It's here! Recaro Start photos and first impressions

scatterbunny

New member

• Oct 23, 2007

• #1

I love the seat! It's in perfect shape, so soft and pretty. I've heard it's a PITA to adjust, and yeah, it is...but it doesn't need to be adjusted often at all, so no big deal for us. I can't figure out how to adjust the seat depth yet, so in the photos you'll see that it's nowhere near deep enough for Hayley's legs; but I'm sure once I figure out how to make it deeper it'll be great.

It's the highest-quality seat I've ever seen, hands-down. Hayley really likes it, too. I was afraid she'd complain and want to ride in the Bodyguard because the Start's seat is so short right now, but she insisted on using the Start the whole drive home, almost 2 hours, and even napped comfortably.

The shoulderbelt lockoff takes some getting used to, but I like it, especially after reading that Canadian booster safety study. Hayley insisted I "lock her down" nice and tight.

Here's my first pics, taken quickly with the Start sitting on my bed: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/0603/scatterbunny/Booster Comparisons/Recaro Start/

 

C

ccjones

New member

• Oct 23, 2007

• #2

Yay! Awesome find! Now you'll have to update your siggy! Did the lady ever say why she was selling it so CHEAP? Maybe she didn't know how much the Start costs IRL?

 

ThreeBeans

New member

• Oct 23, 2007

• #3

Very nice

Dimensions? How would it work in a 3-across?

 

scatterbunny

New member

• Oct 23, 2007

• #4

She just didn't need it anymore, and didn't really care about making a profit. She figured she'd price it according to what other used boosters go for, since not many would pay big bucks for a Recaro around here (the name is not well-known in child safety here).

If I can talk Hayley into sitting in it in the van tonight to take a few pics I will update my siggy.

Not sure on dimensions; I'll get those later tonight! I don't think it's a good candidate for three-across, despite how narrow it appears in some of the pics.

 

joolsplus3

Admin - CPS Technician

• Oct 23, 2007

• #5

When you turn it upside down in bright light, you can see the bar and the 6+ horizontal grooves on the bottom of the seat (not the bar at the very front, there's another one deeper under the seat)...you sort of push the plastic seat pan up and pull it out and try to push it back down on the bar in the right groove... i just go with the furthest out all the time... then you have to be careful when you put the seat in the car to not put it in recline accidentally, or get the seat pan up so that the bar falls out of the groove.. some seats are looser than others (one of mine folds and one reclines when you look at them mean... )so I hope yours is easy to adjust but stays put!

I'm so glad she likes it!!!

We have two that work for three across in the back of my van, which is narrow, BUT... three across has to be my ds' skinny butt in the center (with the seatbelt, he almost passes the five step test back there)...the armrests are a tad bulky to work around...:twocents:

 

scatterbunny

New member

• Oct 23, 2007

• #6

Thanks, Julie! That makes sense, and I just downloaded the manual from the Recaro website and quickly read the adjustments part, so I think I got it. I'm going to go play with it in a bit and take measurements and stuff.

 

C

Christi61315

New member

• Oct 23, 2007

• #7

Oh I love that.. I wish DS would sit in one of those..

She is a dill by the way

 

brooklynsmommy

Active member

• Oct 23, 2007

• #8

I am SO jealous!!!! I contacted her (by email) right after she posted it and never got a response!!!!!!!!!

 

scatterbunny

New member

• Oct 23, 2007

• #9

brooklynsmommy said:

I am SO jealous!!!! I contacted her (by email) right after she posted it and never got a response!!!!!!!!!

Click to expand...

LOL--maybe because I called her right after she posted it. Sorry I got to it first. I'm usually NEVER lucky like that.

 

doriansmummy

New member

• Oct 23, 2007

• #10

Thats really nice looking. Looks really comfy!
She is beautiful..

 

scatterbunny

New member

• Oct 23, 2007

• #11

Thanks, Erin.

Okay, nine new photos added to the link I posted earlier in this thread: six photos of the Start in the vehicle, with Hayley in the seat, adjusted to the proper depth for her long legs. Also three pics of her in the Britax Bodyguard, comparing some of the features (headwings, seat depth, belt positioning).

What measurements should I take? Really quickly I measured it at 17 inches wide at the seating area and lapbelt path, 19 inches wide at the widest point, which is the shoulder/torso wings on the narrowest setting. I have not adjusted them to the widest setting yet, so I don't know what that is. At 17 inches, it might not be awful for some three-across situations, depending on how the seats meshed. The placement of the shoulder/torso wings might be in the way with some seats, and the "tallness" of the seating portion and lapbelt path might make buckling next to other seats difficult, particularly with short buckle stalks.

Hayley is sick, sick enough to stay home from school today (even though her uncle is here for the week, so he could have watched her while I went to pick up the Start, but she insisted on going), but she mostly enjoyed posing for these pics.

 

S

southpawboston

New member

• Oct 23, 2007

• #12

welcome to the recaro club! :happy-wavehello:

 

Jordynsmama

New member

• Oct 23, 2007

• #13

Ugh jealous... I love it! Looks very plush and pretty and such good sip. It fits her so well. Btw she is such a pretty girl! Love the haircut and gosh is she tall.

 

NZ Child Restraints

New member

• Oct 23, 2007

• #14

my lil niece travels in one of these when she is in my care. i can even play music through the head rest. My seat is a 2004. Didn't cost a cent either

 

scatterbunny

New member

• Oct 23, 2007

• #15

Yup, mine has the speakers in the headrest, too (mine's a 2003). We haven't tried them out yet, though.

 

jdchic3

New member

• Oct 24, 2007

• #16

Love the pics! Love Haley's new haircut too!

 

brooklynsmommy

Active member

• Oct 24, 2007

• #17

Next time I'll remember that calling at 1:30am for a car seat is A OK!!!!!

 

A

amy919

New member

• Oct 24, 2007

• #18

She is so seriously cute, Jenny!

Congrats on the sweet deal! I'm glad it worked out for you!

 

ZephyrBlue

New member

• Oct 24, 2007

• #19

Oh, that's a niiiiice seat! :thumbsup: I would use it, too, since it's not a plastic framed harnessed seat. Hayley's such a pretty girlie and it looks like she loves her new boosters!

 

A

arly1983

New member

• Oct 24, 2007

• #20

I am sooooo jealous.....is it wrong of me to want one of those and my children are years away from boosters?....

Looks good, Jenny!