Poll: Kids & 911's

Strugs · 04:47 PM

OK - I am working on the wife - trying to convince her that putting our one year old daughter in the back seat of a 911 will not be putting her life at risk. The 911 will not be our primary family vehicle - I would only use it if I need to pick her up at her day-care facility.

I have read through the archives and found a few threads that discussed this issue in the past, and I know that there are infant car seats that will fit in the back seat. I am just curious how many of you consider the back seat a safe place for you children.

rstoll · 03-20-2002, 05:15 PM

Mine have grown into the driver's seat, so yeah I think the rear seat is a safer place for them.

Doug E · 03-20-2002, 05:26 PM

Thinking back on it now, neither my wife nor I really remember even discussing this question. Our 911 was purchased as a family car for weekend fun so from day 1 it was something we were all meant to enjoy (our son was 2 when we got our 911).

BTW, not sure which model you have but if it is an older one (ie., w/o airbags) then you might also want to consider using the front passenger seat since it would make it easier to get the child in and out, assuming your spouse is not along for the ride.

pwd72s · 03-20-2002, 05:29 PM

After having raised one? A female version, I might add...all I can really toss in here is the question of why. Why do people still want to have children? Probably because they haven't done it yet. And for those of you who care to slam me? All I can say is just wait until puberty hits. Can a sweet kid turn into a monster? Yes she can. Boys? I don't know...thank Gawd! Today? Just keep the little snots away from me...PLEASE! I'd rather play with my P car...I'm SO glad that "child seats" are no longer are part of my lifestyle...

ScotMcLean · ScotMcLean's Garage

Here's my $.02 and if you want the other $.98, your wife can contact mine

:

My twins (almost 5; +/- 40lbs) have grown up with their seats in the back of my 69 912. The lap belts hold the seats well and the luggage strap mounting points on the rear deck work well for the rear reinforcing strap, keeping the seats securely in place. I've transferred the seats to my daily driver 76 912E, and currently have the front seat mounting piece for the rear-facing baby seat installed for child #3 (7 months old). NOS Amco roof rack handles stroller duty. Not exactly a pretty sight all loaded up, but practical and the kids think riding in the P car is "cool daddy."

From a structural standpoint, I'm impressed with the rear seat area. I've dissected a 67 and 68 912, including roof pillars, etc. and the structure, triple welds, etc. is impressive.

Even more impressive are pictures of Josh's wrecked & rolled 68 912, and the rear area held up well (search 912 board).

Best of luck - Scott, 69 & 76 912/E

JohnnieA · 03-20-2002, 06:56 PM

My 1 year old son sits in the front. My wife sits in the back. If we ever have a serious accident, my harness bar will probably decapitate her.

APKhaos · 03-20-2002, 07:04 PM

Steady John - a little too much enthusiasm there on the harness bar thing........

svlTarga · 03-20-2002, 08:05 PM

My two boys, 6 and 3 ride often in the back seat. There is actually more room there than in my old integra for the kids. Width and height are a problem for adults but until the kids get larger, no problems.

As for the wife, she stopped me when I tried to buy a miata and recommend this instead beacuse it had room for the kids!!!

rstoll · 03-21-2002, 03:47 AM

A Miata?

Somebody get a rope!

70flatsix · 70flatsix's Garage

My two boys (10 and 12) would be po'd if they couldn't ride in the rear seats of the Porsche, especially on a sunny day with the targa top off and soft rear window down.

Robert Coats · Robert Coats's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Strugs
I would only use it if I need to pick her up at her day-care facility.

That's one of the many reasons why I bought a 911 in the first place. A pure 2-seater just would not cut it with me having regular day-care-drop-off-duty five times a week. My '91 C4 has airbags, so I keep the little ones strapped in the back. It's not exactly roomy, but they love the "cool" aspect of the car. The best part for them is making sure their friends see them getting in and out of "my dad's Porsche!" Even my lanky, 6'-1" 16-year old crams into the back now and then, just to catch a ride in the car.

Bottom line? It's a safe location. Your kids will think it is "way kewl." You get the car you want.

L Sjoberg · L Sjoberg's Garage

Our 2 boys (2 and 4 yrs) have always sat in the back. If it's just me and the boys, usually the older one sits up front. It does look a little funny with 2 adults and 2 kids crammed into a 911, especially since I'm 6'4" and my wife is 5'7", but you only live once.

svlTarga · 03-21-2002, 08:00 AM

I thought the miata commet would get me in trouble here. I'm just glad my wife had the sense to talk be out of it. I didn't think I would be able to talk her into the car I wanted (and now have) and when she suggested it the stars were certainly lined up right for me.

John Brandt · 03-21-2002, 08:18 AM

I took my little booger home from the hospital in a 911.

I might add that it's a lot safer than riding in between my mom and dad on the map box of their E-Type!

It's aso great to have a mecahnic's helper.

David Bahr · 03-21-2002, 08:48 AM

"Safe" is a relative term. Nothing is totally "safe." What level of risk is acceptable? It wasn't that long ago that all kids ran around inside cars all the time. The caution you can exercise in your driving probably more than offsets any difference in survivability in the back seats in an accident versus, say, a Mercedes.

The last time the whole family got into a 911, it was my dad's SC. My brother and I rode in the back; he was 19 and I was 16. We drove an hour each way like that! Cramped, but Porsches are worth it!

Strugs · 03-21-2002, 08:55 AM

This is all really good feedback. I am in the planning phase right now. I just sold my car (2 seater convertible - not a Miata though) because it was definitely not suitable for family duty, and I'm considering either an SC or 1980's Carrera.

One of the only concerns I have with the 911 model is rear crash protection. Most accidents in the city are the result of some idiot not paying attention and slamming into the back of another car. I would be afraid of all that engine mass coming into the rear cockpit. Anyone have any experience with how the 911's fare in such accidents?

Also - does anyone have pictures of their kids in the back seats that they could post on this site or email to me? My wife still doesn't believe anyone would put children back there despite the overwhelming poll results.

Many thanks.

svlTarga · 03-22-2002, 12:53 PM

We went through some of this when we bought the car. An uncle is on the volunteer fire dept by Sears point and most of their calls are car accidents. They see mainly drivers falling asleep and driving off the road, either into other traffic or into the bushes. He rates the cars low for frontal crashes (nothing but trunk and gas between you and the other car) but good in rollovers. I'm sure NTSA or the Insurance Institute has much better data.

There are lots of stories about the strength of the back end of these cars.

To get three point belts in the back you need to get somewhere into the late 80's (86+?). They make the child seat harder to work with, but help the security feelings with older kids.

I don’t have a picture of the kids in place, but here is recent one that might be close.

svlTarga · 03-22-2002, 12:54 PM

How do I post a picture larger than 65K?

Robert Coats · Robert Coats's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Strugs
Also - does anyone have pictures of their kids in the back seats that they could post on this site or email to me?

Sure.

boyo · 03-22-2002, 03:59 PM

Hey - that kid should be driving!

-Boyo