Questions from a potential buyer..

[BEST 4x4xFAR]

Originally Posted by NEOCON1

just get her a FJ

???? Honestly, if it were four door, we'd be considering it as well, but it apparently has even less cargo space, only has rear "access" doors and while we both like the styling, we like the H3 styling better. But I do like the more powerful engine, better history of build quality and reliability, and that the transfer case actually has a shifter, not buttons that electronically shift the t-case...

[Ipedog]

On the Car seat, a couple have noted that car seats fit, but they seam to be forward facing. I refuse to turn our daughter around until she reaches the Britax Boulevard?s weight limit (33 lbs),

How old is your daughter? My son is nearing 3yo and is not 33lbs yet. I know for a FACT that if he were still facing rearwards at this point vehicle rides would be very, very unhappy events. I understand being a cautious parent but before you go nuts on this check with your Pediatrician. I have a feeling that he/she will proably say its okay for your daughter to be facing forward at the one year point.

Also remember that you are going to have this vehicle far longer than you are going to have that car seat, and that Britax makes a variety of seats. I've got a Britax in my H3 (although I can't remember the model, its a Marathon, I think) and it fits fine. I got the H3 after my son was turned to face forwards so I can't comment for sure on the rear facing fit, but I have a feeling that it would have.

At the worst take some car seats with you to the dealership. Stop at Babies R Us before you go and get one of every style and then return the ones that don't work. If the dealer doesn't like it just tell him that they just lost the sale. I have a feeling that all will be good.

Good luck in your decision.

[BEST 4x4xFAR]

Originally Posted by Ipedog

How old is your daughter? My son is nearing 3yo and is not 33lbs yet. I know for a FACT that if he were still facing rearwards at this point vehicle rides would be very, very unhappy events. I understand being a cautious parent but before you go nuts on this check with your Pediatrician. I have a feeling that he/she will proably say its okay for your daughter to be facing forward at the one year point.

Hello Rob,

I appreciate your input. While there are many different styles of car seats, I don?t necessarily prescribe to the thinking that they are all as good as the other since they have to meet certain government standards (just like all cars aren?t as safe, even though to be sold they have to meet standardized criteria). As a result, I don?t want to be forced into a compromise on my choice of seats by the vehicle we buy. I suspect that it will work rear facing in the center of the H3 as it does in center of the Outback (won?t fit rear facing outboard without making the front seat unusable).

And you are correct, that the guidelines set forth by the American Academy of Pediatric Doctors (AAP) say you can turn a child forward facing once they are BOTH one year old and 20 lbs or over in weight. However, the AAP goes on to say ?If a car safety seat accommodates children rear facing to higher weights, for optimal protection, the child should remain rear facing until reaching the maximum weight for the car safety seat, as long as the top of the head is below the top of the seat back.? (http://aappolicy.aappublications.org...cs%3b109/3/550)

My wife says I research everything to death, so I wasn?t going to leave our daughter?s safety out. After extensive research I am convinced that she is much safer rearward facing (adults would be as well, by the way), hence the statement. We have already taken comments from other parents about having her rear facing, and I am sure it would be difficult to impossible to get a child that is accustomed to riding forward facing to go back, but our daughter doesn?t know any different, and is quite content at 15 months. My wife was actually giving me a hard time about not wanting to turn our daughter around, until she viewed these videos, now she explains why rear facing is safer tot hose who ask why we haven?t turned our daughter around.

Here are a couple of links to check out if you want to do some more research, and a couple of video links that really open people?s eyes up to how much more violent a crash is for a forward facing child in comparison to a rear facing child. Remember, even at one year, children?s bone and muscle structure is still very much under development. Here are those links?

Forward Facing Crash Test Video:

This actually has a forward facing seat in the front, and a rear facing in the background if you look..

http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_s...cosipriori.mpg

Rear Facing Crash Test Video:

http://www.britax.fi/quicktime/TWside240.AVI

More Rear Facing Info:

http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/stayrearfacing.aspx (first photo is a rear facing, 3 year old boy)

Read through this page, and there are multiple links to follow from there as well.

Sorry, I?ll get down from my soap box now, but information is important for everyone to have. If you still want to turn your children around at one year/20 lbs, I respect that as your decision for your child. Myself, I won't turn her around till she reaches the rear facing maximum weight or height.

[HIHUMMER]

Just my 2cents on the carseat bit..I have a Graco Omega...my son is 13 months but only 18lbs...right now...he is still rear facing. It works out okay as long as the passenger isn't to picky about being moved up a little closer and a little more straight backed.

[Ipedog]

Are you sure you're not looking for one of these?:

http://www.alpineco.com/armored/Hummer/H2.html

[Desert Dan]

My biggest gripe with the H3 is that the back seat doesn't fold flat! Besides that it is great

It is pretty hard to make a 4 door SUV that is off road capable, gets good gas mpg, and small enough to still keep up with 2 door Jeeps etc. The H3 is a great package.

I you need a 3rd row seat or mores buy a bigger SUV like a Suburban, Tahoe, Land Crusier or if you like Rovers go with the LR3 or Defender 110.

[thedieter]

I just want to point out that the auto has a much higher towing capacity which implies, to me, that the auto is stronger.

With regards to rear facing child seats, they seem better if you crash into something (somewhat under your control) but are they also better if you get rear-ended (out of your control)? Just curious.

Best regards, Happy Jack

[HummerNewbie]

Originally Posted by BEST 4x4xFAR

...we like the H3 styling better.

So you have taste

Originally Posted by BEST 4x4xFAR

...better history of build quality and reliability, and that the transfer case actually has a shifter, not buttons that electronically shift the t-case...

The FJ has not be out long enough to know what the build quality and reliability is. Now if you are just basing that on Toyota's history, that makes a difference but GM's worst rated vehicle for quality/reliability is built by Toyota. I also don't understand why the shifter is such a big deal to people. To each their own, but not being a long time wheeler I am just wondering why. Is it because that is what you are used to or is it more not wanting to rely on something electronic?

[HummerHippy]

Originally Posted by BEST 4x4xFAR

???? Honestly, if it were four door, we'd be considering it as well, but it apparently has even less cargo space, only has rear "access" doors and while we both like the styling, we like the H3 styling better. But I do like the more powerful engine, better history of build quality and reliability, and that the transfer case actually has a shifter, not buttons that electronically shift the t-case...

I need a vehicle that can carry some specific sized cargo (cases). H3 has longer distance from inside rear door to back of front seats (I tested with an approx 63in long case), than FJ. FJ's rear seat bottom, which flips up, gets in the way. Although you are supposed to be able to remove them.
I also have a case that is about 33" x 36". With back seats folded down, it fits in the back of the H3 w/o really touching the rear seats. FJ: about 1 inch shorter so the case sits on the very end of the rear seat in the FJ, and is not supported by the floor at that end. I do see that FJ has more cubic feet for cargo room, but for my particular needs, H3 is "bigger". Perhaps FJ wins in cargo area height?