33 replies to this topic

[jules_s]

i would say asking "Has anyone had an accident in a VX220 who had a child in a child seat in the passenger seat at the time that has lived to tell the tale?" is bordering on the pathetic let alone dramatic - you are implying these cars are death traps and as a father, i (and others) are irresponsible

When people need to build statistics they take examples from the populace, real world evidence, and compile it.  My comment was merely in reference to obtaining at least one example of the event everyone here is trying to circumvent, they say forewarned is forearmed.  I fail to see how this was a pathetic statement, or dramatic, given that you have absolutely no evidence that a child seat ina VX is safe.  You even state yourself that it doesn't have an NCAP rating, exactly how is that arguing against my point?

I drive one, I most certainly wouldn't want to drive a death trap, perhaps this is your dramatic side appearing.  I am not a parent, but given the evidence presented in this and related threads if I were, I most certainly wouldn't want my offspring becoming a statistic in a untested vehicle.  The VX220 manual plainly states that they do no recommend anyone under the age of 12 travelling in it, it also states they do not recommend the use of a child seat it, this ends my point.

Well put.

However, I think the problem with car seats for nippers in a vx/elise is more about being rear ended at speed...and the seats submarining underneath the seatbelts.

[Garry.L]

Interesting thread....

This exact same topic (With the exact same for/against arguements) came up when I had my MGTF on the Rover Forum, seems the MGF/TF were never 'type approved' for child seats, yet countless owners had been fitting them for years...

The above advise not to fit childseats was confirmed by an ex-MG-R test engineer, he describes how/why manufactures say 'not suitable for child seats' in the thread below (Post 15 onwards - Rincewind)....... if of any interest

http://forums.mg-rov...light=baby seat

Edited by Garry.L, 26 May 2008 - 09:19 PM.

[cheeky_chops]

interesting link- he talks about none fitting the MGF with a "fitment tool" so didnt get type approved. Looking at a pic, the seat belt anchor seems very high and the top doesnt pivot



I still think my child seat (which was specifically fitted to the VXR by a company that only sell car seats in MK) is tighter and more rigid than in either of our other cars.

[Kenni]

I love taking my son out in my car!

[MartinS]

My booster was a Mamas and Papas. Martin s

[Chris C]

As it is clear that the safety of a child in a child seat in a car like this is debatable, and people appear to be wanting direction to that one clear paragraph in a book somewhere that admonishes them of their responsibility to take the life of their child into their own hands when placing their child in such a car... I think the question that needs to be asked is

"Has anyone had an accident in a VX220 who had a child in a child seat in the passenger seat at the time that has lived to tell the tale?"

The question I wanted answered was who has fitted a base only seat to their VX and what model worked - that was it

With all respect, I wouldn't use someone I don't know, with knowledge, experience and background I could not validate to make my decisions for me. So I'm not looking for a 'paragraph' to admonish me. I make my own decisions on the information I gather and take responsibility for my actions.

Thanks for the pointer cheeky_chops - going to pop down to halfrauds and have a look later

Cheers.

Chris

[NickA]

With all respect, I wouldn't use someone I don't know, with knowledge, experience and background I could not validate to make my decisions for me. So I'm not looking for a 'paragraph' to admonish me. I make my own decisions on the information I gather and take responsibility for my actions.

With all respect, the mere fact you are in this thread asking for the recommendation of someone you don't know, with knowledge, experience and background that you cannot validate to recommend a car seat that will fit your car adequately to provide protection for your offspring regardless of the fact the owners manual indicates the manufacturers do not recommend the use of such a device, seems to indicate to the contrary.  My initial comment was made to the thread, and not your personal post, the reason being your post (I believe) 'bumped' this top to the top of the list as I was browsing it..  my observation was a portion of people wanted to know whether it was advisable to fit one, a portion wanted to know what type to fit, and it struck me as bizarre why parents having learned that it wasn't recommended would then go on to asking 'well, which one would you think would protect my child the best then? (thats what everyones reference to 'the one that fits best' would appear to imply, correct me if I am wrong).  This is why I may have been a 'little' dramatic in the construction of the question I thought that needed to be asked to evaluate which car seat would provide the best protection in the event of an accident.

It is clear to me that my posturings around this subject have caused offence to certain individuals, exactly why I am not sure when my only aim was to suggest that maybe more statistics were required to evaluate the safest car seats to fit if you wanted to go against the manufacturer, if you can't see that I only had the best intentions then I am at a loss as to what else I can add to this thread and as such shall refrain from posting anymore.

[Chris C]

With all respect, I wouldn't use someone I don't know, with knowledge, experience and background I could not validate to make my decisions for me. So I'm not looking for a 'paragraph' to admonish me. I make my own decisions on the information I gather and take responsibility for my actions.

With all respect, the mere fact you are in this thread asking for the recommendation of someone you don't know, with knowledge, experience and background that you cannot validate to recommend a car seat that will fit your car adequately to provide protection for your offspring regardless of the fact the owners manual indicates the manufacturers do not recommend the use of such a device, seems to indicate to the contrary. My initial comment was made to the thread, and not your personal post, the reason being your post (I believe) 'bumped' this top to the top of the list as I was browsing it.. my observation was a portion of people wanted to know whether it was advisable to fit one, a portion wanted to know what type to fit, and it struck me as bizarre why parents having learned that it wasn't recommended would then go on to asking 'well, which one would you think would protect my child the best then? (thats what everyones reference to 'the one that fits best' would appear to imply, correct me if I am wrong). This is why I may have been a 'little' dramatic in the construction of the question I thought that needed to be asked to evaluate which car seat would provide the best protection in the event of an accident.

It is clear to me that my posturings around this subject have caused offence to certain individuals, exactly why I am not sure when my only aim was to suggest that maybe more statistics were required to evaluate the safest car seats to fit if you wanted to go against the manufacturer, if you can't see that I only had the best intentions then I am at a loss as to what else I can add to this thread and as such shall refrain from posting anymore.

OK, seems we are both coming at this from different angles but to be accurate I was only asking for feedback on boosters that fit my seat, not asking if they 'provide protection for your offspring regardless of the fact the owners manual indicates the manufacturers do not recommend the use of such a device'. Whether they fit between the seat bolsters is a simple question which anyone with a seat that does can answer - they either do or don't. The whole 'is it safe' issue is a different kettle of fish . And not one I think anyone on here has the depth of experience or knowledge to answer definitively (apologies if I am wrong). My reading is that the issue is as much legal/financial as safety based and that is MY reading. My point was that that side is entirely my choice and not one that it would be fair of me to pass onto someone else.

So, anyone have a booster seat base that fits the VX seat shape?

Cheers

Chris

[VIX]

My reading is that the issue is as much legal/financial as safety based and that is MY reading. My point was that that side is entirely my choice and not one that it would be fair of me to pass onto someone else.

Your insurers might have a view.

[Chris C]

My reading is that the issue is as much legal/financial as safety based and that is MY reading. My point was that that side is entirely my choice and not one that it would be fair of me to pass onto someone else.

Your insurers might have a view.

They may, that's a fair point. But it is still a choice for me to make.

Off to Halfrauds to try out the seat linked earlier

[Chris C]

OK, just back from Halfrauds and I can report that the Michellangelo seat linked above fits, of sorts. As a base only booster it fits the shape of the seat and the side bolsters snugly - being tight up to the back and flat on the bottom of the seat. However, with the back on it is not a snug fit as the fixed angle does not suit the seat, and pushes the base forward. Whether you choose to use one is up to you. Thanks for the link cheeky_chops, you've pleased your one person for today!

[pcmanning]

Same argument loop again. Down to each to make their own descision - suspect as a group we'd make better efforts to check that a seat fits our car than many others would do in the back of their People Carrier - just because it's OK to fit, doesn't mean they fit it OK! Anyway, I take my little un out very occasionally (Maxi Cosi Priori) which fits the VX well. However, if I still have the car when she needs a booster, I'll be looking very carefully at the options. It has been mentioned before on this site that if the booster cushion slips out from under the child in a shunt, they drop down and are no longer wearing the seat belt correctly - this is exacerbated in the VX as the seats are quite flat - I presume leather being slippery doesn't help. Maybe this is the time to get a 2+2 as the seats in the rear are so small that the child will fit better than an adult even without a booster! Paul

[Chris C]

Same argument loop again. Down to each to make their own descision - suspect as a group we'd make better efforts to check that a seat fits our car than many others would do in the back of their People Carrier - just because it's OK to fit, doesn't mean they fit it OK!

Anyway, I take my little un out very occasionally (Maxi Cosi Priori) which fits the VX well. However, if I still have the car when she needs a booster, I'll be looking very carefully at the options. It has been mentioned before on this site that if the booster cushion slips out from under the child in a shunt, they drop down and are no longer wearing the seat belt correctly - this is exacerbated in the VX as the seats are quite flat - I presume leather being slippery doesn't help. Maybe this is the time to get a 2+2 as the seats in the rear are so small that the child will fit better than an adult even without a booster!

Paul

I didn't want to get into the loop again, just wanted to know if anyone had found a booster that worked with our seat design! Hey, ho.

In no way advising you...

The booster I got yesterday has sort of arms that the lap belt go under, which as my daughter sits would stop the seat from sliding forward on the (correctly assumed) slippy leather

As for the 2+2 I am sure I saw/heared something about a booster still being required making a farce of the whole thing because there's then no room for the only people that could fit in the things in the first place.

But please do not take that as fact anyone, I am not trying to starts a debate

[pcmanning]

As for the 2+2 I am sure I saw/heared something about a booster still being required making a farce of the whole thing because there's then no room for the only people that could fit in the things in the first place.

But please do not take that as fact anyone, I am not trying to starts a debate

I'm basing the claim on a rumour we picked up when we had a TT - that the rear seats were actually approved as "Group 3" seats - could well be bunk though!

Paul