As a proud new father (of a child not another Mini). I am on a quest for a rear facing car seat that can be used in the Mini without putting the passenger directly against the dash.

Also, does anyone know if there are rear-end collision tests that show the safety of the Mini? I'm getting the expected grief from my significant other about putting a newborn in the back of a "golf cart" and driving on the highway.

 

I've got a rear facing seat in my car. I did have to pull the seat up a little more than I would like, but we have an over-sized car seat/stroller package thing. i think it's a Graco. If I knew then what I know now I would go to BabiesRUs and actually measure the overall length before buying. All I'd like is a couple inches smaller.
There are a lot of threads on this subject, so feel free to search.

 

Britax Roundabout (converts to front facing also). And a Quinny Zapp stroller in the boot.

Also see https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=54178

 

Congrats on the new baby (^_^)b . I know nothing about car seats, sorry.

 

In '03 MCS, used ubiquitous Graco Snugride base with infant seat rear-facing behind the front passenger seat until our daughter outgrew it, then switched to Britax Roundabout (I think Britax has an even smaller convertible child seat (rear/front facing) now) with no trouble to speak of. I'm 6'0", and even when not driving could ride comfortably in front passenger seat (with knees bent somewhat, but front seat legwell is deep enough I was still comfortable).

It was better when daughter got big enough ~ age 2 to turn the Britax to forward-facing, but then #2 daughter was born shortly after that and we did not have the cohones (or spines as flexible as some brave MINI drivers) to go with two cars seats in the MINI. I'm still driving the MCS as daily driver, but for 2-kid transport, we went with a Subaru wagon.