Small car ERF torture

[baffledmummy]

So I have been researching this for what feels like forever and gone back and forth on various seats and am about to lose the will to live. I have a Seat Ibiza which is pretty small - I was hoping to get the Joie Stages due to the recline but it doesn't fit without putting the passenger sear completely out of action. Am concerned about head flopping so need a seat with a decent recline. Klippat Trio Fix i have been assured will fit but £400 is a bit of a punt for something that I have to order online plus have read reviews where floppy head is still an issue.

I need a new car don't I? Someone help?!

Should have said...DD is fine in infant seat for next few months (is 7 mo) but we need a second seat for second (larger - so more options) car. It needs to fit the Ibiza however as that will be put in there when she outgrows her infant seat.

Nothing to add but am watching this with interest....I have a bloody Mini!!

I have a vw polo and a maxi cosi 2 way pearl fits no problem. A friend has one in her Nissan micra and I've sat in the passenger seat comfortably (I'm 5ft4 so not tall but plenty room).

www.carseat.se/images/Britax-Two-Way-Manual-CarSeat.se.pdf says that a 2 way elite fits in a Seat Ibiza. You might have the same problem with the front seat not being usable though.

We have the 2 way elite in a much bigger car.

Sorry just realise you want one she can use now- can you just transfer the infant seat and tether with seat belts until she needs bigger one?

Google then call or better still visit incarsafety centre. They'll sort you out.

I have the TWE in a 3-door Fiesta, fitted by the nice people at In Car Safety Centre.

The front passenger seat has to be on its most forward setting so it's a little uncomfortable for my longer-legged friends but still usable.

We have the Klippan Trofix Recline which is great until you recline it. It takes up a huge space in that setting.

We have been through 3 cars trying to sort out the bloody car seat issue.

How long do you want to rear face? We had the joie tilt, it is great for small cars as it fits pretty much like an infant carrier, just with seat belt. It took ds to 24mo, can't remember exactly what the rf weight limit was, 15kg perhaps? More than a standard stage 0 anyhow, and it's a bigger seat. Saved us buying a new car prematurely and it wasn't mega bucks.

Would like RF as long as poss...the Pebble will take her to 13kg so the tilt probably wouldn't be suitable, but thanks for the recommendation sleepless. Rinceoir I'll take a look at the 2 way Pearl thanks...I don't really like her Pebble (head flops sometimes - although I think perhaps its just the steep seats in my car) so I can't imagine the Pearl is more reclined but am low on options! Stargirl good to know re the Triofix! Thanks for that. Bonzo unfortunately I am in Scotland so can't visit ICSC but I will give them a call. Potter and Dynamite - would you recommend your TWE? Any floppy head issues?

Thanks for replies...I feel like I am making a right meal out of this....

Btw we have Klippan Kiss 2. Erf Clever design means that when reclined it doesn't take up extra room. It takes up the same space as the maxi cosi cabriofix on the isofix base. It's isofix but can go in with a belt too. No tethers. It's fine in our mark 4 golf.

We do have head flopping issues with the TWE - there's a headrest thing you can get, which helps. Unfortunately DS really hates his head rest so we had to get rid of it.

We are in Scotland too. The ICSC were great. They sent us seats to try.

I have a besafe i-size seat in my audi a3 and the passenger seat is still fine for a shorter person. You can wrench the rebound bar further into the back seat to give the child more legroom/passenger less room or obviously so long as it's still well braced not as much to give passenger more room. The recline is brilliant and more of 'tilt in space' design so doesn't use loads of extra passenger seat room to recline. It's absolutely fantastic.

We have a dual fix in another car and that I think takes up even less space but to be honest I hate it and despite it being rear facing to 18kg there is so little height in the back and legroom for DS that there's no way it'll last him till age 4.

Captain is your besafe the Kid or the modular one? Will take a look at the Kiss 2 - Thanks Bonzo

Kid - suitable from about 6 months.

Oh sorry i see the modular is the same but goes forward facing. We have the this one

Brilliant...thanks so much!

Ah so those lovely folks at ICSC have recommended the Besafe IZI Modular which has a great recline and it compact enough to fit both cars and RF till 4 but with FF option. I kind of just wished I'd called them last month when I started on all this...will report back on whether it is the ONE!

They are brilliant

Just a quick update for anyone searching for rearfacing carseats for SEAT Ibiza's...the Besafe IZI Modular is perfect...currently got it behind the drivers seat and have plenty space to drive (I'm 5'8). Really pleased with the recline. In it's fully reclined position it is much the same as her Maxi-Cosi Pebble infant carrier and not had any head-flop incidents so far (although she's not been properly asleep in it yet). I got the 'black cab' one as it was a bit cheaper - the material is very soft and comfortable although am not convinced it will be all that hard-wearing. Am planning to buy a second for second car and will get the more hardwearing cover...it was about £30 more I think and kicking myself now for being tight the first time round!

I have a 2010 Ibiza 3 door (why did I buy this and not a 5 door!!) and we have a Joie Steadi and it fits behind passenger side quite easily, my partner is quite short admittedly but has a fair amount of space sitting in the passenger side.

It's a little bit shorter than the Pebble I would say which we are also still using with an Isofix base