Marathon & True Fit Installs - Help

[mg1278]

My $99 Woot True Fit came yesterday and I attempted to install it in my Acura TL. To my disappointment, it's too big for someone to sit comfortably in the front seat so I put our Britax Marathon back in. It's an easy install, but can someone please clarify the top tether for me? The instruction book for the MA does say you can tether to the top of the seat it is installed on, but that just looks really wrong and I don't think I could get DD into the seat with the tether straps going across the seat. I cannot find anywhere to get the D-ring strap around on the floor, though. Does anyone with a TL (or experience with them) know where I can tether it? Or is it okay to not use a top tether?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v50/runner78/IMG_3037.jpg

I installed the TF in my husband's Chevy Trailblazer. It doesn't have LATCH so I had to use the seat belt. I had no luck getting it installed with the line parallel to the ground. To do so would've left a huge gap between the base and the car's seat, and even with a towel I couldn't get the belt tight enough. My DD is 18 months - is this angle OK or do I need to re-do this? I was able to get the belt really tight at this angle.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v50/runner78/IMG_3034.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v50/runner78/IMG_3035.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v50/runner78/IMG_3036.jpg

[Piglet]

That angle looks great. Ours is very similar for my 28 month old DD. Any more reclined and it would be very uncomfortable for everyone involved!

[Joolsplus2]

Did you do the lockoffs on the TF? I was amazed how rock solid they made the seat in my car. And yeah, NO need to try to get that major recline angle going on that they seem to require. An older kid can sit upright and be just fine (maybe it would have fit in your smaller car if you weren't going for the recline angle? I plopped it right in our Escape and didn't have to push the seat forward at all).
Push the front seats forward and just feel around the floor, probably the D-ring can be shoved between the seat track and carpet and looped to itself so you can clip the tether hook to it.