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Car seats

Rear facing in a Grand C4 Picasso w storage boxes- I have an answer!

8 replies

TeamSteady · 13/04/2016 17:04

Just thought i would drop this in here in case anyone else has the same predicament we did. DS3 due shortly. We had used an ERF seat in our old car, but had upgraded to a huge people carrier due to number 3.

We bought a new Picasso and were surprised that due to the storage boxes we were going to have big issues with the leg prop as unlike other brands it is not considered safe to either fill the box or drop the leg into it (what a ridiculous design for a family car!!)

So we were resigned to probably having to use a belted infant carrier and then the Britax two way elite as our only option for ERF.

However, we went to the InCarSafetyCentre in Mk today and spent ages fiddling and came up with a few solutions...

We could use the maxicosi two way fix base but only if we shuffled the seats - we had to have the front seat so far forward it was barely usable, and the rear seat slid as far forward as possible too- it meant that the prop just missed the box as was so close to front seat. We decided against this option as it meant the front seat was unusable and the back row was then uneven- we have dogs and didn't feel a gap between the seats was sensible, but if you pulled all seats forward in line then adults couldn't comfortably sit in the middle row either..

So we tried the Klippan Kiss- the is 0-18kg. The prop drops straight down v close to the seat rather than at an angle, and therefore JUST missed the front of the box!

We went with the Kiss. Obviously I can't report back on how good it is, as no baby for a few weeks yet but fingers crossed!

OP posts:
TeaPleaseBob · 13/04/2016 21:08

We have the kiss and it's been a great seat. We used it from birth (daughter was 6lbs 10oz) and she still has plenty of space now as a tall almost 3 year old.
We're also thinking about getting Citroen C4 Picasso later this year so that's good to know. Grin

poocatcherchampion · 13/04/2016 21:10

I always like to read these kind of things erf nerd

The two way elite is a fantastic seat though.

kittentits · 13/04/2016 21:20

This is v helpful, I didn't even realise this was an issue! We bought ours earlier this year and it's been the best car we've ever owned. Want to keep youngest rear facing as long as possible. He's currently in a britax first class which is belted rear facing, up to 13kg which will probably be around 2 years based on his current weight. Was wondering what seat to go for next, the 2 way elite was on our short list!

eternalopt · 13/04/2016 21:31

We had the whole "bugger. Storage boxes really mess things up" issue buying a people carrier earlier this year and were torn between Citroen grand Picasso and the Renault grand scenic. With the newer models, and our maxi cosi seat and base, it wasn't too much of an issue. The fitting guide on the maxi cosi website says the leg can go to the floor of new picassos and can sit on top of the boxes in the Renault (i checked all this with an extra phonecall to maxi cosi, and some manufacturers have reinforced the box lids now do Renault must have done this, but will only take baby weight, not toddler, so extending rear facing is still an issue). Easy to check maxi cosi suitability here, and it there are addiitional instructions re legs, it's written in red under the car diagram
www.maxi-cosi.com/car-seats/car-fitting-list.aspx

AliceMum09 · 13/04/2016 22:53

You'd think car manufacturers could just stop making cars with these stupid storage boxes. We have a Peugeot 5008, it's a great family car, easily fits 3 child seats and has ISOFIX on each individual seat in the middle/2nd row of seats, but it has storage boxes Angry. Luckily the support leg of our Multi Tech II just misses the lid of the storage box though.

I wouldn't mind, but the storage boxes in our car are small and a funny shape. I've not actually ever found anything I could store in them! We used to have a 2005 Renault Scenic, at least those boxes were a decent size (I think I used to stuff them with first aid kit, nappies and spare clothes).

Iamnotloobrushphobic · 22/05/2016 16:58

I have a vw and they sell suitable fillers to fit the storage boxes so that car seats with foot props can be fitted. A vw filler only costs £17. Do other manufacturers not sell something similar for the storage boxes?

AliceMum09 · 22/05/2016 18:10

Ford do, but I think they are the only ones.

Iamnotloobrushphobic · 22/05/2016 18:23

That's really rubbish. It is such a simple thing for the car manufacturer to make. I can't understand why only VW and ford make them.

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