abby
08-04-2007, 11:55 PM
This decision is confounding me, can anyone help?
The facts:
*I have a son, 29 pounds, about 36 inches, just turned 3 this week.
*I have a 2004 subaru forester, latch.
*We own a wizard, and a regent, still waiting for the "enhancement " kit
to use long belt path w/ latch. Currently using short belt path w/latch.
*We had an accident in a 92 mercury sable, our second car, no latch, with the wizard in back center: no airbags deployed, car drove away, but hubby broke bone in hand and back window was broken, back door needed to be replaced, plus some other panels.
*Got 200 bucks from the insurance; but Britax said the wizard was
probably still ok to use. I know about the 7 criteria for a "major" accident; Britax said that since the damaged door and window werent right next to the seat(center) it might not count as a major crash criteria. I forget what they said about my husband's hand as a criteria.
*We are about to leave on a long road trip in the subaru forester, and need to buy a new seat, or use the regent or wizard.
My questions;
*Would anyone here still use the wizard? I've decided not to but would like to know opinions.
*Should I leave for the trip with the "safe" but not enhanced Regent,
short belt path no recline bar?
*Should I get a new regent (we need 2 seats anyhow, if the wizard is no
go)or will that pesky recline bar, required with the new one, always be a lousy fit? I could never get a good install in the forester with it.
*Should I get a new boulevard, knowing he'll be out of it in a year or
so? I sat him in one today, and he had 3-4 inches before the highest
belt position (I just wound the dial up until it stopped)then i'd have
to get a second regent at that point. It also looks odd to me with the side impact wings raised way up high above the seat, but I guess it's OK as long as the childs ears are not above the top of the seat...
*Should I get a cheaper marathon, to buy time before buying our next regent or other seat, without spending the full blvd price since it may not fit him for long? Were leaving next week so the best deal I can get in a hurry is Target, opening up a charge to get 10 percent off the Marathon. Just how important is that side impact stuff on the BLVD anyhow?
* As if this weren't enough, what do you think of this: I have a factory installed dog gate in the forester, and am continuing to use the top tether through it. We dont have a dog but it seems to me that the gate would keep luggage from flying around, and the tether doesnt look compromised to me, although I know you arent supposed to use it with the gate.
and N.B., does this site have a relationship to carseatdata.org? I was trying to sign in before I realized I had the wrong site and thought my membership had been erased.....so I "re" joined (I thought ) and then wondered why responses were so much sparser. Then I figured out i had the wrong site. Ooops.
Thanks so much everyone,
Abby
The facts:
*I have a son, 29 pounds, about 36 inches, just turned 3 this week.
*I have a 2004 subaru forester, latch.
*We own a wizard, and a regent, still waiting for the "enhancement " kit
to use long belt path w/ latch. Currently using short belt path w/latch.
*We had an accident in a 92 mercury sable, our second car, no latch, with the wizard in back center: no airbags deployed, car drove away, but hubby broke bone in hand and back window was broken, back door needed to be replaced, plus some other panels.
*Got 200 bucks from the insurance; but Britax said the wizard was
probably still ok to use. I know about the 7 criteria for a "major" accident; Britax said that since the damaged door and window werent right next to the seat(center) it might not count as a major crash criteria. I forget what they said about my husband's hand as a criteria.
*We are about to leave on a long road trip in the subaru forester, and need to buy a new seat, or use the regent or wizard.
My questions;
*Would anyone here still use the wizard? I've decided not to but would like to know opinions.
*Should I leave for the trip with the "safe" but not enhanced Regent,
short belt path no recline bar?
*Should I get a new regent (we need 2 seats anyhow, if the wizard is no
go)or will that pesky recline bar, required with the new one, always be a lousy fit? I could never get a good install in the forester with it.
*Should I get a new boulevard, knowing he'll be out of it in a year or
so? I sat him in one today, and he had 3-4 inches before the highest
belt position (I just wound the dial up until it stopped)then i'd have
to get a second regent at that point. It also looks odd to me with the side impact wings raised way up high above the seat, but I guess it's OK as long as the childs ears are not above the top of the seat...
*Should I get a cheaper marathon, to buy time before buying our next regent or other seat, without spending the full blvd price since it may not fit him for long? Were leaving next week so the best deal I can get in a hurry is Target, opening up a charge to get 10 percent off the Marathon. Just how important is that side impact stuff on the BLVD anyhow?
* As if this weren't enough, what do you think of this: I have a factory installed dog gate in the forester, and am continuing to use the top tether through it. We dont have a dog but it seems to me that the gate would keep luggage from flying around, and the tether doesnt look compromised to me, although I know you arent supposed to use it with the gate.
and N.B., does this site have a relationship to carseatdata.org? I was trying to sign in before I realized I had the wrong site and thought my membership had been erased.....so I "re" joined (I thought ) and then wondered why responses were so much sparser. Then I figured out i had the wrong site. Ooops.
Thanks so much everyone,
Abby