Time for the convertible!

ANGWife · #1 December 5th, 2009, 08:50 AM

This has been discussed, but I need suggestions!!

Which convertible car seat do you have? Are the more expensive ones REALLY worth the money? Anyone experience a car accident with one and how did it hold up?

Angelaosaurus-rex · #2 December 5th, 2009, 10:41 AM

I have a Britax Marathon and I love it!!! My sister's little girl has the same one and they were in a pretty bad accident and she said her seat didn't even budge. I think its worth the money for sure and I don't have one bad thing to say about it. And its on the top car seat safety list. Oooo and I love the cover its super easy to take off and wash!

Landen Loves you siggy!!! He is clapping and saying YAY! LOL

SandKmommy · #3 December 5th, 2009, 11:16 AM

We are getting the Graco MyRide 65 for Kieran, its gotten great reviews and its not super spendy like the Britax and others. I honestly dont see a point in spending 200-300$ on a carseat, when some 100-150$ work just as well and have just as good reviews. I know when I was looking at infant seats someone did a report(this was like a year ago so I don't have it anymore) that there were a few companies that made the seats then sent them to the brands to slap their lable and cloth covers on them but essentially they were the same seats

Heres the MyRide 65
Product Listing

Resi · #4 December 5th, 2009, 11:26 AM

I was so set on getting a Britax Blvd for around $300. I thought for sure that was the only seat I would consider. Until I saw the TrueFit on kidswoot.com for $100. A few JM member had both and said they liked the TrueFit a lot better than the Britax. I did some research and read a lot of reviews and got the TrueFit on wootkids. I'm happy with my choice. I saved a ton of money too. It doesn't matter if you get a $50 or a $500 car seat there is no seat that is safer than another. You will pay the bigger price tag for the features and the name.

ShannonMVT · #5 December 5th, 2009, 11:48 AM

We're about to get one. I'm pretty sure we're getting a Graco MyRide. If you want to extended rear face, this is will RF longer than a Britax. I read there is no "better safety rating" so no carseat can say they are safer than another (well they can say it but can't prove it) because they have all pased the safety tests. The best way to keep your child safe is to rear face as long as possible. If you google "car seat forum" you'll find a great forum with women who know TONS about car seats.

ANGWife · #6 December 5th, 2009, 12:13 PM

I thought about the Graco MyRide, because we have a Graco infant seat and I love it. But it looks like there is no shoulder room in the the MyRide?

Anyone have the Evenflo Triumph Advance?

SandKmommy · #7 December 5th, 2009, 12:16 PM

We had the Evenflo Titan with Seamus and I didn't like it, I dont know much about the newer ones but his never fit him right and it just didn't seem safe to me. He's got the Graco Natalius now though.

ShannonMVT · #8 December 5th, 2009, 12:33 PM

I think quite a few people like the Triumph Advance as well. Those are the two I was trying to decide between but seeing them in person I just thought the MyRide looked more comfortable.

Here's some threads:
Reviews for Evenfo Triumph Advance vs My Ride 65? - Car Seat.Org - Carseat, Vehicle & Child Passenger Safety Forums
Top Convertible Baby Car Seats - Best Convertible Car Seats for Babies

#9 December 5th, 2009, 05:08 PM

They all pass the same safety ratings. I've had the True Fit, True Fit Premier, Britax Boulevard, Britax Marathon, and Radian 65SL convertibles. I like the True Fit/True Fit Premier the best hands down, and it's much less spendy than the Britax seats. I prerfer the True Fit Premier because it has an Anti Rebound Bar (like the Britax RFing tether), but I like my regular TF just fine.

The Britax seats are very easy to use but they don't have a lot of shell height or RFing leg room and since extended RFing was important to us, we ended up with True Fit Premiers, which have TONS of more legroom and shell height and are a lot cheaper than Britax.

LaLaRose3 · #10 December 5th, 2009, 06:45 PM

Ideally, I would like to get a Britax. However, it just isn't in my price range right now.

So, I am thinking we will stick with Graco, as we love her infant Graco seat, and the rest of her "gear" is Graco as well.

eta: I am really liking this one right now. Love the pattern of it, and it looks pretty comfy!

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/192-6255707-1009604?ASIN=B002C3I8WA&AFID=Froogle&LNM=B002C3I8W A|Graco_My_Ride_65_Car_Seat_Bartlett&ci_src=141109 44&ci_sku=B002C3I8WA&ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001

greeneyes · #11 December 5th, 2009, 07:11 PM

Britax is based in Charlotte (where we're from) and I once visited their plant when I was a bank manager and wanted their business. Let me say, the safety testing they do is far above and beyond what is required, they pay their employees fair wages, all of their products are made in the USA and not by some poor, malnourished child in a third-world country. Does all of that mean their product is more expensive? Yes. Is that worth it to me? Absolutely. I cannot for one second put a price on my child's safety and I truly believe in the product Britax delivers.

LaLaRose3 · #12 December 5th, 2009, 10:58 PM

Is there a brand of carseat sold in North America that is made by "some poor, malnourished child in a third-world country"? I am seriously concerned and curious about this, so I am not being snarky at all!

Angelaosaurus-rex · #13 December 6th, 2009, 03:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaLaRose3

Ideally, I would like to get a Britax. However, it just isn't in my price range right now.

So, I am thinking we will stick with Graco, as we love her infant Graco seat, and the rest of her "gear" is Graco as well.

eta: I am really liking this one right now. Love the pattern of it, and it looks pretty comfy!

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/192-6255707-1009604?ASIN=B002C3I8WA&AFID=Froogle&LNM=B002C3I8W A|Graco_My_Ride_65_Car_Seat_Bartlett&ci_src=141109 44&ci_sku=B002C3I8WA&ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001

Hey on Amazon they sell some of the girly prints on the britax's for way cheaper! Like this one the Hanna (brown one with pink flowers) print is $150 LOL I was so tempted to get Landen flowers because of it but I knew Chris would be pissed!!!
Amazon.com: Britax Marathon Convertible Car Seat Onyx: Baby

greeneyes · #14 December 6th, 2009, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaLaRose3

Is there a brand of carseat sold in North America that is made by "some poor, malnourished child in a third-world country"? I am seriously concerned and curious about this, so I am not being snarky at all!

I'm concerned about the human rights issues and fair labor practices of most anything that is made in China, the Phillipines, Vietnam, etc - not just carseats. It's been hard, especially with Christmas gifts, but we aren't buying anything unless I can verify fair wage/labor practices first. Most big-name companies (Apple, Gap, Gymboree) have a statement on their website or you can call and request one that details how they verify fair labor/wage practices.

Maybe things have changed in the carseat world since I last researched and purchased one, but at the time I was hard pressed to find one made in the USA or Canada that wasn't a Britax.

Mars · #15 December 6th, 2009, 01:21 PM

I have a Recaro Signo and I love it. I haven't used it here yet but I used it while I was in the US and it was great!

IamMom · #16 December 7th, 2009, 08:31 AM

I will tell you from the mouth of the car safety inspection guy that the high priced car seats are no better safety wise than the cheaper ones for the most part.....however, some of the things the higher priced ones have are worth it that makes it easier to install, move around, adjust, and clean....so I buy the expensive ones. Plus I mentally feel that the more expensive ones are safer - they have tricked me and got me~! I have a Britax Frontier for Harrison it's a five point harness seat for bigger kids (which he'll be in until he's 12) and turns into a high back booster for when he's like 16 (HE HE HE)...... and Nora will be getting the (First Years/Learning Curve) new True Fit Premier! It's kind of expensive (I found it for $220 cheapest so far) but its got like the best reviews out there!