SuperExceed with small kids?-carseat anchor installation?

[thewife]

Hi. We are very seriously planning to purchase a Delica SuperExceed. Although the camping/excursion side of this vehicle might be fun, my first concerns are safety and convenience with little ones. We will have 2 kids in carseats soon. We spend a lot of time driving crazy winter roads.

Firstly, can anyone suggest where we could have carseat anchors professionally installed? Vancouver area would be ideal so that we can have it done when we pick it up.

Secondly, is there any general feedback that anyone with small kids can give me? Are you happy with this as a "family vehicle"? Any awkward-ness or quirks regarding kids or carseats etc?

I just want to be sure that we have no regrets with it as our main driving vehicle on crazy mountain roads with the family.

[jessef]

Secondly, is there any general feedback that anyone with small kids can give me? Are you happy with this as a "family vehicle"? Any awkward-ness or quirks regarding kids or carseats etc?

I just want to be sure that we have no regrets with it as our main driving vehicle on crazy mountain roads with the family.

Hi the wife.

Sister has a baby girl born in April and I've been shuttling kids around whistler last winter.

No regrets and very safe providing you drive safely.

For child seats, I prefer the Chamonix/Jasper edition for kids because of the middle bench (2 person) seat.

It has seatbelts/anchors on both front and rear of the bench seat itself and can be made to face either front (conventional) or facing the rear seats.

Personal preference between the alternating bench seat and the two captain's chairs.

[Golf Cart]

Hi. We are very seriously planning to purchase a Delica SuperExceed. Although the camping/excursion side of this vehicle might be fun, my first concerns are safety and convenience with little ones. We will have 2 kids in carseats soon. We spend a lot of time driving crazy winter roads.

Firstly, can anyone suggest where we could have carseat anchors professionally installed? Vancouver area would be ideal so that we can have it done when we pick it up.

Secondly, is there any general feedback that anyone with small kids can give me? Are you happy with this as a "family vehicle"? Any awkward-ness or quirks regarding kids or carseats etc?

I just want to be sure that we have no regrets with it as our main driving vehicle on crazy mountain roads with the family.

Chances are you could have the place where you purchase the vehicle install the anchors. its only 2 holes drilled into the floor with a backing plate on the bottom side of the vehicle. You will however need to decide where you want to put the car seats. Either the captains chairs mid row, or the back bench. Depending on how old your bundles of joy are may dictate where you have the anchors placed.
What you have to remember is its a little harder to jump into the back of a Delica than a North American van, and very young children do have a tendency to "spit up". The choking factor always scared the bejesus out of me so one of us always rode in the back as a rule.
Speaking from experience, you will notice your driving habits change dramatically once the "new riders" come on board. As far as crazy mountain roads, well, the road conditions should dictate your driving in any case. NOBODY wants to bruise their Delica - young passengers or not. You just have to remember that the Delica is fun to drive. Its not a sportscar , and you will find that out soon enough.
The Delica will provide a safe lil playground for them to crawl and climb all over when parked. My 3 year old loves her dads' "Goofy Van" She rides on the passenger side captains chair. I use the shoulder strap and the lapbelt to hold her carseat in. No floor anchors.

All in all, it is a good transporter, easy to get in and out of the back when parked. The fact that the side door is on the portside ( left) of the vehicle should not be a problem. Sure it opens out to the traffic side, but hey, when was the last time you parked on a busy street? Its usually a mall parking lot.

Forgot to mention I drive an Exceed - so the mid row are two captains chairs - Jesse has pointed that out in his post

Good luck and enjoy

[The Pinkfingers]

We've got 5 kids and three car seats (one booster, two seats), and love our delica. If you have two car seats, definitely get the captains chairs (all Super Exceeds come with captain's chairs), b/c anchors are a snap to install on them. You can do it yourself with a socket set in 5 minutes per seat. There's a post somewhere on this forum about it.

We have no regrets about selling our Windstar and buying a delica. Everyone in our family loves it. If you want to talk more about it, send me a pm with your number and we can chat. We live in North Van and you're more than welcome to come over and see the set-up.

[Fishtank]

Check out this thread http://www.delica.ca/forum/child-seat-t ... -2045.html you might find what you are looking for.

These are great vehicles, you should have no problem driving crazy mountain roads, just don't drive on them crazy like.

[TardisDeli]

Hello To TheWife,

Echoing what Pinkfingers says. Having snooped over many deli's, Get the captains chairs (ie get the Exceed or Super Exceed, NOT Chamonix), then most parent's take the strap for kid's over the back of each chair and bolt into the base of each chair, very sturdy that way and is always in the correct place regardless of whether you turn the chair forwards or back.

Also individual seats are comfy-er to the passenger, with fold down arm rests on the sides.And older kids don't fight about having to share a chair.

Ensure you buy a later 1992 or 1993 model which has the factory installed shoulder belts (otherwise it is just lap belts). DO NOT risk getting aftermarket installs for these, as only into sheet metal.

If you're in the Burnaby area, welcome to stop by and we will show you what to look for in the different models (we don't have have kids seats though), and answer your tons of questions.

Cheers, Christine.

[The Pinkfingers]

Hello To TheWife,

Echoing what Pinkfingers says. Having snooped over many deli's, Get the captains chairs (ie get the Exceed or Super Exceed, NOT Chamonix), then most parent's take the strap for kid's over the back of each chair and bolt into the base of each chair, very sturdy that way and is always in the correct place regardless of whether you turn the chair forwards or back.

The only problem is you still can't turn the seat around (at least when you're driving), because when the seat faces rear there is only the lap belt, not the shoulder belts.

[deLOOKA]

I have a 93 SE with the sholder/lap belt.
Our daughter (5) sits in either cpt's chair that she chooses.
She's on booster mode. No anchors.
have done the camping, a bit of 4x4ing and just driving around.
and yes, ALL kids love the Deli.
a few weeks back a group of us went 4x4ing in Squamish. at our lunch spot my van got terrorized.
lots of dry dirt and crumbs. they were having fun. it's only dirt right? as long as the curtains don't get harmed it's all good. I say, Go for it!

[deLOOKA]

The only problem is you still can't turn the seat around (at least when you're driving), because when the seat faces rear there is only the lap belt, not the shoulder belts.

unless of course you're dealing with adults only. : )

[glenn]

Lots of good points! My kids love the captains chairs too - they feel like grown up chairs (even if they are still in boosters). The huge side windows also give them a great view.

On the issue of saftey - have you ever looked at the third row of seats in a mazda 5 (or something similar)? the rear passengers heads are right at the back window. I would hate to see how they fare in a rear-ender. I feel like my kids are a bit more out of harms way in either the middle or rear row.
It's also been said many times on this forum, but the best way to improve safety on the road is to take it seriously. The biggest problem with so many cars is the nut behind the wheel.

I think the biggest negative issue with kids and the delica is the sliding door is on the wrong side. The passengers have to get in and out on the road and not the sidewalk - and kids are not always that predictable. But to me, this just means you have to really manage the kids in certain situations - and it's well worth all the advantages.

[The Pinkfingers]

The only problem is you still can't turn the seat around (at least when you're driving), because when the seat faces rear there is only the lap belt, not the shoulder belts.

unless of course you're dealing with adults only. : )

Well, yes, but we were talking about kids.

I think the biggest negative issue with kids and the delica is the sliding door is on the wrong side. The passengers have to get in and out on the road and not the sidewalk - and kids are not always that predictable. But to me, this just means you have to really manage the kids in certain situations - and it's well worth all the advantages.

Agreed. When we park on the road my kids simply know they are not allowed to open the sliding door until either we say so or we open it ourselves.

[thewife]

Thank you all very much! I feel better now that I know there are others driving the Delica with small kids. Although my husband has been fighting for the Delica for a while now, it's great to hear it from those with experience. I will now assure him that I'm "on board". :) I guess he lost some credibility when he tried to convince me that we need an enduro bike last year. ;)

[Golf Cart]

What he was really saying is the family needed an ATV.

And yes, an ATV will fit into the Delica

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