Registered: Mar 2002
Location: (near) Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 62

We're expecting baby #3 anyday now and have the Graco Snug-ride (pre-LATCH, unfortunately) for an infant carrier. If the pattern holds, this baby will exceed the weight limit around 4 months or so, so we'll need a new convertible seat. I have obviously heard SO much about Britax and especially since my son (now 4.5 years) was NOT ready to be in a belt-positioning booster when he hit 40 lbs. (but what choice did we have?), I'm hoping to get a 5 pt. harness that goes over 40 lbs.

So I went to look at Britaxes...

I love the Marathon... rear-facing till 33 lbs. and 5 pt. harness front-facing till 65 lbs! wow...

But there's not much discussion on them here. It seems everyone loves the Roundabout. Are these similar? (they appeared similar to me)

Any other ideas?

TIA,
Lori

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Registered: Jan 2002
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 67

We have both carseats and really like them. We put our youngest (who is 1) in the Roundabout Advantage and our 3 year old into the new Marathon. They are similar. The Marathon is larger, but still has lots of padding like the Roundabout. I didn't like the booster seats with 5-point harnesses because they did not look very comfortable. We take lots of long road trips and both children sleep quite well in these carseats. The buckle on the Marathon is a little different from the Roundabout, but both are easy to use and easy to adjust. My only complaint about the Marathon is that the LATCH hooks are attached to a black metal bar outside where the seatbelt would go through and that bar makes it difficult to route the seatbelt if you have to install the seat with one.

If I had to choose, I would get a Marathon since it has the higher weight limit.

I wish Britax would sell a LATCH retrofit, since our Roundabout is pre-LATCH.

Good luck with your new baby!

Tricia

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Registered: Mar 2002
Location: (near) Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 62

Thank you so much for your input!

I wish there was a retrofit kit, too, as I found the Roundabout (non-LATCH) on clearance at Zany Brainy for $139!!!!

I was browsing the forums and lots of people said that the Marathon was much sloppier made than the Roundabout. Have you found this at all? The Marathon sure makes a lot more sense as it would be useful for the time span of two "regular" seats, so the cost would be brought down to $120 each (if that makes sense.....). It's still a heckuva lot of money for one seat.

Thanks again,
Lori

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Registered: Jan 2002
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 67

I just read some of the old threads with complaints about the Marathon. Here are my opinions:

The belly pad is a poor design (it slips off if you are not careful when you take the child out) but I plan to put a few stitches in it to make the opening smaller, I just haven't had time to do it yet.

I have not had any problems with the HUGS on the harness straps. They are just there, and don't bother my son at all.

The harness adjuster works just fine. On the Roundabout, I can tighten it with one big pull, and on the Marathon I have to use several small pulls. (Does that make sense?) It's not better or worse, just different.

The Marathon comes with the LATCH hooks set for rear-facing, and you have to switch them for forward-facing installation. My husband did that and said it was easy - you just slide them around on that black bar I complained about.

Just my thougths...
Tricia

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Registered: Mar 2002
Location: (near) Milwaukee, WI
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Excellent! Thanks. Still sounds like a good deal for the money (if you compare it to the roundabout--not comparing it to a Graco or such).

Now do I buy one when Zany Brainy has 10% off on Jan. 4th or do I wait till I truly need one (which won't be for at least 4 months I'm assuming)?



Lori

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Registered: Jan 2002
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 67

Wow, the 10% off is good on Britax? Usually their stuff is exempt from sales. That would be a good deal.

By the way, if you happen to have USAA insurance, you can get a $25 rebate from them for purchasing a carseat. I didn't know that until a few months ago.

One more thing to think about - both the Marathon and Roundabout take up a lot more room rear-facing than an infant seat/carrier. So you need to move the captain's chair all the way back, limiting the leg room in the 3rd row.

Tricia

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quote:

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Originally posted by dntboles
One more thing to think about - both the Marathon and Roundabout take up a lot more room rear-facing than an infant seat/carrier. So you need to move the captain's chair all the way back, limiting the leg room in the 3rd row.

Tricia

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