Car Seat/Carrier/Travel System queries, anyone got one for a Cinquecento?

[MrsPeacock]

Hello everybody, I am new to mumsnet and indeed this whole new world of motherhood, I am expecting in early January. Due to Mother-in-law interference/generosity I found myself shopping for a travel system last week, as she had discovered the Mamas and Papas Pliko Pramette system and was suitably impressed. Further investigation means that I am unble to get the car seat (with base) in the passenger seat of my car a Fiat Cinquecento. Although liked the pram/stroller combination and the size of it folded (although to get it int he back of my ridiculously small car would involve losing the use of the back seats)and the weight was ok too.

I am now questioning the need to have a car seat that clips onto a pram/stroller chassis, does anyone really use this function regularly?

Does anyone know of any car seats that they have sucessfully fitted into a cinquecento? Was it part of a travel system?

Basically any advice would be apreciated.

Thanks everyone.

Thanks Waswondering, I love my Cinq too, its so cheap to run, it would be a shame if I had to get rid of it just coz I couldn't find a car seat.
Do you mind me asking when you find the car seat on wheels useful? Thing is as this is my first I don't really know what I'll be doing on a day to day basis when baby comes and can only see that I'll be using the car seat as carrier to take baby from car to house and lie flat pram or sling for walking about.

I had a Seicento when ds1 was born 6 years ago. My mum bought us a Graco Denver travel system ( was one of the bigger models then) with a car seat that clipped on etc. The Graco seat fitted great in my car (in fact my neighbour had the same seat and same car too) and it was really handy to have it clipped to the pram for shopping. We did have to put down one of the rear seats to put the buggy in the boot though. Graco seats are a little different now but essentially the same thing and some even come with a base too. The other thing you could consider is a small travel system to go in the boot of your car (like the Quinny Zapp - we have one at the moment and I often think it would have been good in my Seicento) and maxi cosi car seat and then get something bigger to keep at home for walking etc.

www.britax.co.uk has a fit finder to see what ones of their seats will fit in your car.

Thank you everybody,
All your insightful info greatly apreciated. DH is in the process of getting a new car so can't try to fit anything to the mystery new car yet. The plan is to use his as 'family' car, i.e. to take me, DH and new baby, and mine for little jollies and shopping trips in the week, as I will be using the front seat for baby and probably drop the back seats for the pram. I'd rather keep all the required kit to a minimum - I just don't have the space to store it all!
The search continues...