What did you do to your Octavia today?

[nickd]

I get what you're saying.. I've been frustrated too by the amount of time it's taken for the Australian Standards committees to pull their finger out and approve ISOFIX seats for use here... I bought my last new car with ISOFIX mounts hoping they would be approved soon, and that car is now 10 years old, and my eldest daughter is nearly 5!

I also acknowledge that with any of these standards committees there is a large amount of self interest involved with the manufacturers having significant input and an ulterior motive to protect the status quo (I wouldn't be surprised if it was them that insisted that seats sold here also had to accommodate seatbelt mounting, meaning many seats that already existed couldn't be approved).

Having said that, there are now ISOFIX seats available here and it's hard to see how it could be economical to import something so large, let alone worth the risk of a fine or possibly worse if you were actually involved in an accident with a kid in a non approved restraint.

Just my opinion, but as you highlight... There are a lot of people on the net who think they can just import anything and use it and it's a slippery slope, so I feel it's better not to encourage the idea, particularly now there are legal alternatives.

Nick


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[kamold]

From what I understand about Australian Standards, they are basically driven by their particular industries. The individual standards are basically designed and written by the companies who have a vested interest in their design.
So if local manufacturers and distributers want to keep competition out they will just make sure they don't meet the spec.
I know a shower glass manufacturer who couldn't use a design because their competitor was the one who funded the AS based on their product.
standards Australia is a not for profit who basically are funded and guided by each individual industry's deepest pockets.

[GTR27]

Hi GTR, out of interest, what seat did you choose? Sounds like you invested some time looking into it. I've been thinking along the same lines.

I chose a KIWY SLF 123 Isofix seat. There are a few safer seats out there for the 9-36kg category (the wife wanted both kids to have the same seat, one is in the 15-36kg range, the other in the 9-18kg range) but they are all double the price. I paid ~160 euro each - it was about $580AUD for both seats, delivered to brisbane (in about 7-10 working days over the xmas break!). The ratings I could find on these seats ranked them very highly in the 9-36kg seat (basically a seat that does all sizes from out of the capsule, to full height kid).

ISOFIX for a 15-36kg child (i.e. 3-4+years old) is bloody awesome. It's about 1 min flat to have it installed, adjusted and everything perfect. For the smaller seat, it also includes the belt, as well as ISOFIX for tethering, so takes a little longer to thread the belt through.


IMO Britax Romer seats are probably the best outright seats you can buy, but the 9-36kg seat is around 300 euro each (versus 160ish). Most of the ISOFIX seats rate highly, because they are idiotproof to install. You literally cannot install them in a way that loses lots of crash safety (like seatbelt restrained seats). The euro standards will include top tether soon, but there are only a few on the market with ISOFIX and top tether (they are allowed to use a foot instead of top tether). If you only need a seat for a kid 15+kg, then I would suggest the Britax Romer Kidfix XP (SICT model optional). Not much more expensive than the KIWY seat, but slightly better all round. (but only 15-36kg - ~4-12yrs old)


Nick, there is only 1 single rigid ISOFIX seat (the others use the inferior soft ISOFIX which is like small belts with ISOFIX mounts - allows a lot more movement) available on the australian market. At $500 per seat, and only 9-18kg, it did not suit my requirements, as well as being substantially more expensive than the equivalent from overseas.

We are being gouged plain and simple. (as yourself and kamold elludes to below)

Like I said before (abeit half asleep and grouchy - sorry about that) - it's unlikely that I will be fined for it. In the event of a crash, numerous people who have imported seats with ISOFIX had them replaced by insurance in an accident. The worst they could do is slap you a fine for unrestrained child, as there is emperical evidence to suggest (from ECE crash tests) that the seats are safe to use and safe in a crash (i.e. you could easily defend in court that the seats did not contribute in any way to the accident or injuries, over and above what an australian (tax) "approved" seat would have)

[donweather]

Right back on topic.

Spent the whole day on my car. Started with the interior. Full vacuum and clean/wash and then full leather conditioning. Afternoon spent giving the outside a thorough wash including first time wash of the new rims and tyre shine. Car looks (and smells) a million bucks!!

[nickd]

Slight change of topic but still on child seats... What do you do to protect the seats of the car under/around the child seat? We have one of the "messy mats" that come with one of the SafeNSound seats, but wondering if there are better options.
Also the back of the front seat from their feet? There are any number of options on Google, but any recommendations?

In the short term I think the extra leg room in the back of the Octavia (compared to the Golf they're in now) will mean their feet won't reach the seats in front, but that won't last

Nick


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[GTR27]

I sprayed 303 interior protectant on all the seats in the car (mine are cloth). I use towels under the child seats to reduce kids dirtying the seats. Remove the kid seats once every month or two and give them a good vacuum and wipe with a damp cloth.

Re-apply 303 interior once a year.


I washed my car on mon or tuesday. But lordy jesus these things pump out the brake dust, and it gets vacuumed onto the rear tailgate and bumper. Literally can wash it, have it looking immaculate, drive round the block (gently) and the rear tailgate will be covered in brake dust. It's so bad, i'm considering getting different pads.

[brad]

Slight change of topic but still on child seats... What do you do to protect the seats of the car under/around the child seat? We have one of the "messy mats" that come with one of the SafeNSound seats, but wondering if there are better options.
Also the back of the front seat from their feet? There are any number of options on Google, but any recommendations?

I used to put a thick / double folded towel under mine.

They stop kicking the back seats if you discipline them. If they are old enough to sit upright in a chair they are old enough to understand that you are cranky with them & they are doing something they shouldn't.

[brad]

I washed my car on mon or tuesday. But lordy jesus these things pump out the brake dust, and it gets vacuumed onto the rear tailgate and bumper. Literally can wash it, have it looking immaculate, drive round the block (gently) and the rear tailgate will be covered in brake dust. It's so bad, i'm considering getting different pads.

I don't think it's brake dust. I think it's road grime caused by the aerodynamics of the vehicle.

I've got 150,000km on my original brakes and they are half -worn. If I took all the "brake dust" that I've washed off the wheels & compressed it back into "brake pad shape" it would be as big as the road wheel.

[GTR27]

That's definitely a part of it, but the brakes are very dusty (all Euros are). I'll leave it for a bit, then reevaluate in a few months

[brad]

Wifes Craptiva gets no discernable brake dust - maybe buy a Craptiva? You can average 14L/100km like she does.

[GeeMatt]

That's definitely a part of it, but the brakes are very dusty (all Euros are). I'll leave it for a bit, then reevaluate in a few months

Yep. Just look around you at the lights when stopped. Modern brake pads ! Oh for the old days of asbestos

Wifes Craptiva gets no discernable brake dust - maybe buy a Craptiva? You can average 14L/100km like she does.

But she's "safe" ! ?

[daMama]

Hi GTR, out of interest, what seat did you choose? Sounds like you invested some time looking into it. I've been thinking along the same lines.

Redben, I've also imported an ISOFiX car seat from the eu. I got a Kilpann one from seat.se website. Great service and well worth it. My son will be ERF until he is 4 or older. Hahahaha [emoji41]

Sorry to be a wet blanket but do you realize it's illegal to use child restraints that don't have Australian approvals?

Nick


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Yes.
ditto what GTR said.
I spoke with a rep ftom kidsafe and he said that as there is no market or law for ERF seats, we won't get any here (for now). So, what choice do we have other than to import from os?

[RedBen]

Redben, I've also imported an ISOFiX car seat from the eu. I got a Kilpann one from seat.se website. Great service and well worth it. My son will be ERF until he is 4 or older.

Thanks mate. I think I'll go down the same route.

[notflyingscot]

Thanks mate. I think I'll go down the same route.

Forget about getting issued a fine by some over zealous police officer.
Perish the thought that you are involved in an accident and your child is seriously injured and requires ongoing costly care. How confident are you that your insurance company will come to the party with a claim if you are found to have been using non approved seats?
NFS

[GTR27]

Again, they would have to prove the seat contributed to the injuries over and above what the minimum spec Australian standards seat would have. No one I know imports a cheap nasty seat, they are all typically high end seats. Comparing a high end seat to a $50 Kmart special will easily see the court rule in your favour, as the imported seat will have a much higher crash worthiness. Plus being isofix you can prove it was fitted correctly.