I have been reading a lot of posts which say to make sure to get the wind deflector - the only issue with that is we lose our back seat. And we have a 14 month old who would resent being left at home while we motor around this spring and summer.... So my question really is IF the wind deflector is not an option, how bad is it really in the back?... since my baby will be back there, it would be especially concerning if it is really bad. Also, does anyone else have a cabrio where they put their little ones in the back..... And pls no comments as to why the wild mommy wants a cabrio even though she has a little one I just do!

 

My kids (8, 5 and 3) love our cabrio, but with the top down at highway speed the back seat is a rather windy spot - they don't seem to mind though. One of my kids, the five year old, asked me to put the top up when we first got the car, but not so much anymore. A 14 month old may not appreciate the wind or the sun for that matter, but who knows every kid is different. Just make sure the hat is secure. And for the record I don't have the wind deflector ... yet.

And wild mommy should have a cabrio, my wife loves ours. One perk with having a cabrio, it's really easy to get your kids in the car seat when the roof is down; just pick them up and plop them in.

 

We don't have children, but have friend who has twins. The first time I looked at her MINI, I had to do a double take with the two child seats in the back.

The back does have quite a bit of wind, but our friend has her top down frequently when we see her.

 

Thanks for the feedback. Hopefully he won't mind the wind too much.... most of our local driving is non-highway so that should help.

For the sun, we bought a mega big floppy hat with a very secure tie and a pair of sunglasses that also securely closes. We've been making him wear the glasses on the back of my bike when I take him in the baby seat to get used to it.

 

I keep Spray-On (non-aerosol) sunblock in the glove box for my nephews as well. They LOVE the back seat and like to ride around whenever I visit, no matter how much wind there is. Personally, the wind doesn't bother me either, so I haven't purchased the wind deflector. The only people who HAVE complained are the ladies who don't want to mess up their hair. Please girl... nobody's lookin' at YOU anyway. HA!!!

 

Although your child is too young we just got some kid sized motocross goggles for ours (6&7) and it makes a huge difference for them. We do a lot of freeway driving and since they don't like sunglasses the goggles let them look around.

 

My two children, 3 1/2 years old and 20 months old LOVE the front seat - but are not to pleased with the back seat. I think older kids will do fine, but the little ones find the open top experience too harsh when in the back.

 

My 6 year old daughter rides in back, and for in-city trips I often ask her to decide whether to have the top up or down. She chooses both ways, usually depending on the outside temperature (it is often chilly here in San Francisco). I bought a MossMINI electric blanket (equivalent products available cheaper from eBay) and she loves to use it when the top is down.

I've given up on driving on the highway with the top down, unless there is almost no traffic. It's not the wind turbulence (actually quite comfortable with the wind deflector), it's the noise that bothers me. Driving at 70 mph, the tire and engine noise from nearby cars and trucks can be very loud. Go under an underpass at the same time as a large truck, and the noise can be deafening.

 

I didn't know they existed, I have a miata, and I'm all about top down driving, the wife gets a little chilli at times and asks to put the top up. I NEED that blanket!

 

I drive with my 5 year old son in back. He is good up until we hit around 40. He made a comment once when were were on the beltway "THE WIND'S PULLING THE SKIN OFF MINE FACE!"

 

My six year old who rides in the back always thinks she is in an amusement park ride (sort of the appearance of the rear cabrio seats actually) and raises her arms in the air.

When I don't put the top down she points to the top and says something like "I want you to move that out of the way"

Love it .... Future topless gal .....

B

 

It's all about the ambient air temperature. If it is a nice warm day the wind in the back seat is welcomed by my kids. If it is a little chilly, no way, as the cold is magnified 10 fold by the turbulence. Remember it's a whole different world back there compared to us snug and warm in the front.

 

My kids (6 and 7) prefer to be in the front seat (thank goodness the airbag disables) - but when in back, they thought it exceptionally windy. So. We bought them motocross goggles. They look so silly, but the kids love them and their friends who occasionally get to ride in the back love them, and people who look in and see them apparently love them too.

Hee hee hee. I'm getting lots of pictures.

 

keep in mind that the front airbag can NOT be turned off. The sensor puts that light on if there is not about 40 pounds in the seat. (I assume your child weighs a bit more than 40 lbs) If

 

keep in mind that the front airbag can NOT be turned off. The sensor puts that light on if there is not about 40 pounds in the seat. (I assume your child weighs a bit more than 40 lbs) If you go over a bump and the seat picks up the weight the airbag will be ACTIVE... always a better bet to keep the little ones in the back seat.

 

My 7 year old daughter sometimes rides in the front when we are hauling things in the rear. If a child is riding in the front seat, slide the seat all the way back to the furthest position, for maximum distance from the dash. This would minimize the force of impact in case of an airbag deployment.

 

My five-year-old is soooo excited that Mommy's getting a MINI cabrio. I told him that there were a few rules involved with putting the top down: namely sunscreen and sunglasses. I'm guessing a hat on a kid in the back seat would probably fly off?

I need to get a pair of prescription sunglasses for myself; I've got a pretty bad case of SADD and literally CRAVE sunshine, but my optometrist wants me in sunglasses so I guess I'd better set a good example for my kid, eh?

 

Wife puts our grandson (18 months) in the back with the top down and he loves it. In certain conditions she will put the top up, but mostly around town it's down.

 

Our kids 3 and 8 love the back seat. It does get very windy on their faces. Each kid always wears sunglasses even at night. They do get colder in the back from the extra wind. We find that a jacket is needed for them from 70 or colder in the sun or 80 or colder at night. So far they have not minded at all. Last weekend we did a 3:30 one way trip with the top down the whole way. Everything from 25-80 mph.

Hats, headbands, etc need to be on really tight or the child needs to be able to adjust it. Our 8 year old has no problems with this. Our 3 year old is another story. I like to put about 6 hair clips on her head to keep the hair from going everywhere.

We are ordering the electric blanket for them. It will be very nice in the fall and during MITM.

 

Our kids (9 and 10) love the top down, the wind bugs them a bit on the highway, but given the choice of topless or not..... Plus we take them motorcycling quite a lot, and they love that too!