First Drive of Defender + Child seats

[gingz]

Hi guys,

As the title suggests I had a test drive this afternoon of a 110 and loved it...

but SWMBO was not to impressed when the sales lady said that there was no child restraints, the sales lady quickly started speaking about aftermarket parts for restraining child seat when she saw the look on my wife's face....

needless to say when we got back the wife said no way on buying a 110....

I had a quick look at Sepo and Jap 4wd and they are making me sick...

I had a look on here and people were speaking about a bar of some type that can be fitted to the 110 for restraining child seat, but when I look at the date the post was made they were all from 2005 and 2006 and was wondering if this part was still available and legal.

Cheers in advance

Gingz

[Hoges]

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/good-oil/5...-creb-bar.html

[Grumbles]

I would be saying to the sales lady that unless it comes with legally fitted and warranted child restraints then it is no deal. Where she gets them from is up to her.

[clubagreenie]

I buy cars like this.

I tell them what I want, what will be fitted and how much I'm paying. Follwed by if they want the sale and therefore their commission thats the deal.

I'll leave my details on the list and leave.give it a week and call back, if they say it's not enough just tell them you've got two other interstate dealers willing to play.

Never bought a car for less that 10K off retail, paid for rego and ins or any extras.

[crash]

As the other two have said - insist on the child restraints or no deal.
Is the 110 classified as a comercial vehicle still? If it is then by law child restraints are not mandatory like they are in passenger vehicles. Some dual cab utes also do not come with the restraints.

[BilboBoggles]

You probably won't be buying a defender then... The sales people don't really care about selling them - most are pre sold before they arrive, the sales guys are just there to handle the paperwork.

It's unlikely you'll get a dealer to fit the restraint points. Going back a few years (3-4) they would have, but now there are a number of insurance issues, and many of the dealers will not touch fitting these points or organising them. (This is Victoria I'm talking about). Some of the independents will touch them but charge a huge amount for the insurance, for example I was quoted $65 for one point, but an additional $400 for insurance coverage, so total was nearly $500 for one point. (Dec 2012). My last Defender had them fitted for $180 for Three, in 2008. As of January that last place no longer do restraint points.

I have found a local fitting (VICTORIA) station who will fit restraint points into the back of the Defender without a crab bar, they are a registered restraint point fitter, and would do the three for $200. So might be worth ringing around the list of approved fitting stations and dropping in to see what can be done.

In the end I decided not to fit retraint points, instead I'm using booster seats that do not require a tether.

It's kind of ridiculous that the insurance aspects is driving this rather than the real safety concerns. The tether points when used for a booster are only there for when you do not have a child in the seat - to keep the unsecured booster in place to avoid damaging other occupants. The restraint points do not play any role in an accident when the child is actually in the seat. The seat belt is what is doing the restraining. So that's why if you have a foam booster you do not need tether points, anything less than 2kg is considered a non lethal projectile. So I'm perfectly happy with my tether points in my older Defenders that are in the floor in the back.

[Leyland1980]

Are you looking at a wagon or a double cab? If its a double cab then it is very easy and cheap ($200-300 to have a restraint made and installed and ~$250 for engineers inspection).

If its a wagon then you are probably looking at a crab bar (>$500 + installation $????? + inspection) and will have to drill holes and loose the versatility of collapsing the rear seats.

PM me if you want details of the double cab option.

As has been said in an earlier post a lot of child seats don't need the additional anchor point, I only had to fit them as I was importing.

[muddy]

Just purchased a new 110 station wagon and had the safety bar installed and plated for under $500.
The Grandkids have had a capstual and seat attached with no problems .
It can be removed when not in use

[Intrepid]

I went through this process... See here:
Defender crab bar installation

No big deal unless the install compromises your 'plans' for the rear end...

Joshua.

[gingz]

Ok cheers guys,

HAs anyone in WA had them fitted lately, if so where did you get it installed?

Cheers