Advice needed - stage one car seat when you don't have your own car?

[StrawberryTartYum]

DS (18 months) still fits in the car seat he came home from hospital in but I'm starting to look at the next stage of car seat for him (Unless he takes a massive growth spurt I should have a good few more months out of this one as he is very dinky!). Are there any that are suitable for being transferred between a variety of cars? I don't drive but at least once a week a friend (five friends altogether, that we see regularly, so five different cars) will give us a lift or we have to take a taxi somewhere. I know it is the parents discretion whether or not a car seat is used in a taxi but sometimes I need to take one into the neighbour in town which involves travelling on a dual carriageway which would make me far too nervous!
Is there any that would be suitable or will I simply have to stick to public transport when he grows out of the carry car seat? I am in the process of taking driving lessons but I have been at them on and off for ten years so I can't see myself with my own car in the near future! Many thanks

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

Im with you on the Taxi front, and wouldnt use a taxi without a carseat.

Im a big advocate of rear facing to four years old, however I have found most ERF (extended rear facing) seats more faffier that a simple forward facing seat with harness, so for ease I think forward facing would be more suitable.

Id always recommend Britax over and above any other brand (certainly over Cossatto etc). What about one that has a harness which you would remove when they hit 18kg and the seat would continue to be used as a high backed booster?

[slippermaiden]

We had the britax evolva 123. Lasts forever, easy to fit in the car, comfy

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

Britax Evolva 123 seat

[WhispersOfWickedness]

We've just got a Britax Evolva, it has a harness until 18kg and then converts to a high back booster. They are on offer on Amazon until 13th July and I think I've seen them for sale in other places too
link
It fits in the car really easily

[WhispersOfWickedness]

Hehe, cross posted with other recommendations for the same seat

[AliceMum09]

The Evolva is really heavy and wide though. If for some reason you had to fit two passengers in the back of a car with it, or another child seat and a passenger, you'd really struggle.

How about the Joie Stages? It can be used rear facing until 18kgs (about 4 years, but more than that if you have a petite child. My DD2 won't weigh 18kgs until she's 6 1/2 according to the growth charts in her red book). You can also use it forward facing from 9kgs if you really had to. Sometimes the seatbelt can be just a bit too short to go round it, but it can be fitted rear facing in most cars using this method.

After 18kgs you can tuck the 5-point harness away and use the seat as a high backed booster until the child weighs 25kgs.

I'd definitely be buying the Joie Stages if I didn't own a car. It's really good value for money, and I personally wouldn't put a child under the age of 4 forward facing in a car.

[StrawberryTartYum]

Great I'll look those two up online and discuss with his DF - who doesn't drive either! - thanks very much everyone