Help me decide on a travel system!

[OComeAllYeFaithBaby]

I think I know what specs I'd like - i'd like a continuous handle so I can steer one handed, the option to have pram style/parent facing and then switch pushchair but also with the matching care seat to attach to the wheels. I like the idea of a three wheeler but that's not essential. It needs to fold small enough to get into the boot of a Polo. Maximum budget is about £400 (ideally to get all the bits for that).
I like the Quinny Buzz but DH says its too costly! So, what do you recommend?! We're going shopping tomorrow and he wants to buy one by the end of the day!

[Ihateparties]

If he wants to buy one by the end of the day then we're going to be no use on here cos we'll only go and tell you to go and try out lots of different things to get a feel of what you like and don't like and also decide what your priorities are etc. etc!

The buzz is very wide, does that matter to you? Also some people say it's difficult to steer and generally not a lot of use for older children, others however love it. One issue definitely is when the seat faces the parent it doesn't have a sitting up position, which limits its use in that configuration. Personally I think there are lots of better options and you have a reasonable budget to work with. Is the car seat included in the £400 before I start suggesting other things to look at..?

[OComeAllYeFaithBaby]

The car seat is ideally included but am flexible!

[Piemother]

I'm v find of my buzz and dragging my heels over selling it. It's wide and a bit heavy but if you walk a lot Ian's shop with the pram (get a buggy hook) it's quite a work horse. I loved putting dc1 in the fluffy carry cot.
However...if I could turn ba k time I would buy a baby oyster it a bugaboo bee - do the same job but smaller and lighter.

[CitizenOscar]

I've got Babystyle oyster, which seems to fit all your criteria. We got it for £433 incl car seat, IIRC. We've got a golf and it fits in boot, however we didn't have a car for first year so I can confirm it fits down the aisles of most London buses too. Easy to steer, robust wheels, great shopping basket. We kept it parent-facing for over a year, longer than we expected so really loved having that option.

Good luck!

[OComeAllYeFaithBaby]

That's great - I will drag him into mothercare to look at the Bugaboo Bee and the Babystyle Oyster. Both look like the kind of thing we're after!

[Ihateparties]

Do you have a favoured car seat? Not that it matters as most of them you can get adaptors for most things really. Is the 3 wheeler idea for going off road or you like the looks of them? I only ask because reversible seat 3 wheelers are harder to find than 4 wheelers.

Right, things to google - Mutsy Evo, iCandy Cherry, Babystyle Oyster, Baby Jogger Versa, Graco Evo, Jane Rider or Trider (the latter more expensive I think? But is reversible seat 3 wheeler) erm.... lots more. Someone else will be along soon with more suggestions I'm sure.

At this moment in time if I was starting again I think I would get a Versa, it's the most versatile, good quality all rounder I've ever had. With the carrycot and car seat though it would push you over budget (it's something like £359 for the pushchair, circa £110 for the carrycot, plus whatever for the carseat on top). I think it's worth it but then again I'm a pram fanatic so I would think that so it depends on your approach!

If you think you will use it for a good few years it is good value, if you think you will ditch whatever you buy for an umbrella fold stroller when your child is no longer a baby then the aims are different

[KentuckyFriedChildren]

I have a maxi cosi mura which fits those criteria. I love it- it looks nice, its v comfy and v easy to steer, it does off road really well (and I live rurally and have to walk a dirt track to school every day so have tested the suspension v well), the seat unit is fine for a newborn (though i have the soft carrycot as well which was included when i bought 2nd hand as new), it fits a maxi cosi carseat (and you can get this included when bought new), adjustable handle (continuous) for big'uns and little'uns like me and dh, is v quick and easy to fold and i think as long as you dont have a smart car would fit in the boot lol, can be forward or rear facing and the attachment of the seat unit is extremely easy and not fiddly in the slightest, the basket is a decent size- i manage to fit 2 school bags and the change bag and a jacket in it for the school run, the seat unit lies flat and the hood has plenty peep holes. All in all i wholeheartedly recommend it! As you can see from my essay :o oh and you can pick them up really quite cheap off ebay.

[KentuckyFriedChildren]

oh yes its a 3 wheeler though i think you can also get a 4 wheel version

[StrawberriesTasteLikeLipsDo]

Hi faith!! (I used to be BBwolefs) eek how exciting to be picking your travel system! I went through several and have just gotten the cosatto giggle, have to say cant fault it at all and its cheap as chips! Ive had an icandy and it was good but cust service lacking, bugaboos are nice but I fond them a but warhorsey, was going to get the oyster myself, but the giggle just pipped it to the post.

Hope you are pottering along well Ds was born on the 21st x

[Tallgiraffe]

Try the uppababy vista, it does all of what you're after and I love it! Mahoosive shopping basket too

[OComeAllYeFaithBaby]

Oh hey BB, congratulations! I'm so happy for you!
Looks like a pink one this end, all healthy at 20 week scan :) Won't be getting a gender specific colour though because a. Legs were crossed and b. if we're really lucky, we might have another!

The 3 wheel thing is purely aesthetic, very little off roading required! DH had picked out the maxi cosi Mura so we'll definitely have a look at that. There's just so much choice!

[KentuckyFriedChildren]

oh strawberries i like the look of the giggle but got my mura so cheap (under 100 all in and spotless) that i changed my mind. but my gosh the giggle is purdy

[StrawberriesTasteLikeLipsDo]

Aww wow a little pink one! how lovely! DS2 has been welcomed by DS1, and throughly enjoyed I have to say! Not long for you now!

Totally agree on neutral colours, ours is green three wheeler, and i think even as a pramaholic I will stick with the one hehe!

Ah I bet christmas was fab this year, and shopping will be exciting!

[Tiggywunkle]

I think you need to be trying pushchairs into your car boot TBH. I know someone with a Golf who has just sold their Buzz because it filled the boot and I think she had to remove a wheel too. The Oyster is probably a good bet TBH - its a good all round pushchair. Look also at the Mutsy Evo and the Mee-Go because you get a lot for your money. I dont know the folded size too. I think though your car boot will determine what you get. Head for a good independent retailer rather than Mothercare and get some good advice :)

[IveBeenGoodSantaIPromise]

I have a babystyle oyster. It's great. Very light, fits in small car and was reasonable. I can recommend.

[StrawberriesTasteLikeLipsDo]

Kentucky i am in love with it

[KentuckyFriedChildren]

well ner! but I do love my mura. And its a beautiful shade of peacock blue with aqua contrast like this Mura

[OComeAllYeFaithBaby]

Right I will be looking at these online this morning then going for test drives later! Sadly I don't think there's an independent retailer near here :( I will try Mothercare and Toys R Us since they are close together!

[PrincessOfChina]

We have an Oyster and I loved it, although we stopped using it when DD was about 1 as she was at full time nursery so it was easier to have an umbrella fold buggy for nipping about.

We have a Seat Ibiza which is similar size to the Polo and it fitted fine - boot was pretty full when in carrycot mode though!

[Piemother]

Ohhh the giggle is what I keep seeing in town and admiring. V neat and petite and really cool colours
Wish I was pram shopping for dc1 again! It's much more fun than double shopping meh

[Ihateparties]

We have an ibiza, it' s the same car as a polo underneath the badge, the boot is really generous for a small car. If you don't want to have to pop a wheel each time the width is the important bit. Most 56-60 cm bog standard prams will fit, wide ones like the buzz may struggle and the mura although lovely is also massive :-)
If you will be lifting it in and out of the car a lot then really think about the weight and shape folded, if it's unwieldy it may drive you insane. The right pushchair for your lifestyle will last you much longer than something that's too big and heavy for what you do in your day to day life

[OComeAllYeFaithBaby]

Well we went and had a go. They were a bit you only have one car and its a Polo?! Tried the Quinny Buzz (it's on sale). It will fit in the boot but only with both wheels off which I imagine would be a faff. Mothercare weren't brilliant tbh, very much These are the Mothercare travel systems! She showed us the Orb (but that was very much 'and then it's an extra £100 for this bit....') and the Mychoice 3. Basically walked away undecided but apparently (according to a bloke I quizzed in Mamas and Papas!) our best bet is to travel to Peterborough to Kiddicare where there's a much bigger selection so might go over in the next few weeks (it's about an hour from here).

Anyone know how small the maxi cosi travel system folds?

[KentuckyFriedChildren]

Do you mean the Mura? Its can be folded with the seat attached as long as its facing forward and it folds smallish like that but if you take the seat off (as you would anyway if it was parent facing) and fold the chassis separately it actually folds really well. I managed to fit it (with four bags of shopping and room to spare) in the boot of my friend's micra in two parts. The front wheel clicks off really easily if need be and then it folds even smaller.

[OComeAllYeFaithBaby]

Actually (on closer inspection!) I meant the Streety!

[Ihateparties]

Oooh yeah, go to kiddicare if you can. You'll be able to compare like for like much better, see the sizes in context etc. It will be worth a visit