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**spotty_dog** · 06-23-2010, 05:33 PM

I have two Marathons in my Legacy Outback, one rear and one forward facing.

I've heard nothing but fabulousity about the Sunshine Kids seats, especially as they rear-face and harness to much higher limits than other seats IIRC.

**Deebs** · 06-23-2010, 05:41 PM

A few things...
First, there is no center latch position in the Outback. You can use the seatbelt to secure a seat in the center. I'm assuming the reason a seat won't fit rear-facing in the center is because there isn't the distance needed between the front and back seats for most driving positions (so the rear-facing seat would need to fit between the two front seats, which would only happen in a very wide seat). We have had this issue in cars before and have opted to place the seat behind the passenger seat. We have a Radian. I'm wondering about it fitting rear-facing - I only use it forward facing. It is really long, so I just don't know how it would do in a car that isn't huge. Also, even though it can be used rear facing, it seems an inappropriate rear-facing seat if there is an alternative. There really is no infant support like an infant seat or a convertible seat. It's great for forward facing and very narrow. There are many comments online about people using Britax rear-facing in an Outback. There is a challenge because Subaru, for some reason, has refused to participate in the national compatibility database, so most information is just anecdotal. If it were me, I would test drive to the retailer that carries the car seat you're interested in and try to fit it. I've always taken my cars overnight for test drives to do similar crazy sounding things - it just gives a little more piece of mind in making a huge purchase.

**madeintaiwan** · 06-23-2010, 07:03 PM

I have 2 of the Radians and have used them both rear and forward facing. We have a Honda Passport. I have never owned a Britax. I went with the Radian because I needed to fit two car seats and a booster in one row- we only have 5 seats. I love how slim they are. I have been pleased with mine. My cousin also uses the Radians in her Toyota Corolla both rear and forward facing. I have never heard a complaint from her- I was the one that recommended the seats, we're very close, so she would have definitely complained to me.

ETA, we don't have latch in our car, it's a 95. Installation with a belt was easy and very tight and secure.

**Deebs** · 06-23-2010, 08:12 PM

I would also think about how many kids you might have. We knew we really wanted 2-3, so it worked out that we had a Graco snugride for the first. When she moved up to the Britax, DS was born and went into the infant seat (okay, maybe not that quick, but you get the point), and now DD is in the Radian, DS in the Britax, and DD in the Graco. I'll be getting a Graco Nautilus for DS just because we don't need the narrowness of the Radian for both kids and the Nautilus is cheaper with the same safety features. DD needs the Britax soon, so I'll be forced to do that. We have gotten great use out of each of our seats because they have really gone through three kids.

I am glad to see that people have used the Radian rear facing. I feel like it's the seat that I can put any kid in with some readjustment because it fits such a great range of sizes and fits well in so many cars. I'm going to hijack a bit - has anyone flown with the Radian? I don't know if I should get the extension straps or just carry it through the airport folded up. Is that feasible?

**Michele** · 06-24-2010, 01:43 AM

Re: Britax vs. Sunshine Kids Radian (sp?)

Flew w our Radian. We (DH) just carried it folded. I think the strap wouldve been nice but it wasn't a big deal. I love our Radian. We have 2 Boulevards, a Regent and a Radian65. We gave my sister the snapngo Graco infant thing. I plan to put both Boulevards and the Radian in my car (Mazda 6 wagon) and the Regent goes in Russ' car (Honda Civic) for when he takes Daegan to the store or whatever.

I've only used the Radian front facing. But with both latch and seatbelt installation and I think I got a tight fit both ways.

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**Thirteen** · 06-24-2010, 03:26 PM

Part deux: should we purchase an infant seat (for an easier, snap-to stroller system), or just go with a convertible? I'm still unclear about infant vs. convertible -- do you need an infant if the convertible does the same job?

**alison** · 06-24-2010, 03:42 PM

I tried dd's smallerish car seat in the new Subaru Outback when we test drove one a couple of weeks ago, and it's really really tight. I can't imagine getting a big animal like a Britax in there. Plus, for some reason, the roof is so low -- that's something they haven't fixed since their previous models. My mom has a 2004 Outback, and we drove around with dd in it when we were visiting my parents last month. I bonked her head (and my head, for that matter) on the ceiling so many times trying to get her in and out of it. Are you SURE you want an Outback? No other contenders?

**madeintaiwan** · 06-24-2010, 03:45 PM

The "bucket" seats are nice when they are little. You can survive without one, if you are trying to only buy one car seat. We always had the infant carrier then a "big" car seat starting around 9 months or so.

**Thirteen** · 06-24-2010, 03:50 PM

Originally posted by alison View Post

I tried dd's smallerish car seat in the new Subaru Outback when we test drove one a couple of weeks ago, and it's really really tight. I can't imagine getting a big animal like a Britax in there. Plus, for some reason, the roof is so low -- that's something they haven't fixed since their previous models. My mom has a 2004 Outback, and we drove around with dd in it when we were visiting my parents last month. I bonked her head (and my head, for that matter) on the ceiling so many times trying to get her in and out of it. Are you SURE you want an Outback? No other contenders?

We would really love an older Outback (5+ yrs), but are open to other cars. Do you have anything in mind?

**alison** · 06-24-2010, 04:06 PM

Well, in that price category, there's the Highlander, which I really like, because dd is at my height (no bending over like with the older model Outback). The problem with the Highlander is that you can't put the kid in the middle seat. But if we have a second baby, then we'd put one car seat on each side anyway. The Mazda CX-7 is quite nice, actually. I really like it, except for the trunk space isn't quite what I'd like (a bit smaller than that of the Outback). So, we are either going with a Mazda CX-9 or Acura MDX. The latter holds its value much better than the Mazdas.

**poky** · 06-24-2010, 06:40 PM

Are you looking at Impreza or Legacy outbacks? There's quite a bit of size difference between them, but they're both "outbacks"...

**Michele** · 06-24-2010, 07:34 PM

Re: Britax vs. Sunshine Kids Radian (sp?)

I think the bucket style snap and go seats are supposed to be safer for infants. But that doesn't mean the others aren't safe. I always wore Daegan and Kai for the first 6 months at least and so having the snap n go accessibility (sp?) was wasted. Even if they were completely asleep in the car, I could transfer them to the carrier and they'd go right back to sleep. Even now if Kai falls asleep on my back, he'll wake up for the transfer but will almost always fall back asleep in the carseat. I don't know if it's just them or if they got used to being moved cause Ive always done it that way. And I felt silly the few times I took Daegan out of the car but still in the carseat. I felt very disconnected from him and when he fussed I felt like I should rock the seat instead of getting him out.

**Vishenka69** · 06-27-2010, 07:41 PM

I remember asking here about the difference of a convertible vs infant car seat and SO GLAD you guys convinced me to get an infant one. It's been a lifesaver. I got both just in case we'd need one in the 2nd car but we haven't used it yet. Since our babymobile is an SUV, we have the seat behind the passenger seat because I can't reach it when it's in the middle.

Alison, make sure to test drive MDX when you get to your new place. I liked driving it on the WI plains but realized it was underpowered for our hilly area.

**Thirteen** · 06-27-2010, 08:01 PM

Originally posted by poky View Post

Are you looking at Impreza or Legacy outbacks? There's quite a bit of size difference between them, but they're both "outbacks"...

Preferrably the Legacy Wagon-style Outback.

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Britax vs. Sunshine Kids Radian (sp?)

Britax vs. Sunshine Kids Radian (sp?)

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