New seat for 43" slim 4 yr old-recommendations?

[Bella's Mommy]

Our 4 yr olds Marathon just expired and I have no idea what to get to replace it. He is very slim and is just 43" tall. We have him in a Safeguard Child Seat in one SUV and the new seat will go in our second SUV. I see that Safeguards are discounted $100 at Elite Car Seats and they told me that Safeguard is "going through management changes" thus the price cut. I am a little leary to buy the Safeguard because of this - are they going to go out of business or are the seats "old"? How about the Radian 80? It is a good option even though we will never fold it up or transport it around. Any recommendations would be appreciated!
Also, if I were to get the Radian 80 and place it in the outboard position, would I be able to install a Maxi-Cosi infant seat in the middle and a Clek Oilli in the other outboard position for 3 across in a Mercedes GL450? At present with the Safeguard Child Seat I cannot fit the Maxi infant seat in the middle and have to put the Clek in the 3rd row (impossible to buckle any booster in the middle with these 2 seats in outboard position). I would LOVE to fit three across! Thank you!

[C99]

My 42" & change 3.5y/o has been in the Radian 65 since she outgrew her RA at 2.5. I traveled with one for the first time every and although it does fold very nicely, that is not the reason we bought it. I've been very happy w/the Radian 65 and bought a second one for that reason. I'm planning to move DS1 out of his and into a HBB and DS2 into it, even though he still fits into his Britax RA -- it's just easier for carpooling to have a seat that adapts to a wider range of kids like the Radian 65 does.

[Joolsplus2]

I might like the Radian XT...the headwings make it look super comfy (at least in our Escape, the seats are SO upright that the RN 65 is kind of uncomfortable for floppy sleeping heads, I want more support for my own kiddo :) )

What ever happened with the Maxi Cosi install? It sounds like you're installing with the seatbelt now? I think there's no middle LATCH in that car, right?

[Bella's Mommy]

Yes, I still have the Maxi-cosi and did indeed install it with the seatbelt outboard, and you are correct, no LATCH in the middle (you're good)! Last night I bought the Britax Frontier -they were out of stock of all Radians at BBB and when my little guy sat in it he said it hurt his tush...and he fell in love with the Britax (has to be the cupholders). But I still wasn't able to cram the Radian in the middle and still use the Maxi-cosi outboard (the base fits fine but then I cannot install the infant seat itself it is that wide). Incidentally, I still hate the Maxi- but I saw the Combi Zeus - how soon do you think I can put Christmas baby in that rear facing and ditch the infant seat? And, is the Combi as great as it seems or should I stick with a BRitax combo? Thanks!

[Joolsplus2]

Oh yeah, we LOVE our Frontier :D

The Zeus is...in a word... or two... of limited value for the money :D. If it's not too wide to work where you want it, and your kiddo is teeny, you might get some time out of it, but it's gosh darned expensive considering the top slots won't get most kids to age 2 or 3. The turning feature might be nice if you are ditching an infant seat and your car is kind of tall, though... (Am I diplomatic, or what? ;)...yipes that thing is expensive and huge, lol... I'd probably just go for a Britax if it were me...)

[kimberley-k]

We love our Radian 65. In our Toyota Prius, I put it in the middle for our 4-yr-old, and put the infant carseat outboard. There's plenty of room for an adult to sit in the other outboard position. I plan to buy a Radian XT for the baby when he outgrows his infant carrier. Then he will rear face in the center seat.

-Kim