Maxi Cosi Priori child car seat in roasted brown, apparently

It's a group 1 seat (9 to 18kg, from about 1 to about 4). And it seems more solid than the cars, which is why it gets great results in the Which? child car seat crash tests. These go further than the minimum legal standard (I used to work at which, just so you know), as they include a side impact test as well as a faster front impact one.

Basically, if you want a safe seat, get this one.

Some minor plus points

Your child sits high in the car seat, so they get a nice view.

There are  handy catches at the side where you can stick the straps when you put your child in. These come in handy if your child likes to go rigid, arch their back and refuse to get in ...

And finally, there are some colour coded indicators so you know when you've fitted it correctly. These are very reassuring.

Isofix child car seat - semi-universal

You can fit the Priorifix using seat belts or Isofix - we use Isofix, and it slots in and out really easily. Not that you need to take it out much (it's far too heavy to do it too often).

You will have to do it if, like us, your daughter has chucked up all over it due to car sickness ...

As well as the Isofix or seat belts, there's also a floor leg to keep it stable. It doesn't suit all cars, as a result (it needs a flat floor - hence only semi-universal), but you can check whether it works with yours here. Although what are these odd cars with not flat floors?!?

Minor drawbacks

You can tilt the seat forward by pushing it back. And tilt it back by pulling it forward. This leads to confusion / arguing in the car. Whichever way you push, you'll get your hands caught in the mechanism. This will hurt.

You can buy a cup holder for it. I consider this a drawback as its a ridiculous idea, surely. I don't have a cup holder in the front. Maybe I'm jealous?

You have to wash the covers by hand, at a mximum of 30 degrees and can't put them in a tumble dryer. See point about puke above. Why do companies like Maxi Cosi make stuff for children that you can't push in the washing machine and which get covered in puke?

It costs about £200+. But it's worth paying this, given how much safer it is than other child car seats.

You might also be interested in my bloom fresco review, and my bugaboo cameleon review.

Kwikfit first: bad review

The first puncture was repaired by Kwikfit. I drove down there at 12, which turned out not to be an appointment as I thought, just an indicative time. I would have to wait.

They quoted almost £200, but when I pointed out the price was cheaper on their website, they said I could have that price (about £30 off) if I bought a print out along.

Somehow, I didn't feel pleased about the discount, just relieved I hadn't been ripped off.

Event mobile tyres: good review

So when I somehow got another puncture, I bought a tyre online instead from Event tyres - which was delivered and fitted at my house.

A van turned up at the exact time Event tyres said it would, the cost was £50 less than at Kwikfit for an identical tyre, and it was all over and done with in minutes. Excellent. I'd definitely buy tyres online again.


Have you used them? What do you think?