'97 Toyota Camry and the Marathon

[Kimberly H]

My Escape was totaled in an accident (all inside were fine) and though she wasn't in it, the ins. company replaced Mia's carseat thanks to the info I sent in from this site.

My new car ::sigh:: is DH's '97 Camry which we'll share since I'm working from home now and putting $$ away for my photography business.

ANYWAY... I can't find any site where it rates the Marathon with the '97 Camry. Mia's RA fits, but I'm not happy with the fit and she's still rear-facing at almost 3 years. I'd prefer to replace her RA with the Marathon to get more use out of it and DH really wants to flip her forward-facing (another saga) so if anyone know of info on the fit both ways, I'd greatly appreciate it. No local stores carry the Marathon so I'd be dealing with return shipping if it doesn't work.

TIA!

[Joolsplus2]

I'm SURE I've intalled an MA in a Camry... is there anything at www.carseatdata.org for that? What is the fit issue you're having with the RA, though? (old, curvy base, or new square base?)
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[sdjeppa]

I have a 97 camry, and we have a great fit with our MA both RF and FF. Its normally installed center, but also is a good install outboard.

Jenny, mommy to Zachary 9-27-03

[MarisaSF]

Julie... you installed an MA in *my* '97 Camry, for one.

It definitely fits well in the middle of the back seat. The top may rub up against the front seats, but they can slide back pretty far without moving the MA. There is a nice anchor point for the RF tether in the "leg" of the slider on either driver or passenger seat.

I don't think it would be ideal to have two RFing MAs in the Camry. DH has long legs and we wouldn't be able to fit one RF behind him.

[Joolsplus2]

Too bad they don't put the names and year model of cars on the back seats, THEN I might remember!!! :D
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[Kimberly H]

Julie, it's the older model - maybe 3 years old? - from when Right Start was going out of business.

It fits *okay* but it just doesn't seem as secure as in the bench-type seat of my (totaled) Ford Escape. Something about the bucket-like backseats bothers me.

[Joolsplus2]

I'm thinking what you might try is installing it as tight as you possbibly can, with NO regard for the recline angle... just really crank it down at the belt path, lock the lockoffs, and it should be really in there...then clip the top tether and pull it back into recline. Of course, if that's how you usually do it, then darn ;)
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[Kimberly H]

You've given me hope for the Marathon so I'm going to go ahead and order it from Marilyn and we'll see...

Thanks!

[Joolsplus2]

Yeah, that newer, smaller base is more compatible with more cars than the old rounded Roundabout base.....The lockoffs aren't positioned as well, but we can walk you through them if you promise to be patient ;)
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx