The Money Mustache Community
General Discussion => Share Your Badassity => Topic started by: Physics on January 12, 2014, 09:11:49 AM
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I realized I have an amusing story to share that shows both ends of the spectrum from bad-assity to catheter and bedpan.
My daughter was born two years ago. We always been relatively frugal and Mustachian, but I think having an incoming first child messed with our heads briefly.
We have a 2002 4-door, our only car. 2002 was the year just before LATCH standards were required for cars in the USA. LATCH is basically an industry standard way to attach car seats to the frame of the car. 2002 was an odd in-between year where some brands had the LATCH system, and some didn't have any. My car, bizarrely, had the screw hole mount points on the subframe, but not the actual "latch" points.
Anyway this is background/excuses for the following: We decided, "we should buy a car!" Not only a car, but we actually went to a dealer and test drove and for 1 day truly considered purchasing a $50k Audi Q5. Yeah...
Luckily the next morning, having slept on it, we looked at each other and both said "What the hell were we thinking!"
Instead, I found the OEM conversion kit for $40 online from a reputable parts dealer. Got my wrenches and disassembled the back seat of my car, installed the LATCH system, and re-installed the seat. Everything worked out perfectly, we still have our one car, which only had 7,000 miles put on it last year (we both walk to work!).
So yeah, one problem, a $40 solution, and a $50,000 (plus additional associated costs with having an additional car) solution. I chose wisely!
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I've had not quite so extreme moments like that. Excellent job on saving yourself that cash.
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Phew. Side-stepped that landmine. :)
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I have a 2001 highlander and have to attach the base of our car-seat with the seat belt. I actually prefer it to our newer cars latch. Those things are a pain.
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I absolutely hate LATCH connectors. Especially if you have to switch car seats from car to car. I wouldn't have even spent the $40, IMO, but good on you for not spending on a new car!
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I absolutely hate LATCH connectors. Especially if you have to switch car seats from car to car. I wouldn't have even spent the $40, IMO, but good on you for not spending on a new car!
I've dealt with three different car seats on at least 5 different cars.
The Radian RXT is trivial to install and remove. The latches are just a wonderful design.
The Graco "infant bucket with separate base" and Peg Perego convertible seats are really hard to hook and unhook.
My VW is a little easier to hook any of them in than my wife's Camry because the latch points are out where you can see them. The Camry hides them down in the crack.