Jane Indy in VW Phaeton middle latch

[carbike]

Hi,
Could anyone give me their input on this - I'm getting a secondary carseat for my 5 yo. I want to get the Jane Indy b/c it seems to be the safest. However, my husband is getting a VW Phaeton and it doesn't actually have the latch for the middle rear seat but apparently the 2 inner latches are the correct distance apart to be used for the middle seat but it wasn't manufactured for that. Should this matter?
Any input would be greatly appreciated.
PS I know 5 pt harness is the safest and I do have a marathon for our main car but I need something easy to install for the second car. Thanks.

 

[BrookeSLP]

You'll have to read the car's manual to see if you can use the outboard LATCH anchors with a restraint in the center. Some vehicles allow it and some do not. You will have to follow VW's guidlines.

Brooke

 

[Kangaroos]

Just FYI... I saw the Jane Indy IRL today at a store. It was a lot smaller than I thought it would be based on pictures online. The red fabric was more like the rough fabric on the Turbobooster.

I wasn't as impressed with it IRL as I thought I'd be from looking at it online.

 

[lovinwaves]

Hi,
Could anyone give me their input on this - I'm getting a secondary carseat for my 5 yo. I want to get the Jane Indy b/c it seems to be the safest. However, my husband is getting a VW Phaeton and it doesn't actually have the latch for the middle rear seat but apparently the 2 inner latches are the correct distance apart to be used for the middle seat but it wasn't manufactured for that. Should this matter?
Any input would be greatly appreciated.
PS I know 5 pt harness is the safest and I do have a marathon for our main car but I need something easy to install for the second car. Thanks.

Phaeton.......I'm so drooling right now!!!!

 

[kelly]

I don't think VW allows it. Unless VW's manual specifically spells out that you CAN use the center anchors of the outboard spots, you cannot do it. So, if their manual only addresses the outboard spots and does not mention the center spot, outboard is all you can use.

The ONLY manufacturer that allows it (to my knowledge which is not up-to-the-minute) is Ford/Mazda. And, then only if this distance is a certain number of inches, and if its a Britax seat.

 

[joolsplus3]

Kelly's right... at the moment.


This LATCHed booster situation opens up a whole new can of worms. On the one hand, yes, we of course need to follow manuals, and on the other , yes, of course manuals have to be updated. Really, your child won't be depending on the LATCH anchors at all, they would only be holding the seat in place, and they certainly could hold the 20 pounds of seat while the seatbelt holds the 40-80 pounds of child easily. But if manuals and customer service reps aren't able to say *yes* to this usage, then a parent really has to think long and hard about whether they want to break the rule (of using LATCH without specific permission) or not.

In general, I'd advise not to do anything unless the manual or someone at both companies agrees it's ok in writing.

 

[carbike]

thanks for all the responses - finally got the car

and latch wouldn't work for middle seat so that knocks the jane out
what would you guys suggest for safest booster?
should i wait for the britax monarch to come out?
any other suggestions - thanks a lot

 

[joolsplus3]

I hear the Jane' is STILL a really nice booster (the plain Indy doesn't even have LATCH), so if you can find one in real life, you might decide to go for it anyway.
The Britax Parkway is very comfy and the easiest to buckle, the Recaro Start is incredibly comfy and hard to buckle, and yeah, might as well wait a couple weeks and see the Monarch...

 

[carbike]

Is Monarch equal in safety to Parkway?

I just spoke to Britax and they told me that the Monarch is no safer than the Parkway? Do you guys agree with this or is it that Britax reps can't say that one seat is safer than another? Thanks for any input.