Found! Child seat that fits!
Discussion
Hi guys (and girls of course),
I know this topic has been kicked around before but thought I'd let you all know that I've found a child seat that fits in the back of my 996 C4 and seems to be a viable alternative to the Porsche Prince.
I didn't want a Prince as they are not exactly great value for money and, even though it does really well in tests, I'm not fond of the method of holding little darling in (it uses a lap tray rather than full harness). Also, it is only suitable up to 18Kg and LD is 15Kg already so not much use left in a Prince. I trapised around Halfords, Toys R Us, Mothercare et al and tried pretty much every seat on the market. Found a few that physically fitted (the main problem is the 'footprint' - the centre tunnel caused most to sit slightly proud of the base), but none that felt secure enough for my (and the missus') liking. The seat back of the rear seats is very vertical and this generally left a triangular shaped gap at the back of the child seat that reduced its stability and left little leg room.
The one I've got is made by Klippan - have dismantled it totally and read the instructions cover to cover (now that's a first!) and can't find a model name, but judging from other posts it could be a Futura. The base is a snug and excellent fit and, with the seat back removed from the car, it is rock solid against the rear bulkhead. I was little nervous about taking that seat back out as you kind of figure the child seats are designed to work with a full seat, but it is much more secure, solves the 'trianlge gap' problem and increases legroom markedly. The seat claims to be suitable up to age 5 and can even be used rearwards facing for the first few months (but have not tried that option so don't know if it fits). It also reclines but I don't think I'd do that as it would reduce legroom quite a bit.
Anyway, hopefully the following pics make all my text a bit clearer, first one shows the seat installed and sitting nice and square on the base - where the seat belt passes over the top of the seat there is a locking mechanism that really grips the belt tight and seems to keep it really secure:
...and this one shows how flush it sits against the rear bulkhead (if you look it is as far back as the seat back on the other side):
After installing it I took it back to a couple of the shops I had previously been around and got the various 'advisors' to come and have a look (apparently they have to go on a RoSPA course to be qualified seat fitters) and they all agrred it was suitable and sufficiently anchored.
Hope that helps those of you justifying the car as a 'practical family vehicle'!
Not sure if it fits 996/964/3.2 etc but would be worth a try, pretty sure it will be OK in a 997 though.
>> Edited by leeme3 on Monday 28th November 11:39
>> Edited by leeme3 on Monday 28th November 11:42
I know this topic has been kicked around before but thought I'd let you all know that I've found a child seat that fits in the back of my 996 C4 and seems to be a viable alternative to the Porsche Prince.
I didn't want a Prince as they are not exactly great value for money and, even though it does really well in tests, I'm not fond of the method of holding little darling in (it uses a lap tray rather than full harness). Also, it is only suitable up to 18Kg and LD is 15Kg already so not much use left in a Prince. I trapised around Halfords, Toys R Us, Mothercare et al and tried pretty much every seat on the market. Found a few that physically fitted (the main problem is the 'footprint' - the centre tunnel caused most to sit slightly proud of the base), but none that felt secure enough for my (and the missus') liking. The seat back of the rear seats is very vertical and this generally left a triangular shaped gap at the back of the child seat that reduced its stability and left little leg room.
The one I've got is made by Klippan - have dismantled it totally and read the instructions cover to cover (now that's a first!) and can't find a model name, but judging from other posts it could be a Futura. The base is a snug and excellent fit and, with the seat back removed from the car, it is rock solid against the rear bulkhead. I was little nervous about taking that seat back out as you kind of figure the child seats are designed to work with a full seat, but it is much more secure, solves the 'trianlge gap' problem and increases legroom markedly. The seat claims to be suitable up to age 5 and can even be used rearwards facing for the first few months (but have not tried that option so don't know if it fits). It also reclines but I don't think I'd do that as it would reduce legroom quite a bit.
Anyway, hopefully the following pics make all my text a bit clearer, first one shows the seat installed and sitting nice and square on the base - where the seat belt passes over the top of the seat there is a locking mechanism that really grips the belt tight and seems to keep it really secure:
...and this one shows how flush it sits against the rear bulkhead (if you look it is as far back as the seat back on the other side):
After installing it I took it back to a couple of the shops I had previously been around and got the various 'advisors' to come and have a look (apparently they have to go on a RoSPA course to be qualified seat fitters) and they all agrred it was suitable and sufficiently anchored.
Hope that helps those of you justifying the car as a 'practical family vehicle'!
Not sure if it fits 996/964/3.2 etc but would be worth a try, pretty sure it will be OK in a 997 though.
>> Edited by leeme3 on Monday 28th November 11:39
>> Edited by leeme3 on Monday 28th November 11:42
The M&P one is called the XP or something similar. I tried it and it had limited legroom and again only suitable to 18Kg, but certainly well made (all my other seats / prams / buggies etc etc are M&P, it is good kit).
Only took 2 mins to remove seat back and is easy to put back in - but not really a snag as the child seat is pretty much a permanent fixture.
Only took 2 mins to remove seat back and is easy to put back in - but not really a snag as the child seat is pretty much a permanent fixture.
Oh, alright then. Thing is I got it off ebay and I was a bit reticent to admit it as I'm the first to tell folk they shouldn't buy secondhand child safety kit. But I was lucky enough to live close to have a look at it and even have a trial fitting.
I paid about £50 for it and there is another one on ebay at the moment (actually, there are 2 but, whilst, I am convinced the orange one is the same I think the other one may be a bit different).
...and if you lot get into a bidding war I'll be asking the seller for a cut!
They seem to crop up every few weeks or so - if anyone lives near Lincoln and wants to see the seat (to see if it fits for them and so on) feel free to drop me a line.
I paid about £50 for it and there is another one on ebay at the moment (actually, there are 2 but, whilst, I am convinced the orange one is the same I think the other one may be a bit different).
...and if you lot get into a bidding war I'll be asking the seller for a cut!
They seem to crop up every few weeks or so - if anyone lives near Lincoln and wants to see the seat (to see if it fits for them and so on) feel free to drop me a line.
azureblue118 said:
...one of the problems with the klippan/M&P is the requirement for a longer rear seat belt, perhaps removing the seatback obviates this problem.
I'm not using a seat belt extension in the 996 and it fits OK with the back in or out (in terms of seat belt length that is - overall fit is definitely better with back removed).
The issue about buckle crunch is valid but then, as pointed out, any seat is better than none and actually whilst the seat is flush against the buckle it is not pressing hard on it in normal use.
All you can do is try different solutions and see what works for you and your requirements - like all parents (at least I hope 'all') I'll do what I can to minimise risk to my child and I feel the seat I've got to be up to the job - but of course 95% of the time she travels in my Passat or Golf (even though the 911 is her favourite and she complains when we don't take it!).
Thanks for all the info guys, there are more reviews here:
www.dooyoo.co.uk/child-car-seat/klippan-futura-car-seat/
...including some from Mother & Baby magazine that give the Futura 5 stars, so now I'm really confused!
I think I'll continue to use it until she's big enough to use a booster but minimise her time in the car (good excuse for me rather than the missus to take it each day anyway!).
www.dooyoo.co.uk/child-car-seat/klippan-futura-car-seat/
...including some from Mother & Baby magazine that give the Futura 5 stars, so now I'm really confused!
I think I'll continue to use it until she's big enough to use a booster but minimise her time in the car (good excuse for me rather than the missus to take it each day anyway!).
Thanks for all the comments - and you may all rest assured that I do place such a high value on my child's life that I'll take the necessary steps.
Guess I'm back to the drawing board as the Prince remains unsuitable based on the fact that little darling is pretty much at the top of the weight bracket for it.
Now no more emails please telling me what a cr@p father I am as I actually thought I'd found a safe solution, had it checked out professionally (see first post) and done everything I could to take all sensible precautions, at which point I figured I'd share the info for all. Guess I was fooled by the British Safety Standard Kite Mark on the seat.
>> Edited by leeme3 on Tuesday 29th November 13:53
Guess I'm back to the drawing board as the Prince remains unsuitable based on the fact that little darling is pretty much at the top of the weight bracket for it.
Now no more emails please telling me what a cr@p father I am as I actually thought I'd found a safe solution, had it checked out professionally (see first post) and done everything I could to take all sensible precautions, at which point I figured I'd share the info for all. Guess I was fooled by the British Safety Standard Kite Mark on the seat.
>> Edited by leeme3 on Tuesday 29th November 13:53
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