car seat confusion....help!!!!

[tzs]

i am looking for a convertable carseat for dd and am so confused. 

we're just so very...average.

i drive an average sized car (subaru wagon) with an average sized kid (she's not so huge that i need to worry about weight limits) and i'd like to spend a very average amount (not a cheapo costco but not a top of the line britax.)

i plan on keeping her rear-facing at least until 2 but after that we'll see....i really can't picture doing it until 4. 

i'd like for it to be comfortable although so far my babe has been really low-maintenence about the carseat. we do sometimes take roadtrips though and i'd like for her tush to be comfortable.

i've been looking and so far the evenflo triumph and britax roundabout are looking good to me but not sure why....probably because they both seem really good for the moderate price.

i like the idea of the maxi cosi and read that it was super easy to recline but looked at it in the store and it seemed really sparsely padded.

for some reason the graco turns me off because the idea of cupholders on a carseat really peeves me. also it just doesn't seem that comfy...but i could be wrong.

i want to take advantage of any sales that are going on now.

help??????

[leighi123]

The evenflo triumph (EFTA) is a good seat.  The britax roundabout is quickly outgrown in height rearfacing and forward facing, so probably not the best deal for your $.  

Some other ones to look at are the TrueFit and Compleate Air.  I LOVED ds's truefit, very comfy and it fit well in my subaru.  

BTW: I commited to rearfacing my ds until he was 2, but at 3yrs 4months he is still very happy to be rearfacing (having never known anything different), and I've sense bought a radian that rearfaces to 45lbs, and he will RF to the max.  He is only 25lbs so it will be a while!

[allisonrose]

The True Fit is another good convertible. I have one and I think it is quite cushy. A day or two ago someone posted a sale on TFs on diapers.com with some awesome prices. ($120 for a standard, $160 for a Premier.) It comes with a cupholder but it isn't permanently attached. I believe they also do free return shipping so if it doesn't work out you can send it back.

I don't own a MyRide but from what I've seen and heard about them, they are a comfy seat with plenty of padding.

[sunnymw]

The Evenflo Triumph 65 (new version) is very plush, as are the TrueFits. I have loved them both as seats, probably the TF a bit more even though it has a lower weight limit. :)

[Twinklefae]

Originally Posted by sunnymw 

The Evenflo Triumph 65 (new version) is very plush, as are the TrueFits. I have loved them both as seats, probably the TF a bit more even though it has a lower weight limit. :)

As is the MyRide.  And cupholders are enormously handy once the kid is a bit bigger - keeps DS from losing his water bottle on long trips.  (We have a Truefit - it comes with a removable one.  I love them enough that I dig it out to use on long trips,since it doesn't fit when I have all the kids seats in.)

[Marissamom]

Originally Posted by Twinklefae 

Originally Posted by sunnymw 

The Evenflo Triumph 65 (new version) is very plush, as are the TrueFits. I have loved them both as seats, probably the TF a bit more even though it has a lower weight limit. :)

As is the MyRide.  And cupholders are enormously handy once the kid is a bit bigger - keeps DS from losing his water bottle on long trips.  (We have a Truefit - it comes with a removable one.  I love them enough that I dig it out to use on long trips,since it doesn't fit when I have all the kids seats in.)

I agree that the cupholders are awesome. If we're going to be driving and DD needs a snack, I put cheerios in one and a sippy cup in the other. it's the only way she can have a snack in the car unless someone is sitting in the backseat with her. (and since I get carsick and her dad has to drive because I don't, we never do have someone to sit back there with her). and the myride isn't super plush, but it's also not too skimpy.

really any of the seats would work fine. I would get something with higher weight limits, so you can get max use out of it. (plus, who knows, they could increase the recommendations of how long to keep a kid RFing and harnessed in the next couple of years, I'd rather not have to go out and buy another seat because I didn't get one with higher weight limits)