Best convertible car seat for forward facing in a 1978 Super Beetle

[Unregistered]

My husband bought and restored a '78 Super Beetle convertible, we did install brand new seatbelts in it but it only has lap belts in the back. We have a 6 year old and a 3 1/2 year old and I will only let them ride in it if they are harnessed (it is not our main vehicle but there will be times that my husband will need to pick them up from school, etc). I was pretty much set on two Radian RXT since they will be able to be harnessed in them for a long time to come, but I'm curious before I order them how much room they will take up back there forward facing? Is it one of the larger seats or should we be ok legroom-wise?

 

[Stelvis]

Your 6 year old may have outgrown the harness on the Radian already. How tall are they and approx. what size shirts do they wear?

If they're going to be forward facing, no need for a convertible. You could look at the Evenflo Maestro.

 

[MommyShannon]

I too would look at combo (FF only) seats. The Frontier 90 is expensive but has the tallest harness available at 20.5". The Frontier 85 is 20" and probably going to start being clearanced. Depending on your lap belts, the 90 may not be compatible though. Another option would be the Evenflo SureRide. Its a convertible but has a 19"/65lb ff harness. Several less expensive options have 18-18.5" harnesses like the nautilus, Maestro, SecureKid, and Harmony Defender. Depending on your kids' torsos, those could last a long time. My DD outgrew 18" harnesses at 6 though and still fits the Frontier 2 years later. That's a lot of extra harness time considering boosters won't be an option after this.

 

[Unregistered]

Thanks ladies - I don't mind spending the money on the Frontier 90 if that's the seat that will allow them to be harnessed the longest. I looked up how the clicktight installation works - would it work with airplane style seatbelts (the ones that connect in the middle)? Or would that now allow the little flap to close?

 

[Stelvis]

It's not approved for airplane use. You'd have to test it out in person, so buy from somewhere with free return shipping.