What is the best used sedan for rearward facing carseats.

Kinja'd!!! by "WRXasaurus" (wrxasaurus)
Published 11/18/2017 at 20:32

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Kinja'd!!!

My 2006 WRX is currently my daily driver and since I finally made the transition from shift work to days I now have to pick up my nearly 2 year old boy from daycare. With the rear facing carseats it is nearly impossible to get him buckled up, the opening between the back of the door and the carseats is barely large enough for me to fit a squeeze in. Now at 2 years you can turn the car seat around but after doing a bunch of research on it my wife and I have decided to wait a while longer to turn him around. And this is further complicated because my wife and I are expecting are second child in April. So this brings me to a conundrum. The WRX is paid for and is not going to be sold since it’s future plan is to be built into a Factory Five 818c. I could daily the Tundra but I drive 40 miles round trip to work and back every day.

Kinja'd!!!

So I guess I am looking for suggestions for a new work car. Let’s say my budget is under $20,000. I live in northern MN but have done the AWD thing and am ready to try something different like a RWD sedan. I could be persuaded for FWD. So if anyone had any ideas for cars that work with 2 rear facing carseats please let me know in the comments.


Replies (39)

Kinja'd!!! "OPPOsaurus WRX" (opposaurus)
11/18/2017 at 20:36, STARS: 0

If it’s a DD commuter just get something with good mpg but my real answer is sick with the WRX as I wish I did

Kinja'd!!! "CB" (jrcb)
11/18/2017 at 20:41, STARS: 1

A minivan.

Alternatively, Legacy 2.5GT?

Kinja'd!!! "Tristan" (casselts)
11/18/2017 at 20:41, STARS: 0

How tall are you? The rear-facing car seat forced me to part ways with a really nice 2002 Jeep Cherokee Overland that I liked an awful lot. Never knew such a big vehicle could suddenly get so tiny.

My daily commute is roughly 50 miles round trip, and I daily a 3/4 Suburban. I also recently started carpooling with a co-worker who lives near me...

Since you’re in No MN, I suggest something with an extremely good heater and stainless steel brake lines.

Kinja'd!!! "pip bip - choose Corrour" (hhgttg69)
11/18/2017 at 20:43, STARS: 1

Time to get a minivan



Kinja'd!!! "WRXasaurus" (wrxasaurus)
11/18/2017 at 20:46, STARS: 0

My wife has a Forester and that does 90% of all child carrying duty. That is going to be upgraded next year to the new Ascent probably. So I am just looking for something a little more manageable.

Kinja'd!!! "CRider" (crider)
11/18/2017 at 20:50, STARS: 0

Why not just use the Tundra?

Kinja'd!!! "WRXasaurus" (wrxasaurus)
11/18/2017 at 20:50, STARS: 0

No, my wifes Forester is the primary child run-a-round.

Kinja'd!!! "WRXasaurus" (wrxasaurus)
11/18/2017 at 20:51, STARS: 0

I could. I’m just looking for alternatives because why not.

Kinja'd!!! "WRXasaurus" (wrxasaurus)
11/18/2017 at 20:52, STARS: 0

I’m 6'2" and I could only do one rear facing car seat in the WRX

Kinja'd!!! "CB" (jrcb)
11/18/2017 at 20:55, STARS: 0

Hmmm... yeah, 2.5GT or 3.0R if you want to stay with Subaru.

Or, if you want to be irresponsible, there should be some Taurus SHOs in your price range. If you want to be responsible, Honda Accord?

Kinja'd!!! "WRXasaurus" (wrxasaurus)
11/18/2017 at 20:57, STARS: 1

Aren’t the Taurus SHO’s really tight on the inside

Kinja'd!!! "CB" (jrcb)
11/18/2017 at 21:00, STARS: 0

Kind of, yeah. Roughly the same interior dimensions as the Fusion.

Kinja'd!!! "HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles" (hondasfordsvolvo)
11/18/2017 at 21:01, STARS: 0

The rear seat is a bit hard to get into because the top of the short in both height and length. But the seat itself is plenty spacious. But that smaller door would make getting a baby in and out not so fun

Kinja'd!!! "random001" (random001)
11/18/2017 at 21:03, STARS: 0

I’d vote for 2010-2012 Legacy 2.5GT. I had one, it has acres of space, and fun to drive.

Also look into the Hyundai Genesis 5.0 R-Spec. Had one of those, too. So nice, so power, much room.

Otherwise, Man, I feel you. We manage with a Crosstrek, but barely.

Kinja'd!!! "WRXasaurus" (wrxasaurus)
11/18/2017 at 21:05, STARS: 0

The Genesis is actually on my short list. Probably just the 4.6 though

Kinja'd!!! "dogisbadob" (dogisbadob)
11/18/2017 at 21:06, STARS: 3

The LWB Caprice might be a better option. Some kind of LWB full size sedan is likely the best choice for your criteria.

The Lexus LS460L, the Caprice, or maybe a junky old LWB Panther (used primarily as taxis and limos). I’m aware of some German sedans that look like the might work, but they won’t because they’re expensive to fix and not reliable.

Kinja'd!!! "Under_Score" (tomtheatum)
11/18/2017 at 21:07, STARS: 0

Sentra, maybe? Those are known for having pretty spacious backseats.

Kinja'd!!! "vicali" (vicali)
11/18/2017 at 21:09, STARS: 0

I would hold out until the littles are forward facing. We had one rear in the center, then one forward in a car seat and one rearfacing, and now one car seat and one booster.. so close to getting another booster but missy just needs another 4lbs or so..

Kinja'd!!! "random001" (random001)
11/18/2017 at 21:09, STARS: 0

But...but....five point oh!

I almost bought a 4.6, but the price difference to a 5.0 at the time was like $1200.

Kinja'd!!! "WRXasaurus" (wrxasaurus)
11/18/2017 at 21:10, STARS: 1

The Lexus may work. I know the Charger would be the cheapest option but I’m not a Dodge fan.

Kinja'd!!! "WRXasaurus" (wrxasaurus)
11/18/2017 at 21:11, STARS: 0

Don’t you tempt me. I remember you selling yours and I wanted to buy it

Kinja'd!!! "WRXasaurus" (wrxasaurus)
11/18/2017 at 21:14, STARS: 0

But I could never do 2 rear facing car seats at the same time in my car. I’m to tall

Kinja'd!!! "dogisbadob" (dogisbadob)
11/18/2017 at 21:15, STARS: 0

I’m surprised they never made a LWB LX car

Kinja'd!!! "citrus" (roamin)
11/18/2017 at 21:24, STARS: 1

+1 on dogisbadob’s Caprice suggestion

I’ve never had a kid seat in mine but I’d imagine you’d have no problem

and it might be a bonus to have a rubber floor and vinyl seats with kids

Kinja'd!!! "TomServo (Resides on the Satellite of Love)" (mk7silkblue)
11/18/2017 at 21:24, STARS: 0

Taurus SHO? 550i?

Kinja'd!!! "Shift24" (the-nope)
11/18/2017 at 21:24, STARS: 1

Why not the older brother to the SS, the G8? Don’t get me started on the GXP, just get a GT. LS V8, 355hp, RWD, 4 doors and better looking than the SS.

Or well maintained e60 550i. But prepare for the repair bills when stuff does go wrong

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Kinja'd!!! "yamahog" (yamahog)
11/18/2017 at 21:25, STARS: 2

oh but they did ( ° °)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge_Magnum#Chrysler_LX_platform_2005.E2.80.932008

Kinja'd!!! "WRXasaurus" (wrxasaurus)
11/18/2017 at 21:32, STARS: 0

That would be nice

Kinja'd!!! "WRXasaurus" (wrxasaurus)
11/18/2017 at 21:33, STARS: 0

I’ve always had a soft spot for Pontiacs. The problem is they command such a premium

Kinja'd!!! "Shift24" (the-nope)
11/18/2017 at 21:40, STARS: 0

Yeah but I bet even the G8 GT will start to demand GXP money within the next 5 years. So you can spin it as an investment

Kinja'd!!! "WRXasaurus" (wrxasaurus)
11/18/2017 at 21:42, STARS: 0

Which is why it’s rather stretch and just get the SS

Kinja'd!!! "dogisbadob" (dogisbadob)
11/18/2017 at 21:57, STARS: 0

cool! I didn’t know the Magnum had a longer wheelbase than the 300/Charger

Kinja'd!!! "Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
11/18/2017 at 22:06, STARS: 0

300 then?

Kinja'd!!! "merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc" (merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc)
11/18/2017 at 22:10, STARS: 0

Cadillac deville works great for a rear facing car seat. And two forward facing seats to boot.

I really hate the rear facing seats. After 2yrs old they get turned forward facing.

Kinja'd!!! "Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
11/18/2017 at 22:12, STARS: 0

My K900 is what you’re looking for, but it’s going to be a stretch. Mine was $26k. So I’m thinking a genesis or even an equus.

Kinja'd!!! "yamahog" (yamahog)
11/18/2017 at 22:14, STARS: 1

hmm I thought it did (because Challenger underbody is shorter than Charger, might as well have the wagon be longer) but wikipedia is saying Charger/300/Magnum were all 120. still an option for haulin ass and haulin babies though

Kinja'd!!! "vicali" (vicali)
11/18/2017 at 22:14, STARS: 0

I’m 6.2 and managed.. we had both in a sg Forester and our Tacoma..

Kinja'd!!! "Shift24" (the-nope)
11/18/2017 at 22:30, STARS: 0

Which I understand but I am not a fan of how the SS looks and I’m a Chevy guy. Overall I like the VE over the VF. Even though the VF had a hp bump

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Kinja'd!!! "OmerCarrothers333" (omercarrothers333)
11/18/2017 at 22:51, STARS: 0

Keep the WRX. If your kid is too big for a rear-facing carseat, you can always get a forward-facing one. I had to do that with both of my daughters because they were FRIGGING HUGE.