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Car seats

Confused about car seat regulations? Find baby car seat advice here. For Mumsnetter-approved essentials, sign up for Mumsnet Swears By emails here.

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Original poster

HELP! Cabriofix and easy fix -what car do they fit?

28 replies

EmpressMatilda · 01/03/2013 15:45

I need to ask advice. I have discovered that baby car seats are the most stupidly stressful and complicated thingS. I bought a maxi-cosi cabriofix seat and a family fix base. I naively thought they would fit into any car. They don't fit my husband's Toyota Celica at all. Some things on the Internet suggest they do but in reality they don't. He doesn't even have the right kind of seat belts for fitting it in that way.

So... I need to get a car anyway so I'm not stranded on maternity leave and have resolved to get one that fits the above mentioned seat and base and also has 4-5 doors and a large boot. Have found some decent looking ones secondhand online but there is massive confusion about what is and isn't compatible with this car seat. I am thinking of getting a 2001 Nissan Almera Tino. About three quarters of those currently for sale claim to have isofix points which is a good sign,I need to ask advice. I have discovered that baby car seats are the most stupidly stressful and complicated thing. I bought a maxi-cosi cabriofix seat and a family fix base. I naively thought they would fit into any car. They don't fit my husband's Toyota Celica at all. Some things on the Internet suggest they do but in reality they don't. He doesn't even have the right kind of seat belts for fitting it in that way.

Has anyone else got this car seat/base combination who can let me know what cars are compatible with them? Can't be anything too new as I will be buying secondhand.

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SPBInDisguise · 01/03/2013 15:48

Hang on, is it the isofix base you've got? Then all you really need are isofix points surely? Vws have them, as do lots of cars. Why do you need the seatbelt?

Original poster

EmpressMatilda · 01/03/2013 15:49

Sorry about the rubbish copy and pasting in the above message. A bit stressed at the moment and making mistakes. Ignore the above and read this:

I bought a maxi-cosi cabriofix seat and a family fix base. I naively thought they would fit into any car. They don't fit my husband's Toyota Celica at all. Some things on the Internet suggest they do but in reality they don't. He doesn't even have the right kind of seat belts for fitting it in that way.

Has anyone else got this car seat/base combination who can let me know what cars are compatible with them? Can't be anything too new as I will be buying secondhand.

OP posts:

Original poster

EmpressMatilda · 01/03/2013 15:51

Well, it's called 'EasyFix' and I assumed it would fit anything that has isofix points. But apparently that is not the case. So now I am confused.

OP posts:

SPBInDisguise · 01/03/2013 15:52

In what way does it not fit the Toyota? Does it click into the isofix points in the back?

Original poster

EmpressMatilda · 01/03/2013 16:06

Thanks for helping SPBInDisguise The Toyota doesn't have isofix points or the 3 point seat belts.

OP posts:

Original poster

EmpressMatilda · 01/03/2013 16:07

I am going to buy a car anyway though. I was always going to as DH will use the Toyota for the commute to work and I will need something for me and baby. So the car I buy now needs to fit the car seat.

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catyloopylou · 01/03/2013 16:15

We have a 2006 VW Golf Plus. We wanted to get the family fix base so we could use it with the cabriofix seat and the next size up (pebble?) But the leg was not long enough to fit securely in our car. so we got the easyfix base, which only just fits. When we checked maxicosi website it seemed to suggest either base would fit, although our particular model/age of car wasn't listed.

Moral is, test it in the actual car if at all possible.

Original poster

EmpressMatilda · 01/03/2013 16:23

Thanks caty I honestly thought the Easyfix base would fit anything that has isofix points so have been really disappointed to find that is not the case. Add to that the fact that a lot of cars in the 2001/02 range (ie the ones I can afford) don't even have the isofix points in the first place!

I can see why they're trying to standardise it all. The current situation is crazy!

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RobotHamster · 01/03/2013 16:26

The maxi cosi website has all the compatibility information.

Original poster

EmpressMatilda · 01/03/2013 16:34

Thanks Robot Unfortunately it doesn't. For most models of car it has no information for anything older than 2003.

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madwomanacrosstheroad · 01/03/2013 17:01

I had the maxi cosi and base in a renault modus (similar to clio) and it fitted well. Actually am trying to sell the car now....

RobotHamster · 01/03/2013 17:01

Oh really? That's a bit crap.

What sort of car are you going to get?

Original poster

EmpressMatilda · 01/03/2013 17:28

I am thinking of getting a Nissan Almera Tino as I've found one secondhand. It's 2001. In fact, I have found quite a lot of various secondhand cars all around the 2001/02 date but can't find info on whether they are compatible with the seat!

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RobotHamster · 01/03/2013 17:37

Can you not buy a newer car? I think isofix is relatively new.

Original poster

EmpressMatilda · 01/03/2013 18:02

Looking at secondhand cars currently for sale I think the answer is 'no'! Top of my budget seems to bring up cars circa 2002. I guess I could hold for a bit and keep a lookout in case anything more recent comes up but baby is due in 4 weeks and as it currently stands we have no way of getting him home!

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Original poster

EmpressMatilda · 01/03/2013 18:04

madwoman How much are you selling it for?!

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Pascha · 01/03/2013 18:07

Isofix was only fitted as standard in all uk cars from 2004 onwards. You won't find all that many with it prior to this. Our X-reg Focus fits the non-isofix Easybase belted base and seems very secure. Is this an option?

surroundedbyblondes · 01/03/2013 18:11

Maybe i'm being ridiculously stupid and missing something, but we never had a seat base for DDs' maxi cosi. We fixed it in with the seatbelt. Surely that would work in all cars...

Pascha · 01/03/2013 18:16

Yes it does, we transfer DS's Pebble into other cars without the base just belted and its fine, but OP mentioned the Toyota doesn't have 3-point seatbelts even.

The base makes it easy to click the seat in and out without unbelting it all the time.

RobotHamster · 01/03/2013 18:41

I wpuldnt bother with the base then, just make sure the 3 point seatbelt is long enough and you'll be fine

Original poster

EmpressMatilda · 01/03/2013 22:25

Thanks all. I am going to look at a couple of cars tomorrow. I will take the car seat and base with me. As long as it can be fitted in one way or another I will be satisfied. I am just annoyed that I bothered to buy the base as it will probably be pointless. Well, we'll see...

OP posts:

madwomanacrosstheroad · 01/03/2013 22:27

We have it on at 2500 ono (its nov 2005, diesel with new timing belt etc) but we are in northern ireland.
The maxi cosi does of course work with the seat belt, however with base it is safer and gets better results in crash tests.

madwomanacrosstheroad · 01/03/2013 22:42

Your toyota must have normal 3 point seat belts to strap the maxi cosi in to get the baby home. They have been standard since the eighties. Dont stress yourself to buy a car under pressure - you ll only regret it. With a bit of luck and patience you ll find an older car that has isofix. It may not have been standard but has been around for a long time. My friend car is a good ten years old and has it. It would not neccessary br adveetised and unless people have small children they are not always aware they have it.

MyBootsAreMuddy · 01/03/2013 22:50

If it is the 'Easy fix' base you have and not the 'family fix' then it can be fitted either with isofix or a seatbelt. So even if the new car does not have isofix you could still poss use the base (providing it fits) with a 3point seatbelt and click the cabriofix on and off.
Although not a nessesity having a base is just easyer than strapping seat in all the time especialy when you are in a hurry and its pooring with rain (or like me you have 3 in infant seats !)

People I know with cabriofixes drive VW Polo/golf/passat, Seat Ibiza/leon, Skoda Fabia/Octavia, Volvo V50/V70, Honda (I think accord) they are all 2005-2012 models.

openerofjars · 01/03/2013 22:51

We have the cabriofix and it has been fine in the following cars:
ancient Skoda Felicia
Fiat Punto
Ford Focus CMax
Vauxhall Corsa
Skoda Fabia
Land rover something or other

We were very kindly given an isofix base by a dear friend

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