If britax made a seat like the Frontier but no harness would you buy it?....

[emandbri]

I'm curious how many would buy one. I would totally buy one or two. I would love to have Jacob in a high back but he is too tall for all other high backs out there. He is almost 12 though and I just can't see spending $260 on a booster for a 12 year old. Daniel has one more notch on his parkway before he is too tall and I would like one for him as well and might end up getting him one. I'm still waiting to see one in person.

[Judi]

Yes, I would. It is the highest booster on the market.

[bubbaray]

If they made it narrow like the Parkway, yes I would. Higher Parkway that LATCHed would be a nice seat.

Didn't Britax state on some TV interview that they are not interested in making non-harnessed boosters anymore -- they think all kids of booster age/size should be in a harness.

ETA: assuming they released it in Canada. Sigh.

[emandbri]

If they made it narrow like the Parkway, yes I would. Higher Parkway that LATCHed would be a nice seat.

Didn't Britax state on some TV interview that they are not interested in making non-harnessed boosters anymore -- they think all kids of booster age/size should be in a harness.

ETA: assuming they released it in Canada. Sigh.

I think it was a question and answer session on this board. They said they were discontinuing the monarch and weren't going to have a dedicated booster because they feel children should be in a harness longer. That would make since if people had one child and they put that child in one car, the frontier would in fact last them for a very long time. But when people have multiple kids to hand seats down to, when you need seats for grand-parent's cars, and when many kids are ready to go from a marathon to a booster I feel it doesn't make sense.

[skaterbabscpst]

Yes, I would. It is the highest booster on the market.

:yeahthat:

Of course it's a totally boneheaded move on their parrt to discontinue all dedicated boosters IMO. My 12 year old needs a booster in our Suburban. he outgrew the Husky/Regent two years ago. What the heck do they suggest?

[snowbird25ca]

I voted that I didn't know.

I agree that it's ridiculous they're not making dedicated boosters anymore. A 6yr old child who is outgrowing the MA and able to sit properly in a booster should absolutely be able to go into a booster. It's ridiculous to think parents should just fork out another $300 (in Canada,) for what would mainly be used as a booster.

The average child won't ever need belt guides that high, right? So the only way I'd spend that much money on a dedicated booster would be in special circumstances - low seatbacks, no headrests, tall child who had outgrown every other available high back booster. And the vehicles without headrests and with low seatbacks are getting older and older all the time and getting to be less and less on the road... this problem of needing that extra support is only going to disappear making backless boosters for those 10yr olds who still need a booster a perfectly feasible option.

[scatterbunny]

Yes, I would. It is the highest booster on the market.

Of course it's a totally boneheaded move on their parrt to discontinue all dedicated boosters IMO.

:yeahthat:

H will be out of a Regent by her 8th birthday. She's already a full inch over the Frontier's top harness slots, at 52.5 inches tall and 60 pounds. I'm guessing she'll be out of the tallest dedicated highback boosters on the market by her 10th birthday, but we drive a 2003 Ford Focus, no rear headrests, and a pretty low seat back. So, we need a highback for as long as possible to provide the necessary head/neck support. I can't justify the cost of a Frontier, though, when she's already too big for harnessed mode at barely 7. That's just too much to pay to use only booster mode.

[joolsplus3]

It's also comfortably wide with good leg support... there's an, um, expanding market for seats to accomodate much larger children now that booster laws are finally beginning to extend to older/heavier children.

[ginny4]

i'd buy one (i think) but it does depend if it is needed after the monterey. we have low backs in our van but if i had a van with headrests. i'd just go with no back boosters after the monterey.

[my2kidsSafe]

if i was in the position like you yes i would. Also given that you have a dd to pass the frontier down too, i would probably buy the frontier for ds and by the time he is done wth it you could use it for dd.

[christineka]

I don't think headrestless vehicles will be disappearing any time within the next 10 years. I have seen quite a few 80's vehicles around town. My vehicles are 90's without rear headrests. There are 2005 vehicles with headrestless positions. Even the 2008 ford van's have bench seats without headrests. There will still be a need for high, high back boosters in 10 years.

I would also buy the frontier if it came in a harnessless version and less expensive. My oldest may outgrow the turbobooster in 3 years. Since I, with my 22 inch torso do not fit my van's seatbelts properly, I would want my children in boosters till that point. We currently have no headrests in the rear positions, so backless boosters are not an option.

[emandbri]

if i was in the position like you yes i would. Also given that you have a dd to pass the frontier down too, i would probably buy the frontier for ds and by the time he is done wth it you could use it for dd.

That is a good point. The only problem with that plan is in 4 years when Elizabeth needs a frontier they will most likely be a seat out there like the frontier with straps that don't twist, that is easier to install, with velcro on the straps, and cuter covers! :D

[thepeach80]

Wasn't the Monarch like this seat minus the harness? I never got to see the Monarh IRL and I've only seen the Frontier once.

I think it was silly to discontinue the boosters, best practice is almost always going to involve a booster for most children.

[emandbri]

The fronteir is bigger overall. Here are the diminsions from britax's website although some of them don't make sense. :whistle:

seated height 12'' - 19''
Product Weight (lbs) 15
Exterior Product W x H x D (in) 19.5 x 26.5 x 17.5
Seating Compartment Height (in) 33
Seat Area Depth/Width (in) 14 / 10 or 12.5
Shoulder Width (in) 13
Harness Slot Heights (in)
Buckle Strap Depth (in)

frontier
Booster 13.5" to 21.5''
Exterior Product W x H x D (in) 19.5 x 22 x 26.5
Seating Compartment Height (in) 21.5
Seat Area Depth/Width (in) 13.5 / 12
Shoulder Width (in) 15.25
Harness Slot Heights (in) 12.25/13.1/14/14.9/15.75/16.5/17.4/18.25
Buckle Strap Depth (in) 5 / 6.5 / 8.25

[April]

I voted no. For $300 I can't see it. Then again, I havent been in a position of having a child who doesn't pass the 5 step test and is too big for the Monterey. Is that actually possible? Lol, If that situation arose, I'd probably convince DH that I need a new vehicle.

[emandbri]

I voted no. For $300 I can't see it. Then again, I havent been in a position of having a child who doesn't pass the 5 step test and is too big for the Monterey. Is that actually possible? Lol, If that situation arose, I'd probably convince DH that I need a new vehicle.

Sorry, I wasn't clear. This mythical seat would be cheaper than the frontier since it doesn't have a harness. My oldest almost passes the 5 step test and doesn't fit in the monterey, I'm still not happy with where the shoulder belt ends up in my van. though he fits fine in other cars.

[ginny4]

regardless of the price of the mythical booster. is it cheaper than buying a newER car/van.

[skaterbabscpst]

I havent been in a position of having a child who doesn't pass the 5 step test and is too big for the Monterey. Is that actually possible?

Yep. CJ doesn't pass in my Suburban, but there is no head support for using a backless booster. He outgrew the PW in Jan/Feb.

[emandbri]

Bumping this up to show britax again that they need to make a dedicated booster.

[Genevieve]

I would buy it. I don't like that my car doesn't have any type of side-impact protection (besides the frame of the car, but no side airbags or anything). I'll be much more comfortable having my kids in a HBB as long as I can before moving them to NBB or just seat belt. Heck, even I fit in the frontier in booster mode. I'd buy one for me if my family wouldn't give me crap for it (which they totally would). There are several cars where I don't pass the 5-step test.

[LuvBug03]

I would, yes. I like the parkway ok. I love it for being narrow, but I actually would like a seat more like the frontier for boostering. DS is more than likely already too tall for the harness(in the top slots of his husky and even with the top slots of the nautilus)... so it would only be good to us as a booster.

If push comes to shove and he is too tall for the available boosters I would buy the frontier to keep him boostered, even if it meant full price.

[Defrost]

Only if they added shoulder-belt lock-offs. :whistle:

Actually, I'll see if Gypsy will let me try it in booster mode in the 3rd row tomorrow. We only tried it as a harnessed seat the first time because she didn't want to bother taking the screw out. It might actually work even without lock-offs, though just by looking at it I'd guess no.

(I can just picture myself telling my sister that she has to ride in a Frontier in the 3rd row of my van....) :p

[atsuydam]

I would defiantly buy it. I had to recently move my 5 yo old to the top slots on her regent (She now has a 17.5" torso!) and am considering which booster to get for DH's car because I don't think it would be worth the money to get a Frontier, even though I could pass it down. She only had about 1/2" of growing room to the top slots. I was really disappointed to discover that the Monarch had been discontinued. I want to keep her in a booster as long as possible just for the side impact protection.

And with as long as it could keep her booster (even with growing at her rate) my kids are too close together to be able to pass it on. She would be using it at one if it's highest settings by the time her little sis outgrows whatever harnessed seat I may be using at that time. (I confess, she my last so I am determined to try out every HWH convertible on the market before she goes FF!)

[joolsplus3]

Glad you bumped this up! Yes, I really would...I'm about to have to turn Leah FF full time and I would simply adore matching seats in my van... harnessed for her, booster for her sister...and the Monarch won't cut it, I really need it to LATCH (yes, I AM too lazy to rebuckle a booster every time, I'm too used to my top tethered Starts and lower anchored Cleks to go back to unattached boosters :rolleyes:)

:)

[CDNTech]

I don't know, maybe... depends if I need narrow and if I could get A out of his Parkway. For now, I am not giving up my Parkway (nor would A let me)... so if we move to TX this summer, then I will be coming with an illegal PW. :whistle:

I really adore my Parkway and I'm more than a little irritated that they didn't just come out with a better Parkway (more seat depth, slightly taller, and LATHCable... that's all I'm asking for :D).

[tanyaandallie]

Not an issue for us since we have headrests/high seat backs. So, my kiddos can and will got into a backless if they outgrow a traditional hbb before passing the 5 step test.

[safeinthecar]

Then again, I havent been in a position of having a child who doesn't pass the 5 step test and is too big for the Monterey.

When you consider the "stay in position the entire ride" as the 5th step, then yes, I've seen it plenty of times. Every time we go on a long trip and my 12 yo falls asleep.

[bobandjess99]

yes. I think they could make it a lot cheaper, and some kids need it. If they are concerned about safety, they could put a 4/40 limit on it even. They are already going that way with the 2/25 on the frontier. ( although if you ask me, a 2/25 on their convertibles would go a lot further towards safety...) Of course, just because they say 4/40 doesn'tmean some parents won't ptu their 2year old in it, but in general, people with that level of disregard aren't going to purchase even a $140 booster(assuming the price gets halved-ish), so i don't see it being a huge problem.

[ketchupqueen]

I don't think headrestless vehicles will be disappearing any time within the next 10 years. I have seen quite a few 80's vehicles around town. My vehicles are 90's without rear headrests. There are 2005 vehicles with headrestless positions. Even the 2008 ford van's have bench seats without headrests. There will still be a need for high, high back boosters in 10 years.

I would also buy the frontier if it came in a harnessless version and less expensive. My oldest may outgrow the turbobooster in 3 years. Since I, with my 22 inch torso do not fit my van's seatbelts properly, I would want my children in boosters till that point. We currently have no headrests in the rear positions, so backless boosters are not an option.

I voted I don't know. I don't know what will be on the market or what our needs might be by the time it's an issue for us. I do think we need a tall dedicated booster, although I think a narrower option would be good as well...

But anyway, on to why I quoted.

We plan on a big family. Most more-than-8 passenger vehicles have no headrests in most/all the back seats. Even ones manufactured this year. This could also be an issue for kids who are being transported in large vans for school/church/community center/daycare trips/commutes.

And yeah, my 03 Corolla has no headrest in the center, and AFAIK lots of current model-year cars have no headrests in the middle. Excellent point on that.

[Kat_Momof3]

I don't know... aka... it would depend on the pricepoint.

I wouldn't pay more than 200 for it, unless it had rigid latch and better fabrics