Isofix??? enlighten me oh MN !

[wabbit]

I'm looking at buying the safest of safe 4-11 booster seats

From what I've been reading Ricaro do an all singing all dancing one - and it has Isofix... which is compatible with my Saab

would I need extra gadgetry with the boosterseat ?
Can I fit it or would a tech at halfords or a garage have to fit it?

Know nothing about Saab, but if your car has the Isofix bars already, you should be able to clip the Isofix carseat on to that and the car seat will be firmly fixed to the car itself, without a load of seatbelt faff.

Trickiest thing I find is where you have nice plump seat upholstery, you have to wrestle the back of the seat from the squab (is that right? Or is that a pigeon? The bit you put your bum on, anyway) to get the hooks in. A nightmare with my Honda, but it was easy in a Vauxhall I used,because there was a bigger gap.

Once the seat's been fitted for a while it indents the upholstery, so it gets much easier. You're supposed to fit plastic guide things, but I couldn't get them between the seat cushions.

Hiya wabbit. . ISOFIX is a great system, click and go. You can buy the top tether as an additional anchor for the booster seat if it comes with the additional metal loop. However, seriously once they're plugged into the car, it's brilliant. To show my age, reminded me of the old safety adverts in the UK "Clunk, click every trip".

thankyou both! and ello Alipiggie

All sounds good I'll have to go rummaging around the back seats as the Ricaro site said my car is fitted with Isofix fittings

Squabs and pigeons under my bum??? and I never knew!

Anyone else got a Ricaro car seat? Are they good?

Hi wabbit, is the Recaro seat you're talking about the Monza seatfix?

This one attaches to the Isofix anchorage points which keeps it firmly in place but the seatbelt itself has to be put on (sorry, you prob know all this). Seats with an integral 5 point harness are only rated to carry children up to 18kg max.

Personally, I think if you have Isofix, then use it. It is incrdibly easy to use, the whole point of it is so you cannot get the fitting wrong. Yes you still have to put on the seatbelt (as with any group 2 and 3 car seat) but with the seat fixed firmly to the car there will be v little movement in an impact (surely better).

I have 2 Britax Evolva Isofix seats and they are excellent.

I had the Britax Evolva 123 booster in seat in a Saab 9-3 Sportwagon, and it was fab. Didn't need a toptether for a booster seat. There was definitely a knack to getting the seat onto the |sofix bars, but it was fine once you'd got used to it. I didn't need the plastic guides, they just got in the way.

Oh... I love my saab too - his name's Ugly Joe!
Dare I ask you what happened to yours?

Teaandcake - it was the 'young sport' that I was looking at - but apart from the stage 1 five-point harness I can't see many changes in the design.

Definitely going to go for isofix anchorage now I've seen posts and blurb - I've seen so many nasty accidents lately and I do loads of motorway miles

Hi wabbit, Recaro Young Sport does not have Isofix I'm afraid. Its a group 1/2/3 seat, you use it with the 5 point harness from 9-18kg then remove the harness and use it with the seatbelt restraining the child until they are 135cm in height (approx 11 years). It adjusts in length to accomodate the growth.

Have just checked your profile, Is this for your 3 yr old?
You may be better off with a group 2/3 seat as you're not going to be able use it with the harness anyway.

Take a look at the Monza seatfix, looks like it may suit your needs.

wabbit I had to trade my Saab in for an MPV when DD3 came along - couldn't get three childseats for under 5s into the Saab. I think I came across you on another thread when I was looking at changing my car - doesn't your DH work for Landrover? I still get Landy envy.....

oooh thank you teaandcakes I've had so little help from the stores about what will and won't be suitable... and as you can tell - I'm pretty rubbish at researching. Have bookmarked your link

Poledra - yes, hello! that's me! I remember... told you about the planned new lightweight LR - the concept car does look stunning!