Uppababy Vista Owners in Brighton & Hove!

[trope]

Hello!

I'm expecting my first child in the spring next year and am looking to get an Uppababy Vista. My only slight concern is how it will fit on the buses down here in Brighton & Hove. Despite never seeing one out and about in Brighton, the staff from the buggy shop in Godalming say they've sold lots to people from this area, so i'm hoping someone might be able to reassure me that they aren't a complete pain to get on the buses down here!

Thanks in advance! :)

[MonkeyJuice]

I'm not in Brighton or Hove but do have a Vista. It is a fantastic pram. Very light and manouverable. It may be fine on the bus if you have a roll on roll off service. You might need to fold it if a passenger with a wheelchair needs the space but it does fold in one piece with the toddler seat on forward facing, which many other prams won't. It really depends on your buses.
Our local buses are tiny but I've seen mums get on with huge graco travel systems regularly!

[thefurryone]

I'm not in Brighton, but have a vista and regularly take it on the bus, which tends to be a fairly standard double decker. I often have to share the space with other pushchairs and haven't had a problem yet

[trope]

hi both - thanks for your comments! :)

I'm not too worried about getting it off/on the bus, as the brighton buses are lowered at stops and have buggy spaces. My main concern is that when you get on the bus there is a sharp right turn to go along past the driver down to the buggy spaces and on the right as you turn is a solid based luggage rack - so the gap/turning space is quite tight - and with the vista having such large wheels/wide rear axle I was worried it might not fit very well!

I've seen lots of big prams/buggys manage it - was just hoping someone with a Vista could confirm it works OK for them! Have horrid visions of trying to get on the bus and getting stuck!! I get the bus everywhere so would be really stuck if I couldn't take the buggy on it (I have arthritis so can't walk lots/use a sling) and really don't want to get a different buggy as the Vista is the only one that ticks all our boxes!

Am probably being paranoid - it'll probably be fine! Is a silly first time mum worry, no doubt!!

Thanks again for taking the time to reply! :)

[PresentsRibbonsAndMerrySantas]

i have managed to get a p&t verve on the bus, and get it into the space for buggies, verves are not small!!! i also have a vista and would be happy to take it on a bus with out any worries, just make sure you always leave enough time spare just incase you can not get on, because of a wheel chair or too many pushchairs in front of you, i have only had to do this twice, but this would happen with any pushchair/buggy, be confident and just push it on you will soon get the hang of getting round with a pushchair.

[TruthSweet]

I've got a Baby Jogger City Mini on a no. 14 in Brighton if that helps with sizing?

[featherblue]

Hi trope, I have a Vista in London, and though I absolutely adore it, I find it difficult on buses. I have to go in the back door of most because it won't make the turn into the pram space because of the spacing between the bar and the seat across the aisle. I've now bought a cheapo for bus travel.

I'm not sure if the buses are the same in Brighton though! The Vista is fab though

[PKate]

Hi, does anyone know the difference between the UK and US model? In the UK they're c£600 but Amazon.com (US) have it for £350 including postage and UK Import tax. Will a Maxi-Cosi still fit etc?

[BrassMonkeyBaubles]

I have the USA one, I haven't used it with a car seat but I'm sure if you get the right adapters you could!
The only difference I noticed was mine didn't have the D rings at the base of the harness which all uk pushchairs must have. Also mine had the zip in rain cover and I believe the uk models are now supplied with one that throws over the whole hood.
I would buy from the USA and save your money! I did.

[BrassMonkeyBaubles]

Ps I don't know anyone who uses the D rings on their harness. I have since ordered another seat fabric and hood in the uk so now I do have the d rings. I only bought these because I fancied a change of colour...at £65 they were way better value than the bugaboo things as the seat came with integral boards and harness, not merely a slip cover!

[TruthSweet]

I just noticed I didn't put the double bit in my post.

I have got a Baby Jogger City Mini Double on the no. 14....

[PKate]

BrassMonkeyBaubles - Thanks for your advice. I ordered one on the 19th and it arrived on the 21st! I called Uppababy UK and confirmed the differences (after ordering) and couldn't see anything worth the extra £250; they even said I could use the warranty in the UK. I've bought the Maxi-Cosi adaptors for another £32 and they fit fine.

[absam32]

PKate... That's so interesting thanks.. We're just about to order out vista but has been a toughie as do much more expensive than our other front runner. If can save so much ordering from US I'll def look into it. Can I just ask a) where did you get your maxicosi adapters from? And (b), you mention a few differences but nothing to put you off... apart from D rings do you remember what these were? I take it you're still happy with it?
Thanks so much!

[absam32]

Just wanted to update this for anyone else who is thinking of buying a Vista from US...
I spoke to Uppababy UK rep today who clarified differences between US and UK models as below:

• The US package does not include car seat adaptors and carry cot raincover.
  
• The US seat unit raincover is different and does not cover the whole seat.
  
• The product is tested to US standards and does not meet UK standards in a number of respects
  
• Any aftersales enquiries would have to go back to your US retailer in the
  

first instance. A full refund, if required, would be need issued from point of sale but any smaller problems with maintenance and spares may be dealt with in UK under the 2yr warranty - though not all UK spares are compatible with the US model.

• Beware that unlike the UK where our prices are always quoted including VAT, some USA websites quote prices excluding state and federal tax.
  
• The UK version is currently a later model than the USA version.
  

I have looked into these differences on the US website and satisfied myself that they are not big issues. The product spec sheet on the shows the seat raincover comes right down over the foot rest which is good enough for me, and the US regulations actually require testing on heavier children so I don't feel this is an issue either. I ordered today through Amazon.com (which includes tax and import fees in its pricing for international orders, so you don't get any nasty surprises later on), adding the missing rain cover to my order to make it equivalent to the UK package. And I also ordered car seat adapters from groovystyle.co.uk. All told I am still saving saving well over £100 on the UK package price, some of which I intend to use to buy the extortionately priced matching footmuff and snug seat which I would otherwise not have been able to afford (again from the US!).

Thanks guys for alerting me to this! It makes me very angry that everything is so inflated in price over here! I know its a little easier to just go to a shop here and get them to sort it all out for you, but afraid its almost the principle here as much as the saved money that has made me take my business overseas!

Oo - just one more thing - the rep also confirmed that the rumble seat will be launched in the UK NEXT MONTH...and will fit Vistas new and old.

[PKate]

Hi AbSam32,

Sorry for the delay - I don't get on here very often. I think you've answered all of your questions but I got the car seat adapters as a Christmas present so not sure where they came from; I have tried them and they fit fine (£32 I think). The rain cover with the seat seems to be fine - it zips on safely and will make it totally enclosed. The rep I spoke to also spoke about the US model not meeting the UK standards but said the standards are likely to change soon. I'm happy with mine but won't get to test it properly until May. I was going to buy the footmuff too but read a few reviews on Amazon.com (i think) and it doesn't seem to do very well - another one is recommended on there. I think I'll follow your lead and order the rain cover too.

[absam32]

Great thanks PKate - I'm due May too, and this is the first purchase I've made so can't wait to have it arrive...good to know the adapters fit okay - thanks for replying even tho I jumped the gun and went and found out most of the answers for myself - its the excitement!....

[justabigdisco]

Do any of you Vista owners have trouble with the carrycot rain cover? It doesnt seem to fit properly even though we stretch it over the sides, it always comes up a bit leaving some of the cover open to the elements. Any ideas?

[fairimum]

sorry Just never used the carrycot but do email uppababy about it as their customer service is fab and they might send you another to try (incase yours is dodgy!) the zip broke on my hood and i emailed them about it - they sent a whole new hood by next day delivery!

[justabigdisco]

that's great thanks fairimum will give that a try.