New Recaro seats - Page 7

[alegna]

Originally Posted by KayleeZoo

I'll post a review soon- I sold my Boulevard and ordered the Como. I'm going to call Recaro on the bracing issue either today or Monday and will let you all know what I find out.

Thanks! I'll be interested to hear.

-Angela

[Cuau]

I got my new como in the mail this saturday! It is so nice, my hubby will install it this weds.

[mama_at_home]

never mind, found my answer

[KayleeZoo]

I spoke w/a CSR at Recaro yesterday who told me that you can tether the Como RF- as long as you have a tether anchor in your vehicle; I asked her if you can use a spot on the floor that is part of the vehicle frame or that is bolted to the vehicle frame (like Britax allows), and she said yes, that's fine. She said that they do not provide "that extra strap" like Britax does (the tether extender w/D Ring, I'm assuming) because they don't think it's safe. But I have NO idea if she's saying that because a tether extender was crash tested and failed, or just because. SHe is going to talk with the CR engineer re: the maximum RF height and get back to me this afternoon.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by KayleeZoo

I spoke w/a CSR at Recaro yesterday who told me that you can tether the Como RF- as long as you have a tether anchor in your vehicle; I asked her if you can use a spot on the floor that is part of the vehicle frame or that is bolted to the vehicle frame (like Britax allows), and she said yes, that's fine. She said that they do not provide "that extra strap" like Britax does (the tether extender w/D Ring, I'm assuming) because they don't think it's safe. But I have NO idea if she's saying that because a tether extender was crash tested and failed, or just because. SHe is going to talk with the CR engineer re: the maximum RF height and get back to me this afternoon.

HARUMPH. Most cars do not have a tether spot on the floor that would work. I suppose in a minivan you could use the tether spot on a seat in front- if another seat weren't already using it.

Sounds like a cop-out to me. And I would have bought their seat the day it came out if it really would RF tether.

-Angela

[bobandjess99]

Originally Posted by alegna

HARUMPH. Most cars do not have a tether spot on the floor that would work. I suppose in a minivan you could use the tether spot on a seat in front- if another seat weren't already using it.

Sounds like a cop-out to me. And I would have bought their seat the day it came out if it really would RF tether.

-Angela

Well..the current update, from an actual engineer at Recaro, is that the recaro convertibles do NOT RF tether. NOT at all. NO. NYET.
And actually, hearing some of the explanation why, coupled with some of my own previous doubts about the wisdom of RF tethering, I am actually not upset at all. I am not convinced RF tethering is a good idea, frankly.
anyway...there is still a lot of doubt, and conflicting information, but this issue seems to be set in stone......NO RF tethering.

[KayleeZoo]

The engineer/Program Manager also told me that the head bolsters HAVE to be used when the child is in the bottom 2 harness slots; period. My 2.5yo is in the 2nd to bottom harness straps and HATES the head bolsters- they ride low on the sides of his face when installed correctly and squish his head. I"m debating whether to keep or return the seat. The engineer also told me that 34" is the MAXIMUM height for rear facing, period. They will not honor a warranty for the seat if it's used RF for a child taller than 34" (which is ridiculous- since all kids have different torso/leg lengths). I will have to eat the shipping back to the retailer though It's an AWESOME seat, though. Very well made, the deep sides make me feel like DS is protected better than in the Britax convertibles- they're SO deep and lined w/EPS foam. The lock offs are great (I like them better than the new Britax ones), as well as the cover material. I wish my DS was either shorter, or had a smaller head, or was ready to FF, then the seat would be perfect.

[*Karen*]

Sounds to me like this is a really great FF seat. But while DS is RFing I'd rather have him in a Britax. I really hate the 34" rule.

The head pillows really do look uncomfy.

To me the RFing tether is as much for helping with the recline angle as it is for stability really.

[KayleeZoo]

To me the RFing tether is as much for helping with the recline angle as it is for stability really.

Karen, the seat is WAY too upright when installed RF, but I was able to get a really nice recline angle w/a pool noodle, and it's as solid as my Britax seats, too. Not one centimeter of movement. JIC you are considering the Como or Signo at all and are concerned w/the RF angle.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by bobandjess99

Well..the current update, from an actual engineer at Recaro, is that the recaro convertibles do NOT RF tether. NOT at all. NO. NYET.
And actually, hearing some of the explanation why, coupled with some of my own previous doubts about the wisdom of RF tethering, I am actually not upset at all. I am not convinced RF tethering is a good idea, frankly.
anyway...there is still a lot of doubt, and conflicting information, but this issue seems to be set in stone......NO RF tethering.

And the person who emailed me back from recaro said that they can rear tether as long as you have an official tether point on the floor. That was in an email this morning.

-Angela

[alegna]

Originally Posted by KayleeZoo

The engineer/Program Manager also told me that the head bolsters HAVE to be used when the child is in the bottom 2 harness slots; period. My 2.5yo is in the 2nd to bottom harness straps and HATES the head bolsters- they ride low on the sides of his face when installed correctly and squish his head. I"m debating whether to keep or return the seat. The engineer also told me that 34" is the MAXIMUM height for rear facing, period. They will not honor a warranty for the seat if it's used RF for a child taller than 34" (which is ridiculous- since all kids have different torso/leg lengths). I will have to eat the shipping back to the retailer though It's an AWESOME seat, though. Very well made, the deep sides make me feel like DS is protected better than in the Britax convertibles- they're SO deep and lined w/EPS foam. The lock offs are great (I like them better than the new Britax ones), as well as the cover material. I wish my DS was either shorter, or had a smaller head, or was ready to FF, then the seat would be perfect.

Wow. Another suck-age point. Since dd is 36 or 37 inches and still happily RF in her boulevard.

-Angela

[Synchro246]

Originally Posted by bobandjess99

Well..the current update, from an actual engineer at Recaro, is that the recaro convertibles do NOT RF tether. NOT at all. NO. NYET.
And actually, hearing some of the explanation why, coupled with some of my own previous doubts about the wisdom of RF tethering, I am actually not upset at all. I am not convinced RF tethering is a good idea, frankly.
anyway...there is still a lot of doubt, and conflicting information, but this issue seems to be set in stone......NO RF tethering.

Yeah that ^

From the info I've been reading over the past few months I'm not entirely convinced about RF tethering myself.
I'm no longer in a hurry to switch DS2 from the bucket to his roundabout.

Originally Posted by alegna

And the person who emailed me back from recaro said that they can rear tether as long as you have an official tether point on the floor. That was in an email this morning.

-Angela

Gayle? She hasn't been memo'd properly

[KayleeZoo]

And the person who emailed me back from recaro said that they can rear tether as long as you have an official tether point on the floor. That was in an email this morning.

They seriously need to take Gayle's email privileges (and phone answering privileges, too) away until they can bring her up to speed. :

[alegna]

Oh great.... sigh. Not having so much faith in the company right now...

-Angela

[Synchro246]

Originally Posted by alegna

Oh great.... sigh. Not having so much faith in the company right now...

-Angela

EVERY time a new seat is released there are these kinds of issues. EVERY time. Recaro has a wicked awesome rep. They will make the seats the best they can. I knew from the get go that I wouldn't be buying one of these in the first few months. Just like I don't buy a car in it's first year of production. Kinks just need to be worked out.

[alegna]

That makes sense... I just hope she'll pass along my information... I'm quite disappointed there's no rear tether. Personally I feel that it's very important.

-Angela

[Kleine Hexe]

Originally Posted by Synchro246

From the info I've been reading over the past few months I'm not entirely convinced about RF tethering myself.
I'm no longer in a hurry to switch DS2 from the bucket to his roundabout.

Ok, so what's the deal with RF tether?

[Synchro246]

Originally Posted by Kleine Hexe

Ok, so what's the deal with RF tether?

It's always something huh.

[*Karen*]

Originally Posted by Kleine Hexe

Ok, so what's the deal with RF tether?

The deal is that is helps if done correctly, but there is no standardization for it. There were a couple of crash tests where a RFing tethered seat actually did worse than when it was not tethered. IMO, if it is done correctly and prevents recoil it can be very beneficial, however if it is not connected at a good point it can be counterproductive.

[alegna]

Since it hasn't been mentioned on this thread- ANOTHER problem with these seats- they claim a max height of 34 in (I think?) for RF. Period. Ears/straps don't matter. So for US, we would have already had to turn dd around. She's 30lbs and at least 37 inches. Still happily and safely RF in her boulevard.

I am hoping that a year or so down the line, they fix these problems. But until then we will stick with Britax.

-Angela