WANTED - TVR Child seat & Kids seat advice

[mikeinsheffield]

Hi Guys,

I've just bought a 2002 4.2 Cerbera last week, haven't stopped smiling since.

Does anyone have a TVR child seat that you want to sell? I'm currently looking at the Recaro Start / booster cushion, but would idealy like something that was custom designed for the Cerbera.

From reading the PH forum articles, I understand that the start impact cushion can be used on it's own, or for younger kids the recaro start seat is the best bet? Is this right? My kids are 3 yrs and 18 months - so looking for a solution for small kids.

Also - what solutions has anyone come up with to cover up the front seat belt retaining bolt to protect kids heads from smashing into it?

Please email me if you have one for sale.

Thanks

Mike

[kojak]

Hi Mike.

Cant answer your question. But, are you the guy Kev (kevin63) was telling me about. You live near Nonna's? If so, welcome. I'm the blue cerbera that turns round on your road.

[Mars]

The standard TVR child seat comes with a plate and bracket which effectively extends the depth of the rear seat. Without that, the base of the chld seat is only supported to about half of it's depth (front to back).

I know people here recommend the Recaro Start but it will have the same, if not worse, problems than the standard TVR child seat. The fact is, the rear seats are simply too shallow without the additional bracketry.

[Dirty Boy]

mikeinsheffield said:

Hi Guys,

I've just bought a 2002 4.2 Cerbera last week, haven't stopped smiling since.

Does anyone have a TVR child seat that you want to sell? I'm currently looking at the Recaro Start / booster cushion, but would idealy like something that was custom designed for the Cerbera.

From reading the PH forum articles, I understand that the start impact cushion can be used on it's own, or for younger kids the recaro start seat is the best bet? Is this right? My kids are 3 yrs and 18 months - so looking for a solution for small kids.

Also - what solutions has anyone come up with to cover up the front seat belt retaining bolt to protect kids heads from smashing into it?

Please email me if you have one for sale.

Thanks

Mike

You have the same kids as me lol!

My eldest (3) and youngest (18 months) both go in the recaro starts. It's a bit awkard getting them in and out, and both seats have to go forward as far as possible (my knee catches) it's not uncomfortable as such, just not how i'd normally drive, i'm 5'10" by the way.

Personally, i'd prefer to get a seatbelt adjuster for my eldest and sit him in the seat alone, probably not legal, but in my opinion safer, and i'd be happy to argue with a police officer too (not that i'd ever drive fast with them in the car though)

The youngest needs to sit in the recaro no doubt.

I've never seen a TVR child seat, so can't comment.

[Mars]

Dirty Boy said:

Personally, i'd prefer to get a seatbelt adjuster for my eldest and sit him in the seat alone, probably not legal, but in my opinion safer, and i'd be happy to argue with a police officer too (not that i'd ever drive fast with them in the car though)

Couldn't agree more. I sat my (then) 3yo into the rear seat and he fitted perfectly. He couldn't see out very well as he was so low but it looked a darn sight safer than perching a child seat on the rear seat.

Dirty Boy said:

The youngest needs to sit in the recaro no doubt.

In the end I decided it was easier, if I had to use the child seat, to put my boy in his in the passenger FRONT seat. I could adjust the angle of the seat back to ensure it fitted tightly against his child seat, then I just slid the seat back as far as it would go.

As it was only ever him and me in the car, that was no problem.



I made him always wear his Peltors though. The car was too loud for me with my hearing already diminished by 20 years of being a drummer and sportscar owner, let alone such a youngster.

[dungeon master]

Mars said:

In the end I decided it was easier, if I had to use the child seat, to put my boy in his in the passenger FRONT seat. I could adjust the angle of the seat back to ensure it fitted tightly against his child seat, then I just slid the seat back as far as it would go.

As it was only ever him and me in the car, that was no problem.

I've done the same, if it's just me and him, i'll pop him in the front in the car seat, as that's safest.

But we've been out as a family a few times now (any excuse)

[mikeinsheffield]

Hi Kojak - yes, I hear (and see) you frequently - glorious sound..... like the snap crackle and pop!!

I'll be going to the SYTVRCC meet this Sunday if you are going too?

[kojak]

mikeinsheffield said:

Hi Kojak - yes, I hear (and see) you frequently - glorious sound..... like the snap crackle and pop!!

I'll be going to the SYTVRCC meet this Sunday if you are going too?

Should be mike yes. It'll be good to chat. If not...mite see you in nonna's sat afternoon sometime.

[mikeinsheffield]

As I've only had the car for less than one week, not managed to take the whole family out yet (also due to the child seat situation). When taking my 3yr old boy out, I put his car seat (not Recaro but similar looking thing) in the front seat - he could see out realy well and we could chat more easily, however his current car seat doesn't fit into the back seats.
I've just bought one of the Recaro Start Impact Cushions - I'll let you know how that works when I've tried it.
Now thinking that I'll need to buy a Recaro Start seat for my 18 month old daughter - if this doesn't fit in the back all that well then the missus may have to squeeze in the back
I'm six foot, so don't realy want a full car seat behind me ...

Anyone got a solution for covering up the front seat belt sucuring nut / bolt that's at kid head height in the back?????

[chim500nj]

I put my 3 year old boy in the rear seat with a Recaro start impact cushion, the seat if absolutely fine for him and all he needs is the seatbelt being guided away from his neck..

He seems comfortable and because he does not have a cumbersome child seat in the back he gets more room and so does my wife in the pasenger seat (plus with more legroom he does not scuff the back of the passenger seat with his shoes)

This is the one I have: http://shop.babyworld.co.uk/images/xt_pics/impactc...

[Mars]

chim500nj said:

I put my 3 year old boy in the rear seat with a Recaro start impact cushion, the seat if absolutely fine for him and all he needs is the seatbelt being guided away from his neck..

He seems comfortable and because he does not have a cumbersome child seat in the back he gets more room and so does my wife in the pasenger seat (plus with more legroom he does not scuff the back of the passenger seat with his shoes)

This is the one I have: http://shop.babyworld.co.uk/images/xt_pics/impactc...

The TVR seat comes with something similar. I reckon what you're doing is the best approach for a kid of his age.

[saranigel]

I might end up at the meet on Sunday, but probably not in my Cerb. I have a seat (sorry not for sale) as I have a 3 yr old and one due in April! I was lucky to meet a really nice, helpful guy from the east mids group who helped us out with a seat! they appear on EBAY- keep checking there too
However, I don't mind bringing it along so you can see how the TVR seat fits and just how little room there is! the impact cushion might be a good idea as suggested in the other posts

[G7TVR]

GO FOR THE RECARO START - I bought my first cerbera in 1999 complete with TVR child seat. First child arrived few months later in 1999 and when he reached 9 months he fitted quite well in the TVR seat and I thought looked v comfortable. Bought a new Cerbera in 2004 and it came complete with the Recaro start (although I ordered the car in March '04 it arrived end of October '04) by then our second child was 11 months old and the Recaro start was ideal.
There is much better lateral support with the Recaro than with the TVR seat - even a sleeping child can 'enjoy' an enthusiastic run (my wife tells me). In '04 my first child was then old enough to sit behind the driver seat without a child seat or booster but as soon as you took a left hand corner without him paying attention - aaooocchhh! - Check proximity of seat belt fixing to right ear. There is a seat belt tensioner on the start which is useful also at an early age for support when sleeping.
When second child reached 4 and wanted out of the Recaro start we told her - 'it's ok - look it's the same as Lewis Hamilton (HANS system! or whatever it's called), anyway she fell for it - for a while. By now child one reaches 9 and complains there isn't enough room (behind drivers seat) - I'm only 5'-10".
Anyway, sorry for going on a bit, but since I had almost 9 years of cerbera experience it's rude not to share it and also the shrink tells me its good therapy - explaining why I sold my cerbera that I thought I could keep forever - glad it's gone to another pistonheader though.
G

[FUBAR]

AFAIK the TVR seat IS a Recarro Start, just that it has a floor fixed bar to stabilize the front of the seat.

My kids (now 6 and 4, but both quite diddy) have been in the seats alone for ages as I too thought it was safer than a wobbly seat, but I really should get one of these seat belt adjuster thingies. Can some kind soul stick up a pic or link so I know what to ask for down Halfwits?

[mikeinsheffield]

Guys, Thanks for all the responses and thoughts so far. I'll do some trial fittings, and let you know how I get on. If I can work out how, I might even try and get some photso's on here when I get the solution right! (Also, how do you extract part of someone elses relpy in your postings??? Am I the only forum thicko?)

[JensenA]

mikeinsheffield said:

........ (Also, how do you extract part of someone elses relpy in your postings??? Am I the only forum thicko?)

You click on the little 'Quote' thingy above

[Bigboz]

Hi MikeinSheffield,

You didn't get your impact cushion off ebay did you cos if you did I was outbid at the last second! Got my Recaro Start already so just need to get the cushion thingy now. Only had my Cerb for a week now so not put the lad in it yet! We will see if he likes it (he is just turned 1)

Cheers.

[touching cloth]

FUBAR said:

AFAIK the TVR seat IS a Recarro Start

No think TVR supplied 2 types, early one was 2 piece base and back, moulded foam and covered in leather to match, later cars I believe just came with a TVR Recaro Start or something.

I actually have a Recaro Start in the loft if anyone is looking for one, never got around to sticking it on ebay.

[mikeinsheffield]

Bigboz said:

Hi MikeinSheffield,

You didn't get your impact cushion off ebay did you cos if you did I was outbid at the last second! Got my Recaro Start already so just need to get the cushion thingy now. Only had my Cerb for a week now so not put the lad in it yet! We will see if he likes it (he is just turned 1)

Cheers.

Sorry about that!! That would be me, then

My lad who is 3 loved it, sat in the front seat with the main car seat. He even fell asleep in the car, so not bothered by the noise (standard cats at mo) or ride. Not tried my 18 month old yet. Hopefully will this weekend.....

[mikeinsheffield]

touching cloth said:

FUBAR said:

AFAIK the TVR seat IS a Recarro Start

I actually have a Recaro Start in the loft if anyone is looking for one, never got around to sticking it on ebay.

Sent you a private email.