Monterey height question, comparison with Vivo and/or Parkway

[scatterbunny]

My quest for the perfect booster for the center of my Focus is still on. I admit, I'm picky.

The Indy Plus is awesome, but it works better outboard, plus it has the super-cool rigid LATCH that I can only utilize outboard. So far this booster provides the most height growing room for H in my car.

I had high hopes that the Parkway would work for the center, with the added bonus of working three-across when Andie's boys are with us, but sadly, it tips like crazy in the middle, and the shoulderbelt constantly falls out of the belt guide (anywhere in my car). It also doesn't work with Andie's boys' seats (Nautilus and Uptown or Scenera).

The Starriser Comfy is my saving grace for three-across, it's just like the Fisher Price Safe Voyage booster, only taller. It positions the belts well, and fits well in the middle, but the lack of SIP wings bothers me, so we only use it when we have to, for three-across.

Judi was kind enough to loan me her Vivo to try out, and we love it, but it isn't as tall as I'd hoped. It doesn't give her as much room as the Parkway, and definitely not as much room as the Indy Plus.

Soooo, my long-winded question is:

On the Sunshine Kids Monterey, what is the measurement from seating area to shoulderbelt guide on highest setting?

Also, if you have the Monterey and the Parkway, Vivo, Starriser Comfy or TurboBooster, can you share photos of your child (preferably big kid like mine) in each seat with the headrests adjusted to the very highest setting?

Thanks so much for helping fulfill my need to have the perfect center-spot booster.

 

[Stretchy Glue]

Jenny, knowing that our H's are so similar, I hope this helps you out. See the dates on the bottom of the pictures for age.
Height

PW fully extended

Monterey fully extended

Turbo fully extended

 

[scatterbunny]

THANK YOU, Joni. I really do think I need a Monterey, ASAP.

I thought I heard a few folks say their Montereys only went to 20ish inches, so I was leery. Someone said their ds had about the same amount of room in the Monterey as the Monarch (which I found to be a smidge shorter than the Parkway).

 

[Stretchy Glue]

THANK YOU, Joni. I really do think I need a Monterey, ASAP.

I thought I heard a few folks say their Montereys only went to 20ish inches, so I was leery. Someone said their ds had about the same amount of room in the Monterey as the Monarch (which I found to be a smidge shorter than the Parkway).

Some of the Montereys don't go all the way up. It didn't require me to pull hard at all to get it to the last notch. I love the seat, and H still has a lot of room in it.

 

[emandbri]

I've bumped the thread up to see what people who have ordered them recently are getting but from this post only Kat and Joni have ones that go to 22 inches, mine goes to about 20 1/2.

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=47785

 

[ginny4]

how about a slideshow of the turbo, parkway & monterey? my monterey has to be forced to get as high up as joni's & kat's. i have made the parental decision that if i NEED to i will force it to the very highest position. as of right now its not necessary.

the pics are with the monterey in highest natural position (without forcing it).

http://s8.photobucket.com/albums/a35/lundtv/monterey vs turbo/?action=view&current=ec7ad34c.pbw

 

[Gypsy]

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=54403&highlight=model+parkway+monterey+start



Adjusted as high as they go...

 

[Kat_Momof3]

but that was awhile ago and others have gotten them since... just not measured them.

Mine does indeed go as tall as Joni's.

Jenny - maybe, if you can, take her to a store that has one and measure the display model and then measure the one you get before using it.

OR... if you order online, get it from a store where return is easy/free.

 

[scatterbunny]

Ginny and Lisa, do you think your Montereys are about the same as the Parkway, then?

Kat, no store near me carries the Monterey.

 

[Kat_Momof3]

darn!

 

[mamaofthree]

I just got mine today, DOM 11/08. It measures 20.5" from seat bottom to belt guide when fully extended. There's no way it goes higher. I yanked it up and that's where it stopped. HTH!

Kimberly

 

[scatterbunny]

Darn-that's probably not tall enough for us, then. I get 21 inches for the Parkway, and the Indy Plus seems to offer us a bit more than that. I need at least 21 inches.

 

[Gypsy]

Ginny and Lisa, do you think your Montereys are about the same as the Parkway, then?

Kat, no store near me carries the Monterey.

Yep, pretty identical in height.

 

[Gypsy]

Have you completely decided against the Frontier?

It's ridiculously high!

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=69850

 

[Judi]

Have you completely decided against the Frontier?

It's ridiculously high!

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=69850

Yep, the frontier is the one to get. I guess I don't need a monterey either, if you don't.

 

[scatterbunny]

There's no way dh will agree that we should spend almost $300 for a combo seat that we can only use as a booster. Maybe in a couple years when there's nothing else tall enough, and someone here has a Frontier on Swap...

 

[Gypsy]

There's no way dh will agree that we should spend almost $300 for a combo seat that we can only use as a booster. Maybe in a couple years when there's nothing else tall enough, and someone here has a Frontier on Swap...

Keep an eye on the military AAFES sales - any number of our military members would probably be happy to order you one - I got ds's for $176 through AAFES.

 

[Judi]

Oh snap, Jenny. Come on, come up with another excuse!

 

[scatterbunny]

Keep an eye on the military AAFES sales - any number of our military members would probably be happy to order you one - I got ds's for $176 through AAFES.

Whoa...under $200 and I could probably do it, at the right time...

 

[ginny4]

Ginny and Lisa, do you think your Montereys are about the same as the Parkway, then?

yes, i think they are similar too. but like i said before that i will force it to the very highest as joni & Kat get normally if absolutely necessary.