No Frontier for me

[sariana]

DH insists it "doesn't fit" in our car (2011 Hybrid Highlander). I was so looking forward to getting this seat in the Pink Sky before they were all gone.

He wants to get another Marathon. DD is 3 1/2, and I don't see the point. Yes, she will be able to stay in it for a couple more years (she's only ~32 lbs. and ~38 "), but she would last a lot longer in the Frontier.

And I have yet to see the new Marathon in a store.

I'm really feeling crappy about this, and he just doesn't get it. He says I'm not being rational. Does anyone has a Frontier in booster mode in a Highlander? Does it wobble? Did we install it incorrectly? (Our Turbobooster does not wobble, so it's not a booster vs. harnessed seat issue.)

[bubbaray]

It is a waste of money to buy a MA to use only as a FFg seat. The FR definitely fits in the Highlander. I'm not understanding his issue at all. You found it on sale.

Sometimes its easier to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission. LOL

[sariana]

I'm not understanding his issue at all.

Well, I have to admit, it really did wobble. After trying the seat in harnessed mode, we moved the thing underneath to the booster position. The seat really did seem unstable on the vehicle seat. Once I repositioned the vehicle seat back (I think I may it more upright, but I may have that backwards), the FR seemed better. But DH said that's bad because in most cars the recline cannot be adjusted. As if we plan ever to use the FR in any other car.

I mentioned that it could/should be tethered in booster mode, thereby increasing its stability. I mentioned it could be LATCHed. I mentioned it was a Best Bet on the IIHS rankings. He didn't care.

It wobbled.:shake:

[KHF]

We have the Pink Sky Frontier 85 in booster mode in our 2003 Highlander, no problems at all. We have it installed with LATCH and the top tether. If the problem was he felt it was wobbly, I'm not sure why he wouldn't want to use the LATCH and tether to keep that from happening? Doesn't make sense, unless he has another reason for specifically not wanting a Frontier?

Besides, with your DD at 3.5, she could use the Frontier for a good long time in harnessed mode. We just switched our Frontier to booster mode and our DD is almost 6. She could have stayed in harnessed mode longer, but she was ready for the booster.

There's no way I'd buy another Marathon at 3.5.

[arivecchi]

Besides, with your DD at 3.5, she could use the Frontier for a good long time in harnessed mode. We just switched our Frontier to booster mode and our DD is almost 6. She could have stayed in harnessed mode longer, but she was ready for the booster.

There's no way I'd buy another Marathon at 3.5. this!

Your DH is the one not being rational. Maybe you can try to have a tech install it?

[Joolsplus2]

I'd let him give me the money for the Turbo and use it with my own money to get the Frontier. :loveeyes:
SO much longer lasting, SO much more comfortable for big kids, and SO safe as a properly LATCHed in booster, I can't even fathom what his issue is. The Turbo pales in comparison, it's old technology based almost completely on copying the Starriser Comfy, which Britax ditched making years ago because it's inferior to newer designs. Make him get you a nice Recaro Pro Sport, then, your kids are little, it's nice, and it's got a man-approved name :wink2:

[egoldber]

What about an Evenflo Maestro? We just got one for younger DD and I love it.

[lorinick]

I had problems with wobbling. I watched the video and listened to Julie on how to install with latch and pulling the belt through the seat. You need to move the seat cover pull it made all the difference. We purchased this seat at 3.5 for our little guy. I love the seat he has so much room in it compared to the MA or BV which we have as well. I would never think of buying another MA or BV for a 3.5 or 4 year old who is ff.

[AnnieW625]

We haven't used it in my mom's 05 Highlander, but our Frontier 80 did have a bunch of wobbling when we had it installed using the latch so we have used it only belted and it works much better this way. I think I would look at a Maestro also.

I agree with what the others have said too, the Frontier will last longer harnessed. DD1 is 5 and 42" and 40lbs and while she complains that she wants a booster full time in my car I tried her in the booster mode in the Frontier and we didn't make it out of the drive way because she didn't like buckling herself in.

Now if your DH can find one of those $77 Marathons or Roundabouts at Target then let him get another and then deal with a high back booster at a later date, but I don't think it makes sense to spend more than $100 on another convertible seat while there are other options out there like the Frontier, Maestro, or even the Nautilus.

[sariana]

Just to clarify, we are NOT considering getting a TB for DD. DS is in a TB, and that is why DH was comparing the Frontier to it. DD is a long way from being ready for a booster seat.

He doesn't like the Frontier because it is big, it is heavy, it wobbled, um, I think that's it. He doesn't think we should keep DD harnessed until she's a teenager. He says by the time she outgrows the Marathon she can move into DS's TB. (I guess we'll just buy him a no-back at that point because I don't think he'll be big enough for the seatbelt yet.)

I am seriously depressed about this. He thinks I'm being stupid (not his word, but I know he's thinking it).

However, I REFUSE to buy another Marathon. If that's what he wants to do, he can take care of it. I'm pretty sure her old seat is safe (by Britax's standards the seat did not need to be replaced--it's just CA law). For now she is using the seat that used to be in DH's car, a MA identical to the one that was in my car and now is sitting in our garage.

The FR probably has sold by now anyway. It was on clearance until they were all gone because it's a discontinued color. The store has only 2 locations, so not a lot of inventory.

I'm going to go mope now.

ETA (b/c I was posting at the same time as Annie): DH hates the Nautilus, too.

[lorinick]

Just to clarify, we are NOT considering getting a TB for DD. DS is in a TB, and that is why DH was comparing the Frontier to it. DD is a long way from being ready for a booster seat.

He doesn't like the Frontier because it is big, it is heavy, it wobbled, um, I think that's it. He doesn't think we should keep DD harnessed until she's a teenager. He says by the time she outgrows the Marathon she can move into DS's TB. (I guess we'll just buy him a no-back at that point because I don't think he'll be big enough for the seatbelt yet.)

I am seriously depressed about this. He thinks I'm being stupid (not his word, but I know he's thinking it).

However, I REFUSE to buy another Marathon. If that's what he wants to do, he can take care of it. I'm pretty sure her old seat is safe (by Britax's standards the seat did not need to be replaced--it's just CA law). For now she is using the seat that used to be in DH's car, a MA identical to the one that was in my car and now is sitting in our garage.

The FR probably has sold by now anyway. It was on clearance until they were all gone because it's a discontinued color. The store has only 2 locations, so not a lot of inventory.

I'm going to go mope now.

ETA (b/c I was posting at the same time as Annie): DH hates the Nautilus, too.

Would he be ok with the seat if you could get a rock solid install? If so I would watch the video and get it installed correctly. I own a Maurano but did test drive the Highlander and install the FR in the 2011 Highlander without any wobbling. I grew tired of using the BV and MA older model since my son had trouble getting in and out of it. We don't have that issue with the Frontier.

[sariana]

No plans to return to the store. They close at 6, and he never gets home before 7, when he comes home at all. (He often stays near the client.) He wouldn't agree to trying again; I already tried that tactic.

I think he believes that a booster should be able to be plopped onto the seat and work just fine. That is basically how our TB works. It seems to fit anywhere (we've had it in several rather different vehicles).

I keep trying to point out that booster mode is pretty far off, but then he goes into, then why this seat? He thinks I set my mind to it and am refusing to see its flaws. Nothing I say has any impact on his decision.

I wish I could just let it go, but as you all can see, I can't.:( I'm not sure what's wrong with me. (No, I am NOT pregnant!)

[lorinick]

No plans to return to the store. They close at 6, and he never gets home before 7, when he comes home at all. (He often stays near the client.) He wouldn't agree to trying again; I already tried that tactic.

I think he believes that a booster should be able to be plopped onto the seat and work just fine. That is basically how our TB works. It seems to fit anywhere (we've had it in several rather different vehicles).

I keep trying to point out that booster mode is pretty far off, but then he goes into, then why this seat? He thinks I set my mind to it and am refusing to see its flaws. Nothing I say has any impact on his decision.

I wish I could just let it go, but as you all can see, I can't.:( I'm not sure what's wrong with me. (No, I am NOT pregnant!)

If I wanted the seat I would purchase it and install it myself. And remind him it's not in the same level as the Turbo the turbo is a belt postioning booster only. The Britax Parkway would work that way as well. Nothing to do with the seat but place them on the car's seat. Remind him you can't just plop a harnessed seat into the car and go. He should get over it. I would purchase the Frontier and figure out how to install it yourself. I don't let my husband have any choice in car seats. He knows nothing about them.