Using the child seat LATCH bracket...

[SYCO GT]

Kendall and I were talking about the LATCH seat bracket in the GT. He said that most people just have him remove it.

I told him I use it quite frequently, and am actually quite happy that FORD added the LATCH and also the airbag de-activation switch. It helped me rationalize the purchase of a two seat purpose built sports car, and in practice it is quite useful.

I'm lucky to be able to take my older toddler with me when I go to car events or drop him off at school or take him to the office.

It's a little hard to access the latch anchor points, since they are recessed far back, so it's helpful to get the seat all the way back on the rails.

I figure some of you must be out there thinking what a waste of time and money for Ford to put those two items in, but I know there must also be some people, like me, who are quite fortunate it exists. :thumbsup

Additionally, the factory seat covers include cut outs for the LATCH.

And of course, no eating or drinking in the GT, and shoes off...I'm not completely crazy...

 

[nota4re]

and shoes off...I'm not completely crazy...

eek:eek

If there were any shoe marks in your car after the console install, they were from Ryan and not me.....

 

[SYCO GT]

eek:eek

If there were any shoe marks in your car after the console install, they were from Ryan and not me.....

Oh, the shoes off rule only applies to children 5 and under...

Since a child seat puts little feet within kicking distance of the dash.

 

[STUNTS]

I would bet that lil timmy has more miles in the GT with me than stephanie does... He used to be in backwards and a couple months ago we flipped him fwd..

He puts the key in and presses the button too... Hilarious... and when I accelerate hard... he smiles and says more... more...

 

[S592R]

Stephen knows the prime engine sequence! and I am certain he has the most kid mileage in the car!!!

 

[SYCO GT]

Here's my boy practicing his Corvette stare down...

 

[STUNTS]

this was a while ago but here ya go! Malibu cyn going to dukes for ice cream..

 

[427Aggie]

Yep I've used them...got the funniest looks when people saw my daughters carrier in my car I loved it..she had a blast because she could see out which is hard in the SUV's

She really enjoyed the GT500 too...ahh I have a car girl on my hands

 

[GT Tech]

As I understand it, it's a Federal requirement that the GT, as well as everything else have the LATCH system installed. I also understand the passenger side air bag deactivation switch is required for vehicles not having a back seat. (My truck has one)

One of the random torque checks done at the shop was on the LATCH bracket. It was a high priority. Got to protect our future GT owners. :thumbsup

 

[SYCO GT]

As I understand it, it's a Federal requirement that the GT, as well as everything else have the LATCH system installed. I also understand the passenger side air bag deactivation switch is required for vehicles not having a back seat. (My truck has one)

One of the random torque checks done at the shop was on the LATCH bracket. It was a high priority. Got to protect our future GT owners. :thumbsup

Hmmm. My friend just bought a 2007 Lotus Exige S. No LATCH, no switch.

 

[S592R]

Hmmm. My friend just bought a 2007 Lotus Exige S. No LATCH, no switch.

Lotus got a waiver on the airbag that waived the latch also. If you want a airbag disconnect switch installed it takes a letter of approval from the ntsb and then its about 400.00 for the switch installed (they look like crap btw)

If you take out the airbag (the other option) then you get hosed by the ntsb if they find out.

Been down the road on the switch ... its just not in the car yet.

 

[SFLGT]

As I understand it, it's a Federal requirement that the GT, as well as everything else have the LATCH system installed. I also understand the passenger side air bag deactivation switch is required for vehicles not having a back seat. (My truck has one)

One of the random torque checks done at the shop was on the LATCH bracket. It was a high priority. Got to protect our future GT owners. :thumbsup

:thumbsup It is the law now. All 2 seater cars or trucks must have a pasanger bag deactivation switch.

 

[bonehead]

Missed this thread on my search. Randy, which Recaro seat is that? Are the LATCH straps adjustable length-wise? I have the Performance High Back and there doesn't seem to be a way in hell that the clips will reach the bracket behind the seat.

 

[fjpikul]

I have a Graco Nautilus 3 way that adjusts very well.

 

[bonehead]

I have a Graco Nautilus 3 way that adjusts very well.

Thanks doc. Just looked it up. Looks enormous! That thing actually fits in the passenger seat??

 

[SYCO GT]

Hi Ed,

It was a popular Recaro model bought brand new in '06 or so, but is no longer around and I gave it away. Unfortunately I don't recall the name, but it's no longer available anyway. The tethers were adjustable straps with buckles that secured to the LATCH anchor points.

 

[bonehead]

Hi Ed,

It was a popular Recaro model bought brand new in '06 or so, but is no longer around and I gave it away. Unfortunately I don't recall the name, but it's no longer available anyway. The tethers were adjustable straps with buckles that secured to the LATCH anchor points.

Thanks Randy. Replied to you on the other thread but meant to post it here.

Been doing a bit more research on these types of boosters and from what I gather, the LATCH doesn't contribute to the safety of the seat like they do in infant and convertible models?? More just a loose tether to keep the seat in place when not occupied while the actual seat belt provides all of the restraint function when in use. Can anyone confirm if this is correct?

As far as whether or not it's the angle, I'm not sure. I can't really contort myself to look directly from the front with the booster on the seat, but I can feel the gap along the back/side where you pass the clip. The booster is sitting as flat as possible on the seat. But even with the seat all the way back, the fixed length tethers don't seem to be long enough to reach the LATCH anchor points. No idea why Recaro didn't make these a bit longer, or better yet, adjustable.

 

[SYCO GT]

Looks like this person shares your pain:

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=227819

I specifically recall being able to buckle mine into the LATCH, but it was pretty hard, I had to really jam them in from the side, kind of a knuckle buster experience, but I guess there was just enough length with my model seat.

 

[bonehead]

I got a timely response from Recaro today. As suspected, the LATCH clips do NOT provide any additional safety to an occupied seat and if attached too tight, they can be a safety hazard. The tethers were meant to have slack, so struggling to get them to reach is probably a bad idea.

Thank you for contacting Recaro Child Safety. The LATCH provided with the Performance Booster has only one purpose, to prevent a flying object in the case of an accident and the Performance Booster is unoccupied. When your child is in the Booster seat, the LATCH provides no benefit to the occupant. It does not have an adjuster because Recaro aims to prevent misuse. If the Booster seat were tightened like other types of child restraints where there is only 1” or less of movement, the Booster would not perform as well in a crash.

 

[SYCO GT]

The (Recaro and non-Recaro) Boosters that I more recently used (as opposed to the older Recaro Child Safety Seats or Recaro Infant Seats) don't even come with a LATCH anchor mechanism.