Silver'04

iTrader: (13)

Hey guys, I'm currently a 2GS owner and would like a little feedback from some of you LS guys. My wife and I have 2 kids now, and may (we should find out next week at her Dr. Appt) be expecting a new addition to the family. My older son is 16 and the baby is 2 1/2.....yah, big age difference. In any case, my question is if any of you LS430 owners can shed some light on if it's do-able to fit 2 car seats and a teenager in the back seat? I looked at my GS and it doesn't look like the teen would be a happy camper sandwiched between 2 car seats. How much bigger is the LS rear seat than an '01 GS? Also, does it make a difference between a '01-'03 vs. '04-'06 LS430, as far as rear seat space? If they can fit, I can't think of a better reason for me to step into a 430...lol. Let me know what you guys think. Thanks in advance

skassamali

Depends on how tall he is I think - there is the bump in between the rear seats which really impairs legroom for tall people. I have successfully put 2 car seats next to each other and had room for a passenger, so that's another viable option. I had purchased my LS since the backseat was roomy enough for 2 car seats but I didn't realize how much other crap 2 twins would need and the trunk space ended up being too little! That's the reason I have my LS for sale right now. I think the 01-03 vs. 04-06 are basically the same car on the inside.

caddyowner

When my kids were young, I found that it worked best to have the second carseat in the center and leave an outside position for a 3rd passenger. I don't know of modern cars (and latch system, etc.) supports that.

Once my kids hit about 16 they seldom wanted to go anywhere with the family, so the question was often moot as to whether one needed to have a vehicle that could hold everyone.

ultm8mind

iTrader: (3)

I have 3 kids 12 (5'7"), 7yrs and 6 months, I have one car seat but have used two seats whenever babysitting and used Caddyowners way. Had no issue fittin a third person in the back. When I've got the one seat in I put it in the middle with enough room on either side...

Silver'04

iTrader: (13)

Thanks for the responses guys, I appreciate it. My older son is about 5' 6" so he's not tall by any means. I guess the size of the car seat would probably make a bit of a difference too, as our Recaro seat in my DD Forester seems to be larger than my wife's Britax.

Haha +1 on the kid not wanting to go anywhere with us too. I think my wife will be selling her 2010 Forester XT and moving into a Toyota Highlander or a Honda Pilot, so seating in my car is not AS critical, since we definitely will be covered with either of those SUV's. But I know for a fact that I will not want to put too much mileage on a new car and would probably prefer to put the miles on mine instead. Silly, I know. Really, I think I'm just looking for some way to get the green light on selling my GS for an LS...lol

Jabberwock

3 kids in the house - time for a used Toyota van. Of course the 16yo will want to drive his own car very very soon. I

JBLover

I have a 5, 9, and 17y/o. 17 y/o is 6'2" and 5 y/o is in a booster still. It is not often all 5 of us are in the car together, but the oldest seems ok with normal 17 y/o complaints. I agree with the previous post about a van. We use to have an odyssey and it was a lot easier. Prior we had a Pilot and that helped a lot as well, but not as much trunk space.

mannye

With two 11 year old twin girls, I can vouch for plenty of room in the back for two kids and an adult WITHOUT car seats.

But unless you can put a car seat in the middle (and I think you can) you won't really be able to fit anyone over 5'6'' in the middle., especially not on any trip longer than 15-20 minutes. But if there is a way to get that car seat in the middle then no problem.

Skassamali...what the heck were you taking that filled up that cavern of a trunk? I've had the whole family packed up in the LS for a road trip to the keys with suitcases and even a small BBQ with room to spare! Maybe a ski trip would be different...lol~

Silver'04

iTrader: (13)

Nooo, say it ain't so......No soccer-mom mini vans here! Nah, the wife will be getting the primary "family" vehicle (Either a Pilot or Highlander, both with 3rd row seating), I'm just thinking my GS won't cut it, should we want to take my car out. I'm all for being comfortable with the SUV, but damn we got to roll in some style sometimes! But, if we take my car out for a drive, just wondering if it's even do-able with 2 car seats and a teenager. From the looks of some of the responses, I think it just may be. Thanks guys