I've searched the threads on here and on RL. Most of the threads talk about front-facing toddler seats which are good only from about 30+ lbs and on but there's not a lot of discussion regarding infant seats...

The wife and I are having our first kid in Nov and we're starting to shop for all the necessities which includes baby/infant seat. As much as I enjoy the 997, I also want to make sure the newbie is as safe as possible should something happen.

First, I've looked into the Porsche infant seat ($719 from Suncoast). This rear-facing option offered by Porsche can ONLY go into the front seat, and comes with the front-airbag deactivation kit (normally $221 by itself from Suncoast). The website indicated it would go into the rear seat, but I just confirmed with my Porsche tech that this is NOT the case. Worst case scenario, kid rides up front...

So I started my search on the internet for infant seats that 1) seemed to be more compact and 2) had the ability to be installed without the base (not recommended but with the size of a 997 back seat, might be the only option). My first lesson was to not pay attention to the pictures on the internet. Some of them are deceiving as what seems to be a smaller seat really isnt.

I found myself at Babies R Us to check out the goods in person. The first seat I looked at was the Maxi-Cosi Infant Car Seat. It looks to be pretty compact, but none of the infant seats are really all that compact (my guess is that safety and padding is of primary concern!) The Maxi Cosi looks pretty cool and can be belted down without the base. Based on my wife's research of baby seats, she also wanted us to look at the Graco SnugRide35 and the Chicco KeyFit30 because they had great ratings and reviews. I started checking out the SnugRide35 because it looked to provide good saftey support, plus it had directions on the side of the thing on how to install without the base.

I was about to ask if I could go try the seat in my car, but the salesman said "no seat can be installed without the base, it's illegal"... i asked him why there were directions on the side of the thing on how to do it. he came back 5 minutes later after asking someone else and said "you shouldn't install the seat without the base". So before i head down this path, I thought I would throw this out to the forum. Has anyone installed a rear-facing infant seat in their 997 without the base? First, I understand it would be a hassle taking the seat in and out, but for the price of being able to drive my car, it could be worth it. I thought I read a brief post of someone removing the bottom seat cushion and back to create more room, and then put a couple of towels to help level the seat. Is this at all advisable?

I'll keep this thread updated as a find out more information, as I'm sure others with newborns or upcoming children are interested as I am. I'm sure I will also get the "get another car dumba$$!" response... and we are also looking into getting a Honda CRV (reliable, great gas mileage, practical, etc....)

Thanks

 

Install any infant rear facing seat in the front seat with no base facing rear

Boosters in the back are also easy

the problem is the inbetween infant and 30lbs when they need to face forward but be in back seat. Especially if u have a cab.

 

i believe in CA, infant seats must be rear facing...

 

I think you're SOL until your baby is 30+ lbs. I have a 6 month old daughter who only weighs about 15 lbs... halfway there! Infants must be rear facing, and I don't think you'll find a rear facing seat that can fit in the back of the 911. You'd be surprised at how much room those things take up.

On a side note, we have the Chico car seat you mentioned, and we're very happy with it. But it does take up a lot of room, even in our station wagon!

 

You can go rear facing in the front seat!!!

 

+1. This was how I took my boy a year ago on my drives.

 

It just may be that i have to go rear facing in the front seat... That was the 2nd option as we were advised that having the seat in the rear is the safest option.

Does anyone know if there is an easy way to disable to front airbag or do I need to by the disable kit? Perhaps it's easier just getting the OEM infant seat? It just seems like a waste @ $700...

Im going to be doing some measuring this weekend to assess if I can get a seat back there...

 

if you have an infant they should not be heavy enough to activate the airbag. My 6 month old daughter with her car seat does not activate it so no reason to deactivate

 

you need to buy the disable kit. it's your child. it's a bit pricey to install but it's worth it and as the child gets older, you'll use it.

plus, you need the LATCH that comes with it.

 

Akim47,

I was in the same place you are now about 3 years ago. I wanted a safe, practical infant solution for my 997. I read a post on 6speed about a Maxi-cosi infant seat (baseless, name eludes me) and a stroller (Quinny Zapp, 3 wheel version) that fit in the trunk of a 997 (both only made in Europe at the time). With the help of my office manager, I ended up buying both the seat and stroller on Ebay through different sellers. The solution worked great except that as you mentioned infant seats take up a lot of space. Luckily my wife is petite and we made it work.

I purchased the Maxi-Cosi Mico Infant Seat (US version, w/base) about a year ago for my daughter and I know for a fact that you cannot get that seat in the back of your 997 with the base. It does not look like it has an option for it to function w/o the base but I really did not test it as it resides in my wife's Cayenne.

The Quinny stroller is a great solution as it 1) fits in the trunk 2) is compatible with the Maxi-Cosi. We still use that stroller today as a travel stroller. It's compact and nicely made. I would make sure that the US version (4 wheels) will fit in your trunk before you buy it.

I would recommend going to a baby store like Right Start if there is one near you to test out some baby seats and strollers for fit. They will help you bring the seat and stroller out to your car for fitment before you buy.

Hope this helps, good luck!

 

so did you ever find an infant seat that fit rear facing in the back?

 

No affiliation, but thought this was relevant and quite a bit cheaper. I'll be purchasing a rear facing seat shortly.

Cheap alternative - Porsche Airbag Deactivation

 

We have a infant and toddler and just wen through this whole scenario of research And car seats. We bought the Porsche rear facing and junior seat and returned both ... They felt cheaply made and took up tons of room.. So then stuck our current car seats In our cab and loved it.. We have a Chicco key fit 30 and it is rear facing and fits great in front and gives considerable room for my 5'11" wife to fit in the back , her only complaint is the seat back in the rear in not comfy .. We have a front facing seat In the back behind he driver.. I am 6'1" and we are all comfy.. We cannot wait till our infant becomes a toddler and can go in the rear.. The toddler seat which I highly recommend is a sunshine radian xlt. Which is now owned by Diono and is called a different model but is the same seat. I got the seat belt deactivation device installed for $620 plus $200 for the unit.. I am not clear at how necessary it is because it is true that the child seat is not heavy enough to activate the airbag. But why risk it..

 

Just picked up a 997.2 cab and trying to figure out what my options are.

My daughter is 16 months but is small for her size. 23 lbs or so and 32 inches tall.

She sits in a rear facing seat in my truck but in a forward facing seat in our cayenne. I figured she is big enough for forward facing since her feet hang over the rf seat and kind of presses against the back seats.

Sounds like ff seats are more common from the rear seats in 911s so which one will definitely fit and are the safest?

 

I have fitted a Graco Snugride rear-facing (without the base) in the back of my 2009 997.2 cabriolet. I removed the velcro'd reat seat squab to get more room. With the front seat adjusted correctly, the seat back provides additional support for the Graco and allows my wife to sit up front in the car.

The baby is now 14 months old and about 22lb, but she is about to grow out of this option so I am now looking for the next way to shoe-horn her into the Porsche.

I also have the Quinny Zap stroller with maxi-cosi seat that I share between the Merc and the Porsche, so one stroller works in all the cars (except the DB9, which is to all intents and purposes useless)