Here is the deal I have a 9 year old daughter. She really could pass for a 10 year old at least. Anyway, the Porsche obviously has the back seats. Now if it was just the two of us riding the visor says no one under 12 should ride in front seat. That is the same on every visor regardless of car. Heck my Corvette that did not have a back seat said to put children under 12 in the back seat.

In your opinion and opinion only what do you think is safer? For those of you with kids what do you do? Sitting in front seat belted in and the seat as far back as possible. Or sitting in the back "booster" seat? I can see the back being safer in a sedan or my Suburban etc. But in the Turbo Convertible the front seat just seems safer to me, not to mention comfortable.

It's funny it comes down to this. When I was a kid I used to ride in the back trunk area of my grandpas Corvette and NEVER wore a seat belt in any other car!

 

I would put her in the front seat.

 

Your 996TT likely does not have smart/2 stage airbags, so they are not deactivated when someone under 12 (by weight more than size) sits in the front seat.
In the event of an airbag deployment, the smaller passenger may experience injury due to the airbag, compared to a full sized passenger......hence the recommendation for passengers 12 and younger to ride in the back seats (away from the airbags).
IIRC, the rear seats are 3 point harnesses, so the security is the same as the front seats.

 

With smart/2 stage airbags I wonder what the weight threshold is? I have those in my Surburban and I think in my wife's BMW. I am 99% sure they don't in the Turbo.

Only reason I ask as my daughter is fast approaching her mothers size. Mom is pretty petite and I am 6'3" 225 so obviously she is getting the growth from my side.

I just get a little leary on the one size fits all guidelines. I think they come up with a size threshold that 100% of children in America will meet and then add 10% to be sure. Hence age 12 across the board.

 

My 9 year old daughter is slightly built and has never sat in any of our front seats.
She sits in the back of my 2001 996TT using the seat belt normally.
she used to use the Porsche "prince" child seat in the back to get her up
high enough to get the belt below her neck.
Porsche sells a very high quality seat that works for a variety of size kids
and it plugs into front seat somehow and DEALER MUST ALSO PROGRAM CAR
to except this Porsche designed set-up. So unless she is tall and 100 lbs,
I would look into these options.
MK

 

I would put her in the back.

I have a 3 year old and a 19 month old. Sometimes I drop off my son (3 years old) or pick him up in the turbo S Cab from Pre School. I have the Porsche brand car seat for them. The back seating area is great for a younger child, unless he/she is above 4.5 feet tall. If your daughter is at least 4.5, put her in the front and the air bag safety concern should not be an issue.

 

Good advice all. Thanks!!

"Porsche sells a very high quality seat that works for a variety of size kids
and it plugs into front seat somehow and DEALER MUST ALSO PROGRAM CAR
to except this Porsche designed set-up. So unless she is tall and 100 lbs,
I would look into these options.
MK"

I assume by using this seat it deactivates the airbags when it's plugged in? I will look into this option. Otherwise sounds like back seat it is. She is just over 4' 6" and a few months back weighed at 80 pounds.

 

My 8 year old and 6.5 year old daughters always ride in the back...have you inquired about a passengers side airbag deactivation switch from the factory???? I thought I remeber reading something about this at one point or another. FWIW - the safest place for her is behind you as in the event of an accident the drivers instinct is to protect themselves (i.e. their side of the car). Good Luck!!

 

Back for mine!

 

Interesteing point about protecting yourself! Problem is on my side there is NO room for her feet. I am 6'3" and need evey inch of the back seat area! In my wife's 525 she rides opposite back seat. As it makes it easier for her to see her back there.

Have not inquired about the deactivation switch. I was under the assumption it could not be done in a 4 seater car.

 

From Gert at www.carnewal.com (rennlist sponsor and good guy):

http://www.carnewal-europe.com/cpx_p96099.htm

Airbag Deactivation Unit
Will automatically switch off the passenger's front and side airbags when the child seat is installed.
Price : 115 Euro
This feature must be enabled at the dealer.
Comes with the 2 bolts necessary to install.

 

Thanks!!

 

 

Put her in the front seat with the seat all the way back. Her head won't reach the airbag.
Lastly, the age issue is irrelevent. The issue is length.
11 year old girls are on average taller than 12 year old boys.
Could a 4'8" adult sit there? How about a 85 year old with osteoporosis?
This whole thing started with small children (like 5) and has advanced to a "cover your ***" ban on children. AS

 

Yup, then there's the whole issue with front vs rear facing infant seats/carriers in the front passenger seat........