[QUOTE]Originally posted by Apricot
[B]The Highway Patrol seriously frowns on those plastic seat covers.

 

MajorHavoc, thanks a lot!

Apricot, this one does not appear to be plastic. In fact it sounded even better than just the seat. Here is the description and pic of the item:




[I]This non-slip mat made of dense, durable foam, ensures that your child's car seat stays exactly where it should. Designed to fit under all car and booster seats, it prevents dangerous seat movement. The mat also protects your upholstery from compression damage. For ages birth and up. 12

 

Truthfully, I don't think the plastic covers completely prevent the correct installation of seat...however, they interfere with the process.
Speaking from experience, with the mat in place, my mother could not install the car seat correctly. The proper technique involves putting your knees into the seat, and pushing downward with your back pushed into the roof. The (thin) plastic mat offered enough resistance that no matter how hard she or I tried, we couldn't get the thing in tight enough to pass the inspection.
Would someone stronger, or with a different car have different results? Maybe, but its not in her car any longer. Personally having seen the amount of "slop" the thing allowed, I wouldn't have one in my car. (my two cents)

The plastic mat I am speaking of is about 4x4 clear plastic, designed to protect the seats, not the small gripper liner shown above.

 

I would think twice about the MDX, for reasons that most don't think of. The dealer here in Austin has an auto body shop FULL of them. Reason? The drivers keep rearending people! Diehard Acura owners trade in their TLs for the MDX and because of the comfortable car-like feel of the MDX, they drive it like one, which is obviously a no-no. The possibility is always there that any driver will treat their MDX in that manner, but the reality is that those drivers will drive up insurance rates on that vehicle. This is probably the case with any SUV, but these guys seemed to indicate that it happens with these more than the norm. Truth, fiction? Your call...

 

Perhaps this is the upgraded version of the old plastic approach. The gripper above looks like it will accomplish what the plastic was meant to, only better. At least I hope so.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Sondra S2K
[B]I would think twice about the MDX, for reasons that most don't think of.

 

ScottB,

Where did you find the Gripper? I think I might want one!

I normally place a towel under child seats. It eliminates the possibility of the child seat from damaging the car's seat.
However, I think this Gripper looks a bit cleaner than a towel!

 

This is a thoughtful response to my smart-aleck answer. I still don't agree with you but you've given me something to think about.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Apricot
[B]Truthfully, I don't think the plastic covers completely prevent the correct installation of seat...however, they interfere with the process.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by MajorHavoc
[B]ScottB,

Where did you find the Gripper?

 

Well having an S2000, Odyssey, and a 6y/o... I have faced this question before. When our son arrived we had the truck and a 4y/o Nissan Axxess, a small mini_van like vehicle with dual sliding doors. The Axxess had originally been my work car, and when I bought the truck I gave it to my wife. She became spoiled by the ability to quickly stash he shopping in the back seat after opening the front door and lh slider almost at the same time. When the Axxess came out in 89' this was unheard of(lh sliders). Well when my son arrived, the Axxess became even better, she could quickly and easily put the baby in the back seat w/o having to fight to get around the door like a regular 4 door sedan. We kept it until 99 when the new Odyssey's came out, because she refused to give up the dual sliders... all that being said, when we replaced the Axxess, one of the requirements was the room for our son and his stuff... also room for grandparents! In other words while a sedan would have worked for 3, suddenly we needed room for 5 or 6. so if you really only plan for the 3 of you plus the assorted baggage... a sedan will do, otherwise get more room. while the remote doors of the Odyssey are perfect to get that infant in out of the rain... now that our son is older, if we had to choose today, it would be the MDX, room for 6 or 7(in a pinch) and a great driver. plus the seats from Accura are much better that the ones Honda supply in the Odyssey. Concrats on the comming arrival and good luck with your decision. By the way I second the comment about sleep.