group 1 car seats- advice re isofix

[hettie]

Hi there,
we are goign to have to purchase a new car seat soon and are thinking about isofix (our car has it so.....) I wondered if anyone out there has either the maxi-cosi priori fix or the britax duo isofix and would let me know what they think of them. They both do well in safety tests but wondered about comfy factor and head suport (pics make them look like neither have much head support but than maybe i am used group 0 head support?) The britax is much cheaper (unless anyone has spotted a deal any where) so wondered what if anything made it worth the extra 80 quid?
Ta in advance

not got isofix, but have had the equivalent of each as standard and i give full marks to maxi-cosi priori on comfiness for the child, and we have 2 now, one for each of the kids, and granny now has the britax cast-offs!!!

hope someone can help re the isofix though!!

ok thats brill advice- I suppose I can always cheekily try them out somewhere then shop around for best deal!

We tried both seats, and were much happier with the solid fixing of the Britax. I really didn't like the leg on the Maxi-Cosi - it seemed very loose despite all the green indicators suggesting a good fit, and the man saying it seemed fine. I thought the leg would be in the way some of the time too. The maxi cosi reclines further than the Britax, but DS as had no problems at all with head control, even when fast asleep, so the Britax hasn't been a problem for us. As for swapping between cars, we've found it very easy.

I'd say try both in your car to see what you think, but there is a big difference in price, so be sure that you really need to spend the extra.

I hope you find one you're happy with.

does anyone know if either of them have washable covers?

I'm fairly sure the covers come off the Britax seat for washing, but not 100%. You could always try looking on the Britax website - it might tell you there. They also have a fit-finder facility so you check whether the seat goes in your car.

The Britax covers def come off for washing - I had a thread asking how once (instructions are in leaflet), as dd had a nasty nappy accident!

We didn't want the maxi cosi, as we found the legs too much of a faff (had one on stage 0 Britax). Have been very happy with the Britax, both without a top tether (our old car) and with one (our new car).

Had to fix the seat in a loan car without isofix recently, and was shocked at how loose non isofix seats are. I thought it was just me being bad at fitting, until some friends checked it and showed me theirs, and apparently it was in fine, and they are always that loose! Makes me very glad to have isofix!

We've just bought one of the Britax Isofix Gp1 carseats (can't remember which model, but it's the one with the top tether rather than a supporting leg). The head support is fine. #All but one of the seats we have had for our 3 dcs have been Britaxs, and in general the children sleep well in them because the head support is very good.

If the shop tries to tell you that a top tether isn't necessary - ignore them. Consult Britax and/or your car manual. Halfords insisted that we didn't need one, despite evidence to the contrary from both Britax and Ford! Could this perhaps be something to do with the fact that they don't stock it and you have to buy the top tether from a different retailer? Not that there were any problems getting it, Britax gave me the details of the stockist and I bought the top tether mail order.

BTW I've machine-wahsed Britax covers without any problems. But they don't stand up to repeated washing, so unfortunately best handwashed if you find you have to do it too often.

We have the Maxi Cosi Priori XP non-isofix. I was going to get the isofix one, but couldn't physically install it (it's not that it doesn't theoretically fit in our model of car -- it does, and the man at Mothercare could fit it with no problems when he demonstrated, but I couldn't get enough force on the downwards pole thingy to get it to lock into place and neither could the two female Mothercare assistants who tried (and who had been on the "how to fix this seat in a car" course the previous week, so weren't clueless).

The Britax just looked so much less comfortable in comparison that I went for the Maxi Cosi non-isofix in preference to the Britax isofix (which would have fitted in the car fine, as it doesn't have the extra pole).

Haven't had to wash the cover, but it looks as though it would come off and wash with no problems.

Hi Hettie

I have the maxi cosi priori-fix and find that it is very easy to fit into cars - much easier than a seatbelt version. Have had no problem with the legs.
Only thing to bear in mind is that it seems to be much heavier than ordinary car seats which is not usually an issue for me but at 38 weeks pg i now have to ask DH to move it from one car to another.

Comfort wise we also have no problems - there is a good recline on it and DS often falls asleep in it very easily.

A-M

Hello,

i had the britax isofix - and was very very pleased with it.

Our car was stolen and for a while we borrowed a friends Maxi Cosi - which I always thought looked more comfortable, - but I was as happy with it.

It didn't fit in the car as snugly as the britax, and to me it felt insecure.

So once we got insurance sorted out - went back to britax.

Have a look at the Which website - I find that quite useful.

sorry went to say - 'wasn't as happy' soz