(I haven't used this product yet, so rating it would be premature; because Amazon's system requires a star-ratings in their reviews, and because the questions about "educational value" and "fun" of this "toy" don't apply to a car-seat base, I chose a 3-star rating across the board.)
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br /Peg Perego customer service was very helpful in solving a seat-base issue while saving me money.
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br /I wanted to know if I could buy a new LATCH-compatible Primo Viaggio base for my 2001 model Primo Viaggio infant seat (that originally came w/ a seat belt only base, non-LATCH). Peg Perego confirmed that the new LATCH bases are backwards compatible with my 2001 infant seat.
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br /So I have the LATCH-base system and seat I want for the additional cost of only the base. I'm very happy.

The base is easy to install, light weight and fits great in our VW with a smaller back seat (and without cramping us in the front). The person who complained about the ball rolling around probably doesn't have the base installed correctly. The ball is to insure that the base is installed level and properly. Ours never rolls around. We'd purchase again in a second.

We purchased the Primo Viaggio car seat for our first daughter and loved it. The fact that the carrier pops in and out allows you to remove your baby from the car while they are still sleeping, which is helpful! However, this is not an inexpensive car seat. So, when we became pregnant with our second child and realized we would need an infant seat in two cars, we were hesitant to purchase another of these for the second vehicle. We were delighted to find out we could buy the base separately, and just snap the infant carrier into whichever car we would be using that day! Highly recommended, and rated as one of the safest (and easest to fasten) car seats by Consumer Reports.

i've been using it for 3 1/2 months. got it installed at the CHP and the police officer had a hard time doing so since the base and the seat still moved more than what he considered safe. i drive a 2003 mointaineer and we could NOT install it in the middle seat, so it is behind the passenger's seat. the ball DOES make an annoying noise, particularly when you drive a very quiet car. it's purpuse is to make sure the seat is properly installed and leveled, so when the car moves and goes up and down the streets, logically, the ball moves... and it is kind of annoying...

There's a metal leveling ball enclosed in plastic on this base that rolls around and makes annoying noises while driving. We taped a heavy duty magnet to it to stop the noise.

This is the safest infant seat on the market, however, check your car first. I own a 04 Acura TSX (4 door) and after taking the seat and base to Police Department to have it installed by a professsional, the seat could not be put in the middle position in the back. The middle seat was so high compared to the side seats that the base could never be level. The professionals did not feel this was safe for the baby. My husband owns a Dodge Durango and the seat fit perfectly in the middle. I am not going to buy a new seat, I am going to buy a new car. I just wanted to write this review so it was not assummed that this seat would be safe in the middle of all cars.

My friend gave me her Primo Viaggio car seat. So I bought another base for my husband's car (Toyota 4Runner). We didn't have any problems with the 4Runner. I have a VW Passat with leather seats--the kind of hard leather that is really slippery. When I installed it, the seat seemed very loose. Luckily for me, my husband is pretty strong and really got in there and tightened the seat belts. I bought two car seat mats (Super-Mat and Grip-It by Sunshine Kids) to go underneath and the infant seats are now very, very snug. I defy anyone to try to move them now. If you're having problems, then your best solution is to seek out the experts: your local fire department.
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br /The only downside with the Primo Viaggio is the cost and weight. But it was free for me so I can't really complain.
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We have this product and it works great. We first bought the complete system w/ latch and it fit in our Expadition perfect. It easaly swapped to our Tarus as well. It is very simple to install if you have the latch system. I have yet to try the seatbelt system and would probably vote against using the carrier with a seatbelt. I would rather have the system anchored to the car than hooked up with a seatbelt.
br /I am confused as to one reveiw saying this product does not work. You have to level it out due to the automobile car design, not the babyseat flaw.
br /The one flaw is the sunshade which is poorly designed.

I recommand that parents check theNational HIghway Traffic Safety Administration http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/
br /The base is very difficult to install, the ball makes noise, and the base is not compatibile with any car. I have contacted peg perego since the plastic parts are falling apart on the base!!!

I echo Newmom's warning. After reading her review, I decided to try to install the carseat which we received this past weekend into my Subaru Forester. It simply will not fit properly. The problem lies in the design of our seatbelts. They are too thin to fit snuggly in the base guides, and the accessory that came with the carseat to compensate for thin belts is too large to fit properly on the belt between the base and the seatbelt latch. Our fire dept. personnel has recommended that we NOT use this car seat in our car. If you have comparatively thin seatbelts in your car, you might want to think twice about purchasing this carseat. If anyone has other suggestions as to how to make this carseat fit in our car, please post a followup review! Thanks!

I can only give this seat 3 stars for now due to fact that I have yet to put my baby in it. As soon as it was given to me I was concerned w/ all of the poor comments about installing in a small vehichle. So out to my car, w/in 5 min. I had the base installed, leveled and ready to go,using the seat belt to attatch. The base didn't budge when I yanked on it w/and w/o the car seat attached.(Now of course I read directions before I attempted since I have no clue.) Also my car is a'95 nissan, 2 door, so far there seems to be plenty of space for this seat. Also I read issues w/ the matching stroller fitting into trunks, once again I have a nissan and the stroller fits more than fine in my trunk.