Upgrade from a Chim to fit a baby seat?
Discussion
Hi, just popping in from the Chimaera forum, the wife is expecting our first child (in May) and despite advice from the people in the Chim forum I am still unable to find a baby (new born) seat to fit. My other option is to upgrade (?) to a Cerbera. I understand the running costs will go up etc, but will I be able to fit a baby seat in one and can it go rear facing in the back for a 'from birth' seat? (Would like to bring mother and baby home from hospital in style!)
I have had a look at the many 4.5/4.2/S6 posts and guess its a 4.2 though I regret getting the 4.0 Chim and not a bigger engine. Will have the same regrets if I go for the 4.2 Cerb?
I have had a look at the many 4.5/4.2/S6 posts and guess its a 4.2 though I regret getting the 4.0 Chim and not a bigger engine. Will have the same regrets if I go for the 4.2 Cerb?
Jon, Congratulations!
I can't comment on the baby seat issue with any certainty - we're expecting in March, and I haven't had a chance to have a giggle down at Mothercare World watching them try to fit one yet! We are pretty set on the Graco Autobaby, which will go from birth to 12 months, but that needs 24 inches front to back - which is tough even in the front of a Cerb - though I still reckon it's dooable in the back. The great thing with the Cerbs is the length of the passenger footwell in comparison to a Chim - you can have the seat right forwards and still have room for legs, unlike my old Chim where you had to shoe-horn some people in (or hack their legs off
)
Forward facing seats are much easier - many fit neatly into the rear, and Britax Freeways or Recaro Starts seem to be the most popular. The latter is in fact offered direct from TVR, trimmed to match your interior and everything....
As for 4.2 Cerbs..... I went from a 400 Chim, and likewise had always been a bit miffed I didn't get a 4.5 or 500. Well there are many out there who'll swear blind the 4.2 is the best of the bunch - yes the 4.5 is quicker, but the 4.2 has more torque lower down, and thus is rather more responsive and driveable - it's horse for courses, but trust me, you will not be disappointed with a 4.2. It's a world away from the Rover V8, and will still demolish most things on the road.
In a nutshell, I persuaded the wife that going from a Chim to a Cerb meant I could keep in the TVR world, without having to compromise - she still hasn't twigged that my magnanimous offer hid an ulterior 360bhp motive!
While I miss the smooth burble of the Rover V8, and the unassisted steering, the Cerb is another animal entirely, and never ceases to amaze me.
Hope that helps, drop me a PM if you want me to witter further!
I can't comment on the baby seat issue with any certainty - we're expecting in March, and I haven't had a chance to have a giggle down at Mothercare World watching them try to fit one yet! We are pretty set on the Graco Autobaby, which will go from birth to 12 months, but that needs 24 inches front to back - which is tough even in the front of a Cerb - though I still reckon it's dooable in the back. The great thing with the Cerbs is the length of the passenger footwell in comparison to a Chim - you can have the seat right forwards and still have room for legs, unlike my old Chim where you had to shoe-horn some people in (or hack their legs off
) Forward facing seats are much easier - many fit neatly into the rear, and Britax Freeways or Recaro Starts seem to be the most popular. The latter is in fact offered direct from TVR, trimmed to match your interior and everything....
As for 4.2 Cerbs..... I went from a 400 Chim, and likewise had always been a bit miffed I didn't get a 4.5 or 500. Well there are many out there who'll swear blind the 4.2 is the best of the bunch - yes the 4.5 is quicker, but the 4.2 has more torque lower down, and thus is rather more responsive and driveable - it's horse for courses, but trust me, you will not be disappointed with a 4.2. It's a world away from the Rover V8, and will still demolish most things on the road.
In a nutshell, I persuaded the wife that going from a Chim to a Cerb meant I could keep in the TVR world, without having to compromise - she still hasn't twigged that my magnanimous offer hid an ulterior 360bhp motive!
While I miss the smooth burble of the Rover V8, and the unassisted steering, the Cerb is another animal entirely, and never ceases to amaze me. Hope that helps, drop me a PM if you want me to witter further!
Congratulations!! 
There are loads of threads on this subject, but essentially a Group 0 (newborn) seat has to be rear-facing and no, these seats don't fit in the back of the Cerb. There are several forward-facing seats you can use once the baby is able to sit up and hold his/her head up well, but you can't use these until at least he/she is about 7 months old.
The only thing to do is put a Group 0 seat in the front and live with that until Junior is old enough to travel safely in a forward-facing seat.
BTW, you won't regret a 4.2 Cerb, no - we certainly don't!! (Traded up from a Griff 500.)
>> Edited by SGirl on Thursday 6th January 23:49
There are loads of threads on this subject, but essentially a Group 0 (newborn) seat has to be rear-facing and no, these seats don't fit in the back of the Cerb. There are several forward-facing seats you can use once the baby is able to sit up and hold his/her head up well, but you can't use these until at least he/she is about 7 months old.
The only thing to do is put a Group 0 seat in the front and live with that until Junior is old enough to travel safely in a forward-facing seat.
BTW, you won't regret a 4.2 Cerb, no - we certainly don't!!
(Traded up from a Griff 500.) >> Edited by SGirl on Thursday 6th January 23:49
redleicester said:Not any more alas, my sources tell me the lady who did this (make famous by the chav-stitching David Beckham had for Brooklin) was made redundant in 2000/2001.
...Recaro Starts seem to be the most popular. The latter is in fact offered direct from TVR, trimmed to match your interior and everything....
My Feb 2002 car came with the seat and fitting bar, but the previous owner was charged 400+ for the standard black velour Recaro Start
SGirl said:Just be aware that if your wife has a difficult labour or c-section she may not be happy (or even able to) being squashed into the rear seat.
The only thing to do is put a Group 0 seat in the front and live with that until Junior is old enough to travel safely in a forward-facing seat.
Sorry to put a bit of a downer on things, but its best you are prepared, my wife had her car all prepped for driving our first daughter around, but had an emergency c-section and couldn't drive for 10 weeks!
With my son (now 6mths old), I use a Britax rear-facing child seat in the front passenger seat of the Cerb (bought from Toys R Us for a very reasonable £40 or so. Nothing rear facing fits in the rear seats of a Cerb and even in the front only smaller baby seats will fit.
If we need to go anywhere together, my wife drives and I wedge my 6' 2'' frame behind the baby. It's a squeeze!
The plan is to move him to a Recaro Start in the rear as soon as he can go forward facing.
On a separate note I'd only ever buy Britax, Recaro and other car seats that have been crash tested. Which? mag tested some child seats recently and the results were frightening. Most Britax models came out top or nearly top.
If we need to go anywhere together, my wife drives and I wedge my 6' 2'' frame behind the baby. It's a squeeze!
The plan is to move him to a Recaro Start in the rear as soon as he can go forward facing.
On a separate note I'd only ever buy Britax, Recaro and other car seats that have been crash tested. Which? mag tested some child seats recently and the results were frightening. Most Britax models came out top or nearly top.
You can fit a Newborn seat in the front of a Chim - I did it with my son. It was a Maxi Cozi seat - can't remember the model but it came in fresian cow/panda print cloth (the wife's choice!)
A rear facing seat will not fit in the back of a Cerb and will only go in the front of a Chim with seat right back - and the cerb most of the way back.
You can only fit a forward facing seat in the back of a Cerb, which is only suitable when the little one can sit up unaided and/or is about 9 months old. The favorite choice for this is the Recaro Start with the additional support cushion (Recaro Start Plus). cheapest way to buy these (in a variety of colour options) is direct from www.recaro-seats.co.uk I chose the 'Sport' trim which matches the interior of my Cerb for about £150 (£50 cheaper than Halfords) and they delivered the whole lot next day at no extra charge. I would suggest you also get the added padding for the cushion and shoulder supports (about £20) which make Junior more snug.
Wouldn't waste my money on a TVR one as they are effectively the same seat at 3 times the price.
Edited to correct the link.
>> Edited by Tyre Smoke on Friday 7th January 16:46
>> Edited by Tyre Smoke on Friday 7th January 16:47
A rear facing seat will not fit in the back of a Cerb and will only go in the front of a Chim with seat right back - and the cerb most of the way back.
You can only fit a forward facing seat in the back of a Cerb, which is only suitable when the little one can sit up unaided and/or is about 9 months old. The favorite choice for this is the Recaro Start with the additional support cushion (Recaro Start Plus). cheapest way to buy these (in a variety of colour options) is direct from www.recaro-seats.co.uk I chose the 'Sport' trim which matches the interior of my Cerb for about £150 (£50 cheaper than Halfords) and they delivered the whole lot next day at no extra charge. I would suggest you also get the added padding for the cushion and shoulder supports (about £20) which make Junior more snug.
Wouldn't waste my money on a TVR one as they are effectively the same seat at 3 times the price.
Edited to correct the link.
>> Edited by Tyre Smoke on Friday 7th January 16:46
>> Edited by Tyre Smoke on Friday 7th January 16:47
I had a chat with my Indie yesterday about this - as I said, I'd measured the distance available in the rear between rear seat back and front seat and came up a couple of inches short. (22ish instead of 24ish)
He suggested one or both of the following:
Remove the padded sections of the rear seat, gaining an extra inch or so.....
Remove and remount the passenger seat a couple of inches further forward....
What with the footwell being longer, the latter may well be an option - I'll be looking into it.
He suggested one or both of the following:
Remove the padded sections of the rear seat, gaining an extra inch or so.....
Remove and remount the passenger seat a couple of inches further forward....
What with the footwell being longer, the latter may well be an option - I'll be looking into it.
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