car seats in the new car.
Here are some questions I would love to have answers to: 1. On the CX9, I know there are no official tether points for the third row, but there are two hidden bolt holes that are part of the steel/metal frame for the back liftgate. You lift a little piece of plastic to get to them. I only noticed them because they are in the exact same location/layout as the Acura MDX rear seat tethers. Are these potentially approved tethers in Europe or somewhere else as I have read? Or could they be used as thether attachments since they would fit the clip and are part of the metal body of the car? They are not flimsy like the tie-down clips, and are right behind where the seats would be, so angle wouldn't be a problem. The manual does not mention them and says there's no tether in the back.
2. If not, has anyone had a CX9 retro-fitted for tethers in the back? I wonder if there is a part that could be bolted into these holes to serve as a tether anchor.
3. The other cars we were considering were the Acura MDX and the Pilot, but we like the Mazda better all around and prefer to go with it if we can make it work. With that said, anyone have experience with a FF convertible, RF convertible and an infant seat all in any of these three cars? Would they all fit potentially on the second row of any of these? The MDX has three LATCH sets on row 2, but not sure if it's wide enough to fit 3 across. Could use the back row in it, though, for FF convertible.
Just seeking info, particularly on using something other than an "official" tether spot as long as it is lined up/angle ok and it is very strong. Thanks!!
Here are some questions I would love to have answers to: 1. On the CX9, I know there are no official tether points for the third row, but there are two hidden bolt holes that are part of the steel/metal frame for the back liftgate. You lift a little piece of plastic to get to them. I only noticed them because they are in the exact same location/layout as the Acura MDX rear seat tethers. Are these potentially approved tethers in Europe or somewhere else as I have read? Or could they be used as thether attachments since they would fit the clip and are part of the metal body of the car? They are not flimsy like the tie-down clips, and are right behind where the seats would be, so angle wouldn't be a problem. The manual does not mention them and says there's no tether in the back.
2. If not, has anyone had a CX9 retro-fitted for tethers in the back? I wonder if there is a part that could be bolted into these holes to serve as a tether anchor.
3. The other cars we were considering were the Acura MDX and the Pilot, but we like the Mazda better all around and prefer to go with it if we can make it work. With that said, anyone have experience with a FF convertible, RF convertible and an infant seat all in any of these three cars? Would they all fit potentially on the second row of any of these? The MDX has three LATCH sets on row 2, but not sure if it's wide enough to fit 3 across. Could use the back row in it, though, for FF convertible.
Just seeking info, particularly on using something other than an "official" tether spot as long as it is lined up/angle ok and it is very strong. Thanks!!