Newbie.. Leon Cupra r - Child Friendly??

[Jimbo_123]

Hi all!
Just a quick intro.. I have just joined this site -seems very informative and friendly!

Anyway I currently drive a 2001 facelift S3 AMK which I will need to change soon as we need a 5 door due to a little one arrriving in a few months.
I did toy with the idea of a Leon Cupra r 225 before buying the S3 but the right S3 came up after a very long search... anyway I digress!

Anyone have any first hand experience of carrying a little one around in the mk1 Leon?

But most importantly does the rear have ISO FIX mountings for a child seat?

I would be primarily looking at the latest model possible.. 2005/2006? With a budget of around 7 to 8k maybe 9k if the missus contributes!!

Any info would be great!

Cheers,
James

 

[buch bdm 400]

i have a recaro car seat in my leon mate. the leon does come with iso fix.i feel more safer to carry him in the leon than any other car for some reason it feels more compact and stuff. theres nice spacious room for him in the back too. dont get me wrong i never drive fast with him in the car
an welcome to the forum mate.

 

[Jimbo_123]

Cheers for the quick response mate... makes me feel a lot more comfortable knowing the ISO FIX is in the rear!

It looks like this car could be a serious contender...

I am in no rush to sell the S3 so I just need to wait for the right price... I've got a few months to potentially find the right Leon..

 

[forever]

TBH, depends how far you need the front seats back, not a huge amount of space in the back for an isofix rear facing baby seat, fine once they move to forward facing, mine only very rarely gets used by the wife to cart our two around, but its a bit tight..

 

[danny20vt]

Firstly, welcome to SCN.

Secondly, yes Leons are child friendly, as said they have ISOFIX attachments and a decent sized boot, I carry 3 kids around in mine, an 8 month old, 5 year old and the wife. We've been on weekends away with a large pram with only the nappy bag in the front footwell, the rest fits in the boot, last year I was looking at a larger car but ended up with a Leon and certainly dont regret it.

Get one and enjoy!

 

[J0N]

I've got three kids at 12, 6 and 21 months and they all squeeze in the back with a bit of a shove and a kick, lol. I picked up my LCR just before the youngest was born and it's been great but I'm pretty sure it has'nt got Iso-Fix, might have been an option. Also, and I dont know if anyone else is the same but when putting the baby in and out of the car I found it much easier with a 3 door. This is because baby seats for new borns tend to have high sides that you have to lift the little one over if you are entering through a rear door. With the Missus's A3 (3 door) you tilt the front seat forward and stand in the rear foot well. That way you are stood in front of the seat and it's much easier to secure the brat and make sure he's safe and comfy. Don't let this put you off because both ways are easy enough it's just I find the second method a bit better. It's also worth noting that the A3 is a 54 reg and is bigger in the back than the Leon anyway.

 

[Wolvotim]

ive got a 7 year old and for a few years we had a fiat punto. now we've got another bun in the oven we changed punto for the leon.

im sure if we managed with a punto im sure you will manage with a leon

 

[wayne lcr]

yea safe had me son in the front seat since he was 6 months old and he still in the front now and he 4.the reason i put him in the front its a better fit 4 the car seat.

 

[AntneeUK]

The boot makes it more than child friendly! We bought a Graco push-chair and car seat/base combination and could fit the whole box in the boot, never mind just the push-chair. The 5-doors make it really useful too. The only downside is that the LCR is a bit stiff compared to some cars (like the wife's 1.4 Leon) but we leave the base in the front on the wife's car usually. I think the car has plenty of room inside except as mentioned already, if you want to put a rear-facing seat in the back. It's a bit of a squeeze then. Put it in the front and turn the airbag off and it's all good

 

[Sparkie]

As said boot space brilliant swallows a mothercare 3 wheel system easy, the wheels pop off when you need even more space, but we never do even with 8 bags of shopping too.
We have a recaro young expert plus( front facing) with isofix, pukka seat for when your bubba weighs a little bit more. only thing is with nice lines on the car the roof line curves down, so initial entry you need to avoid hitting their head but once you get the hang of it you sort of swing them in. Once their head is past the opening there's loads of space and you just plop them in the seat.
Sounds a bit mad and I don't want to put you off, doddle really, not an issue but thought you might like to know.
Looked at a few different cars but so happy with the leon, only thing I would drive my pride and joy about in now.

 

[LEE69]

but I'm pretty sure it has'nt got Iso-Fix, might have been an option.

My 2001 as the iso fix lift up the rear bench and you'll see them tucked under the back rest.

No problems here got my daughter the recaro

 

[AntneeUK]

Was looking at getting one of those when my lad gets bigger Lee, but want the Seat "R" versions