Adding 3rd rearseats into a Holden station wagon

shireman, Mar 19, 10:01pm
We have just purchased a 2002 Holden Commodore Acclaim off trade me at the moment its a 5 seater, we are wanting to add another row at the back making it into 8 seater! Now just recently there was a rare 8 seater Holden Commodore for sale on trademe and had 3rd row of seats (8 seater not 7 seater). Has anyone converted a 5 seater into a 7 seater wagon? If so what back seats did you use? How much would it be to have it certified?

shireman, Mar 20, 12:27am
comes up with message not found

richardmayes, Mar 20, 2:32am
Good luck with that, to get ANYWHERE with this you will need a fair few things to fall into place for you:

1/ IF your model (year) Commodore wagon is one that had 3rd row seating available as an optional extra, AND

2/ IF your particular car has the hold-down bolt anchorages already in place in the boot floor, that 3rd row seats would be bolted into (had your car been equipped with 3rd row from the factory).

THEN all you would need to do is

3/ Find a rare set of Holden commodore 3rd row seats in a wrecker or parts supply shop, and install them, and

4/ Obtain and fit 3rd-row seatbelts, and

5/ Obtain Low Volume Vehicle certification from an approved inspector for your modifications.

HOWEVER

If the answer to 1/ was NO, and your model Commodore was never available as an 8-seater (i.e. there are no existing seats out there that could fit straight in)

AND/OR if the answer to 2/ was NO, and there are no pre-existing bolt points in the body of your car that would enable straightforward fitment of any such seats.

THEN you will be basically building a custom car, and you should probably quit right now and trade the Commodore for a Toyota Previa, Ford Territory, Nissan Elgrand or the likes!

franc123, Apr 22, 5:57pm
I'd have to semi agree with the above, if the third row seats are going to be used very regularly, and especially by anyone other than small children, you are going to regret not buying a proper people mover VERY quickly. Seats mounted in what is supposed to be a load area in a wagon (as opposed to a van with decent roof height) become a pain in the butt very quickly, both literally and practically. Buying a Territory or Captiva type vehicle in some ways makes it worse, the too short rear overhang of these vehicles severely compromises the load area when all seats are being used,and they still aren't high enough in the rear either. Pity you've already purchased.