afettere said:
If all goes well, I'll be a father this fall around Halloween.
I'm fighting hard not to lose the Elise to a car my wife finds more practical. With that in mind, does anyone have info on whether the front seat is compatible with baby seats? Not that I plan on making this the primary baby mover, but it would be nice to know if it were an option.
I just copy what the EU manual says about:
Child restraints:
Lotus recommends that children are not carried in the Elise/Exige. Accident statistics show that children are safer when properly restrained in the back seats of cars, an option unavailable on these models.
If nevertheless, a child is to be carried in the car, the following notes are provided for guidance:
Warning: Children who are not properly restrained can be seriously injured or killed in an accident. Any child who is too small to use the standard seat belt should be properly restrained in a suitable child seat. A larger child should be properly restrained with the seat belt.
Infants: Infants who area unable to sit up by themselves, unsupported, should NOT be carried in the Elise/Exige.
Small children: A child who can sit up without support, should be restrained in a suitably sized child seat. It is the vehicle user's responsibility to ensure tha tthe child seat is a satisfactory fir in the passenger seat, using guidance provided by the child seat manufacturer. The fitting instructions issued by the child seat manufacturer muct be followed strictly.
Larger childern: When a child becomes of a physical size whereby the standard fitment lap and diagonal seat belt will fit satisfactorily, with the belt positioned over the colar bone and against the center of the chest, this belt then should be used. If the belt touches or crosses the chold's neck, a suitable booster seat should be used to allow correct belt positioning. Lotus recommends choosing a style that allows the chol;d to use the lap /shoulder belt directly, without a shield. It the vehicle user's responsibility to ensure that the booster seat is a satisfactory fit inthe passenger seat, using guidance provided by the booster seat manufaturer. The installation instructions issued by the booster seat manufacturer muct be followed strictly.
Behavior: It is essential that the behavior of any child travelling in the car is such that they remain correctly seated and belted, and it is the responsibilit of the driver to ensure that this occurs.
Note that most child restraint systems are designed to be secured in the vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion of a lap-shoulder belt, and that children could be endangered in a crash if their child restraints are not properly secured in the vehicle.
That's all folks about Elise/Exige and carrying kids with it.
Now, since I live in Greece, and the 111R doesn't come with airbags, here, I assume that you'll be provided with extra info regarding passenger's airbag de-activation.
BR,
Theo