Evenflo Symphany 65 Car seat
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Topic: Evenflo Symphany 65 Car seat
Posted By: red1
Subject: Evenflo Symphany 65 Car seat
Date Posted: 07 August 2011 at 9:33pm
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Has anyone got the new evenflo convertible carseat? Just wondering what you think of it?? ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Replies:
Posted By: shellgirl
Date Posted: 08 August 2011 at 8:02am
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We got an evenflo symphony 65 when my fellow was 5 months old - he has just turned 1. We had originally wanted a Radian for the extended rear facing, but it didn't fit in our car at the angle required.
The symphony fits really well in our car and is easy to get him in and out of - love that it doesn't have to have tethers rear facing! We have latch and it is really easy to install with that - haven't tried a seatbelt install. My DS is a tall boy and I did worry slightly about the height as it is a bit more compact in that sense, but he is still has plenty to go rear facing wise. It has been used once forward facing for a friends 3 year old - it was quite a way up for her to climb into because of the base (but i don't really have experience with other convertible seats so they could all be the same). It was great that we didn't have to rethread the straps for her, just slide them to the right spot. I will definitely consider getting another one for bubs #2 when the time comes. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 08 August 2011 at 9:32am
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I do not and would not recommend it at all. We have one and it is a piece of crap, no offence to the above poster! For a start... The manual says rear facing to 15kg (why I bought it) yet the carseat says do not rear face past 9kg... Rung them up and they said to go with the carseat label rather than the manual in case there was a misprint.
Secondly, the carseat itself is made from a plastic frame with polystyrene inside the plastic hollow frame... The darn polystyrene has broken twice on my carseat! Once when we took it out to turn it forward facing (after the weight incident) and again when we got a new car and were reinstalling it. It's so poorly made. - also we weren't rough with it at all - it's just very thin and flimsy in certain spots. Points I did like about it though was that it converts to a booster as well so could last a while. As the above poster said it doesn't need a tether for rear facing (BUT I found that you need to use the seat belt lock for rearfacing otherwise if you go around a sharp corner it is likely to tip. We don't have latch), it's quite stylie although the fabric does fade quickly... Hope that helps... The place where I bought it from were very helpful the first time the polystyrene broke and replaced it for me from the floor model one (bit odd I thought) and they said they'd had a couple of others come back with the same issue. Second time they weren't as helpful.  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Danda08
Date Posted: 08 August 2011 at 10:03am
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We have 2 Evenflo Symphony 65's and love them.
Like shellgirl we wanted the Radian but it didn't fit in our car at the correct angle for rear facing. I'm actually really glad now, having seen my friend's daughter in a Radian I think the Evenflo seems much more comfortable. They are easy to install using the latch and we haven't had any of the issues High9 mentioned. I find them easy to get my girls in and out of, the straps are easy peasy to do up and adjust etc. Finally I think they are great value for money, you get ERF (both my seat and manual say to 15kg), FF and booster. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: shellgirl
Date Posted: 08 August 2011 at 10:37am
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After reading High9's post I just went and checked my seat. It has two labels - one does say the 9kg rearfacing limit, the other the 15.8kg so something has gone a bit wrong in the labelling. I'm going to e-mail them with the model number to clarify, but CaughtKnee it might be an idea to check both the seat label and the manual before you purchase if you decide on the Evenflo.
High9, I would have been asking for my money back if I was you re the 9kg limit - if that is the case the seat is effectively not what you were sold. I will be doing just that if they tell me that it is indeed 9kgs. We have had the seat in and out quite a few times and no issues re breakage. Oh, and unfortunately I have discovered that the seat cover goes nicely through the washing machine after baby vomits  .------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: red1
Date Posted: 08 August 2011 at 12:34pm
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Wow that is really interesting about the weight limit labels etc.....im glad I asked opinions...but perhaps even more undecided now we are going to go checkout seats at BOTM. The reason I liked this seat was because like many of you I was sold on the radian until I rang BOTM to see if they had any in stock and she said she didnt like the radian and told me reasons why etc...hard to install, rearfacing teethers to floor etc instead of over the back, and didnt think for what you paid for it wasnt that greater seat etc. She said their number one seller was the evenflo symphony and told me to research that if I wanted. Hmmmm interesting....will definitely be checking the label!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: red1
Date Posted: 08 August 2011 at 1:01pm
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Had me wondering about the 2 labels reading differently so rang BOTM and she said that it rear faces to 15kg thats correct and the label about it saying 9kg on the seat means that the child needs to be atleast 9kgs before you turn them too forward facing.....hopefully thats right high9?? ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: shellgirl
Date Posted: 08 August 2011 at 1:48pm
My side wing seat label definitely says rearface only to 9kgs (as opposed to what the BOTM lady suggests), but I'm hoping that is a mistake . The label on my base, however has the rearface to 15.8 kg limit. Will let you know when I get a response from Evenflo.
We looked at quite a few reviews of the evenflo before buying and I think the only negative was that you couldn't take the straps out for cleaning. It possibly did mean it took a bit longer when cleaning up the aforementioned vomit but I did manage to get them clean. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Lucky apple
Date Posted: 08 August 2011 at 4:03pm
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Lol, I have just discovered this in the last week too...rang BotM about it!!
The seat says "use only in a rear facing position when using it with an infant weighing less than 20lb (9kg)" .....I immediately thought that this meant that you should not use it RF if a child is over that weight limit. But...it's actually a completely ambiguous sentence. Can be interpreted the way I initially thought...but it actually means not to use FF if a child is less than 9kg (does that make sense?). So, it's not written well at all, and hence the confusion. But, we can be reassured that it's fine to use ERF. Thing is, it only clicked in my head when I rang the Baby on the Move people....as soon as I said it out loud, I totally got it....then felt like a turkey for having queried it!! BoTM lady said lots of people have asked specifically about it and assures me that is what they mean. |
Posted By: Lucky apple
Date Posted: 08 August 2011 at 4:13pm
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Just read the rest of the posts, which I didn't read before posting above. And read that caughtknee had already said what I said!! sorry I jumped the gun!!
Anyway, I love our evenflo. Have that and a cosco as a second seat...evenflo def my fav of the two. I liked it initially space reasons as it fitted in our small car the best of any of the seats we tried, as well as being able to ERF. Cover goes through the washing machine fine too if you ever need to and dries quickly. I would buy it again if given the choice. :) |
Posted By: red1
Date Posted: 08 August 2011 at 4:23pm
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Thanks Sally...you said it much better, the lady tried to explain it to me on the phone but of course I dont have a seat infront of me to understand tha wording, so thanks for that. I see they have bought out another one very recently BOTM lady said they are just in and rear face to 18kg now...yay for ERF!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 08 August 2011 at 5:09pm
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I had contacted Evenflo directly though and I'm pretty sure they would know better than BOTM... No offense!
We are looking at getting rid of the car seat altogether. I would hate for them to give me money and take the seat and then try sell it on! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: shellgirl
Date Posted: 08 August 2011 at 5:27pm
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Ah, that makes sense Sally - yes it is an ambiguous statement isn't it!! Hopefully I get a similar response from Evenflo. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: shellgirl
Date Posted: 09 August 2011 at 9:47am
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This is the response from Evenflo:
"I thank you for your inquiry regarding your Evenflo Symphony car seat. I will be more than happy to assist you with your question. What the label means is if your child weighs 9 kg, the seat must to be used in the rear facing position however the seat may be used in the rear facing position up to 15.8 kgs. Thank you for contacting Evenflo. We appreciate the time you took to email us. Jessie Woolever Senior ParentLink Representative Evenflo" So it matches up with what BOTM have said. High9, I wonder if Evenflo misunderstood what you were asking when you contacted them?? Although it sounds like you are unhappy with the seat for other reasons as well. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 09 August 2011 at 11:07am
I guess they have misunderstood me! Thanks for clearing it up though! 
Although yeah - I am pretty unhappy about the frame of it. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: red1
Date Posted: 09 August 2011 at 12:11pm
Thanks for posting the reply from evenflo Shellgirl-off to have a look at the seats tomorrow!!  ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 10 August 2011 at 3:04pm
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I have rung the store where I bought the carseat and they don't stock it anymore due to having too many problems with the seat but they are ringing the supplier and are going to get back to me on what they can do with the seat (fix it, refund, etc). ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Emmi_
Date Posted: 10 August 2011 at 8:26pm
Just wondering (Im a Radian fan BTW, just so your warned ) why the teether going forward is a problem? Ive found it so much easier than it going backwards (not that it is needed when RFing, but we use it anyway), and its so not hard at all to install Ive taken it in and out of our car (and into about 5 different ones) with no issues at all (and it only takes about 3 mins to install it from start to finish). I highly recommend them, and love ours, we will be getting a 2nd one for bubba number 2.
Oh and if its the price that puts you off you can find them on sale for about $420 most of the time, and considering you will use it for the car seats life span I figure thats not bad! (around $50 a year!) But that is just my two cents   ------------- 
+1 May 09 Angel 
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Caughtknee wrote:Posted By: Plushie
Date Posted: 11 August 2011 at 8:10am
| ^^ ditto. My 2c would be the tether going into the boot is the biggest pain in the ass ever. My first carseat had a boot tether, DS was in it from birth and lifting a teeny 5kg newborn in and out around the straps was hard enough, so it was a requirement for me that it had a floor tether. MUCH easier. BOTM and Plunket seem to both be really anti radian. |
Posted By: red1
Date Posted: 11 August 2011 at 8:56am
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No biggie really....dont wanna offend the radian car seat...it looks to be a great seat for sure, just wasnt going to work for us, esp when DS will be travelling in DH's work truck sometimes, in the back there really isnt room for the radian, tether strap or no tether strap. Went with the evenflo and very happy with it so far. Guess each to there own ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: shellgirl
Date Posted: 11 August 2011 at 12:48pm
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The Evenflo doesn't tether rearfacing, so no lifting hefty (or not so hefty) bubs over annoying tether straps ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 11 August 2011 at 4:24pm
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That was a deciding factor in getting it. I had a SNS carseat and it was a PITA RF with the tether. DD is 90th+%ile for weight since maybe 2mo so she's darn heavy and I'm not a big/strong woman so about a month after getting the SNS I got the Evenflo one. Also helped to just have one for each car. SNS weight limit RF was 12kg which DD was by 15mo.
I am however looking at getting a Radian providing it will fit in the car as I think it is a bit longer than the Evenflo which I've retested in the car and only just fits RF fully reclined with my seat as far forward as I can have it. No chance of it being on the LHS as DP has his seat as far back as it goes - unless he sits in the back. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Plushie
Date Posted: 11 August 2011 at 6:02pm
| Of course, caughtknee, i'm pleased you found something that suits you. I wasnt so much pimping the radian as pimping a carseat without that freaking tether strap to manouver. I hated mine with a passion! |
Posted By: red1
Date Posted: 11 August 2011 at 7:50pm
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Algud Bowie!!!! Such a Trivial thing carseats, there'll be plenty more decisions on what else to buy for our bubbas before they can buy it themselves im sure!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: shellgirl
Date Posted: 11 August 2011 at 9:48pm
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High9, we tried, but had no chance getting the radian in our car rearfacing (Mazda 3) without the passenger seat too far forward so that was a major reason for going with the symphony. My DH is 6 foot 6 so he needs the front seat back a decent way. Later I googled radian install in mazda 3 and found most people had a similar problem (unless they were prepared to put the front seat right forward). If you google your car type it might give you an idea if it is worth trying the radian. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 11 August 2011 at 10:44pm
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Ah, our car is about the same if not smaller inside than a Mazda 3 (well the 2010 model anyway) so hmm! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: chuffed
Date Posted: 01 September 2011 at 4:56pm
| I've installed an upright Radian in a number of Mazda 3's. The position behind passenger seat actually gave more room than the capsule. One click forward from furthest back. A friend's husband is 6ft5 and were told at her BOTM that it was installed correctly and neither of them could sit in the passenger seat. She came over and I installed mine in her car and it was easy - not sure how they couldn't get it nice and upright. Each BOTM franchise are different and have their own seats that they like best. |
Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 01 September 2011 at 4:59pm
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I forgot to add, Emmi_ came around and her Radian fitted RFing in my Hyundai 2000 Accent.
Baby Factory don't stock the Evenflo Symphony anymore, I was told due to too many problems but their stockist is supposedly sending me new parts for my broken one... Almost 3 weeks later I am still waiting. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: chickadeedoo
Date Posted: 08 September 2011 at 10:17am
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I have a evenflo and I like it.. The sticker label on mine says rear facing til 15kgs.. My son is 12 kgs so still have a bit more to go. I would have purchased a radian if our car would fit it (have had issues with carseats not fitting in our car correctly) and we had the money for it. We got our carseat on special so it was good. ------------- 
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Posted By: Kate177085
Date Posted: 22 March 2015 at 2:54pm
| Hey guys, the 9kg is a minimum before you can turn forward facing! I ran into the same problem and freaked out. Went into my local baby on the move and he said it is American wording that confuses people, the short of it is, it is supposed to be used tear facing until 15.8kg but is absolutely NOT to be used forward facing before 9kg. Same with the next weight limit. I.e it should not be used as a booster before 18kg but can be safely used with the harness until 36kg(? The next weight limit on the label) and then used as a booster after 36kg-46kg. Hope that helps. For the record. We have two of these and are just buying a third. LOVE them. My sister and some friends have the diono radian and I hate it. It is so much more fiddly with non self retracting latch system, no sliding harness and very angular. We started off with one evenflo symphony then when number two came along got a different smaller one and ended up re-purchasing another evenflo coz we hated it so much. We are now purchasing a third evenflo as a much needed spare. We have had our original ones polystyrene one snap in the skinny point by child's hip but it doesn't effect safety or use as it is only a comfort layer and not structural =) |