URGENT HELP! child seat may be a dealbreaker for a '12 speed3

[mooserov]

Greetings,
My wife loved my 07 speed3 and was quite upset when I traded it in for the evo. We have been car shopping and she has ordered a '12 speed3. Problem is, the baby seat.

Has anyone here put in a forward facing child seat in their speed3? She's been doing research online and has some questions about the rear headrest being in the way/non adjustable/non removable. There are none available around us to try this on, of course.

IF this doesn't work right or is too difficult to do, it will be a deal breaker for her and she'll get the 4 door civic SI.

I want another speed!

Please help me with this, Pictures would be even better.
Thanks,
Mooserov.

 

[WillD]

It's definitely possible.

This is from the FAQ on Mazda's website:

Can I get a tether anchor kit and who installs them?
Mazda's tether kit is designed for front-facing baby seats. Tether anchor kits are offered free of charge by Mazda. Please contact your local authorized Mazda dealership for the part. The dealership can install the part for you free of charge.
To find your nearest authorized Mazda dealership, use our dealer locater

Why don't you take your child seat to the Mazda dealership and put it in one of the Speed3's they have on the lot to make sure everything works as you expect. That way you have the salesmen there to help if necessary.

 

[mooserov]

No speed3's within 100 miles, that's why we had to order it in the first place. The wife got a reply from mazda usa that said the rear headrests are removable and adjustable. That information is not in the online owners manual though.
The only thing to see now is if the tether makes the trunk space unusable. Things are looking better though.

FIY it's a black speed3 with the tech package. I've got a gen1 forge BOV from my old speed that will go in immediately. She loves the sound of it.

 

[SpoolinMS3]

I have my sons front facing Recaro seat installed and have never had an issue with it not being seated properly. The headrest is not a problem.

 

[mooserov]

How's it effect the trunk / trunk usability?

 

[SpoolinMS3]

No effect in trunk, the rear anchor is on the back side of the rear seat. No visibility issues what so ever. I'll post up a pic for you here in a minute.

Here are some pics of the view of the child seat from the driver's seat and one of the side view, and a couple of the back of the seat without the headrest and showing the room of the trunk with a 2 seat stroller loaded in.

 

[Remspeed3]

I have two car seats in mine without any issues...I searched and found one made by Evenflow that was alittle smaller than most, so the passenger side would still have plenty of room.

 

[mooserov]

spoolingms3 you are my hero.

 

[chiggins]

How well does a rear facing infant seat work with the 2012 MS3? Because of the new baby that is due any day now, I am looking at the MS3 to replace my 07 Si coupe. I like the MS3 a lot so I really hope the infant seat will work. If anyone has pictures I would appreciate it.

 

[Tyrdstorm]

I've heard the 2012's have different rear headrests, but since I don't have a 2010-11 I don't know what the difference is. Not sure if they're removable or not; I haven't tried. The 2012's fold forward for better visibility, do the 10-11's fold forward as well?

 

[CorkSport]

How well does a rear facing infant seat work with the 2012 MS3? Because of the new baby that is due any day now, I am looking at the MS3 to replace my 07 Si coupe. I like the MS3 a lot so I really hope the infant seat will work. If anyone has pictures I would appreciate it.

Works fine, I have had to try it out on the shop car a few times in the past.

-Derrick

 

[chiggins]

Works fine, I have had to try it out on the shop car a few times in the past.

-Derrick

How far forward did the front seat have to be to accommodate the car seat?

 

[Park2670]

Great info in here guys. Thanks.