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koromiko 
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Joined: 26 October 2011
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 Topic: Convertible carseat - Evenflo Symphony?
Posted: 23 May 2012 at 4:33pm |
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Hi,
We're thinking about buying the Evenflo Symphony 65 e3, and I was wondering if anyone had any comments on it, particularly if you've used it with the seat belt install (we have an old car).
I saw there were some comments a year ago but they don't say if they're the e3, there is another Symphony which is a bit different.
We're looking for something we can use from newborn, and which will be rear facing to at least 12kg. This one is $480 which is a bit more than we were hoping to spend but it seems to have some good features. I'd be interested to hear if people have other recommendations that price or cheaper.
Thanks.
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Stoked
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Joined: 13 August 2011
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Posted: 23 May 2012 at 9:58pm |
The Plunket recommendation for rear facing is to rear face until two. A 12kg rf limit is quite low.
If I was looking at spending that sort of money I'd probably look at a Radian which is only $20 more than the Evenflo and has a lot more features (It would probably be the only seat you ever had to buy as it becomes a booster too.)
If I wanted to spend less money I'd probably buy a Cosco Scenera - it's cheap but appears to tick a lot of other boxes.
That's just my two cents worth but I'm no expert! 
Enjoy your shopping!
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koromiko
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Posted: 24 May 2012 at 8:55am |
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Thanks Stoked. The Evenflo becomes a booster too and is rear-facing to 18kg. We would like it to go RF to that weight, just decided on 12kg as the minimum but you're right it's probably a bit low.
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Danda08
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Joined: 07 September 2010
Location: Wellington
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Posted: 24 May 2012 at 2:19pm |
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We have the Evenflo Symphony 65 - not sure about the e3 bit though. Bought ours about 18 months ago and love them, totally worth the $ IMO. My girls will be two next month and are still rear-facing and will be for some time. The seatbelts are easy to do up/undo and adjust, the fabric of the seat and the inserts is soft but wears well.
We initially wanted the Radians but they didn't fit our car (which is a large 4wd - go figure).
We used capsules that we hired from Plunket when the girls were newborn (even though the Evenflo has the newborn insert), our girls were prem and just too tiny so the capsule suited us better, specially being winter babies and being able to carry them in and out of the house.
Can't comment on the seatbelt install sorry as we use the Isofix functionality.
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ItchyFeet
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Posted: 24 May 2012 at 8:51pm |
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Just be aware that my just under 50th percentile for height and weight DS grew out of the rear facing Evenflo long before he was the maximum weight - he grew out height wise even being just under average height and barely 12kgs. We ended up only getting less than 18 months use out of our Evenflo and ended up getting a Radian as well.
I took the Evenflo back to BOTM to get them to check as well - the fine print in the instructions only allows the head height to be adjusted up to the second from bottom height when used RFing, which is why DS outgrew it way quicker than we expected. I think most people don't realise that and just keep extending it.
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shellgirl
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Posted: 25 May 2012 at 1:42pm |
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I've a different experience from ItchyFeet. My 97th+ percentile (height) 22 month old still fits fine height wise in the Evenflo (although not much more room to go). We have the headrest correct too.
We really like the seat, but have just shifted DS into a radian because we wanted to keep him rear-facing and with an upright install on the radian (using the new wedge) we can fit him behind the drivers seat with enough room for my 6 foot 6 DH to be able to drive. We didn't get a Radian initially as it wouldn't fit at the angle required for a young baby. DS2 will be in the evenflo once he outgrows the capsule.
Sorry, we also use Latch/Isofix so can't comment on the seatbelt install.
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Isabella
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Posted: 27 May 2012 at 10:12pm |
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Love our Evenflo Symphony.. Its a brilliant seat. We went to BOTM with the intention of buying a Radian but she highly recommended the evenflo over it, plus the radian was a bit too tight in the car it was being installed in. Dont regret buying it at all. We also use isofix. We had a capsule when DD was young, because being able to take her out of the car in it while she was asleep was brilliant. I think if we have another I will go capsule first again for that very reason.
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sbeach
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Posted: 28 May 2012 at 11:59am |
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We have an evenflo symphony also. I love it. At almost 18mths DD is still comfortably RFing.
Unfortunately you dont now how you baby is going to grow and fit in different carseats! DD was 91st percentile for height and weight the first 5 months and I was worried she would outgrow her seat RFing before 2 years, but now has evened out nicely and is only 25th percentile for height and 50th for weight...
Our carseats are installed with seat belts without any problems. If you can take it to a Baby on the move or something similar and get them to install it, they do so for free and know how it should/shouldnt sit etc.
I also used a capsule at the beginning, makes transporting a little bubba so much easier.
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Convertible carseat - Evenflo Symphony?
