cpuranik

Hi,

I'm new to the forum because I'm in the market for a c55 as a family car. My wife and I are hoping to have our first child somewhere around the middle of next year . . .

I'm just concerned about the practicality of buying a c-class - my friend recently bought a BMW 3 series and says that with the baby seat in the rear right seat (placed rear-facing since the baby is less than a year old), the passenger seat has to be pushed ALL the way forward. Is this true for the C class as well - that would be a deal breaker. And how about the trunk space??

Thanks in advance for your input,
Chetan

rlee02135

get an e class

m3_eater

I have a C32 and a newborn. The baby seat will fit rear-facing, but there will be a compromise in front seat legroom depending upon the side the seat is located. Someone can still sit in the front, but they will feel tight if they are > 5' 10" tall. It's not as bad as the BMW 3 series that I came from.

I assume there is also some way to disable the front passenger air bag and put the seat there (still rear facing) safely, because the car has an "pass. airbag off" light on the dash - but I haven't checked the owners manual yet regarding it.

Fifth Ring

A rear-facing baby seat takes up a lot of room, and will create this problem with a lot of cars. You have ask yourself, though, if you're willing to completely change the type of car you drive in order to address this short-term problem. You could end up with an E-class or an A6, and a year from now, when the baby seat is turned around and taking up MUCH less space, you'll be driving a big boat. If it's your only transportation, then you may have no choice; but if you have two cars, then you can favor the roomier car or SUV.

shahedC

When my sister was visiting, I put a rear-facing baby seat in the middle of my back seat in my 2004 C230, and didn't have any problems.

You don't really need an AMG for a family car... if your budget is for a C55, you can get a low-end E-class instead, and you will have a lot of space!

Fifth Ring

This is actually a good situation for a short-term lease. Get what you need, and then turn it in in 2 years when you can get what you want.

360_iti

I second that. I would so get an E class if I were you, and to me it doesn't feel like a big boat.

Glasgow Gold

If it's the C55 you want, I wouldn't hesitate to actually take the child seat into the dealer and see how it fits.

If it doesn't, I have driven the E55 and didn't find it that it felt that much more vessel-like than my C. MB does a darn good job of making cars feel more nimble than a heavy car should be.

Enjoy the hunt!

FrankW

get a E-class...350 or 550.

gthang

I have c55 and a baby as well. I had the same issues but found that just putting the car seat in the middle did the trick and didn't compromise the front seats. We also have a pathfinder, but I always prefer taking the family out in the AMG because it is so much more fun crusiing around town.

Bif powell

I have two kids that I cart around in my C32 - in fact this last few weeks we went on 6 hour plus road-trips (Lake Geneva lake house, then Chicago) and it's a great road-trip/cruising car for the family and all our luggage and my golf-clubs. I have had a rear-facing seat (the Alpha Omega) for my son (from newborn to now 11 months) and it's been fine. I have some taller friends who look slightly uncomfortable over there, but my wife and regularly sized friends (6' or so) are fine with the seat back as far as it will go and just barely be touching the car-seat. I also have a 6 year old in a booster seat behind me and although she complains when the seat goes back automatically after shutting off the car, it's generally fine (I'm also regularly sized at 6').