Child seats (again)

[LeszekG]

About to pick up my first Cerby this weekend and thoughts have turned to getting the youngster into the back. I've looked at previous threads and noted that a number of owners have mentioned the Recaro seat. Can anyone confirm what model this is? Is it the 'Recaro Start' - it's the only one I've been able to search out on the web. Also, does it sit comfortably enough in the back not to wreck the seat leather?

[Martin Hunt]

les,

I have the recaro start model and it is very good, the obly thing is ensure that it is placed flat against the seat back, it angle slightly and the nippers legs get caught behind the main seat I have found.

But is has to be the best designed seat, it goes up down, tilts, angles, headrest, armrest, padded seatbelt strap thingy that works as a chewy for the nipper as well.

Martin
Cerbera Speed 6 S 922 OPO

[MikeyT]

Leszek G from Cambs. Not Market Deeping I hope (George), Cavotec? Any relation?

Mike

TVR owner in 2002

Edited by MikeyT on Friday 11th January 19:20

[MikeyT]

Leszek G from Cambs. Not Market Deeping I hope (George), Cavotec?

Mike

TVR owner in 2002

[bennno]

I bought a Porsche seat for my 996 which was similar to my Cerby one and fairly basic / our little one was not especially comfortable. In the end we bought a clippan futura (from Halfords) which is a small seat with integrated harness and it fits prefectly in my 996. It would be worth trying one of these in your Cerb, particularly as they are £50 (in sport trim) from Tescos.com at the moment.

I think the Cerby seat is £300+ oonce you buy it and get the required bracket fitted to the chassis. If you little one is still small we found the best thing was to put the bucket seat in the front of the Cerby whilst my wife went in the back!

Bennno

[LeszekG]

quote:
Leszek G from Cambs. Not Market Deeping I hope (George), Cavotec?

No, sorry I'm just Leszek G from Cambs. Maybe in another life ....

[MikeE]

So at what age do they fit in the rear seats without a child seat or booster cushion? (I've got 5 year old twin girls - so the Tuscan's going, possibly to be replaced by a Cerby).

Mike.

Edited by MikeE on Monday 14th January 09:21

[LeszekG]

quote:
So at what age do they fit in the rear seats without a child seat or booster cushion? (I've got 5 year old twin girls - so the Tuscan's going, possibly to be replaced by a Cerby).

One of my boys is 5 (slightly above average height for his age). I tried him out in the back the other day and found that he very nearly manages without a booster in the Cerby. I'm planning to try him out with one of those gizmos (don't know what they're called) that lowers the seat belt so that it sits across his shoulder and doesn't catch his neck.

Leszek

[gazzab]

Benno - have looked on tesco.com and cant find the seat you mentioned. Am I missing something? I will probably try getting one at my local Halfords this weekend instead. Gary

[YellowCerbie]

I have tried fitting over 20 seats in the rear behind the driver and the one which takes up the least space for the driver is Britax Ranger (the checked blue one from Mothercare).

Tell me if anything better comes up.

Rgds

[bennno]

www.klippan.co.uk/Pages/futura.htm



I think Tesco's must have sold out, I would go to Halfords and that way you get to check it fits properly.

It comes in about 5/6 less garish colours, i got red and black which goes with my car!

This seat is very compact and fits in the cramped rear of my 996 fine, even behind the driver!

Regards

Ben

Edited by bennno on Tuesday 15th January 13:46

[LeszekG]

Got the Recaro Start seat now and installed it in the back of the Cerby. Fits perfectly and looks good too in black and grey. A bit on the expensive side (though Halfords have it discounted at £140 at the moment, usually closer £160), but it's built well and fully adjustable for back height, seat squab length and shoulder width so it will outlast my boys' childhood years.

Good deal cheaper than the TVR seat and you can take it out and put it back easily. It also folds up to easily stow away in the boot if you need to.

Check out www.motorsportworld.co.uk for info and pics.

Leszek

[YellowCerbie]

If this Recaro is fitted behind the driver, does it leave the driver with sufficient leg room ? I have found that with all the car seats, I move from a near fully extended leg position to a knees bent at 90 degree position.

Rgds

[LeszekG]

If you put it behind the driver you cannot have the seat all the way back. I think this is the case with all child seats. The seat base of the rear seats in the Cerby is so shallow that it would be impossible to find a forward facing child seat that does not extend beyond the edge of the car seat.

I've gotten around this by putting my older son who does not need a child seat behind the driver seat (using the in car seat belt plus a set belt lowering device), and my younger son in the child seat behind the passenger seat. When sited behind the passenger seat, the passenger seat only needs to be moved a few inches forward to make enough room for kids legs.

Leszek

[parky]

I also have the Recaro for 18mth old - works fine, though I dont think he'll be much older before a booster seat is OK. Where and which seat belt adjuster have you used?

[YellowCerbie]

Thanks for the comments.

I have seen seat belt adjusters at Mothercare, Toys R Us and Argos / Index.

[LeszekG]

Can't remember the name but got it from Halfords. They had 2 types. I bought the one that looks like a blue pad (rather than the belted type) - it has the advantage of being easy to remove if need be and is really easy to set up.

Leszek

[gazzab]

I bought the Recaro Start (£179 ! from Hellfords). Looks good, fits well, well made, my 2 1/2 yr old likes the seat and is very comfortable. So had all the family in the car - but then the suspension dropped on one side, family had to get a taxi home. On investigating the suspension problem a little further I noticed that two tyres looked a little low. A rear had been low and had developed a big tear on the inner edge and so was at 0 psi! The other tyre at the front was worn wafer thin on the inner edge and was losing pressure. Neither tyre prob related to the suspension probs. GULP! So out hunting tyres this week and investigating why the syspension has either dropped on one side or gone up on the other !? The spring on one side was almost 50% longer than on the other so assume that the problem relates to the springs (or mounts or dampers or something else!!).

[tommomic]

quote:
On investigating the suspension problem a little further I noticed that two tyres looked a little low. A rear had been low and had developed a big tear on the inner edge and so was at 0 psi! The other tyre at the front was worn wafer thin on the inner edge and was losing pressure. Neither tyre prob related to the suspension probs. GULP! So out hunting tyres this week and investigating why the syspension has either dropped on one side or gone up on the other !? The spring on one side was almost 50% longer than on the other so assume that the problem relates to the springs (or mounts or dampers or something else!!).

Gulp - not the James Hall cerbie by any chance? Not good news my friend. I too was interested in that car, but you beat me too it - glad in a way now it wasnt me - I'd be crying my eyes out. Hope you got the warranty sorted - which one did you go for in the end?

Cheers, and fingers crossed its not too bad.
Tommo

[gazzab]

It was James' car - but I am not upset. You have to be chilled with a TVR. The tyres is just one of those things. The suspension though I will wait and see what the garage says before I panic! It is a fab car and will be again before this weekend!