Question Convertible Seat for S40?

Unregistered · Aug 16, 2013

My 2yo, 24lb DD is currently in a rear-facing Britax Marathon. The seat was produced in 2008 and will expire in January. We obviously need to buy a new seat, and would prefer to keep her rear-facing until at least 3 if not longer. Our Marathon makes things a bit tight for the front seat passenger in our Volvo S40. Any suggestions for a high quality, safe seat that will fit well in the S40? We will need to buy 2 by January (our other Marathon also expires at that time), so cost is a bit of a factor. I love the Marathon, and find it pretty user friendly, but am not sure I can bear another year of being squished against the dash! Thanks for your help.

wendytthomas · Aug 16, 2013

Hi there. Do you have a budget?

Also, do you have the seat as upright as it can go? That's 30 degrees from vertical.

Wendy

Unregistered · Aug 17, 2013

Hi. I am the OP. I would like to stay in the low to mid 200s if I can on price. As for the angle, I have the seat tethered pretty tightly, so the angle is probably more than 30 degrees. I don't have a ton of experience installing this seat rear-facing (we have always had rear-facing installations done at our local police station), although my installation seems secure. Can I loosen the tether to have the seat be more upright? I just socked it down as tightly as I could.

wendytthomas · Aug 17, 2013

Yes! You're not supposed to over tighten the tether for fear of breaking the seat. You only remove the slack, never more. Luckily when it breaks it can't be locked upright for forward facing, so it sounds like even if it is broken you're ok since you won't be using it forward.

The "techs" at the police station should be teaching you how to install it. We're not an installation service. We don't come with you on vacation or when your car breaks down. It's vitally important that you know how to use your daughter's life saving device yourself.

I'm assuming someone else is in the backseat, since it's an older seat and she's on the side and not the middle? The middle would give you more front seat space, usually.

Under $200 for a compact rear facing seat. How about looking at a Safety 1st Guide 65, Diono Radian with angle adjuster (if you can find it under $200), Graco Size4Me/Headwise/My Size 70.

Wendy

Unregistered · Aug 17, 2013

Thanks for your response. Luckily, the tether wasn't too far from being slack and I only need to make a minor adjustment!

As for knowing how to install the seat, I do--but I prefer having it done by someone who has done it many more times than I have and will avoid mistakes like the one I made with the tether. We are lucky to have a department that does a clinic every week, and given the lines I have encountered each time I have gone, I cannot being to fathom how many installations the officers there have performed. It's an awesome resource.

Anyway, you are correct, my DD6 is also in the backseat, in a Nautilus behind the driver's seat.

I think part of the issue with the angle of the Marathon is the S40s seat; it seems like it has a decent slope. My other car is larger and I will most likely do another Marathon in that car (once I catch a sale) since space is less of an issue.

Question Convertible Seat for S40?

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