Childs Car Seat for Elise MK1 - advise
Discussion
Before I bought my S1 my wife made the dealer fit his child seat in it to prove it could be done. As far as I can remember it was a bog-standard Brittax Eclipse or similar, and it fitted fine.
Halfords will take their car seats outside and fit them in your car so you can try them out before you buy.
My wife has rubber mats (from Mothercare I think) that protect your seats when you have a child seat fitted and these might be a wise investment if you have leather.
I've had my Elise for over a year now and, needless to say, it is yet to have one of our child seats in it!
Halfords will take their car seats outside and fit them in your car so you can try them out before you buy.
My wife has rubber mats (from Mothercare I think) that protect your seats when you have a child seat fitted and these might be a wise investment if you have leather.
I've had my Elise for over a year now and, needless to say, it is yet to have one of our child seats in it!
My 2 year old uses both a Maxi-Cosi Priori and a Smart forwrd facing seat in my S1 with no problem. You have to wiggle the seat a little to get it to sit comfortably and the seats are a little tight to the buckle for easy undoing, but it seems a good snug fit.
Used our rear facing seat from about 3 months (with suitable snow gear - it was winter). Can't remember the make, but can find out if it's useful.
Used our rear facing seat from about 3 months (with suitable snow gear - it was winter). Can't remember the make, but can find out if it's useful.
I asked this question on which (if any) baby seats would fit my Elise S1 (and Esprit S3 as well) some time ago - I also contacted Lotus, whose official response was as follows:-
Lotus' current position on child seats is dictated primarily by our legal
department, and is as follows:
*****************************
Child Restraints
Lotus recommends that children are not carried in the Elise or Exige.
Accident statistics show that children are safer when properly restrained in
the back seats of cars, an option unavailable on these models.
If, nevertheless, a child is to be carried in the car, the following notes
are provided for guidance:
WARNING: Children who are not properly restrained can be seriously injured
or killed in an accident. Any child who is too small to use the standard
seat belt should be properly restrained in a suitable child seat. A larger
child should be properly restrained with the seat belt.
Infants: Infants who are unable to sit up by themselves, unsupported,
should NOT be carried in the Elise/Exige.
Small Children: A child who can sit up without support, should be
restrained in a suitably sized child seat. It is the vehicle user's
responsibility to ensure that the child seat is a satisfactory fit in the
passenger seat, using guidance provided by the child seat manufacturer. The
fitting instructions issued by the child seat manufacturer must be followed
strictly.
Larger Children: When a child becomes of a physical size whereby the
standard fitment lap and diagonal seat belt will fit satisfactorily, with
the belt positioned over the collar bone and against the centre of the
chest, this belt should then be used. If the belt touches or crosses the
child's neck, a suitable booster seat should be used to allow correct belt
positioning. Lotus recommends choosing a style that allows the child to use
the lap/shoulder belt directly, without a shield. It is the vehicle user's
responsibility to ensure that the booster seat is a satisfactory fit in the
passenger seat, using guidance provided by the booster seat manufacturer.
The installation instructions provided by the booster seat manufacturer must
be followed strictly.
Behaviour: It is essential that the behaviour of any child travelling in
the car is such that they remain correctly seated and belted, and it is the
responsibility of the driver to ensure that this occurs.
Note that most child restraint systems are designed to be secured in vehicle
seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion of a lap-shoulder belt, and that
children could be endangered in a crash if their child restraints are not
properly secured in the vehicle.
**********************************
This advice may be understood to apply to all models.
I can make a Britax Eclipse SI fit the Elise, but neither this or a Britax Renaissance will fit the Esprit. I have had a rear facing Mama's & Papa's seat in the Elise too, but again the fit is not perfect, and it wouldn't go into the Esprit.
If you phone Britax (and other manufacturers) then respond in a similar vein to Lotus.
Jonathan
Lotus' current position on child seats is dictated primarily by our legal
department, and is as follows:
*****************************
Child Restraints
Lotus recommends that children are not carried in the Elise or Exige.
Accident statistics show that children are safer when properly restrained in
the back seats of cars, an option unavailable on these models.
If, nevertheless, a child is to be carried in the car, the following notes
are provided for guidance:
WARNING: Children who are not properly restrained can be seriously injured
or killed in an accident. Any child who is too small to use the standard
seat belt should be properly restrained in a suitable child seat. A larger
child should be properly restrained with the seat belt.
Infants: Infants who are unable to sit up by themselves, unsupported,
should NOT be carried in the Elise/Exige.
Small Children: A child who can sit up without support, should be
restrained in a suitably sized child seat. It is the vehicle user's
responsibility to ensure that the child seat is a satisfactory fit in the
passenger seat, using guidance provided by the child seat manufacturer. The
fitting instructions issued by the child seat manufacturer must be followed
strictly.
Larger Children: When a child becomes of a physical size whereby the
standard fitment lap and diagonal seat belt will fit satisfactorily, with
the belt positioned over the collar bone and against the centre of the
chest, this belt should then be used. If the belt touches or crosses the
child's neck, a suitable booster seat should be used to allow correct belt
positioning. Lotus recommends choosing a style that allows the child to use
the lap/shoulder belt directly, without a shield. It is the vehicle user's
responsibility to ensure that the booster seat is a satisfactory fit in the
passenger seat, using guidance provided by the booster seat manufacturer.
The installation instructions provided by the booster seat manufacturer must
be followed strictly.
Behaviour: It is essential that the behaviour of any child travelling in
the car is such that they remain correctly seated and belted, and it is the
responsibility of the driver to ensure that this occurs.
Note that most child restraint systems are designed to be secured in vehicle
seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion of a lap-shoulder belt, and that
children could be endangered in a crash if their child restraints are not
properly secured in the vehicle.
**********************************
This advice may be understood to apply to all models.
I can make a Britax Eclipse SI fit the Elise, but neither this or a Britax Renaissance will fit the Esprit. I have had a rear facing Mama's & Papa's seat in the Elise too, but again the fit is not perfect, and it wouldn't go into the Esprit.
If you phone Britax (and other manufacturers) then respond in a similar vein to Lotus.
Jonathan
NaomiW said:
Thanks everyone, AdrianR just looked at that website which seat do you have, I would be looking for a seat upto 3 years.
The Indy Plus Isofix (my other car has the mounts but they retract out the way if not), I use it for my 3 year old. Check size and weight against your kiddie.
Note that the seat doesn't have its own belts, it uses the car belt in guides so the child has to be 'sensible' enough to sit straight and not wriggle out.
To be honest, we only go out in the Elise for treats when traffic is light - car seat or not, I think the consequences of a side impact from a 4x4 would be very nasty (ride height + minimal structure).
AdrianR
Gassing Station | Elise/Exige/Europa/340R | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff