?? i need to purchase new car seat? roundabout vs. marathon

looking for any adivce. i am truly overwhelmed with all the comments.
my local store will install, my car is big enough for either. my concern is with the marathon, there seems to be so many unsatisfied consumers. the roundabout has gotten so many raves. PLEASE HELP!

[Joolsplus2]

As long as you can look at/test out the harness adjuster before you buy the seat, and it works smoothly, then I would go for the Marathon, especially if you or your DH are tall folks, (you want a child harnessed till at least 4 and 40 pounds...if your baby is really quite large, then the MA will save you the headache of buying a taller harnessed/heaver weight seat later)...if you and your dh are not tall, the Roundabout should be fine (I have friends who are both about 5'6", and their small 5 yo still fits in her Roundabout comfortably). If you travel by plane a lot, both seats are FAA approved, but the RA is smaller and a bit easier to transport. The MA is best for rearfacing a long time (both have 33 pound weight limits, but the back of the MA is taller...see this link to learn the importance of rearfacing http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/extendedrf.aspx) Print up this picture and take it with you to the store to make sure you get the "under" threaded harness adjuster http://www.geocities.com/cpsadvocate/adjuster.html. I have an MA for my 3.5 yo dd, and we are really happy with it :)

I would agree with the Marathon...

Make sure it was manufactured after Jan 1/03 and the strap problem should be resolved.

Also, I believe the new Britax Wizard should be out soon. From the comments I've seen, it sounds like a Marathon with more features.

[schums]

I just exchanged my August 2002 MA at BRU (with no probs, I might add) and got one that was manufactured Dec 15 2002, with the correct routing and the comfort things to go over the hugs. Talk about a world of difference. So Jan 1 is not the magic date -- I'd pull any MA out of the box and double check it. If it has the comfort things, it is routed correctly.

Sarah

[Joolsplus2]

I wish that were true!!! I got the comfort pads, but mine was STILL routed incorrectly...mine was DOM 10/2, though...maybe by dec. they were routing them all the right way....

I just bought a Marathon......
The decision was hard after reading about all its problems since they came out. My box is dated 3/4/03, and everything looks to be right.
I will know better once I start using it.
Emily's mom,
Annie
(edited to remove link I can't seem to make into a little picture of my daughter in the post)