Best way to install my seats in an 02 prius

[Unregistered]

Hello,
I have a 2002 4 door prius and a 6yo forward facing in the harness of a Diono Radian R100 and a 10 mo rear facing in a Guide 65 sport. I believe I can only use latch out board? What would be the best safest positions for my girls?

 

[Nedra]

If you can get them to fit, the best scenario would be your FF child in the center (installed with the seatbelt and top tether) and the RF child outboard with either the seatbelt or LATCH. You will need to install them so that they are "independently tight"'(meaning you can take either seat out and still have less than 1" of movement at the beltpath of the remaining seat). If you can't do that, then it would be safer to install them both outboard. Be sure to check your vehicle and seat manual to determine whether you must install the Radian with the seatbelt regardless of the position -- at 6 years old, her weight may put her over the LATCH limit.


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[joolsplus3]

:yeahthat:

Just noticed the year, and hey, I had that car! Might have been an 03, but still, same shape.
If the center install is too tough (I remember having various amounts of challenge with several seats, one shaped like the Radian that took two very talented techs a half hour to install with the seatbelt ), then having both outboard is fine. Just do what is most convenient in terms of how much space the RF seat takes up (ie, don't put it behind the driver if it makes you unable to drive comfortably), and whether you have to deal with preschool pickups or dropoffs or a tight garage, etc.

 

[oakster]

We had this car (well, an '01) for a long time too. The center works well for most seatbelt installs. It's fine to do them both outboard, but I suspect you can also put the Radian in the center if you want to. We had a Cybex Aton in the center and a Britax Marathon rear-facing outboard when we sold that car, and the Aton isn't much bigger than the Radian, I don't think. The Marathon also fit well rear-facing in the center because it cleared the two front seats, so you could try the Guide65 center and the Radian outboard, too. Enjoy it--I still miss ours (and especially the mileage--new car that was supposed to get decent mileage only gets half what the Prius did...)