Child Seat Tether
Anchor Location
Something that Volkswagen
can't tell you.
And a bit more descriptive than the Manual.
When we bought the car, the first thing
we wanted to do was to install a child seat. The
dealer seemed unable and unwilling to try to locate
the anchor point for the car seat tether, and
suggested running the anchor bolt through the floor
of the wagon behind the driver's side rear seat.
Calling Volkswagen directly with this question did
not provide an answer beyond, "We have no
Information on the Fox."
We were certain there was a proper anchor point
in the car as both the owner's manual and the Bentley
manual make passing reference to it. The location is
described by an arrow on a picture of the headliner. The
text says, " On wagon models, open the rear lid and
locate the anchor above the headliner in the rear
crossmember. Cut a 9 mm hole in the headliner directly
below the anchor point hole. Instal the anchor fitting."
This seemed less than helpful. I wanted to know exactly
where it was before I started poking holes in my
pristine headliner.
I was fortunate to make contact with a fellow who was
parting out a Fox wagon and was willing to tear apart
his head liner to find the tether point.
Here is the picture he sent of the location. It
is 25 cm to the outside of the light and 5.5 cm above
the edge of the hatch opening.
Here is the tether installed.
And here is the reason for needing the info.
You have a kid and you bought a two door wagon - what were
you thinking?
At first one would think it would be easier to get more
people in a car with more doors but in our experience it
has been simpler to have only two doors. This may seem
counterintuitive but the reason has a lot to do with
angles and the fact that the child has to be buckled in
by a much bigger person.
Our experience with child seats in four door vehicles
has been awkward and uncomfortable. This largely because
when trying to manoeuvre a child in or out of the seat
you are beside and above the seat. You have to work over
and reach around the child and seat to find the buckles.
You can't see these buckles and clasps as the seat and
occupant block the sight lines. The rear doors on a car
are generally small even on a large car. They follow the
roof line downwards at the top and often wrap around the
wheel well at the bottom making for a small work space.
Lastly the back of the front seat is in the way. There
is little room for a little person to stand and climb
into their seat. The kid has to climb over the side of
the seat instead of into the seat.
In a two door, the doors are generally larger and
designed to open wide. As well you are working at the
wide end of the door. The seat back is tipped forward
and out of the way. This gives the child a place to
stand at the base of the car seat. When reaching in to
adjust straps and fasten buckles you are working from
the front of the seat facing it so you have a clear view
of what you are working on.
The two door also has the advantage of peace of
mind. No need to worry about the child proof door lock,
there is no door. The Child is in the back seat. And
with this particular wagon there is no argument about
windows up or down, they don't open in the back seat.
As an adult trying to get in and out of the rear seat of
the two door is not easy, it is a bit like trying to
limbo while in a downhill skiing tuck, but as a parent
who will be dealing with child restraints (car and
booster seats) for about 8 years there are demonstrable
advantages to the two door layout.
