Nautilus or Maestro for second car?

[bobbs7]

My soon to be one year old is about to inherit his big brother's RA50 Classic, and Scenera. The Scenera is in DH's car and isn't used as often. So I need two new seats for my already FF'ing 3 and a half year old. I have already decided on the new Britax Frontier 90 as the primary seat for my car, and was going to go with the Evenflo Maestro for my DH's car, as they don't ride in there a whole lot, and I didn't want anything expensive at all. Then I saw an awesome deal on a Nautilus for $95. I can get the Maestro at BRU with a 20% off coupon for about $64. Is the Nauti worth the extra $? Will it last longer than the Maestro, as I have heard this seat is outgrown before true booster age?

 

[nannykates]

If your kiddo might need the extra 15lbs harnessed or if you want it last longer in booster mode I would go with the nautilus. I'd you want it to be a travel seat as well then maestro. Even if your older child outgrows it you have someone to hand it down to.

 

[bobbs7]

If your kiddo might need the extra 15lbs harnessed or if you want it last longer in booster mode I would go with the nautilus. I'd you want it to be a travel seat as well then maestro. Even if your older child outgrows it you have someone to hand it down to.

Oh right, I never thought about the travel seat aspect. I have heard some things about the crotch buckle on the Nauti, and would like for others to weigh in as well! I have heard this can be uncomfortable for boys, especially since heard that certain models of the Nautilus don't have as many crotch strap positions. Is this true and does it hold any weight?

 

[joolsplus3]

I like the Secure Kid a little better than either one of those, because the headwings make it a taller booster than the Maestro, the LATCH is super nice, and it has more crotch room for growing kids than the Nautilus does. Whichever one you go with, you'll still very likely need a cheap backless booster to get a kid all the way to seatbelt age (and hand this one down to the baby when the Marathon expires anyway). But you can try your kiddo in all three of them and see which works best for him.

(I started typing this before I saw your reply, I guess since I brought it up myself, yah, the crotch position issue is the biggest complaint I hear from people about the Nauti (the Argos is even shorter!))

 

[bobbs7]

I like the Secure Kid a little better than either one of those, because the headwings make it a taller booster than the Maestro, the LATCH is super nice, and it has more crotch room for growing kids than the Nautilus does. Whichever one you go with, you'll still very likely need a cheap backless booster to get a kid all the way to seatbelt age (and hand this one down to the baby when the Marathon expires anyway). But you can try your kiddo in all three of them and see which works best for him.

(I started typing this before I saw your reply, I guess since I brought it up myself, yah, the crotch position issue is the biggest complaint I hear from people about the Nauti (the Argos is even shorter!))

I just checked out the Secure Kid. What is the difference between the 300 and 400? The 300 seems to be the better deal.

 

[nannykates]

Sorry just saw this!
I think its just different latch connectors.