To be having a car seat crisis?!?

[NotAnAmazonAlexa]

Hello fellow wise mumsnetters...

I am currently driving my self mad trying to find a car seat for 1 year old DD. Our car doesn't have ISOFIX, but also has apparently unusually short seat belts. I've tried a few car seats at Halfords but they can't get the belt round extended rear facing car seats, the Joie every stage is apparently compatable but I'm not holding my breath it's going to fit if I'm honest.

My other concern is trying to get a wiggly baby in an erf car seat with the seat belt going across, it looks like a logistical nightmare tbh. Does anyone succeed with this ?

Ideally I don't want to have to have ISOFIX retrofitted, neither my parents or in-laws have it in their cars so it would be a problem if DD ever wanted to go with them and there wasn't a car seat suitable for their car.

Does anyone here forward face younger than recommended and have good car seat suggestions ?
I like the look of the cosatto moova and zoomi, the woman in Mothercare was a bit useless in offering any real advice though. And then it turned out that they had neither in stock anyway to try.

I realise it's not an AIBU, however DD is now pretty much on the brink of out growing her car seat and I'm tearing my hair out trawling the internet for car seats...

I disagree that the 25kg seats are big. Our minikid takes up less room than either our pebble plus or 2 way pearl, when installed with no legroom.

We found that there wasn't much room in the Focus for a 25kg ERF car seat - not with enough recline for our 1yo and enough leg room for the passenger

Quite the opposite for us. A good recline on the TWE and plenty of legspace for 6'2 dh in the front passenger seat.

Axkid minikid for us. Rock solid install every time and no belt across.

Disclaimer - that isn't my child

The newer Focuses probably have more cabin space than our 2003 one!

We have since bought an Octavia and got a max way plus which fits comfortably (but also, DS is older now and needs less recline).

The axkid move fits into my 2 door mini. Fitted with seat belt, but no awkward straps in the way. Good value seat with excellent safety ratings

Plus tested seats

Well I've been back to the store and another woman has fitted it, however in order to get it tight enough to stop the movement she literally had to climb into the seat and haul on the belt not practical when the seat will need to be moved between cars around twice a month.
I've already removed the labels however I'm hoping if I take it back they might refund me, but I have a feeling it's wishful thinking

I had a Klippan Triofix and there is a separate base that goes in with the seatbelt and then the seat clicks into that, like an infant seat, so the seatbelt isn’t in your way. It’s ERF and then can be used FF and as a HBB.

If you do manage to return it, I'd highly recommend the Axkid Minikid. We have one in each car and it's head and shoulders better than the Joie we also have. If budget is less than £300 then the Axkid Move looks great.

You should insist on a refund OP because it was incorrectly fitted and you were not well advised.

We had that issue.. I have isofix but dh old. Car didn't. ( focus) however it did have the bar behind the seat with the pre drilled. Holes for the isofix to be installed. We. Brought this for around 20 from Ford.
Took him weeks to get around to fit it.
Then the car died... Typical
His new car doesn't have isofix either but haven't botherwd this time as we beer use his as mines bigger.