forfour.co.uk

Advanced search  

News:

Author Topic: Forfour as a daily driver...  (Read 20236 times)

Feeble

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 116
  • Hampshire
Forfour as a daily driver...
« on: February 28, 2020, 07:21:30 PM »

Hey guys.

I have just taken a deposit on my Mercedes C class so will be down to one car as of Monday - the Brabus! This isn't forever, I do plan on buying another C class in a few months.

Have any of you guys got any experience of using the Forfour as a family daily driver? I have two young lads with car seats in the back, and it seems quite cramped when they are both in the car! I am not looking forward to doing the weeks shop either!

How do you lot get by? Will I get used to the size?

I do have to say that I am really enjoying owning it so far, but I have just been using it to run to work and back, the family havent started travelling in it yet!

Any tips will be appreciated!  :)
Logged

mr singh

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 4450
  • Leeds
Re: Forfour as a daily driver...
« Reply #1 on: February 28, 2020, 08:23:00 PM »

used my old 1.1 to transport my wife who was expecting our first (at the time) along with my dad to a wedding in wales, and on the way back we had my mum with us.

you will need to find the sweet spot where your lads are comfortable and you have boot space. best way to do that is have the front seats in there respected positions and have your boys in there seats and move the rear bench far enough forward that its comfortable for you to get them in and out.

I use my SB3 daily but that just with me in the car only
Logged
Fortwo MK3 (2007-2010) Top speed 85 MPH. maxed* 98 MPH
Forfour 1.1 (2010-2015) Top speed 103 MPH. maxed* 110 MPH
Forfour 1.5 SB3 (2015>) Top speed 118 MPH. maxed* 122 MPH
Jaguar XF S 3.0TDV6 (11/21-06/22) never to be maxed
Jaguar XF S 3.0TDV6 (07/22>) Top speed 155MPH

*maxed in Germany

Feeble

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 116
  • Hampshire
Re: Forfour as a daily driver...
« Reply #2 on: February 28, 2020, 08:36:19 PM »

I will have a play around with the seats in the back once their chairs are in place! I've only had them in the car once so far and it was a cosy experience. The child seats don't seem to sit as nicely as they did in the Mercedes. I dont know if it's the shape of the bench or what, but they dont seem quite as secure. A bit wobbly if you know what I mean!
Logged

jmariog

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Online Online
  • Posts: 394
  • North London
Re: Forfour as a daily driver...
« Reply #3 on: February 28, 2020, 09:09:01 PM »

Use my 1.5 AMT daily, and for the passed few weeks had two grandchildren and their car seats in the back. You will find the right combination of seat position ,and remember to try the back seat  at different  angles . Mine is a 4 seater so put armrest down so kids can put toys etc on it.. as to shopping. Other day got a  6ftx4ftx2.6 ft sideboard in it with two front passengers ok the boot was not quite closed , store keeper could not believe it.
Logged
Cooper mini moke 0 to 40 5seconds 40 up weeks
BMW CSLi 'bat mobile', Alpine A310 v6,
Marcos Mantis 1976 v6, 454 Passion 1.5 AMT,
454 Passion 1.1, 454 Brabus

Feeble

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 116
  • Hampshire
Re: Forfour as a daily driver...
« Reply #4 on: February 28, 2020, 09:17:43 PM »

Thanks for the reply. I certainly dont need the arm rest up front, so it's a good idea to let them use it in the back! I wasnt aware you can adjust the angle of the backrest. I thought the only adjustment was sliding the whole unit forward or backwards! So I will have a look at that tomorrow!  :)
Logged

El Tel

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 755
  • Spain - Barcelona
Re: Forfour as a daily driver...
« Reply #5 on: February 28, 2020, 09:37:44 PM »

I will have a play around with the seats in the back once their chairs are in place! I've only had them in the car once so far and it was a cosy experience. The child seats don't seem to sit as nicely as they did in the Mercedes. I dont know if it's the shape of the bench or what, but they dont seem quite as secure. A bit wobbly if you know what I mean!

I just put a kids car seat on my rear bench, I found if you A) put your weight on the car seat (knee) while tightening the seatbelt as much as possible and B) move the backrest angle forward after getting the seats as tight as you can, you'll be able to stop the wobble.

Mine is rock solid now but it took a half hour of faffing to get it proper tight.

Also, the rule of thumb is that the seat shouldn't move more than an inch left or right along the seatbelt line...
« Last Edit: February 28, 2020, 09:46:41 PM by El Tel »
Logged
LHD 2004 Pulse 1.1l (VVT). Black on black - 100,000 km

CrazyG

  • Owner of 3x 454 + 3x ForTwo !
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 9183
  • London Heathrow airport area.
    • S2smarts
Re: Forfour as a daily driver...
« Reply #6 on: February 28, 2020, 09:45:02 PM »

... I thought the only adjustment was sliding the whole unit forward or backwards !..:)

The rake of the backrest part is adjustable via the 2x sprung 'levers'
between the split of the rear seat. The rotary 'lever' turns a little in
both up or down direction..hold the backrest part of the seat as you
operate the rotary control and whilst holding the 'lever' move the
backrest part either forward of back to adjust the rake.
All info on that is in the Owners Manual that should be in the cubby
hole hideaway down by the drivers right foot (in RHD cars).

And...if you've not been aware of that, then perhaps you are not
au fait with the fact that you can tumble the entire rear seat forward
(obviously without anything like kiddies seats fitted)...and also what
that red belt type thing is for that is attached to the back of the rear
seat on the drivers side (RHD).
It's all in the Manual.   ;)
« Last Edit: February 28, 2020, 09:50:29 PM by CrazyG »
Logged
454 - Brabus (mapped, Willwood brakes, coilovers etc)
454 - Passion CDi 95hp (manual, Brab body kit, coilovers etc)
454 - Passion 1.3 (manual, Brab body kit, lowered etc) [SORN'd]
451 - Pulse Turbo [my daily drive] (mapped, coilovers etc)
450 - 'Widestar' bodied Passion 700cc [SORN'd]

Problemchild

  • BRABUS Owner
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 10019
  • 100 smiles per gallon........... BRISTOL, UK
    • EVILUTION
Re: Forfour as a daily driver...
« Reply #7 on: February 29, 2020, 06:03:26 PM »

I used the BRABUS as my daily driver for 12 years

Kids are fine and defo not cramped even for adults

Don’t forget the bench slides back and forth

There is also an armrest in the rear seats and my rear bench seats on 2006 has Isofix but they are in a little slit in the seat base.

JJ

« Last Edit: February 29, 2020, 06:33:48 PM by Problemchild »
Logged

jmariog

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Online Online
  • Posts: 394
  • North London
Re: Forfour as a daily driver...
« Reply #8 on: March 01, 2020, 09:22:47 PM »

One other option would be to sell on eBay, don't know what the going rate is for kids but you might get a bit more if you sell with the car seat as an accessory.
Logged
Cooper mini moke 0 to 40 5seconds 40 up weeks
BMW CSLi 'bat mobile', Alpine A310 v6,
Marcos Mantis 1976 v6, 454 Passion 1.5 AMT,
454 Passion 1.1, 454 Brabus

cecil

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 679
  • Surrey
Re: Forfour as a daily driver...
« Reply #9 on: March 04, 2020, 08:44:55 PM »

Mine is used everyday for two and occasionally 3. The comments are positive from the back seat that there is both more room and light than other supposedly larger cars. The brab suspension was also subject to a positive review at motorway speeds!
We are all in agreement about the shopping and the boot - bags will fit behind the front seats though if the back occupants need a car seat.
Logged
Brabus 454, 1.1 pulse, 1.3 passion

Problemchild

  • BRABUS Owner
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 10019
  • 100 smiles per gallon........... BRISTOL, UK
    • EVILUTION
Re: Forfour as a daily driver...
« Reply #10 on: March 04, 2020, 10:02:23 PM »

One other option would be to sell on eBay, don't know what the going rate is for kids but you might get a bit more if you sell with the car seat as an accessory.

Hahahahaha hahah

JJ

Feeble

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 116
  • Hampshire
Re: Forfour as a daily driver...
« Reply #11 on: March 05, 2020, 02:36:55 PM »

Thanks for all the tips guys! Car is going in for it's clutch and cambelt change tomorrow, so after that I will sort out the seats for the boys and be taking it shopping for the first time!  ;D
Logged