Need help choosing car seat(s), please. :)

Alright, here is my situation.

I am pregnant with DD2 and I am all set for her to come home in an infant carrier (SnugRide). DD1 currently uses a FF Marathon using LATCH. She is 36 lbs., 38" tall, almost 3.5 years old. She also LOATHED the infant seat, so I am anticipating the same reaction with DD2 at some early point.

My dilemma is... should I "hand down" DD1's Marathon (I'll need to check manuf. date on it... how do I do that?) and go with some other convertible seat for her? Should I get a new Marathon for DD2? Get some other convertible for DD1 and/or DD2?

My concern is DD1 outgrowing the Marathon by height, we're on the second to top notches for the belts as it is, and while I know her growth has slowed tremendously, she's still pretty top-tall for her age, I believe. I LOVE the Marathon, but my other concern is getting it to fit RF for DD2. With DD1 we had it in the center which wasn't a big deal, but as the driver my seat needs to go all the way back which leaves little leg room for FF and I am not sure if RF will fit well for DD2.

I've been doing research until my eyeballs dried out - Consumer Reports, Baby Bargains, etc. I've read good things about the Nautilus, and most of the Britax seats seem to do well. Any suggestions?

I drive a 2000 Mazda 626, no LATCH (sigh), if that helps.

Thank you so much in advance for suggestions.

Depending on the manufacture date of your current MA, I would get DD1 something like the Nautilus or Frontier and use the Marathon for DD2. In my mind, it just makes sense to pass down the MA and get a longer lasting seat for DD1. As for fitting it rf, she can be more upright the older she gets. By the time baby is 4-5mths old(most kids, anyway), they don't need to be reclined to 45 degrees.

I'd probably use the snugride for the baby until she is big enough for the lowest slots on the marathon. (Assuming the snugride isn't expired, they expire 6 years after the date of manufacture).
The Marathons don't often fit newborns well for a while because the slots need to be at or below their shoulders, and often they are above most newborn's for a while.

Once baby fits well in the Marathon, I'd get dd#1 a Britax Regent, or Graco Nautilus, or even a Britax Frontier.
The Regent will allow her to be harnessed the longest because it has the tallest strap height, but the other 2 turn into boosters later on and the Regent doesn't.

Can you get the Marathon to RF behind the passenger seat?

I'm having my 3rd soon, and we have to put him behind the passenger seat in order for him to fit because our drivers seat needs to be further back than the passenger seat, so RF seats wont fit there in our car.

Snugride is brand new, that one should be okay. :thumbsup:

I had heard that most Marathons are too big for the itty bitties, thanks for confirming. :thumbsup: I'd gotten the SnugRide for that reason. DD1 was a totally different baby when we were able to put her in the Marathon RF, I used to loathe taking her anywhere with the infant seat (Primo Viaggo at the time) so the switch to convertible was a blessing of sorts.

The Marathon fits behind the passenger seat, as long as DH scoots the seat up a bit. Thanks for the tips on the other seats - there seem to be so many that my mind is swimming. My mother suggested a high-back booster, but I'd like to stick with a 5-point for as long as I can.

Can you tell me where to find the manuf. date on the MA? I thought I remember someone somewhere saying it was on the bottom of the seat, but I didn't see anything there.

Oh, and edit to the original post - the MA is currently in the car without LATCH (belt install with lockoff).

I think the manufacture date of the Marathon is on the seat under the cover somewhere, but I'm not sure where it's at.
I have a Fisher Price Safe Voyage Deluxe (which is made by Britax, and is pretty much the same thing as a Marathon) and mine is on one of the sides of the seat, under the cover.

I found it, it's on the right side near the head/ear area if you are looking at it. Thank you!!