Carseat gurus... help please!

penguingrrl

So, based on GHMs prior suggestion we were all set to get my older daughter an evenflo maestro to replace a seat she's outgrowing in my aunt's car.  She's in this car once or twice a month and I really don't want to spend for a nautilus for such little use.  But, since DH and  only have one car this seat is also our backup in case of emergency (ie a car accident with our car and we're waiting for replacement seats, etc.), so just moving our seat once in a while isn't a great option either.

Given the recent maestro recall I'm not sure if I have another long-lasting alternative.  DD is very tall, particularly in the torso.  At 3 years not quite 2 months she's in the top slot of her SK radian.  She's a mature and compliant child, so if she outgrows the harness and has to use it as a booster at 4 I think that would be okay (I plan to keep her harnessed in my car until she outgrows the radian, will not be buying the latest greatest seat to get another few inches of harness height, however, given her temperament).

So, I need an inexpensive seat with a very high harness height limit, preferably that converts to a booster (yes I realize I might not like it as a booster, but I'm hoping it will be fine).  Is there *anything* out there cheaper than a nautilus now that the maestro was recalled?  Or even a convertible with a higher height limit and lower price point?

Thanks!

goodheartedmommy

I'd go ahead and still get the maestro. The problem effected older models, and those have now been sent a repair kit. The seat is currently just fine. Evenflo did an awesome job by doing a voluntary recall. There are no reports of it actually happening in a real-life crash, just in a test. Evenflo has a history of not recalling until it's been too late for some children, which doesn't give them the best track record, but they're seeming to do it right in this case.

penguingrrl

Good to know!  Thanks!  I heard "recall" and assumed the worst, so I'm glad to hear it wouldn't affect a model we'd be buying.  In every other way it's the perfect seat for my purposes, so I was really upset when I heard it was recalled!