Quote:
Originally Posted by schoy
As a father of a 5-year-old and 2-year-old, the question isn't whether the OP's daughter will be safe (there's too many variables to answer that question: OP's driving ability, R8's crash resistance, the abilities of other drivers that OP will be encountering), but whether the OP's daughter will be safer. If the R8 is the sole car that the OP had, then clearly the law allows the daughter to ride up front. But, as we all know, what we can do (i.e. legally) is often different that what we should do.
Here, the OP clearly has a safer alternative that is readily available: the rear seat of his e90. Would his daughter have less fun? Probably. But then, would you hand over the keys to the R8 when your daughter turns 16 and gets her permit? Probably not, even though -- while legal -- it's "less fun".
Ultimately, as a parent, it's your duty to make the safety decisions for your underage child because underage children cannot reasonably make those decisions for themselves.
Edit: Remember, you are your kids PARENT, not their friend. On the flip side, this forum is replete with indignation from members (and correctly so) when a parent hands the keys to an M3 to their teenage kid. "Worst parents ever!" we cry in disbelief, when the kid crashes the car. And yet, somehow, we seem okay, and in some respects complicit, when a parent puts their child in the front seat of an R8? Seems like a double-standard. One could actually argue that the latter scenario is worse since the child never had a chance to decide otherwise (whereas the teenage driver had some control over his/her situation).
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You make some excellent points and serious points so I'd address it really quick...
My whole point of this thread was simply to ask if it was safe and (legal) to take my child in the R8. Obviously I'm not doing this on a daily basis. This would be on certain occasions maybe a Friday special jaunt with daddy for a short trip around town. It seems harmless enough and I would never speed in any of my cars when children or even friends are present. It does not take an R8 to speed, I've seen crazy careless parents drive their minivan's like a maniac and that is far more dangerous.
Anyways my intention was not to start a political uproar here since we are all grown adults. My child's safety is always the most important and I've bought some of the safest baby seats on the market to ensure they are well protected. The Clek is probably the absolute Ferrari of baby seats and we use these seats in our cars. We have a pair of SUV's for family duties and the M3 is when I need to take both kids out.
Oddly enough a co-worker and I were discussing car safety and he said in Europe (Sweden) safety is one of their top priorities and they actually believe kids in the front seat are safe with an airbag.
So like all parenting, guess we will have to sit on this a while and probably wait till she gets a bit older. But it's good to have a discussion here regardless.