ERF car seat for Ford Focus with a tall driver

[Etherealhedgehog]

DP is 6ft, we have a 2010 Ford Focus, we'd like to do extended rear facing. From discussion and research we've narrowed it down to either a belted seat like the Axkid Minikid or getting isofix installed and getting something like the Joie i-spin 360. We've been told that with the former we'd probably have to move it every time we swap who's driving as it basically won't fit behind DP, which is not ideal. Apparently the Joie isofix seat will give us more space but unclear how much.

Does anyone have an ERF seat in a Ford Focus and a tall driver? What do you have and does it work? If height wasn't an issue we'd prefer the belted seat as it would be easier to take on holiday/use in a hire car. But the prospect of moving the seat around constantly does not appeal (and presumably increases the risk that we install it wrong at some point).

Thoughts? (Yes, I know changing our car would be the easiest option but we're getting married and trying to buy a house this year so it's not really on the cards).

[lobsterz]

@voxnihili that's very useful to know, thanks! So far, we have not changed the seats around once so I've done all the driving since we bought the new seat (though we don't use the car much) - big drive coming up for Easter so that will be our first go. We've got too much else going on right now to upgrade the car but it's very useful to hear your experience in case we're tempted when we learn how much faff it inevitably is to switch the seat around!

[voxnihili]

@Etherealhedgehog - my DP is also tall. We had a Focus but changed to a Kuga for more space. It improved the issue slightly but DP still isn’t comfortable driving with DD behind him as the support leg stops his seat going back further - she has to go on his side as we often have the back seats down and the single seat is behind him. I have a fiesta - she is in the passenger side. He can’t fit in front of her at all so he ends up driving if we’re in my car.

DD is now 3.5 and has a forward facing seat in DP’s car now. I was reluctant to have her forward facing but it was the best all round option. She still rear faces in my car which we use most often and never complains about having to go rear facing after having a taste of forward facing.

Just sharing that story in case you decide to change your car for something bigger - it might not give you the space you think it will!

[BertieBotts]

Ah well, glad you got sorted in the end either way :)

[Etherealhedgehog]

Thanks all. We went and saw a carseat person today and went for the Axkid Minikid - can confirm that none of the options we tried fit behind DP (and for the person asking why it can't just go behind the passenger seat - we only have one car and both drive, so he is the passenger half the time), so it came down to what seat we wanted for other reasons. We've put a set of straps behind both seats so it won't take quite as long to swap it over. Main takehome lesson is we should have done this research before buying the car and got something longer (pre-DD we didn't even have one!) but hey ho!

[Spud1130]

My husband and I are both tall. We both had Ford focuses. In both cars our seat (Britax maxway plus) was behind the passenger seat and when we had a passenger, they sat in the back as more room behind the drivers seat than in the front passenger seat.

We use my car mainly, husbands just used for the odd day out when I'm working and nursery pick up. I bought a zafira in the end. Middle row of seats slides right back, plenty of room in the back and front

[FusciasBright21]

Also I don't know if the Minikid is different but it was a PITA getting the cover off the Move when DC had toilet accidents in the car seat 😭

[NameChange30]

At risk of pointing out the obvious, why can't the ERF seat go behind the passenger?

You can easily retrofit isofix in a Focus (we did it ourselves and we are not exactly great at DIY and stuff like that!) but spin seats are actually quite bulky and have a 18kg weight limit so they won't last as long as the 25kg belted seats.

Look at the Britax Max Way Plus or Two Way Elite.

[FusciasBright21]

We had the Axkid Move in a 2010 focus, but behind the passenger seat. It did take up lots of room and I'm glad my DC is old enough for a HBB. My DH is 5'10 and could sit in front of it, but leg room was very limited. I'm not sure he would have managed to drive comfortably with how far forward the seat had to be.

[Waddlegoose]

Britax two way elite might work, it has to go up against the seat rather than with a gap so the front seat would need to stay in the position.

[BertieBotts]

The minikid can actually be fitted more compactly than the isofix rear facing seats, or Britax max way / avionaut sky are even more compact.

Do you have a stockist near you? Maybe you can try one out and have a look? Take DP so he can try out the front seat space.

[feckingknackered]

There's a really good page on Facebook for advice it's:
Rear facing car seat safety

[Hugasauras]

Can't it just go behind passenger seat? You don't need as much leg room as a passenger as driving so no need to keep moving it. 6ft isn't giant so I'm sure he'd be fine in passenger seat with it. If it's a second car seat and you already have one behind passenger seat then it's trickier of course!

[Etherealhedgehog]

Bump. Anyone? Must be some ERF Ford Focus drivers out there!