The Next Step in Carseats

March 25, 2010 By 2 Comments

As you may have noticed, I’m having trouble making decisions lately.  The latest decision dilemma involves carseats.  Now that we have two cars, we’d like to have two carseats so that David can pick Jack up from daycare when necessary.  I’ve narrowed the choices down to the Graco Nautilus and the Evenflo Symphony 65.  The seats are comparable with a few notable differences:

Nautilus

  • pretty inexpensive at $144
  • allows extended use of 5 pt harness (2.5″ taller)
  • harness adjustment requires re-threading
  • hook style LATCH
  • cup holder

Symphony 65

  • buckle LATCH rather than hook (easier!)
  • easy sliding adjustment of harness (no re-threading!)
  • can be used for infants if we have another child
  • a tad more expensive at $190

So, the Nautilus would allow us to use the 5 pt harness longer and save us money now.  The Symphony, on the other hand, would be a lot easier to deal with and could potentially come in handy for another kid (although Jack would likely still be using it during a second kid’s infanthood…so that is probably moot).

Part of the reason I lean toward the Symphony, aside for the ease of installation and height adjustment, is that I loved the Evenflo Triumph (which Joe now has) except for a few features that have since been fixed.  I’ve only dealt with the Graco SnugRide in the past (and the stroller/travel system) which was a nightmare to install properly, so I have a little something against Graco.  Still, I like the cheaper price on the Graco and the ability to keep Jack that much safer for just a little longer…

Can you see my dilemma?  Which would you choose?  If it makes a difference, we currently have a Britax Marathon and yeah, it’s easy to install but so not worth the extra $100 in my opinion (which is why I’m not considering their Convertible/Booster option).

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We bought a new car

March 9, 2010 By 4 Comments

After a raucous Friday night of celebrating David’s new job (SQUEE!), we visited a few dealerships in the area on Saturday.  There were four cars on the short list: Toyota Yaris, Scion xD, Honda Fit, and the Hyundai Accent (if all else failed).  With a stop at the Toyota dealership, we quickly crossed the Yaris and Scion off the list – the first because it was a little too small and we hated the wacky dash configuration (what’s up with the speedometer being in the middle of the dash?) and the second because it was SO UNCOMFORTABLE.  Happy to have a shorter list, we headed to Honda.

The Fit was nice.  I love the many ways the rear seats could be configured and the car is very comfortable.  It was super easy to get a carseat in the back because I didn’t have to dig for the LATCH anchors.  What kept me from being in love with the car was the somewhat rough acceleration and brakes and the fact that, for being such a small car, the gas mileage isn’t that great.  It fit our needs and budget but I wasn’t sure that I wanted a car I didn’t totally adore.  After the test drive, we left the dealership and headed home (after an unsuccessful attempt at finding the Hyundai dealership) to get ready for a dinner party and contemplate our options.

David and I discussed the car and I admitted I wasn’t in love with the Fit.  Still, I went online and looked at options and submitted a request for a quote.  I received a fantastic quote from a dealership down in Colma and that pretty much sealed the deal.  We made plans to head down Sunday morning and I submitted my application for Honda financing.

We arrived Sunday morning ready to purchase a Fit, only to find out that the dealership was fresh out of the Sport model (the one with the clicky lock button, cruise control, etc.).  The options were to wait a few days for one (which might run us into David’s work start date), buy the base model, or take a look at the Civic.  Much to my surprise, the Civic was actually going for less than the Fit!  Off we went on a test drive and it proved to be a smoother ride and a safer, more comfortable car – Jack’s carseat could go in the middle of the back seat and passengers could still sit comfortably on either side of it.  Not only that, but the gas mileage is better.  It was pretty much a no brainer to make the decision to go with the Civic.  Even though I was giving up a gazillion cup holders, uber-accessible LATCH anchors, better parking options, and a cuter looking car…I was making the more responsible decision by going with something that was safer, better at holding its value, and better for the environment.

Thanks to my awesome credit (of which I am VERY proud), I got super low (1.9%) financing from Honda and bought the car at Invoice.  I didn’t love the Civic immediately but it is growing on me every time I drive it.  I think it helps that Jack named it “Stateboggle” – I feel like I know it better now.  ;)   (Also, he pretends it’s a batcar and that it has a crossbow on the front – apparently it is VERY cool!)

Still, I can’t help looking longingly at the parking spaces in which the Fit would, uh, fit.  I guess that’s just part of city life, though!

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A gripe about my car

March 4, 2010 By 3 Comments

Almost 6 years ago, Joe and I purchased a 2003 Subaru Outback Wagon.  My first pick for a car was a Honda Civic but we got the Outback because Joe wanted to be able to easily haul around music equipment and we wanted something that would work as a family car, as well.  So, Outback it was.

There are some things I like about the car – the fact that it’s not super low to the ground and it has some great cargo space (not that I need it usually; even when I was still with Joe, he hauled his stuff in his 2-door Accent).  It also has quite a bit of power for a 4 cylinder.  Beyond that, I pretty much hate it.  It was a mild dislike at first but once Jack came around, it turned into full on hate.

It is NOT family friendly, at least for families with small children.  The middle back is not set up for LATCH, so Jack’s carseat is behind the driver’s side seat.  Since the day his carseat was set to forward-facing, he has kicked the back of that seat incessantly.  Because of the height of the seats in the back and the comparatively low ceiling of the car, there is a lot of head knocking going on – Jack’s and mine.  The LATCH anchors are buried between the seats, as well, meaning even with our nifty and normally easy-to-install Britax, I’ve gotta dig.  (And I would go into more detail about trying to install the Graco SnugRide in the center back with the seatbelts but I might have a heart attack from the memories of frustration.  Let’s just say if you have a Subaru, don’t even bother trying to use the middle back for your carseat.)

The seats themselves are uncomfortable.  Before I drove an Outback, I wasn’t even aware that cars could BE uncomfortable.  These seats are hard, I always feel as if I’m leaning slightly to the right, and my legs start to hurt or fall asleep on long drives – and that was BEFORE I had Jack.  Now my tailbone cries out in agony, as well.

You’d think anyone could fit in a Subaru, wouldn’t you?  My ex-FIL is 6’2″ and had plenty of leg and head room in his wife’s tiny Ford Aspire.  In my Subaru – in the driver’s seat with it scooted all the way back and lowered to the floor of the car – his head touched the ceiling and his legs wouldn’t stretch out.  He drove the car once and ever since rented a (compact!) car when visiting.  No joke.  Also, there should really only be two seats in the back unless the middle person wants to use the other passengers’ laps as extra cushioning.  And this is coming from a slim 5’2″ chick!

I’m not even going to discuss gas mileage.

So, anyway…I’ve wanted a new car for a long time.  I want something that is easier to find a parking space for in this city of parallel parking.  I want something that Jack can easily climb into without slamming his head.  I want something that doesn’t leave me sore after driving, and something that makes it less likely that I will have to pass by parking spaces.  Right now, most signs point to a Honda Fit (that thing is like a transformer car!!!).  I’m open to suggestions, though.  And I’d love to hear any “AVOID THIS CAR” stories from other parents out there.  (Especially if you can help me rag on the Subaru.)

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Bound to happen, I suppose

July 29, 2008 By 2 Comments

Yeah, remember that post I wrote about all the carseat rules we learned??  I thought I was on top of it with the carseat.  Between reading the installation instructions for the seat (actually I should say seats because there have been three), debating seatbelt vs. latch, and just trying to get the damned thing in there snugly, I apparently failed to read my car’s manual thoroughly.

Last week when I needed to reinstall Jack’s carseat after it had been moved to another car, it occured to me that the LATCH anchors were spaced a bit far apart for center seat installation.  I double-checked my car manual to be safe and, indeed, I found that we had the freaking carseat installed in our car incorrectly for the past TWO YEARS.  Yeah, all this time I was thinking my car rocked because I could install the seat in the middle with the LATCH (unlike many other vehicles) but, alas, that is not the case.  Oops.

Since I was pressed for time, I just moved the carseat to properly use the outer LATCH anchors rather than trying to figure out installation using the seatbelt to keep the seat in the middle.  It’s not in the preferred position, but it’s in the secure position, so I’ll leave it for now.

Damned complicated carseats and cars and lack of standardized installation!!!

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