Marathon vs Guide 65 - which will last longer RF when long-torsoed?

The only 2 carseats we've tried that fit front to back for 2 tall parents and leave enough space for 2 adult passengers in both my Mazda 3 and my husband's Mitsubishi RVR are the Guide 65 and the Marathon. The MyRide also fit front to back but we have 4 adults to fit on a weekly basis for a 2 hour period so it was seriously squishy. We don't really need 2 seats because we can't keep one installed in the RVR due to the equipment my husband carries in it.

My son is 6.5 months old, and is in the 98th percentile for height and 85th for weight (haven't had him measured in a couple months though). His seated shoulder height is about 12.5 inches and he definitely has more height in his torso than his legs.

I know neither the Guide or the Marathon will last very long RF for him, but is the Marathon likely to last significantly longer? Either way I'm hoping to buy a new RF seat when it's outgrown as perhaps we'll have a different vehicle by then, or maybe different seats will be available. I'm leaning towards the Guide since it's less than half the cost and it doesn't seem like the Marathon would last very much longer anyway.

Another option I've thought of is putting the MyRide in my car, and using the Guide 65 in my husband's vehicle for the 2 hours a week plus when we fly to visit grandparents since we need to fit 4 adults in their vehicles then too. If he outgrows the Guide around she 2 I think I would be okay with turning him FF for the 2 hours a week if we don't have a different vehicle.

Any thoughts? We did also try the SureRide, Radian & Fllo and none fit.

If moving the seat in and out is going to be a common event, I would go with the Marathon-for ease of install alone.

I'm not as familiar with the install of the Guide to know how it compares, its not as common a purchase here Vs. the other Dorel/Safety 1st offerings.

I think that between the two seats, the Guide will last a long torsoed child longer. Its shell is 25" vs 24" for the Marathon. The Guide has a 40" RF height limit but I think it would actually get you the whole way to 40", whereas you might run out of shell on the Marathon before then with a long torsoed child.

jwilliams said:

I think that between the two seats, the Guide will last a long torsoed child longer. Its shell is 25" vs 24" for the Marathon. The Guide has a 40" RF height limit but I think it would actually get you the whole way to 40", whereas you might run out of shell on the Marathon before then with a long torsoed child.

Click to expand...

I should clarify that in Canada the Guide has a 36" RF height limit which my son is expected to hit around his second birthday. If the Marathon would last until he's 3 I wouldn't mind spending more on it, but if he's going to outgrow it by 2 years, 3 months or something I will just save money now and hope that our vehicle or seat options change by that time.

bbartlettnfld said:

If moving the seat in and out is going to be a common event, I would go with the Marathon-for ease of install alone.

I'm not as familiar with the install of the Guide to know how it compares, its not as common a purchase here Vs. the other Dorel/Safety 1st offerings.

Click to expand...

Good point, the Guide is in my garage because I ordered it through Costco and I'll try actually installing it to compare. I also like the no-thread harness on the Marathon!

RickyB said:

I should clarify that in Canada the Guide has a 36" RF height limit which my son is expected to hit around his second birthday. If the Marathon would last until he's 3 I wouldn't mind spending more on it, but if he's going to outgrow it by 2 years, 3 months or something I will just save money now and hope that our vehicle or seat options change by that time.

Click to expand...

Sorry! I missed that. We need a maple leaf pop-up alert.

How soon do you need the seat?
The Boulevard CT should be on shelves soon and will last longer and has multiple recline options.

HONEYhas3 said:

How soon do you need the seat?
The Boulevard CT should be on shelves soon and will last longer and has multiple recline options.

Click to expand...

That sounds like it would be perfect, but my son is at the height limit for his bucket seat right now and I don't think we will be able to push it for another month. Maybe it will be my replacement seat in 2 years!

Hmm I am now seeing Oct 30th in some searches instead of mid to late November, I am going to get out my tape measure tomorrow and decide from there.