luxury cars great neck image
proudmama2
I was wondering how much he has to weigh or how old he has to be in order to face forward? He gets aggravated because he cant see anything! When is he ready to face forward instead of rear facing?
Answer
Turning kids forward at 20lbs/1year is an outdated practice that could cost you your child's life! Though this is the standard guideline that most people think they should follow, in fact it is a barest of minimums. So an 8 months old should absolutely stay rear facing for a good long time yet. Here's why:
1)A forward-facing child under 2 years old is 5 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a crash than a rear-facing child of the same age.
2)A child's vertabrae do not fully fuse until 3-6 years old, before then, she is at great risk for internal decapitation. The spinal column can stretch up to 2 inches in a crash BUT the spinal cord can only stretch up to 1/4 inch before it snaps and baby is gone.
3)Current research suggests that children under the age of two years are 75 percent less likely to die or be seriously injured when they are riding rear facing.
4)In a recent article from Injury Prevention, it was found that the odds of severe injury to forward facing children age 12-23 months old was 5.32 times higher than a rear facing child. (Car Safety Seats For Children: Rear Facing For Best Protection; Injury Prevention 2007; 13:398-402.)
It works this way: when you get in an accident and run into something, the car stop suddently, but everything and everyone in the car keeps moving in the direction the car was moving when it stopped, in most accidents, this is forward. So in an accident with a child in a forward facing seat, his head, the heaviest part of the body on babies and toddlers, flies forward very forcefully and easily snaps. If that same child is in a rear facing seat, his head tries to fly forward but is supported by the back of the rear facing seat, so there is no stress put on the child's neck and spine.
Check out this photo album exclusively of rear facing kids, many of them much older than 12 months: http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum.aspx There isn't a single documented case of a child breaking their legs b/c they were rear facing in an accident. There are, however, lots of cases where children have been killed and seriously injured where a rear facing seat would have protected them better.
As for him being aggravated, in truth, if he is upset it likely has nothing to do with the direction he is facing, since he has only ever been rear facing, he doesn't even know there is an alternative, so how can he possibly be upset about something he doesn't know exists? Most kids PREFER to be rear facing. Their legs and hips are better supported in a rear facing seat than in a forward facing one. Perhaps he is running out of room in his infant carrier or wants to sit more upright. 8 month olds no longer need to be at that strict 45 degree recline anymore, they can't sit straight up yet, but can be somewhere between 30-45 degrees and he would then be able to see out the side and rear windows better. So get a convertible car seat and install it slightly more upright and it very likely will solve the problem. Best bets:
The Britax Marathon/Boulevard/Decathalon (These 3 are the same seat, just different variances of luxury additions, with the Marathon being the cheapest base model) can be found for regular price of $269, and on sale at Albee Baby online for $209-$219. The Marathon a wide open easy to route belt path, which makes using it correctly a lot easier, as do the built in lockoffs, which mean you never again have to use a locking clip. I can get it into 4 different vehicles in under 2 minutes. Because of the way the base is made, it fits in most cars. And, it is worth the money, b/c it lasts usually twice as long as most other car seats (all car seats expire 6 years after the date of manufacture) lasting a baby till they are 5-6 years old, where most at Walmart will only last till 2-4 years old. Rear faces to 33lbs, then forward to 65lbs. and top slots 17inches tall, lasts most kids to ages 5-6 years old.
The Evenflo Triumph Advance (not the original Triumph, make sure it says Advance) is a great seat. $150 version at Babies R Us has padding similar to Britax seats, top slots of 17", harnesses to 35lbs rear facing, and 50lbs forward facing. $120 Walmart version just has little less plush padding. Wide open belt path, easy to install, though it doesn't have built in lockoffs. The harness adjusts at the front of the car seat, you don't have to take the car seat out of the car just to raise/lower the straps. It's one of only 2 seats that does this (The Britax Boulevard is the other, I believE), and it has infinite harness adjustment so the harness always fits perfectly until its outgrown. No more tugging straps to tighten them either. You tighten and loosen the harness using knobs on the side of the seat. As a major bonus, it can be used in a recline position even in forward facing mode. Awesome for kids who still sleep in the car. I LOVE THIS SEAT! LOL My son, who is too big for every other car seat at Walmart has the same amount of room in this as the Britax Marathon.
The Compass Tue Fit, also sold as The First Years True Fit, is a great choice, too. Here's a thread talking all about it: http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=37221&highlight=truefit Has 16.5 inch top harness slots, half inch shorter than the Britax Marathon and Evenflo Triumph Advance. Rear faces to 35lbs, forward faces to 65lbs, has built-in lockoffs, and you never have to rethread the harness to change harness height. The headrest is removable to fit better in smaller cars. $179 for the one cover Walmart offers it in, check Babies R Us and other stores for different covers at a little more expensive price.
When shopping Remember these rules:
1)the BEST seat is the one that fits your child, fits your car, and will be used correctly 100% of the time. (This is why convenience features DO make a difference and ARE worth the money! If its easy to use, you're more likely to use it correctly.
2)children need to stay rear facing as long as possible.
Turning kids forward at 20lbs/1year is an outdated practice that could cost you your child's life!
A)A forward-facing child under 2 years old is 5 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a crash than a rear-facing child of the same age.
B)A child's vertabrae do not fully fuse until 3-6 years old, before then, she is at great risk for internal decapitation. The spinal column can stretch up to 2 inches in a crash BUT the spinal cord can only stretch up to 1/4 inch before it snaps and baby is gone.
C)Current research suggests that children under the age of two years are 75 percent less likely to die or be seriously injured when they are riding rear facing.
D)In a recent article from Injury Prevention, it was found that the odds of severe injury to forward facing children age 12-23 months old was 5.32 times higher than a rear facing child. (Car Safety Seats For Children: Rear Facing For Best Protection; Injury Prevention 2007; 13:398-402.)
3)Once you do turn them forward facing, they need to stay in a 5 point harness as long as possible. 4 years/40lbs is the minimum for riding in a booster, and most 4 year olds have no business using one yet. If they can't sit upright for an entire trip, they need the harness of a car seat still. And, even if they do sit properly, a 5 point harness is safer, so you want to keep them in one as long as possible. This is important to consider b/c most car seats only forward face to 40lbs. My son just turned 3, and is in the 95th% for height and weight - 40" tall and weighs 41lbs. He outgrew the 40lbs seats shortly after his 2nd birthday. It was a total waste of money. He now has a Britax Marathon, which goes to 65lbs, and will be able to fit it for some time yet. If I'd have bought it when he was born, I could have had one car seat this whole time instead of the 3 I wasted money on. They are more expensive for many reasons, this is one.
So...knowing all that, here's some about specific seats. Please don't get a Graco Comfort Sport. Car seat techs call it the 'crappysport'. LOL Its a crappy seat that won't last your child very long b/c it has a really short shell. The straps twist all the time, and if they're twisted they won't support your child in a wreck properly. They're hard to install. There's nothing good about these seats except perhaps they're cheap sometimes. Ditto the Safety1st 3-in-1/Cosco Alpha Omega/Eddie Bauer 3-in1 seats. These are all the same company - same seat, just different covers. They stink. Hard to install, b/c of narrow belt paths. Ever tried to wash a skinny cup by hand? Now imagine that skinny cup with pointy edges. That's what putting your hand through these to install them is like. AND they have too short a shell to really go to 40lbs. And that's another misleading thing the box says - 5-100lbs. What the box fails to mention (you don't find out until reading the manual!) is that the harness only goes to 40lbs, NOT 100lbs! After 40lbs it must be used as a booster.And they do not make good boosters. Also, most kids have to use boosters until they're at least 8 years old. Car seats expire 6 years after the date of manufacture, so no matter what they say it is NOT the last seat you'll ever need to buy.
Turning kids forward at 20lbs/1year is an outdated practice that could cost you your child's life! Though this is the standard guideline that most people think they should follow, in fact it is a barest of minimums. So an 8 months old should absolutely stay rear facing for a good long time yet. Here's why:
1)A forward-facing child under 2 years old is 5 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a crash than a rear-facing child of the same age.
2)A child's vertabrae do not fully fuse until 3-6 years old, before then, she is at great risk for internal decapitation. The spinal column can stretch up to 2 inches in a crash BUT the spinal cord can only stretch up to 1/4 inch before it snaps and baby is gone.
3)Current research suggests that children under the age of two years are 75 percent less likely to die or be seriously injured when they are riding rear facing.
4)In a recent article from Injury Prevention, it was found that the odds of severe injury to forward facing children age 12-23 months old was 5.32 times higher than a rear facing child. (Car Safety Seats For Children: Rear Facing For Best Protection; Injury Prevention 2007; 13:398-402.)
It works this way: when you get in an accident and run into something, the car stop suddently, but everything and everyone in the car keeps moving in the direction the car was moving when it stopped, in most accidents, this is forward. So in an accident with a child in a forward facing seat, his head, the heaviest part of the body on babies and toddlers, flies forward very forcefully and easily snaps. If that same child is in a rear facing seat, his head tries to fly forward but is supported by the back of the rear facing seat, so there is no stress put on the child's neck and spine.
Check out this photo album exclusively of rear facing kids, many of them much older than 12 months: http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum.aspx There isn't a single documented case of a child breaking their legs b/c they were rear facing in an accident. There are, however, lots of cases where children have been killed and seriously injured where a rear facing seat would have protected them better.
As for him being aggravated, in truth, if he is upset it likely has nothing to do with the direction he is facing, since he has only ever been rear facing, he doesn't even know there is an alternative, so how can he possibly be upset about something he doesn't know exists? Most kids PREFER to be rear facing. Their legs and hips are better supported in a rear facing seat than in a forward facing one. Perhaps he is running out of room in his infant carrier or wants to sit more upright. 8 month olds no longer need to be at that strict 45 degree recline anymore, they can't sit straight up yet, but can be somewhere between 30-45 degrees and he would then be able to see out the side and rear windows better. So get a convertible car seat and install it slightly more upright and it very likely will solve the problem. Best bets:
The Britax Marathon/Boulevard/Decathalon (These 3 are the same seat, just different variances of luxury additions, with the Marathon being the cheapest base model) can be found for regular price of $269, and on sale at Albee Baby online for $209-$219. The Marathon a wide open easy to route belt path, which makes using it correctly a lot easier, as do the built in lockoffs, which mean you never again have to use a locking clip. I can get it into 4 different vehicles in under 2 minutes. Because of the way the base is made, it fits in most cars. And, it is worth the money, b/c it lasts usually twice as long as most other car seats (all car seats expire 6 years after the date of manufacture) lasting a baby till they are 5-6 years old, where most at Walmart will only last till 2-4 years old. Rear faces to 33lbs, then forward to 65lbs. and top slots 17inches tall, lasts most kids to ages 5-6 years old.
The Evenflo Triumph Advance (not the original Triumph, make sure it says Advance) is a great seat. $150 version at Babies R Us has padding similar to Britax seats, top slots of 17", harnesses to 35lbs rear facing, and 50lbs forward facing. $120 Walmart version just has little less plush padding. Wide open belt path, easy to install, though it doesn't have built in lockoffs. The harness adjusts at the front of the car seat, you don't have to take the car seat out of the car just to raise/lower the straps. It's one of only 2 seats that does this (The Britax Boulevard is the other, I believE), and it has infinite harness adjustment so the harness always fits perfectly until its outgrown. No more tugging straps to tighten them either. You tighten and loosen the harness using knobs on the side of the seat. As a major bonus, it can be used in a recline position even in forward facing mode. Awesome for kids who still sleep in the car. I LOVE THIS SEAT! LOL My son, who is too big for every other car seat at Walmart has the same amount of room in this as the Britax Marathon.
The Compass Tue Fit, also sold as The First Years True Fit, is a great choice, too. Here's a thread talking all about it: http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=37221&highlight=truefit Has 16.5 inch top harness slots, half inch shorter than the Britax Marathon and Evenflo Triumph Advance. Rear faces to 35lbs, forward faces to 65lbs, has built-in lockoffs, and you never have to rethread the harness to change harness height. The headrest is removable to fit better in smaller cars. $179 for the one cover Walmart offers it in, check Babies R Us and other stores for different covers at a little more expensive price.
When shopping Remember these rules:
1)the BEST seat is the one that fits your child, fits your car, and will be used correctly 100% of the time. (This is why convenience features DO make a difference and ARE worth the money! If its easy to use, you're more likely to use it correctly.
2)children need to stay rear facing as long as possible.
Turning kids forward at 20lbs/1year is an outdated practice that could cost you your child's life!
A)A forward-facing child under 2 years old is 5 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a crash than a rear-facing child of the same age.
B)A child's vertabrae do not fully fuse until 3-6 years old, before then, she is at great risk for internal decapitation. The spinal column can stretch up to 2 inches in a crash BUT the spinal cord can only stretch up to 1/4 inch before it snaps and baby is gone.
C)Current research suggests that children under the age of two years are 75 percent less likely to die or be seriously injured when they are riding rear facing.
D)In a recent article from Injury Prevention, it was found that the odds of severe injury to forward facing children age 12-23 months old was 5.32 times higher than a rear facing child. (Car Safety Seats For Children: Rear Facing For Best Protection; Injury Prevention 2007; 13:398-402.)
3)Once you do turn them forward facing, they need to stay in a 5 point harness as long as possible. 4 years/40lbs is the minimum for riding in a booster, and most 4 year olds have no business using one yet. If they can't sit upright for an entire trip, they need the harness of a car seat still. And, even if they do sit properly, a 5 point harness is safer, so you want to keep them in one as long as possible. This is important to consider b/c most car seats only forward face to 40lbs. My son just turned 3, and is in the 95th% for height and weight - 40" tall and weighs 41lbs. He outgrew the 40lbs seats shortly after his 2nd birthday. It was a total waste of money. He now has a Britax Marathon, which goes to 65lbs, and will be able to fit it for some time yet. If I'd have bought it when he was born, I could have had one car seat this whole time instead of the 3 I wasted money on. They are more expensive for many reasons, this is one.
So...knowing all that, here's some about specific seats. Please don't get a Graco Comfort Sport. Car seat techs call it the 'crappysport'. LOL Its a crappy seat that won't last your child very long b/c it has a really short shell. The straps twist all the time, and if they're twisted they won't support your child in a wreck properly. They're hard to install. There's nothing good about these seats except perhaps they're cheap sometimes. Ditto the Safety1st 3-in-1/Cosco Alpha Omega/Eddie Bauer 3-in1 seats. These are all the same company - same seat, just different covers. They stink. Hard to install, b/c of narrow belt paths. Ever tried to wash a skinny cup by hand? Now imagine that skinny cup with pointy edges. That's what putting your hand through these to install them is like. AND they have too short a shell to really go to 40lbs. And that's another misleading thing the box says - 5-100lbs. What the box fails to mention (you don't find out until reading the manual!) is that the harness only goes to 40lbs, NOT 100lbs! After 40lbs it must be used as a booster.And they do not make good boosters. Also, most kids have to use boosters until they're at least 8 years old. Car seats expire 6 years after the date of manufacture, so no matter what they say it is NOT the last seat you'll ever need to buy.
should i get an 05 g35 coupe or an 06 subaru wrx?
Alex R
what are the pros and cons of both cars? I'm interested in performance, reliability, sound system and style. please don't bash on either car i just want to know peoples personal opinions.
thanks
Answer
Well to be honest style is a subjective term, one which is best decided for yourself as to whether you prefer smooth clean lines (G35) or aerodynamic aggressiveness (WRX).
Performance is easier to get around. The G35 and WRX are pretty much neck-and-neck for acceleration and top speed, however the means in which they achieve it are completely different.
The G35 has a 350Z-derived VQ35DE 3.5L V6 producing around 300hp, whereas the Subaru has an EJ255 2.5L turbocharged flat-4 "Boxer" producing 230hp. It's down on power but the Subaru has the benefit of a very sophisticated AWD system to get the power down whereas the G35 is rear-wheel-drive (with an all-wheel-drive optional extra available in the G35x). The G35 has a choice of a 6-speed manual (0-60 in mid-high 5s) and a 5-speed automatic with sports shift (0-60 in 6.2 seconds), whereas the Subaru has a choice of a 5-speed manual (0-60 in 5.5 seconds) or a 4-speed auto (0-60 in 6.2 seconds). Both will hit 155mph.
In terms of handling, the Subaru has loads more grip and stability because of it's all-paw drivetrain and it will be a little more fun to drive as well. The G35 is a very well-sorted sports-lux coupé but it's heavier and a little more wallowy.
In terms of reliability again, it's pretty much the same story. The Subaru's Boxer engine is a very sturdy block, as is the VQ35DE in the G35, however as it's billed as a luxury car, the G35 is going to be a little more expensive to repair in the rare chance something major goes wrong with it.
In terms of the standard sound system, by far and away the G35 is going to be better in that respect, however in either case if you want a really good sound system just spend some cash on a good aftermarket set; it'll beat OEM sound any time.
Quick sum up then:
G35
Pros:
- Luxurious
- Reliable
- Effortless atmo power from the engine
- Refined transmissions and a more comfy place to be.
Cons:
- Will be a bit more lairy in wet conditions
- More expensive to repair than the Subaru
WRX
Pros:
- Boosted flat-4 provides a good kick in the pants and a great noise to boot.
- Pin-sharp dynamics and AWD security
- Very reliable
- Excellent seats and driving position
Cons:
- For the price you could be mistaken for thinking the interior is from the 1990s
- Not the most comfortable car in the world over rough surfaces
- Transmissions do the job but feel antiquated, especially the four-speed automatic. Desperately needs an STi 6-cog manual.
Well to be honest style is a subjective term, one which is best decided for yourself as to whether you prefer smooth clean lines (G35) or aerodynamic aggressiveness (WRX).
Performance is easier to get around. The G35 and WRX are pretty much neck-and-neck for acceleration and top speed, however the means in which they achieve it are completely different.
The G35 has a 350Z-derived VQ35DE 3.5L V6 producing around 300hp, whereas the Subaru has an EJ255 2.5L turbocharged flat-4 "Boxer" producing 230hp. It's down on power but the Subaru has the benefit of a very sophisticated AWD system to get the power down whereas the G35 is rear-wheel-drive (with an all-wheel-drive optional extra available in the G35x). The G35 has a choice of a 6-speed manual (0-60 in mid-high 5s) and a 5-speed automatic with sports shift (0-60 in 6.2 seconds), whereas the Subaru has a choice of a 5-speed manual (0-60 in 5.5 seconds) or a 4-speed auto (0-60 in 6.2 seconds). Both will hit 155mph.
In terms of handling, the Subaru has loads more grip and stability because of it's all-paw drivetrain and it will be a little more fun to drive as well. The G35 is a very well-sorted sports-lux coupé but it's heavier and a little more wallowy.
In terms of reliability again, it's pretty much the same story. The Subaru's Boxer engine is a very sturdy block, as is the VQ35DE in the G35, however as it's billed as a luxury car, the G35 is going to be a little more expensive to repair in the rare chance something major goes wrong with it.
In terms of the standard sound system, by far and away the G35 is going to be better in that respect, however in either case if you want a really good sound system just spend some cash on a good aftermarket set; it'll beat OEM sound any time.
Quick sum up then:
G35
Pros:
- Luxurious
- Reliable
- Effortless atmo power from the engine
- Refined transmissions and a more comfy place to be.
Cons:
- Will be a bit more lairy in wet conditions
- More expensive to repair than the Subaru
WRX
Pros:
- Boosted flat-4 provides a good kick in the pants and a great noise to boot.
- Pin-sharp dynamics and AWD security
- Very reliable
- Excellent seats and driving position
Cons:
- For the price you could be mistaken for thinking the interior is from the 1990s
- Not the most comfortable car in the world over rough surfaces
- Transmissions do the job but feel antiquated, especially the four-speed automatic. Desperately needs an STi 6-cog manual.
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