Why are car websites so crap?

[joshwa]

Okay, so you know the score, the wife is looking is looking at isofix car seats, ours doesn't have them, and if it does have them they're only 2 point isofix, so she says "I might let you buy a new car..."

So I look for new cars with 3 point isofix... and that's where things start getting interesting...

The VW website has absolutely no search results when you search for "3 point isofix"... plus you can't configure a car online.

So I try the Skoda website... it crashes when I pick certain options trying to customise a car... and the cars end up the same price as a VW!

Then the seat website... which seems to be the worst of them all... so I give up...

Next the AUDI website where a £15k A3 ends up costing £22k when you've picked the useful options... but still no search results when searching for 3-point isofix.

And the only cars that show up on autotrader are FIATs (Grande punto, new bravo, chroma etc) when searching for "3 point isofix".

So I sent her a text saying, yeah we can get a Passat Estate Sport TDI for £21k

Not that that's every going to happen considering our car's worth around £4.5k or less. We might end up with a Touran (around 8k 2nd hand)

Whats a man to do?

An Octavia VRS ? Hatchback ? It can't be a saloon. It should ideally be a hatchback or an estate, with ideally cruise control, diesel with 130bhp or more, and preferably some kind of "sport" model so as to avoid overly soft suspension...

But for the fact our car (VW Passat 130PD TDI Estate) doesn't have 3 point isofix seats, our car is absolutely perfect at the moment... (or it will be when I have cruise control fitted).

Why hasn't 3 point isofix become a standard and if it has why does it only show up on car websites as ISOFIX when there have been two different standards (2 point for older cars, 3 point for newer cars)....

Help anyone?

Josh

[mycarsavw]

Ask someone on;

VWAudi Forum

/shameless self promotion

or

BRISKODA - The Skoda Forum and Community

[joshwa]

Problem is VAG might not be the answer... I don't want a Renault, or a Vauxhall...

Surely there's a website out there that will tell me, but I've had no luck so far ... you'd expect it to be mentioned on car websites! Especially with them all going on about safety all the time...

[chuckskull]

It's a bit shocking that it's not even mentioned, but I think the car industry still revolves around going to a showroom, kicking the tyres and so on. I know it's called "LATCH" in some places, might wanna try looking for that on the site.

Otherwise off to the showroom for you.

[Lowe]

Why go for Isofix? It's convienient, but it's hardly the end of the world if you don't have it. None of our cars have it, and we don't have any problems with the restraight method - after all, if it's good enough to stop an adult, a little en won't be a problem.

[Zak33]

I was shocked to find the Britax website telling me that Saab needed a third point connection for ISOfix while my own, perfectly good two point Britax seat fits a treat.

I think they're covering their butts a little on this one. Someone has invented this extra (very good idea) of a top strap that gooes over the top of the back seat to stop the child seat flexing too much...and yet it is often totally impractical to use.

[Zak33]

This all gets worse!

EXAMPLE: My rear facing seat is close to being too small for my boy now, and he's 7 1/2 months. He's supposed to be out of it, and in theory into a forward facer, soon.

EXCEPT that Saab now make a REAR FACER for kids up to THREE YEARS OLD!!
3 How on EARTH are his legs gonna fit facingh backwards when he's THREE?

Unless Sair sits so far forward in the front passenger seat that she's in mortal danger from the front airbag?

Safety is a nigtmare...online specs are worse.

[Zak33]

Here...this one


That is REAR facing.
"Rearward-facing child seat
Look after your treasures! Rear-facing child seat for children aged 9 months - 3 years or weighing 18 kg. Installed using the cars three-point seatbelt, an extra belt and a support leg. Upholstery can easily be removed for cleaning."

[joshwa]

Well it turns out she definitely doesn't want to buy a new car, but does want a car with 2 point ISOFIX - which is pretty much the standard for any car with ISOFIX. (I think it's been named LATCH in the US, and is their 3 point system?)...

Anyway, what I can't understand is why the Passat Estate doesn't have ISOFIX - it's crazy for a car that is so obviously a "family car" not to have it - I think the Passat saloon has had it since 1997! Any my older Fabia had it as well...

So... Now we're looking for a:

Deisel (preferable - for best mpg possible)
Estate / Hatchback (need to fit huge buggy, high chair etc)
ISOFIX (2 point will do)
4 / 5 star euro ncap
130bhp or more (for me )
Cruise Control (again for me )

and what's worrying is the fact that a Ford Mondeo Estate seems ideal, if a little boring looking. (admittedly the Passat is quite boring looking, but I like it alot )

Or maybe a Renault Laguna *shudders* but the interior is so horrible particularly the stereo area (sorry to anyone who has one):



And I've hear horrible things about how unreliable they are?

[joshwa]

Maybe a Volvo V40 would do the job?
link
Mondeo's appear to tick all the boxes :
link

PS - We're in the same situation as Zak - our baby wont fit in our current chair so we need to move up to the next size of chair...

[herulach]

Without a budget its a bit hard, but 9-3 sportwagon (allthough it could be a bit wee in the back), Mazda 6 & Accord would probably all fit the practical but pretty fun box.

[joshwa]

I think our budget is between £4k - £6k

Perhaps a Skoda Octavia would fit the bill seen some new shape TDIs for around £6k like this one

One of the main problems is that hardly anyone stats in adverts whether it's got isofix. For example all Octavia's have it according to parkers.co.uk but do people mention it on autotrader...? nope

[Tumble]

I'd go for the Mondeo... current gen and the previous one look alright to me, and the Ford Diesels are pretty fine IMO.

[joshwa]

I'd go for the Mondeo... current gen and the previous one look alright to me, and the Ford Diesels are pretty fine IMO.

Seems like they're cheaper than same age Octavia's as well

Is this true of Ford TDCI engines: "THESE CARS DO NOT REQUIRE A CAMBELT CHANGE AS THEY OPERATE ON A TIMING CHAIN SYSTEM" ?

Because that would be another benefit of going for a Ford TDCI instead of a VAG TDI.

edit - seems like a cracking deal: Mondeo TDCI 04 - £4400 or this one that didn't even sell, a 55 Mondeo bid up to 4.2k here.

[herulach]

Seems like they're cheaper than same age Octavia's as well

Is this true of Ford TDCI engines: "THESE CARS DO NOT REQUIRE A CAMBELT CHANGE AS THEY OPERATE ON A TIMING CHAIN SYSTEM" ?

Because that would be another benefit of going for a Ford TDCI instead of a VAG TDI.

Ford Duratorq engines are chain driven, so although the cambelt wont need changing as it doesnt have one, I'd be surprised if the chain doesnt need replacing at some point.

[joshwa]

Or perhaps a Fiat Croma

Fiat Croma - they are even cheaper on Autotrader (from £6k)