Another carseat question

We need to buy DS a convertible seat, because he will be outgrowing the height requirement on his Chicco within the next month.
Right now I have it narrowed down to the Diono RadianRXT, and the Peg Perego SIP 5-70. I'm looking at the safety features of both, and they seem to be pretty comparable.

Here are the features of the Peg Perego:
"SAFE: Our Shock Absorbing Foam Element device is located below the shell of the SIP 5-70 Convertible. In the event of a crash, the SAFE will crumple in a programmed manner in order to reduce stress on the child’s shoulder and neck.


SIP: The Side Impact Protection head panel protects the child’s head, neck and spine. It easily adjusts to 10 different positions, even when the child is in the seat, to ensure the best and safest fit.


EPS: Energy-absorbing foam, Expanded Poly Styrene, located in the shell and head panel, protects the child’s head and torso from impact forces."

Here are the safety features of the Diono:
"

• Steel alloy frame and aluminum reinforced sides
• Safestop® energy-absorbing harness system
• Adjustable head support, reinforced for complete side impact safety (same as the SIP for the Peg Perego)
  
• Energy-absorbing EPS foam panels on all sides "

So they both have the SIP and EPS. Is the Safestop evergy-absorbing harness system the same as the SAFE device below the shell of the Peg?

Also, I know that the Diono is highly recommended on this site. Does anyone have the Peg Perego, or know of anyone that does? Good/bad reviews?

<blockquote><b>Quoting MommyToWesley:</b>" We need to buy DS a convertible seat, because he will be outgrowing the height requirement on his Chicco ... [snip!] ... the Diono is highly recommended on this site. Does anyone have the Peg Perego, or know of anyone that does? Good/bad reviews?"</blockquote>




Justkidsstore.com has the Diono RXT for $215 right now!!!

I would not get a Diono. Horrible customer service. Horrible, horrible. I wouldn't buy a Diono ever again. The Peg Perego, I don't know much about them. Britax are amazing seats. So are Recaro's, though Recaro only goes 35 pounds rear facing.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Moses.:</b>" I would not get a Diono. Horrible customer service. Horrible, horrible. I wouldn't buy a Diono ever again. ... [snip!] ... Perego, I don't know much about them. Britax are amazing seats. So are Recaro's, though Recaro only goes 35 pounds rear facing."</blockquote>



I've always had GREAT experience with Diono customer service. In dont know anyone who has had a problem with them!

Quoting P Pickle Pants:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Moses.:</b>" I would not get a Diono. Horrible customer service. ... [snip!] ... I've always had GREAT experience with Diono customer service. In dont know anyone who has had a problem with them!"

You know the rear facing base thingy? Well, it started popping off. Randomly. At first I thought it was carelessness switching between vehicles, then it did it while I was driving. So, I called. They said they would send me a base if I shipped mine to them, on my dime mind you, then I would need to pay shipping to me for a new one. They couldn't make any arrangements with me, in the meantime waiting for bases I would be left without a seat completely. Unfortunately I purchased it through justkidsstore.com so I couldn't just take it in where I bought it. I tried explaining to customer service several times the base wasn't even the issue, it was the clip on the actual seat, but they insisted I pay shipping to and from for a new base before they could "arrange" the actual seat be looked at. After going round and round I said eff it, kept it for future forward facing and bought my son a Scenera for $40 off of Walmart.com. I don't LIKE it, but I don't hae the money for a Boulevard right now. I LOVED the Radian until the issue with the base. Now I am stuck with a seat I only bought for the killer rear facing limits that I cannot even use rear facing, the entire reason I even bought THAT seat instead of the Boulevard to begin with. BLEH! It is a nightmare and like you said, I am the only person I have heard of have such issues. So, maybe I am a fluke, but even still, one fluke is one too many when it comes to a $300 car seat I bought for one particular reason and that one reason no longer is usable and they will not rectify the situation without it costing me $30 in shipping costs for THEIR problem.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Moses.:</b>" You know the rear facing base thingy? Well, it started popping off. Randomly. At first I thought it ... [snip!] ... no longer is usable and they will not rectify the situation without it costing me $30 in shipping costs for THEIR problem."</blockquote>



If its $30 for the shipping for the part to fix the old seat you loved and $40 for the new seat you don't like...is have paid the $30. But I'd also call again and get a second opinion from a manager and have pics ready to email. The pics have always resulted in proper repairs and guidance when I've called for my issues.

Quoting P Pickle Pants:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Moses.:</b>" You know the rear facing base thingy? Well, it ... [snip!] ... and have pics ready to email. The pics have always resulted in proper repairs and guidance when I've called for my issues."

I talked with about 4 people before I started getting the same people again. A few of the people I spoke with I got the feeling they didn't believe a word I was saying   They kept making me repeat the issue and saying "are you SURE this is really happening?" I LOVED this seat, I recommended it to everyone. I wouldn't just make that up. I wouldn't settle for a cheap, piddly seat instead if there really wasn't an issue, kwim? I had to buy the Scenera because I needed a seat ASAP and it cost me $43 after taxes and shipping to get a seat within 2 days. Where as paying the $15 shipping each way would have left me without a seat for at least a week, and that's if Diono took my replacement top priority and sent out the new base ASAP. Then we chance the base not even being the issue, which I don't think the actual base IS the issue, which could leave us without a seat for another week, or however long it took them to come up with a solution. When I asked what they would do if it wasn't the base nobody I spoke with could give me an answer further than "we will have to figure it out if that time comes" which isn't very reassuring. Plus I'd be out $30 for a solution that didn't even work. The Scenera is a decent seat and it is more of the principal of the fact. It is a faulty part that I would be paying for to be fixed when it isn't my fault. The pictures didn't show anything other than the base was released. It's just really frustrating dealing with a safety issue and it leaves a bad taste in my mouth when I get the feeling they couldn't care less that the base was detaching while the car was moving. It is really disappointing, I thought for sure a small company like theirs would have taken more of a caring approach to it, but I didn't get that at all, it was quite the opposite.