I know not everybody gets to (...or wants to!), but I had a chance this past weekend to ride as a passenger in my own back seat. My daughter (22) was in town and wanted to drive the MINI, so I let her. (...reluctantly) Anyway, the other passenger seat was taken (...by my son) so I took the back, mostly out of curiosity. What a pleasant surprise!...it was much better than I might have thought. Both front seats were in their normal driving positions...the ones I always use (...btw, I'm medium height). I switched to both sides of the back seat just in case the front seats were a bit uneven. It was nice to know that its comfortable back there...I won't worry about rear-seat passengers ever again!

 

Being a Motoring Advisor, I sit in the back on test drives all day. Not TOO bad.

 

Nope. If I'm in Alice, I'm driving.

 

Both my wife and I took turns riding in back when we did our test drive. That was a priority since we have a daughter who rides in back (she's 6 now so not much of an issue for her), and we wanted to make sure we could motor with ease...

 

Although it doesn't happen that often, I like riding in my back seats. It's, IMO, a unique experience b/c you can see the sunroof overhead and looking out the back window is cool (esp. on the turnpike). It's pretty comfy too. I'm proud of what my back seats have to offer .

 

No

 

OK, I guess that at 5' 10" I'm a giant among Mini drivers cause our poor little 5 y/o BARELY fits in the backseat behind me. She has to keep her feet up as I slide the seat back or they get pinned between the back of the front seat and the front of the back seat ... but then her feet scuff the back of the driver's seat.

Perhaps her car-seat is a little on the large side, so we're going to try a smaller booster seat this week.

Anyone else with a small child have a suggestion?

 

Our 6 year old is still in a booster seat, and we have to keep the front seat slid forward quite a bit for his feet to fit.. My 10 year old daughter fits fine with the seat about 3 notches from all the way back.

We were able to take a 6 day 1800 mile family trip, and actually get the luggage in as well (although we did have to pack light).

 

I really haven't ridden in the back seats that much but my wife and in laws have several times. My father in law is 6 feet tall, 230 pounds and he says he is much more comfortable riding in the back seat than he is in the front. In the front his knees touch the dashboard, meanwhile in the back he is more comfortable.

Everyone that has ridden in the backseats do comment on the surprising level of comfort backthere.

 

 

>>OK, I guess that at 5' 10" I'm a giant among Mini drivers cause our poor little 5 y/o BARELY fits in the backseat behind me. She has to keep her feet up as I slide the seat back or they get pinned between the back of the front seat and the front of the back seat ... but then her feet scuff the back of the driver's seat.<<

I think you just prefer your seat very far back. Do you have long legs for your height? You're only an inch taller than me, but it sounds like you put your drivers seat at least 3-4 inches farther back than I do. An adult under six feet can ride behind me, no problem.

 

I tried, but I couldn't reach the pedals...

 

>>OK, I guess that at 5' 10" I'm a giant among Mini drivers cause our poor little 5 y/o BARELY fits in the backseat behind me. She has to keep her feet up as I slide the seat back or they get pinned between the back of the front seat and the front of the back seat ... but then her feet scuff the back of the driver's seat.
>>
>>Perhaps her car-seat is a little on the large side, so we're going to try a smaller booster seat this week.
>>
>>Anyone else with a small child have a suggestion?

KevM, I know what you mean. I'm just about 2 inches (a bit less) taller than you and I often have my 2 kids in the back seat. Both are in boosters...one is 5 and the other 2. I have the 2 year old ride behind me when they're both in the car and the 5 year old sits on the passenger side with the front passenger seat pulled way forward so that he has some room for his feet.

I think the problem relates to several things. First, kids this little don't know much for how to position their feet to avoid getting them crushed or jammed. They just sort of swing 'em loose and don't sit still as adults. Second, the height booster actually means that the kids' feet aren't actually in the foot well, but technically they hang about 8" to 12" ABOVE the floor. This actually means that they're trying to fit their feet in the space between the leading edge of the rear seat cushion (I use that term lightly) and the back of the front seat. That's tight. They'd have more room if their feet could be on the floor as the feet would sit somewhat under the front seat. See what I mean?

My kids LOVE to ride in the MINI...and the excitement of it all tends to outweigh the discomfort. That's why I avoid all long roadtrips (with the kids) in the MINI. I just don't want to be there when the excitement factor expires...if you know what I mean.

 

Yes, I have and it's not bad. Because the seats are like bucket seats, you don't need a lot of leg room. I'm 5'8 and was behind my 6'3 father in the drivers seat. It's not something I'd want to do all the time, but it's more comfortable than it looks.

 

Actually the first time I rode in the back seat of ANY MINI was in SouthSeaSadie's CR/W MC. She was kind enough to give me and the wife a ride to MINI of Hawaii for delivary of our new VR/VR MINI.
Being the, ahum, gentleman that I am, I offered to sit in the back seat. What a pleasant surprise
The seat contoured to my body comfortably and there was ample legroom (for me, at least).
Now that we've had our MINIhune for 4 mos. now, I've sat in the backseat twice but never "rode" in it. Just sat back there to demo the space and clean the windows.

 

I don't like to make a habit of it, but I did one time and it was just fine. No complaints.

 

Nope.

 

Been in the back seat when I let a friend test drive. Four adults in all. I liked the back seat a lot. For a small car, it was fine. The bad press on the back seats is way off the mark.







_________________________________

2002 MINI, chili red/black

 

Yes - several times coming home from bars when I was lucky enough not to be the designated driver. I'm still not sure how I lost shotgun in my own car though :smile:

BTW I'm 6'2" and had no problem on short trips.

 

I've sat in the back seats a few times when my family members test drove the car...its not bad at all.

 

I've sat in all the seats. No problem. I think it is fine with the blue lapis leather I have.
Plus the biggest benefit is that I have nice 6x9 MB Quart speakers with a Sub in the boot. I have a small hand held remote control for the Nakamichi CD player which works from the back seat and a 5 foot cord for audio input extending from the dash to the rear seat for an ipod, MD,DVD or CD player of your choice. Room for an ice chest and some drinks if no one is in the back too. Not bad and no driving chores, just listening pleasure.

 

I sat in the back seat of my MINI 3 months after I got it. only since at that time I realized I never sat in the back so I went outside, opened up my MINI and sat in it. then realized it was 4:20am looking at the clock, and laughed myself silly.

 

>>I sat in the back seat of my MINI 3 months after I got it. only since at that time I realized I never sat in the back so I went outside, opened up my MINI and sat in it. then realized it was 4:20am looking at the clock, and laughed myself silly.
I usually sit in the back seat all the time listening to music. Usually I get kicked out by my daughter who says my subwoofer is shaking her room upstairs and she has had enough of that.
Next time I will go take a drive and part in some business area. I did that today at 6pm in an industrial area with a U shaped building lot that was empty. Opened both doors and turned up the stereo. I sounded like a concert. Kinda nice. Will have to drive there again on the weekends and play more tunes when I get some really good stuff.

 

>> Usually I get kicked out by my daughter who says my subwoofer is shaking her room upstairs and she has had enough of that.


I never thought I would live to hear about someones kids complaining that they're parents music is too loud..

 

>>Next time I will go take a drive and part in some business area. I did that today at 6pm in an industrial area with a U shaped building lot that was empty. Opened both doors and turned up the stereo. I sounded like a concert. Kinda nice. Will have to drive there again on the weekends and play more tunes when I get some really good stuff.

I go to industrial areas really early in the morning, but not to listen to music. Check out my sig and you'll know what I'm talkin about.