Question Which convertible for Kia Spectra5?

[Megan1006]

Hi, we're shopping for a convertible car seat and hope to take advantage of some sales going on this weekend. We have a graco snugride32 which DD hasn't quite outgrown yet, but at least once a week the straps get twisted on the back of the seat and they have to be re-threaded in order to get them tight enough.

DD is 15 months old, weighs about 22 lbs and is 27 inches tall. Most of the time she's in my car, a 2005 kia spectra5. Once in awhile she'll ride in DH's car, a 2009 scion xb. We want to keep her RF as long as possible.

After doing some research, I'm leaning towards the radian xtsl. I like that it has a steel alloy frame (which seems like it'd be sturdier in a crash?) and it seems like we'd be able to use it for a long time...I don't want to spend a lot of money on something that she'll outgrow in a year. Does this sound like a good choice for us? Do we need to get a 2nd one for DH's car or can it be transferred between cars fairly easily? We can't afford two radian xtsl's right now especially since she rarely even rides in his car...also the snugride32 fits well in my car but is a tight fit in DH's car, he's 6'2 and needs a lot of legroom.

Thanks for any suggestions you can offer!

 

[wendytthomas]

Why not a Radian for your car and a Scenera for his? It's $45.

There's no evidence the steel does anything more in a crash. The Radian passes the same tests every other seat does, plastic or steel.

What you get out of the Radian is a 45 pound rear facing weight limit, and headwings, if you like them (they're for later, third slot and up).

The 80SL has the same features and limits, but no headwings.

The 65 is the same size, but has a 65 pound forward facing limit (the top slots are reached around 55-60 pounds on all three seats) and no wings.

There are other seats as well, like the Safety 1st Complete Air, Learning Curve True Fit, Evenflo Triumph 65 that are tall and less expensive, and will last your daughter the same amount of time forward facing, and quite possibly rear facing (she's light, 45 pounds would probably last her to six rear facing, and she may fit by height at six, since she's short). The Graco My Ride isn't as tall as the others, but your daughter is small (she's a pound heavier and 3.5 inches shorter than my nearly 16 month old) it should last quite a while. You could get one of these for your car and then a Scenera for your husband's.

Wendy

 

[Megan1006]

Thank you, I'll look into the other ones you suggested!!