Reviews for Sunshine Kids Radian 65SL convertible car seat
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- 7
Sturdy, narrow seat
Reviewer: Anonymous , Rochester, NY
Date: July 06, 2010
We have two of these in our Pontiac Montana minivan. With these in the rear outboard positions and a Britax Roundabout in the middle, we can get 3 seats accross the back row. The narrow bottom and low height of the sides allows the Britax to overlap over the top of these seats, and for this reason these seats are fantastic! The EPS foam is great. The covers are relatively easy to remove and wash. They stay put despite multiple washings.
A few caveats however. Because of the folding mechanism, these seats are ridiculously heavy (which kind of negates designing these as a portable seat). Another issue is that because of the slim back profile, it is difficult to get a tight installation because the seatbelt runs up, through the seat, and then straight down (as opposed to up and out, through, and then back and down). This makes these a bear to install.
For the narrow profile and ability to get 3 across I give it 4 stars. For ease of instalation I'd give it 2 or 3.
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Great for an older kids too
Reviewer: Anonymous , Wayne, PA
Date: March 27, 2010
We have been using this seat for over 16 months...started when my son was 5.5, now he is 7. He is a typical size kid. Probably on the leaner side, but definitely on par in height. All his friends were getting boosters. I have a 1997 Subaru outback. I didn't want to seat him by the door if I didn't have to. If we were t-boned, there are no air bags, space, etc (like in a minivan or newer car) to give him a degree of protection. He would be pretty beat up.
I am so grateful that we could find a seat to fit him and could be placed in the middle seat position.
We also have a Radian Booster on the side next to him for when he has a playdate. Most kids do not stay with their shoulders back so the belt is properly on them. I have seen so many kids trying to put the belt under their arm, or lean forward, or not tighten their belt. All these kids need to still be in a 5 pt or have more vigilant parents.
When I first got this seat, I was doubtful that my son could be in it for long and was about to return because $220 is pricy for 6 mos of use. I spoke with the guy at Radian who talked me through some concepts and adjustments. I AM SOOOOO GLAD. THIS SEAT IS AWESOME IN ITS STURDINESS, looks (low profile so I can call it a race car seat with my son), and fact that I didn't have to buy a new car.
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good seat
Reviewer: Anonymous , New Jersey
Date: March 25, 2010
I bought this for daughter when she had outgrown her convertible seat with 5 point harness, around 40 lbs. She is close to 6 years old now and still fits in it well. the seat doesn't take up too much, but is heavy to move from car to car. I feel safer having her in 5 point harness, but we do keep a regular booster seat for carpooling.
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Great Seats!
Reviewer: Kelley Kelly , Newington, CT
Date: February 02, 2010
We have 6 of these - 3 in my Chrysler Sebring, 3 in my husband's Chrysler 300. They fit easily in the backseats and I had no trouble installing them. I did use the seatbelt installation rather than the LATCH. (We've always had trouble getting the LATCH installation to fit tightly with all our carseats (previous were Graco Snugride, Cosco Alpha and Omega, and a booster that I can't remember the name of).
When we were expecting our 3rd living child, I really didn't want to have to move to a minivan/SUV. Not only do I hate driving huge vehicles (I'm not the world's best backer-upper), my oldest daughter (4) gets tremendously carsick and I wasn't comfortable with the idea of putting her so far away from me in the car. On top of that, I really didn't want to have to fit a car payment into our budget.
I read review after review, tried every possible configuration with the carseats we had and ended up buying six of these. Yes, it was an investment but, even so, it was a heck of a lot cheaper than a new car.
They're heavy - if you're going to be moving them around a lot, better start lifting weights. Honestly, though, I'm more comfortable with them being heavy. I feel my kids are safer being protected by steel rather than plastic.
We've been using them now since September and I highly recommend them.
(And now I don't have to drive a minivan - YAY!)
When we were expecting our 3rd living child, I really didn't want to have to move to a minivan/SUV. Not only do I hate driving huge vehicles (I'm not the world's best backer-upper), my oldest daughter (4) gets tremendously carsick and I wasn't comfortable with the idea of putting her so far away from me in the car. On top of that, I really didn't want to have to fit a car payment into our budget.
I read review after review, tried every possible configuration with the carseats we had and ended up buying six of these. Yes, it was an investment but, even so, it was a heck of a lot cheaper than a new car.
They're heavy - if you're going to be moving them around a lot, better start lifting weights. Honestly, though, I'm more comfortable with them being heavy. I feel my kids are safer being protected by steel rather than plastic.
We've been using them now since September and I highly recommend them.
(And now I don't have to drive a minivan - YAY!)
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I have 7 of these seats!
Reviewer: Anonymous , Minneapolis, MN
Date: January 09, 2010
I have purchased 7 of the Radian 65 and have been extremely happy with them! I work at a car dealership and am always driving a different demo car and need something I can fit all of my kids in the second row of. These are perfect! I had 3 kids in 3-1/2 years and wish I had found this seats years earlier to eliminate the need for multiple different seats but have 3 across the back of our Lexus GX 470 with no problem! My husband drives that car, I have 3 across the back of Grandmas 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe..once again no problem and in my Acura MDX I have a Britax Regent (huge), Sunshine Radian and a Britax Marathon...all accomadating 3 kids under 5. So if you have a tight fit this is the seat!!! I have worked hard to make not driving a minivan a reality!!!!
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Super sturdy, safe, narrow & versatile
Reviewer: J L , Norfolk, VA
Date: January 03, 2010
I've had this seat about 10 months now and it is still in immaculate condition even after a couple spills that might have stained. It cleans up easily and the low sides make getting baby in/out easy, even from a high up suv. My son loves being able to see well, even rear facing, out the window. It does require some room from the seat in front, as the other reviewer mentioned, but it hasn't kept my husband from putting the seat fully back when he drives, there's just some *squeezing* on the part of the driver's seat back. It's very robust and heavy, not terribly easy to lug around, but it does fold up for carrying and has a backpack type strap that stores in the back of the seat for the job. Doable if you needed to fly with it. It's very simple to install with the buckle-type latch hooks. My older daughter was jealous that this wasn't her seat, it's very nice! I expect this will easily last through all of it's convertible stages while still looking great.
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Excellent Seat
Reviewer: Anonymous , Denver, CO
Date: July 17, 2009
I love this seat.
We drive a small car and this seat fits great rear facing and forward facing. When installed rearfacing outboard the front seat does have to slide forward about 2 clicks, but it is the same as when we had our little ones in an infant carrier. I learned some tips and tricks for getting a more up-right install since my little ones are a little older which is also nice. I love the low sides as my little ones are able to look out the window even rear facing and putting them in and out of the seat is super easy because of the low sides.
I had no problems installing with the LATCH system or the seat belts (not at the same time though). I have instelled them in a Spectra5, Stratus & Pathfinder and had no problems with any of the installs.
I love that it has RFing teather and is soooo narrow! I wish more seats were made like this and don't see the need for wide, bulky seats.
I think it is also great that they are now approved to 40#'s RFing (with the correct DOM) and 65#'s FFing. This seat is really going to last!!
If I had only known I would not have tried other seats, I would have gone for the Radian65 right away!!
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