Over two years ago I was shopping for a convertible car seat in Pasadena, California. I was comparing safety standards, comfort, and all over design. I wanted the safest, best looking, most expensive car seat that of course matched my current car’s interior. When shopping for car seats, parents shouldn’t think of the price tag. How can you put a price tag on your child’s safety in the car? Meeting all my requirements was Recaro. I had known of Recaro seats before, but for high performance, race cars. This simple fact really caught my attention. If this brand can keep drivers and passengers safe during such high speed collisions, surely they can protect my most precious cargo.
I found the Recaro Signo and there was no contest. Purchased, installed, and used for years. My daughter loved her seat, always looked so comfortable in it, even on our infamous long car rides around the country. Riding in a large SUV like our Navigator can really give you a false sense of safety. Being in a big, strong, and tall vehicle, full of airbags and safety belts, you feel, well, invincible on the road. I’ve always worried more about the safety of others that I could collide with.
On August 15th, 2010 we decided to go to the movies to see Despicable Me in 3D (2 thumbs up). The movie theater is maybe 7 miles from our house. We made the short trip back to our house and pulled into the left turn lane. All was silent besides the tick of the left turn blinker as we waited for oncoming traffic to clear. Without warning we were hit in the rear with tremendous impact and were sent soaring to the right side of the road. With a flash of black, came searing pain that spread across my face. The top part of my body snapped back upright like a hinge and I realized I had smashed my face into the dashboard. My seat belt had not locked. Mass confusion. All I wanted to do was get out of the car. Fumbling with my seat belt, I dump out of the door and onto the sidewalk. Neil jumped out and ran around to our daughter. She is not only unharmed, but not even crying. Clinging to her Margot doll from Despicable Me, she is still strapped in tight in her Recaro seat.
Police and Fire arrive and I finally realize we had been hit by another car. Up to that point I would’ve sworn we had been nailed by a bomb. I look around the car and see a yellow Porsche 911 completely crumpled and twisted. I see their bumper under our mangled back end, liquids flowing out. With my face flaming hot and throbbing I start to cry from shock and thankfullness. My daughter was safely pulled out of her car seat by a fireman with a smile on her face. She walked over to me and I couldn’t believe how lucky we were.
A broken nose, soft tissue damage, and many aches later, it’s time to buy a new car seat. With a chance to start fresh, new car, new car seat, there is again no contest. I saw first hand that that Recaro seat saved my baby’s life. I know just how much I CAN trust Recaro and their products. So here I am years later, buying another car seat, and feeling really good about it. I don’t know when I’ll feel safe personally in a car again, but I know my baby is safe, and that is all I need to know.
Recaro ProRide, Recaro ProSport, Recaro ProBooster
