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Susie Pea
PeaAddict
PeaNut 433,822
August 2009
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 |  Posted: 1/30/2013 9:52:07 PM
I'm getting ready to buy a convertible car seat for my LO. I'm trying to decide between the Britax Roundabout or the Graco My Ride.
Does anyone have any experience with either of these? Any other recommendations? I'm open to suggestions.  | |
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meridon
PeaAddict
PeaNut 419,133
April 2009
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Loc: in the deep South
 | Posted: 1/30/2013 9:55:57 PM
Graco My Ride! My 3 and 4 year-olds still use theirs. When I was researching, I liked that it had such a high upper limit for keeping it rear facing. It's also reasonably priced and carried at Target, etc. so it's easy to find. And from what I remember, they were much cheaper than the Britax, but it' been a few years. |
"Patience is knowing it will happen and giving it time to."---Rodney White
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IleneTell
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 434,842
August 2009
Posts: 2,427
Layouts: 635
| Posted: 1/30/2013 9:57:40 PM
Britax is a better brand in general. Look up reviews for each on amazon and see which one people prefer and go from there. |
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ratqueen
I drank the whole fairy.
PeaNut 233,449
November 2005
Posts: 6,632
Layouts: 19
Loc: Here+There
 | Posted: 1/30/2013 9:58:02 PM
I've got a Britax for Finn and really like it. It's not the same model you mentioned, I think his is the Boulevard 70 CS or something like that. I've also heard good things about the My Ride.
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ExpatInIndia
Make a Wish
PeaNut 154,780
June 2004
Posts: 1,139
Layouts: 114
Loc: Bangalore, India
 | Posted: 1/30/2013 9:59:17 PM
We had a Graco (not sure of the model) for our newborn but then switched to Britax around age 2. I wish we had used Britax from the start. They are high quality with excellent safety ratings. The Britax was also very easy to get an extremely tight fit with the hooks so it didn't move at all.
ETA: we had the Britax Marathon which takes a while to outgrow | |
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hobbygirl82
PeaAddict
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January 2010
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| Posted: 1/30/2013 10:03:40 PM
My 7 year old and 3 year old both have My Rides. The Britax were too expensive since we were having o get 2 seats at one time, but so far the Graco seats have done well. We've had them for just over 2 years and the kids don't complain and seem pretty comfy. The seat covers still look good too after a few washings, and they're easy to take apart, put together and switch between cars, in my opinion.
I have no experience with Britax but I've heard they're great seats too.
My kids are small and lightweight so they'll be using them until they outgrow them or the seats expire | |
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Susie Pea
PeaAddict
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| Posted: 1/30/2013 10:12:52 PM
Both seats are around the same price. There is about a $20 difference in the two.
One thing that I've read about the My Ride is that it's hard to install. Has anyone had that issue? | |
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BudgetMama
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 138,670
March 2004
Posts: 2,158
Layouts: 2
Loc: Oregon
 | Posted: 1/30/2013 10:19:44 PM
i hate how the straps twist on the graco's. ugh.
I think Britax is worth every penny you spend on it. And really, should we be going cheap on our kids carseats?? To me, this is what you give up McD's and Starbucks for. We bought our 3 year old a Britax Frontier 85
Because it will hold him from now until he's done with car seats.
This one is a pretty good deal right now :
http://www.amazon.com/Britax-Frontier-Combination-Booster-Rushmore/dp/B0038W0JI0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359606014&sr=8-1&keywords=britax+frontier+85
(read the reviews!) | |
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tania7424
Who am I kidding? Too tired to drink tequila
PeaNut 110,613
October 2003
Posts: 13,487
Layouts: 28
Loc: Port Coquitlam, BC
| Posted: 1/30/2013 11:02:05 PM
I had the My Ride for DS2. I hated it. It was so big and bulky. I have a minivan and at 2.5 he'd hit the point where he could pretty much put his feet on the passenger's shoulder in the front seat. It was not comfortable for him at all. No installation problems. I would go with the Diono Radian, personally. A nice compact convertible to booster seat. |
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JenAllyson
The Project Pea
PeaNut 139,756
April 2004
Posts: 8,414
Layouts: 30
Loc: Sacramento
| Posted: 1/30/2013 11:36:58 PM
LOVE everything Britax makes. So well designed and easy to use. My graco infant carrier was *okay* really barebones and awkward in so many ways that you can't know until you've used it a few times. After installing our new britax seat for our new DS, DH declared that we will only be buying britax in the future because it was so easy to install. We also have the Britax Marathon for our DS1 and I only have good things to say about it. |
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Alissa103
prepPEA
PeaNut 39,261
May 2002
Posts: 8,222
Layouts: 98
Loc: Nashville. Yay!!!
 | Posted: 1/31/2013 12:13:42 AM
There's a GREAT Facebook page for car seats that I highly recommend. Search for "car seats for the littles" and request to join. Someone will approve you.
These ladies know their stuff! Tell them your LO's stats (age, weight, etc.), your price range, the car you drive and any other seats it needs to fit next to (siblings, etc.) and they'll hook you up with options. Or they can give you plus and minuses on these two seats. Many of the members are car seat techs.
Others are highly educated on the subject and just passionate about car seat safety.
Something to know too is that ALL car seats, from the bare bones budget seat to the top of the line most expensive have to pass the same tests. You're paying extra for things like comfort padding, cup holders, ease of use, longevity of seat, brand name, marketing of specific features, etc. But a $40 seat used correctly passed the same tests as a $400 one used correctly. I didn't know this until I started doing my own research for DS's seat. Just something to consider as Britax makes great seats, but they are usually more expensive than a comparable quality seat. Britax spends A LOT of money and time on making their name synonymous with safety  I know the one you mentioned is awesome, but tends to be outgrown quicker than the My Ride, which is another highly recommended option (but buckle stickiness is a common complaint).
Also, I personally wouldn't use consumer reports for comparison in this case. Their tests for car seats are not consistent.
I don't know your LOs stats, but judging from your choices, others to look into as options are the Diono Radian, Maxi Cosi Pria and Safety First 65 (I think it's called onboard air).
I hope that helps and didn't confuse you further  |
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Alissa103
prepPEA
PeaNut 39,261
May 2002
Posts: 8,222
Layouts: 98
Loc: Nashville. Yay!!!
| Posted: 1/31/2013 12:17:26 AM
Also, if for some reason you don't want to join the FB group, feel free to PM me the info, I'll post it for you in the group, and let you know what they recommend |
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**Bran**
AncestralPea
PeaNut 257,257
April 2006
Posts: 4,279
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| Posted: 1/31/2013 1:22:37 AM
Unless you need the Roundabout, I'd go with the Marathon. I do not like the straps on the Graco - I really like the straps on the Britax.
Also, one point about the safety - IIRC, it has been a while since my girls were that small, from what I've read, our car seats are typically safety tested at lower speeds 30? 35? mph and the Britax are tested at 60 or 65 mph. That is what I was paying for - the same basic safety, until I'm on the freeway. |
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*sprout*
The Jolly Green Giant's Favorite Pea
PeaNut 45,764
August 2002
Posts: 5,049
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Loc: West Michigan
| Posted: 1/31/2013 8:01:27 AM
Marking my place so I can get the fb page info Alissa recommended. Thanks, Alissa! |
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loveSS
PeaWee
PeaNut 579,000
January 2013
Posts: 7
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| Posted: 1/31/2013 8:10:33 AM
Personally I like Britax. | |
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bostonheart
PeaFixture
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March 2004
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Loc: New England
| Posted: 1/31/2013 8:37:20 AM
Neither. I was set to buy a Britax for my twins but when I checked them out in person I thought the adjustable head wing/panel was super flimsy. We went with Recaro. Love love love them.
Erin | |
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Susie Pea
PeaAddict
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August 2009
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| Posted: 1/31/2013 10:00:31 AM
Thanks for the FB page info, Alissa. I'll check it out. My lo is 9 months and weighs 16 lbs. She is a tiny little thing. My older kids are in 2nd and 4th grade and still weigh under 50 lbs, so I'm not too worried about the weight limit. I doubt she would reach it before the seat expires or she no longer needs it.
Do the less expensive seats have the steel reinforcements like the Britax and the My Ride do?
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Susie Pea
PeaAddict
PeaNut 433,822
August 2009
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| Posted: 1/31/2013 10:15:11 AM
Unless you need the Roundabout, I'd go with the Marathon.
What features make the Marathon a better choice? | |
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Newbie2
StuckOnPeas
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November 2004
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Loc: New England
| Posted: 1/31/2013 10:16:29 AM
My DD out grew her infant seat at 6mos and used her Britax Marathon until she was about 5.5 and she outgrew it (from height). The Marathon was VERY easy to install tightly in any car we put it in. It also lasted over 5 years...
Then we bought the last car seats she will need (2 vehicles)- she is still in a 5pt harness in a Graco Nautilus 3 in 1 (converts to high back booster, then booster). The Britax Frontier wouldn't fit in our truck (height). |
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KristinL16
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 142,870
April 2004
Posts: 12,264
Layouts: 102
Loc: MN
| Posted: 1/31/2013 10:44:52 AM
We have a Graco my ride 65 (I think now it is 70). My 4 year old has been in it since he was a year old. He is 41 lbs and 41 inches tall. He fits in it well. We have had no problems with the straps twisting or anything. |
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KristinL16
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 142,870
April 2004
Posts: 12,264
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Loc: MN
| Posted: 1/31/2013 10:53:06 AM
I don't know what would make the Graco harder to install than any other seat. Aren't all Latch systems the same? I'm curious now and will have to check out a Britax next time I'm at the store. I haven't had any problems installing. No problems at all, actually. I think it is a good size to fit a younger child as well as an older one. Not sure how it compares to a Britax in that department since I have never had one. |
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Newbie2
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 178,513
November 2004
Posts: 2,187
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Loc: New England
| Posted: 1/31/2013 12:01:34 PM
I've always had a better, tighter fit using the seat belt than the Latch system. Once they get to a certain weight, you can't use the Latch any more anyway. |
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Susie Pea
PeaAddict
PeaNut 433,822
August 2009
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| Posted: 1/31/2013 4:37:43 PM
I don't know what would make the Graco harder to install than any other seat. Aren't all Latch systems the same?
I don't know. In the reviews I've read, several people complained about them being hard to install. I wonder what the difference is? | |
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KristinL16
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 142,870
April 2004
Posts: 12,264
Layouts: 102
Loc: MN
| Posted: 2/1/2013 4:55:52 PM
I have had no problems installing but sometimes getting them out can be tricky since they are in so tightly. I don't think I have had many problems with that with the My Ride but have an older Evenflo that seemed to be a little more difficult. |
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