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Public Discussions: How baby friendly is my Avantime?

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  1.  
    • CommentAuthorvsc4ev3r
    • CommentTimeNov 1st 2009
     
    Hi guys.
    I have a question I want to place to discussion.
    I've had my lovely Avantime for 1 and half years and although it's not in top form it's my favourite car. As you may notice from the topic title I will became a dad soon and am struggling to understand if I'll cope with the avantime's 3 doors.
    If you had or are having the experience of carrying newborns in the avantime let me know.

    Thanks in advance,
    Pedro
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteveM
    • CommentTimeNov 1st 2009
     
    Senior Member
    Its perfect in my view - its a misnomer that a five door is somehow easier with baby / child seats. For me the ability to attack a baby seat from the front rather than the side makes it much easier. The height of the floor also means you can kneel on it whilst you get stuff sorted (much easier than my wifes lower A3 at the time). Kids also love the amount of light and visibility the car provides. Most cars are horrible black holes by comparison. You will need to check that bulkier baby seats can be lifted easily round the door opening / folded seat but I don't remember any issues.

    One or two things will annoy - one the seat belt buckles on the back seat press in too much when you are struggling to click the seat belt in (I thought about retro fitting a spring holder to assist). Second with later isofix seats they rather mess up the leather by depressing it and leaving marks (you can get special mats to prevent this). Third you have to remember not to press the all open button with child sun blinds attached to back windows!.... Although the car always wins and the blind loses.

    Basically don't make any rash decisions, give it a try and remember baby seats are for a very short time.... with 'later years' seats the car is a boon. The avantime has always been my kids favourite car out of a good selection we have had over the last three years.

    Steve.
  3.  
    Became a new dad 3 weeks ago (after 28 years from my last one), and have been out a few times in the Avi with the baby seat in.
    Fitting the seat is actually very easy, easier in fact than fitting it in the four door saloon! , as mentioned, the floor height makes it very easy.
    We use a blanket on the seat to stop damage to the leather.
    Also, we have a special mirror from mothercare which fits around the head restraint (about a tenner), this lets you see the baby from your normal rear view mirror without turning around (baby seat fitted rear facing of course).
    We also close the rear roof sunblind to stop sundazzle. Baby loves looking out of the windows - I'm not sure what sight a newborn has, but it certainly seems to entertain her :-)
    I'd say the Avi is very parent friendly, as well as being baby friendly.

    You can't put the baby seat in the front passenger seat as the passenger side airbag cannot be turned off.
  4.  
    Administrator
    One thing Steve and Phill have not mentioned is, when fitting the seat in the rear or indeed lifting the baby in and out, wind the front and rear windows down, with the lack of a B pillar access is actually easier than a four door.

    The front airbag can be permanently disabled by a dealer through the Clip software.
    •  
      CommentAuthorDynamoo
    • CommentTimeNov 2nd 2009
     
    It seems that babies and Avantimes go together :)

    My first is due in two weeks, we chose the Avantime specifically for lugging about all the stuff babies need!

    I've had a practice with the baby seat in the back, and it is really easy when the rear window is wound down. Putting a blanket on the seat to protect it sounds like an excellent idea, I might use a non-slip mat though.
  6.  
    Administrator
    A non-slip mat should help catch those "little accidents" too :-)
    •  
      CommentAuthorDynamoo
    • CommentTimeNov 2nd 2009
     
    Upon reflection, I already have something similar that we use with the cat :)
    •  
      CommentAuthormjt77
    • CommentTimeNov 2nd 2009
     
    Senior Member
    We have 3 year old and 6 month old girls... and I can't recommend the Avantime highly enough for the ease of fitting car seats and all the stuff you have to take with you.
    The only thing I've changed recently is having the windows tinted to stop the sunlight (not a problem at this time of year) I could never find roll-down-blinds that were big enough for those great windows.
    Good luck for those new arrivals...
    •  
      CommentAuthorfireman
    • CommentTimeNov 18th 2009
     
    +1. Especially in the summer we just throw our kids in and out the open windows - easier that using the doors!

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