I remember reading an article years ago that said the rear seat was suitable only for infants and amputees. Is it really that bad?

I have a 5 year old daughter and am considering an XK8. Before I get attached to one, I'm curious what others have to say about kids in the back seat.

It won't be a daily driver, I have a 99 XJ8 for that.

 

I'm 6'1", with the seat far enough back for me to drive an XK, the seatback is actually touching the rear seat cushion. Which leaves zero legroom for anyone who would try to sit there. An infant in a car seat or an amputee sounds about right.

TTYL
David

 

I am 6ft and 250lbs and I can fit in the back seat with the front moved a little over half of the forward travel. I may need to turn a little sideways but it works.

I would not comfortable on a long trip but is manageable for short trips

 

Sure, my 2 kids age 5 & 7 came for the test drive in mine before I bought it. They will be fine in the back until they reach the age of 10 or so.
An adult in the 5 ft to 5 ft 2 " range will also fit.. it's the head room which I find most restrictive, as long as you are able to have the front seats positioned a little forward to give some leg room in the back it will be fine. That is of course not so easy if the driver has particularly long legs.

 

Up until I owned the XKR, the smallest rear seats of any car I owned were those in a 1979 Toyota Supra. Nevertheless, there were times when we actually had 2 adults sitting in the back, although I am sure it was not that comfortable. The Jaguar is a much larger car than the Supra so it is odd that there rear "seating" is nonexistent but it must be because the Jaguar has a trunk while the Supra was a hatchback.

Actually, I am coming from a Corvette coupe that had only front seats but a large rear cargo space below the hatch glass. So with the so-called rear seats in the Jaguar I still have the benefit of having a small storage area (when I do not want to use the trunk) while not having to chauffeur others around .

Doug

 

I switched from a Miata to my 1999 XK8 convert so we would have somewhere to put our Scottish Terrier.

 

It is a 2 plus 2 . That stands for 2 people and 2 bags of groceries.

 

For a 5 year old it will not be a problem. Especially since with only one person in the back, they can sit crosswise.

 

Those are seats back there?

 

Not really.

 

I've driven a couple hundred Kms with two 10 yr old boys in the back. I had to put my seat far enough forward that I could just safely drive. They had to put their feet under the seats and their knees on each side. I normally drive all the way back and I think I was more uncomfortable than they were. They didn't complain once I got them positioned.

The suprise was a baby seat. It doesn't work. The things sit so far forward from off the seat back that the little ones really do not have anywhere to put their feet. My coupe has less trunk room than my 2000 Mustang convert and the rear seats in that actually worked. Jag looks way better though

 

My 5 year old boy can fit in the back fine. My 14 year old can but only short runs of 30 min or less be4 he starts bitching.

 

Tim,

Does your youngest son ride in a Booster Seat?

Ken

 

I've had my 3 yo grand daughter in her car set set in the passenger's side of the rear seat and my 11 yo grand daughter in back of the driver. Both of the front seats had to be moved forward but it works okay for the 40 min. trip that we took.

I've sat in the passenger's side back seat. Got in just fine. I'm 5'5" 180 lbs. Getting in is a snap but I had a heck of a time getting out. The car was in the garage at the time. (for my tests)

 

I'm 6'8" and 180lbs, there is no way anyone is sitting behind me. I barely fit with the seat all the way back and the back reclined just a little. I see it as a nicely upholstered parcel shelf complete with tie down straps

 

I run kids (High School age...all shapes and sizes) in the jump for short runs. They love the car and have no problem scrambling back into the most exclusive car for many miles around (OK...its a small town area...). Short runs. Be careful and enjoy.