The Best Money I have ever spent (updated)

I purchased this car seat for my daughter when she outgrew her Graco Snugride infant carrier in 2004. She outgrew that seat around 4 months! She has been in the Britax Marathon since and is now 4 years old. She weighs about 50lbs and still fits very comfortably in this seat. She has no complaints. She still has about an inch left of growth before she outgrows the seat! I expect she will be in this seat till her 5th birthday if not longer! So we have really gotten a lot of use out of this seat.

The Marathon is a convertible seat that can be installed rear facing or forward facing. The seat goes to 33lbs rear facing and 65 lbs forward facing. The starting weight for the seat is 5lbs, although I would not recommend putting a newborn in this seat.

The seat is so easy to install that I can do it myself! I love that the LATCH belts are separate and independent of one another. I think it allows a much better install. I drive a Honda Odyssey and the LATCH anchors are only rated to 40lbs. So I have installed this seat easily with the seatbelt as well. The seatbelt lockoff is great for getting a tight rock solid install. I am able to install this seat with LATCH or the seat belt and get it so tight it does not move!

The cover is easily machine washed on the gentle cycle & hung to dry. It comes out clean and like new.

I will buy another Marathon for my son when he outgrows his infant seat. Since car seats have only a 6 year life from the date of manufacture I won't be able to hand this down to my son. He'll have to have a new one of his own.

I'm pleased I have been able to get so much use out of 1 seat. I have friends that have purchased several different seats for their children! I spent a lot of money, but I have only purchased 2 car seats for my daughter - an infant carrier & the Britax Marathon.

Britax is the leader in quality car seats. Not only do they build their seats to exceed the specifications/regulations of the United States they are built to European standards which are much higher than here in the U.S.

At 8 months of age my daughter was in the Britax Marathon when we were involved in a serious automobile accident. She was rear facing in her Marathon. Air bags deployed and we were unable to drive away from the scene. She cried, but was unharmed.

The only thing I don't like about the seat is the price. It's expensive, but I think it is worth every penny. I wish the seat were a bit cheaper so more people would not rule the seat out.