Legacy Wagon child seat installation

[Mark Prestwood]

I went to buy a new child car seat for my ever-growing 6 month old son. The
child seats now have an upper tether-strap that needs to be secured to an
anchor point behind the seat, in addition to using the standard 3-point seat
belt. I believe this is an Australian standard that has now been adopted here
in New Zealand.

We have a 98 Legacy GTB Wagon, bought specifically as a wagon would make a
better child-lugging vehicle that the saloon. Asking the main dealer where
the anchor points were located resulted in the fact that there are none, and
they must be installed by an approved seat belt company (fair enough).
However initial enquiries have led us to believe that the tether has to be led
back right to the tailgate sill, to give a good angle to hold the top of the
child seat. This would seriously impede the load space area, and mean I can
carry the child, or his mountain buggy, but not both.

Has anyone out there any experiences with child seat anchor points in a
Legacy wagon? Are there any places they can be installed without ruining the
load space?

Thanks in advance,

Mark Prestwood
Wellington, New Zealand.

P.S. - I have exactly the same problem with my 94 Landrover Discovery if
anyone has any tips!

[Robin Moore]

I am assuming that the actual bodies of these cars are all built in the same
fashion, so you should already have at least one anchor point on the car. Here in
Canada it is now law to have anchor points for child seat tethers for each of the
rear seat positions. For quite some time, cars have been equipped in this
fashion. My 1992 Legacy wagon and 1993 Loyale wagon both had tether points in the
center of the roof at the rear of the cargo area, above the tailgate. The actual
anchor bracket was an accessory from the dealer until a couple of years ago, but
only cost a few dollars. Look carefully at your car and you will probably find a
plastic plug at the middle of the rear edge of the ceiling, with a female thread
socket underneath. The tether then goes up to the ceiling, a bit of a nuisance
with visibility, but not interfering with the cargo space.

[LubGubble]

My 98 LEgacy Brighton wagon has 3 (yes, 3) points for the tether
strap. they are on the ceiling at the rear of the cargo area, in the
trim just inside the tailgate. One on each side, one in the center.
THere is a little plastic cover over the mounting holes, so look at
that trim for the three spots, and pick your favorite. pop off the
1/2" or so round cover, and there you go.

I put the car seat on the passenger side, with the tether strap to
the mounting point at the rear on that side.

In Canada, it is the law that all new cars come complete with the bolt
and mounting clip (usually in a bag in the glove box).