Kids and feet

[Martin Moxon]

I've now had my 7 just over a month after donkeys years of yearning. Its a 7 VX Classic with the 120bhp upgrade, sensible starting point and best I could afford.

 

 

2 questions for starters.

1. I've 2 young boys, 7 and 2 and a half. Eldest seems not to keen but youngest is desperate to go in dads new car. Any ideas or suggestions on keeping young kids or their car seats in place with 4 point harnesses?

2. I'm 6'2" with size 11's and presently have to drive in my socks (guess what Dad'll get from now on for xmas and birthdays). I've tried a pair of OMP Racing Boots size 46 (their basic non FIA ones) but were of no benefit. Any advice?

 

Martin Moxon

Not the Cricketer

[Julian Bradley]

My (tall, hairy and beautiful) 5 year old daughter travels with a 3 point and a booster seat. As it's a static belt, she cannot fidget. She is well trained to jump the hot exhaust. Unlike her mother.

 

I'm not convinced about 4/6 points and little people - I get the feeling the vertical straps are too far apart. At least I know the 3 point will work to an extent. Generally, an FIA bar is invaluable. But if received wisdom - I know you're all out there - dictates otherwise, I'd like to hear your views.

 

Without the booster seat, with side screens, children are almost invisible: any conversation with your child results in bystanders regarding you as an eccentric quietly remonstrating with yourself.

 

Otherwise, I have size 8 feet, so pixie boots not required.

 

[chrisd]

My 3 year old son sits on a booster seat (Britax - I think). It has a raised 'lug' at either side and so these fit through the loops on 4-point harnesses. They also draw the shoulder straps in towards the centre, as well as holding the seat in place. Hope this makes sense confused.gif

Julian - I know what you mean about conversations with an invisible passenger.

 

Chris

 

[rocky]

Martin, the best solution to your sock problem is to buy the smallest pair of race boots you can squueze your tootsies into and just use them for driving. However, if you already have boots and you can bear to do it, the accepted racing solution is to cut off end of right toe and bind together with tank tape. Sounds drastic, but has been tried and tested and it is a solution.

 

rocky

[catse7en]

Er Ricky

 

If you are saying cut of your right toe I must agree, and would say that "too drastic" is more accurate than a bit drastic

 

But then I saw the bit about tank tape, and thinking that nobody would use tank tape in lieu of sutures. (would they ?)

 

So realised you ment cut tje end off your shoe.

 

Hope Martin didn't take it at face valus and act on Impulse ;-)

 

John G

 

(little feet that fit without drastic surgery)

[Mark Durrant]

Martin

 

I bought some Pume Roma trainers (£35.00) and these are narrow enough not to foul the throttle when braking and are also OK for general use so no need to change out of racing boots when getting out of the car.

 

Mark

[AshJackson]

I drive in Puma romas too. No problems with my size 11s.

 

[Dave H]

My son has been a regular passenger in the Seven since the age of 2 (he's now 8 and still enjoys it most of the time). The 4 point harness fitted him reasonably well once he was in a booster seat. Now not required.

 

My size nines fit the peddles OK in racing boots.

 

Dave H

[Martin Moxon]

Thanks everyone.

 

Just to re-assure you, I'm still 10 toes intact. I've already taken the race boots I'd bought back so fortunately I've not had to try and explain that I was entitled to my money back as I'd not worn them outside even though the big toes had been cut out.

 

As for the other footwear suggestions I might well be spending tomorrow lunchtime searching sports shops for Puma Romas to try.

 

With the kiddie seats, the youngest is starting to get restless in his moulded stage whatever car seat so we have been thinking of acquiring something new, so maybe its the chance to check out whats on offer, Britax etc., down at the local Mothercare World - maybe I should go in the 7 on expectant mothers days - you know what they say about how unborn children are influenced by what they hear in the womb.

 

Has anyone any experience of the Recaro Start child seat, either in a 7 or in an everyday car? I've seen it a Demon Tweeks catalogue, but is a lot more expensive than the booster type seats you normally see.

 

Martin Moxon

Not the Cricketer

[Nick Woods]

My 5-year-old has a Britax high-backed booster with a detachable back sorry I cant remember the name of it at the moment) which fits in well to my s-type seats. I have 4-point harnesses and the lap bets go under the 'horns' of the seat and hold it really securely and the high back helps to keep the shoulder straps in line. I did try it with the back removed but the belts cut into his neck.

 

The only mod i've done is put a piece of foam rubber about an inch thick under the seat to give him a better view. He loves going out in the car, especially when I do fllor the throttle from a standing starts up to about 50 - 'do it again daddy' !

 

[Graham Jung]

It sounds like I've got the same seat as Nick above, which my daughter has been using since she was 16 months old. It was the cheapest available in Mothercare (about GBP20) and has a detachable seat and backrest. It fits Caterham's leather seats perfectly, and as Nick says the wings at head hight keep the 4-point shoulder straps in place. Of course, she is currently at that awkward age where she can open the release but is too young to be told not to!

 

Never mind conversations with invisible passengers, you should see the looks you get when Teddy comes flying out of the car at a set of traffic lights! Or the glares you get parking in Safeway's Parent and Child spaces!

[Nick Woods]

I had a look this morning and our seat is a Britax Javelin although I wish I had paid 20 quid for it, ISTR it was more like 70. Its a good seat though, apart from the covers which keep coming loose. With hindsight I think we could have bought something similar for a lot less money at mothercare, as Graham says.

 

A bit of foam works wonders as it raises the seat a little so they can see forwards.

 

Funnily enough though our 2-year-old, who is usually the brave one - the 5-year old has always been a bit timid, likes sitting in the car but the moment i mention starting it up and going for a ride he starts a chorus of 'out now please, out now please'. Still, it stops them fighting over whose turn it is.

 

 

Nick

P8MRA - The greenid=green> one with redid=red> wings

[First Man]

Martin

 

I have taken to driving barefoot. At first it felt strange and I couldn't "heel and toe". Now, however, I much prefer it to driving with shoes on - you get much better feel and I never hit two pedals at the same time. Heel and toe-ing is no problem. It's also a lot cooler and therefore more comfortable! I also believe that in an emergency situation, my right foot gets to the brake quicker and more surely than with shoes on. Personally, I wouldn't wear socks because it seems to me they might slip on the pedals.

 

First Man.

[Bricol]

Surey its a case of adjusting the pedals to suit - I normally drive in short cowboy boots - pretty narrow but not excessively so. I can drive it in stell capped work boots - which are definitely not narrow! And I've got size 11 feet as well.

 

Wrt to seats - I'd be a bit dubious about a cheapo plastic seat holding the belt straps together in the event of a crash - and then your child, still held by the lap strap, jacknives around it and smashing their face into the dash - I refused to take my girlfriends lad out unitl he was a bit older as I couldn't be sure of his safety. (and I know that a seven isn't the safest place to be but . . .)At age 5 he was just about big enough to be okay witt the seat slid forward, the straps pulled down and a booster.

 

 

Bri

[WindyMiller]

Barefoot, I too do this often, but was not sure this was "quite cricket" but it feels safe, comfortable and cooler.

Seats- My 7y.o. daughter (large, blonde and hairy) seems fine with the 4 point harness, although with an FIA bar the top ones are closer together. Perhaps you can use these fixings if you're worried that they are too wide. I am seriously considering the extra crotch strap (~20GBP) to stop submarining, for her.

She loves being a passenger and asks to be picked up from school in it. Her comments provide a few laughs too "Daddy, daddy, drive like the wind"

Andy