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We're on T minus 2 weeks until our first baby arrives, can't wait! Thing is, I've had to sell my beloved Lincoln Towncar, as the baby seat wouldn't go in. The belts were too short to get around it safely, and an isofix base fouled the buckle. The front was close but no good due to having an airbag. So, this brings me to my predicament! I have approximately 2k to spend, which is more than i usually car shop with, but I'm struggling. Whatever car i get must be safe for the baby seat. This means either Isofix (so about 02 onwards) or fairly flat rear seats, with short buckles, and long belts. I'm only interested in rwd cars. I like interesting cars... it's probably easier if i give you a rough snapshot of my car history (the interesting ones), so you know where I'm coming from: 86 Ford Capri, 82 Ford Cortina, 92 Nissan 200sx s13, 96 Jaguar XJ6 Sport, 93 Toyota Supra 3.0 turbo, 96 Mitsubishi Shogun 3.0, 84 Scimatar SS1, 84 BMW 320i, 92 Mercedes 190e, 78 Vauxhall Cavalier, 73 Mazda 1300, 78 Mazda B1800, 92 Mazda Eunos, 92 Lincoln Towncar, 88 Sierra XR4x4, 87 Nissan 300zx, There are more, but this gives you a feel of my interests! I'm stuck though. 2k can buy all major of interesting metal... but it's tricky trying to find something interesting, yet safe for baby! I don't want a run of the mill, mid 90s E class, or BMW 5 series. I'd prefer something (having just sold the Lincoln) with a V8. However, i can't be regularly getting below 20mpg... So: Interesting (subjective I know, hence list), RWD, Average 20mpg or more, Modern big motor mpg or... Old big motor mpg with LPG, Either isofix, or safe belt/rear seat arrangement, No massive repair bills on the horizon. I've been looking at (online) X350 XJ8s with moon mileage, these can be had for close to 2k. They have isofix, V8s, and are Interesting. But forums suggest horrifying air suspension repair bills, amongst ither shockers. Id love an old XJ40, but I think they'd have the same issues the Lincoln had, plus the need to be LPG'd   Any suggestions, people?! |
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As a father of four (grown up now) I would advise you also need large boot/cargo space because new babies come with more accessories than you can ever estimate before they arrive. Estate/Wagon/Avant is the way to go. Congrats and good luck, your life will NEVER be the same again  |
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Needs a bigger hammer mate.......
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steveg
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,586
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Not long after my daughter was born I sold my 2 door e30 and bought a Volvo 940. I've still got it 12 years later. It isn't perfect though. The rear seats aren't all that flat and there isn't any isofix fittings. What we did though was use the centre seat as they have 3 proper belts in the back. When she got a bit older and got different seats we were able to use the outer rear seats and found they fitted best with the headrests removed.
Another thing we found is that the newer the car the smaller to boots got. We had a Citroen AX for years and could fit a folded up buggy in the back easily. I happened to be looking at new Volvos in the showroom. Even the smallest ones are huge and there was no way of getting a buggy in the back.
A friend has a Lotus Excel and having ridden in the back of one they might just about prove big enough for a while, new enough to have reasonable seat belts in the back as well.
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Thanks for the advice guys, I'm really not into getting an estate or something else uber practical though. My wife has a minivan/camper van arrangement that can fit everything in if need be, i just need something that can safely get a baby seat in. It doesn't need to be the 'ideal' family man motor. I'm willing to have to take prams to bits to fit in the boot if it means i have something i enjoy. If you know what i mean? The Lincoln went because, having NO suitable seats for the baby, we realised that we'd never again ride in it together!
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steveg
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,586
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Oct 16, 2016 10:26:45 GMT
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You could fit very good rear seat belts in anything really, not sure if anyone sells kits to fit isofix brackets into a car though. You can also get various seat belt extenders. I think they might have been intended for those who found standard length belts a bit too short but people use them for child seats as well when the standard belt is too short.
Not sure when isofix was first fitted in cars, early oo's possibly.
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Last Edit: Oct 16, 2016 10:27:07 GMT by steveg
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Oct 16, 2016 10:32:47 GMT
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Never used isofix as you then can't swap between cars that don't have them. Both my 2 used maxi cosi stuff using the belt runs till they just needed booster seats
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Oct 16, 2016 18:57:56 GMT
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personally I would had either got a different seat or bought longer belts.
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Oct 16, 2016 21:39:42 GMT
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personally I would had either got a different seat or bought longer belts. Not possible. The buckle fouled the seat. If any part of the plastic buckle touches the plastic of the baby seat it isn't safe, as the seat could shatter in a collision. Problem one, was that the belts didn't lock unless in a collision, or braking hard. This meant that you couldn't pull it tight to lock the seat in. So i bought a locking clip. Problem number two was that the buckle touched the baby seat, as it was on a long piece of webbing. Problem number 3 was that the belt wansn't long enough to get around the seat without tipping it up. Due to problem number two, a belt extension wouldn't have worked. Problem number 4, was that even an isofix base was no use due to the buckle coming through the gap in the base. So..... yeah. I tried! It was a no go from the beginning. |
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Oct 17, 2016 11:12:22 GMT
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Could get a nice e39 BMW for that kind of fish, mine did me and my daughter really well. May even get you into tidy e34 territory with your budget if you look hard enough |
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Oct 17, 2016 11:12:36 GMT
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Could get a nice e39 BMW for that kind of dosh, mine did me and my daughter really well. May even get you into tidy e34 territory with your budget if you look hard enough |
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lilbob
Part of things
Posts: 419
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Oct 19, 2016 19:34:42 GMT
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The belts in my old e30 bmw wouldn't hold my eldest daughters car seat either on its own or using the incar base i ended up removing the little plastic button that stops the seat belt buckle sliding down to the bottom of the belt (just to say before any one metions it the car seat was safe secure and stable when in )
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Well - I'm a dad! It's been an incredibly surreal week and a bit, that's for sure!
Anyway, i got myself a family car that ticks all the boxes, and a few more....
Isofix
Child seat anchors
Big boot
RWD
V8
300hp
0-60 in 6.3 seconds
Average 26mpg
That'll do donkey! Managed to find an 03 plate X350 4.2 XJ8 that needs a couple of bits, for a great price. It has 105000 miles and full service history. Win! It needs disks and pads (desperately, we're down to the metal here!) and we have a loud front left wheel bearing. Already ordered the parts, gonna sort it this week 😊 Absolutely made up with it, seems an incredible machine!
I'd like to document my time with it, but it's not really retro. I mean, in some ways it is; the last of the old school Jag styling.... but the newest ones are only 7 years old. Mine is as old as you can get being 13 years old... I'll put it to the masses and if people would like to see more I'll do a Reader's Rides thread for it. Thanks for your help in the matter guys 👍
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More please - I was going to suggest a Lexus...
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96 E320 W210 Wafter - on 18" split Mono's - Sold :-(
10 Kia Ceed Sportwagon - Our new daily
03 Import Forester STi - Sold
98 W140 CL500 AMG - Brutal weekend bruiser! Sold :-(
99 E240 S210 Barge - Now sold
02 Accord 2.0SE - wife's old daily - gone in PX
88 P100 2.9efi Custom - Sold
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