Isofix in new style Ford Focus

[venna]

Hi,

Bought a new style Ford Focus 2 years ago (2nd hand, 06 plate, Ford dealer). One of the things we were very clear to the salesman about was that we wanted it to have isofix (to fit baby seats to). He wasn't sure, checked with someone and assured us they were there.

Its taken a while but we now need them (due August :D). Went to buy a car seat and found out ... no isofix in our car. Local Ford garage suggested we raised merry hell with the Ford dealer we bought it from as it'll cost £160 to retro-fit if they can.

Have gone back to the original garage and have been stonewalled .. I quote "if you'd come back within 2 weeks ... but now ...." Wouldn't even talk of compromise. As the person I talked to was so 'unhelpful' feel like pursuing it. Any advice anyone?????

Cheers,

Caroline

[sooz]

Did you not check personally at the time of purchase? Cars fitted with isofix have an isofix label sewn into the front of the seat

You can buy a very good non-isofix car seat for the additional cost they are suggesting now to retro fit it.

[f1re_cr4cker]

personally i would still get the isofix fitted it is so worth as the seat feels so much more secure!

[venna]

Yes, for ease of early mornings (and stiff hands) going to get isofix retrofitted. Just really annoyed they gave us the wrong info on a point which we made clear was a deal breaker.
Had no idea how to check for isofix which is why we asked the dealer.

[Tally-Ho]

Hi,

From what I understand (as a member of the Ford Focus Owners Club), all Mk2 (2005 onwards) Focuses are Isofix compliant.

They do however require purchase of some sort of fittings (which fit into the Isofix holes already in the car) into which the child seats fit.

[daveyjp]

Don't cry over the non existence of Isofix. We have just bought our third and final car seat, despite having two cars both with Isofix we have yet to find one which fits both. There are three types of Isofix seat and they aren't universal.

We would have to buy one for each car at £150+ per car. Group 1,2,3 Isofix seats are rare as hens teeth anyway. The £94 one we bought is excellent and just as good as the £160 Recaro seat it replaced which was a freebie when I bought my car.

Belt seats are very secure once you learn how to put them in.

[sooz]

Yes, for ease of early mornings (and stiff hands) going to get isofix retrofitted. Just really annoyed they gave us the wrong info on a point which we made clear was a deal breaker.
Had no idea how to check for isofix which is why we asked the dealer.
My latest ford has isofix, but my previous ones didn't. The isofix was not easy to fit the maxi cosi in car base into- it was an awful job. I wouldn't want to have to do this same procedure with the car seat every day. If you just want it for ease of use & sore hands, get the masi cosi non-isofix base. You leave this in the car, & click the car seat in & out, without having to touch the seat belt.

[venna]

If you just want it for ease of use & sore hands, get the masi cosi non-isofix base. You leave this in the car, & click the car seat in & out, without having to touch the seat belt.

That sounds exactly what we need! Yes, it is primarily to deal with sore hands (arthritis) and the fact I'm useless in the mornings. I didn't know maxi-cosi did a base like this. Thank you. Will spend this weekend having a look :T

[sooz]

Hope you managed to find some info on this. I think you had the wrong idea about what the isofix actually does.
For the first stage seats for newborn babies, you need an isofix compatible in-car base. The isofix doesn't work on this stage seats without a matching base. You can also get non-isofix bases (which is what I had first time round). For both types, this is the large lump of plastic that you leave on a car seat, into which you click the first stage car seat in & out. Both types are fantastic, very quick to use, & great for sore hands, once you've fitted the large plastic lump . The difference between them is you fit the isofix ones into the hidden isofix anchors, & for the non isofix one, you use the car seat belt. Once this is fitted, you don't touch it again, unless you need to clean underneath it :D

Maxi cosi easy fix (isofix) (http://www.mothercare.com/Maxi-Cosi-Easyfix-base-universal/dp/B000ILDYRM/sr=1-2/qid=1244027063/ref=sr_1_2/277-0755586-7753449?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=A2LBKNDJ2KZUGQ&n=44454031&mcb=core)
Maxi cosi easy base (non isofix) (http://www.mothercare.com/Maxi-Cosi-Maxi-Cosi-Cabriofix-Easybase/dp/B000VI36CU/sr=1-1/qid=1244027133/ref=sr_1_1/279-4587489-6218136?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=A2LBKNDJ2KZUGQ&n=42764041&mcb=core)

I got mine from boots in one of their maxi cosi sales, for less than 1/2 of that, with lots of points too :D

[matthewh]

Hi,

We had a 2004 Focus C-Max and indeed the brochure said Isofix but I could not find the attachments or the tags stitched into the seat.

Upon further investigation it appeared that the Isofix attachments are buried deep in the seats, under the seat fabric and foam. Ford sold me a kit (<£15 per seat), which came with a template and two bits of plastic trim - all I had to do was unclip the seat cover, cut out the foam and then make a hole in the seat fabric on both sides of the seat - was a bit nervous doing this but it was very easy. The two pieces of plastic trim in the kit then clipped into the holes. This then gave access to the Isofix points through the holes in these new trim panels. As we only had the need for 1 Isofix seat I only bothered buying 1 kit and fitted it to the passenger side seat. Fitting time was less than 20 mins.

Have since moved up to an S-Max where the Isofix mountings are visible as they come out the factory - so it seems Ford have now moved away from this bit of penny pinching.

I suggest you go to the Ford Spares department at your dealer and enquire about the Isofix Mounting kit for the Focus. I think you will be pleasantly suprised.

[venna]

Hi

Thanks for the replies.

We got the isofix attachments fitted last weekend and went to Mothercare to make sure they fitted the make of system we wanted. They tried both Britax and Maxicosi and found that because of the slope of the back seats all the rear facing seats (approved for our car) are held too upright for a baby i.e. baby would be sitting up like you would at a table meaning it would have to support the weight of its own head. Looking at it we agreed with the Mothercare people.

I rang Britax but they don't feel its a safety issue, even though they acknowledged babies don't have the musculature to support their heads until ~3months!

(1) I'm amazed that this is an issue on a focus, the most common car, and that the bases don't accomodate it
(2) back to square one .....

Anyone else with a new style Ford Focus have this issue? Our garage have never heard of it before?

[harveybobbles]

I'm sure isofix was standard on the Focus. We have an 06 plate one at work. I'll check this weekend when I'm back...

[daveyjp]

Hi

Thanks for the replies.

We got the isofix attachments fitted last weekend and went to Mothercare to make sure they fitted the make of system we wanted. They tried both Britax and Maxicosi and found that because of the slope of the back seats all the rear facing seats (approved for our car) are held too upright for a baby i.e. baby would be sitting up like you would at a table meaning it would have to support the weight of its own head. Looking at it we agreed with the Mothercare people.

I rang Britax but they don't feel its a safety issue, even though they acknowledged babies don't have the musculature to support their heads until ~3months!

(1) I'm amazed that this is an issue on a focus, the most common car, and that the bases don't accomodate it
(2) back to square one .....

Anyone else with a new style Ford Focus have this issue? Our garage have never heard of it before?

Classic problem as I mentioned above - the only standard thing about ISOFIX are the fixings - the rest of the car is not designed around taking an ISOFIX seat.

Do Ford do their own range of seats?

[venna]

Ford supposedly work with Britax which is why we were so surprised it didn't fit ... the Maxicosi was actually a bit better but would still only be usable after 3 months ... :wall:

We tried the belted bases and they held the seat too upright as well. The only option I've found so far is a huge Britax 'First Class Plus' which can't be used with a travel system (belted in), so would just have to put her in and pick her out it each time. But it is an option.

I'm really concerned at the advice Britax are giving out re: its not a safety issue to have a newborn supporting the weight of its own head. Luckily we tested it and knew already ... what about those who don't.

[goldspanners]

is this why i have a crooked neck and spinal problems these days, back in the 80's my dads mk1 polo didnt have isofix or whatever it is and now i have a permanent humph. i dread to think how my little head got thrown around back in the day.:eek:

[vikingaero]

is this why i have a crooked neck and spinal problems these days, back in the 80's my dads mk1 polo didnt have isofix or whatever it is and now i have a permanent humph. i dread to think how my little head got thrown around back in the day.:eek:

:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

When my dad did an emergency stop he would hold out his arm to stop me sliding into the dashboard.:D And when I felt tired to stop me from flopping about he would tell me to sleep on the rear parcel shelf.:D:D:D Those were the days.:p

[matthewh]

Have you tried the Mamas and Papas car seat with the Isofix base.

Thats what we had in the Focus C-Max and that was fine.

[venna]

Have you tried the Mamas and Papas car seat with the Isofix base.

Thats what we had in the Focus C-Max and that was fine.

Thank you for the suggestion :A
Visited M&Ps today, told them the problem and they knew exactly what I was talking about *phew*.
They pointed me towards their belted base that actually has a tilt adjustment mechanism. The car seat still needs a bit of belting in but its relatively easy.

So relieved as this is a not perfect but is definitely a workable option ... Thank you!!!! :j

[pa2539]

I've had exactly the same problem. My baby is due in october and I wanted the M&P pliko travel system. My car is a 56 plate focus and I was assured all cars after 05 had isofix points, mine hasnt.
I was told either to buy the new car seat and put in car on it's own or you can buy a SIP base which attaches into car and clicks in as the isofix would.
Another thing to save you a bit of money if you know which one you want, halfords have the same car seats for the same price as M&P and come direct from the supplier (the SIP bases are cheaper than M&P) but there is code for 10% off until 9th June which is MABMAY09 and you could also try going through quidco (5%) to be even cheekier. Hope this helps.