Mountain Buggy Stockists in the South West or South East?

[AlmondFrangipani]

We are slowly narrowing down our choices of buggy for our first bambino and I would like to try out some of the Mountain buggy models (terrain/swift) but I cant seem to find any stockists nearby. We live in Bristol and my folks live near Guildford so would be happy to travel. Any ideas?

[Tiggywunkle]

Off the top of my head I think Oxford Pram Centre would be the place to detour off to en route!
To be honest, if you can see any of the MB pushchairs, you will get a feel of them all. I have had a MB Swift, Mini, +One, Duet and an Urban Jungle and they are all much of a much-ness. The differences really are the wheel size, and handle height. The Terrain has the disc brakes too. There's a fair difference between the Swift and the Terrain though. Why those two and not the Urban Jungle in between?
The Swift has a pretty low handle - I am 5ft 6ins and its too low for me. The Urban Jungle is much better. However I find the UJ tippy at the front end especially when the child is reclined.
I have to be utterly honest and say, Mountain Buggies appeal massively to me, but yet all but one has disappointed. I think you get far better spec from a Baby Jogger or TFK and MBs just seem so basic, functional and poorly made in comparison.

[louisdog]

Think John Lewis at the Mall has some mountain buggys but not sure which apart from the Duet. There was definitely some sort of single and poss a tandem as well.

[TuesdayNightDateNight]

Probably too far, but Great Expectations in Brighton has a good selection.

[carrielou2007]

Trendy Baby in Clevedon not sure if the still have but deffo had mb, the owner bought a swift whilst in NZ and raved about them, bought mine from there.

[carrielou2007]

I've had several Urbans too bulky/big for us but bought urban rear wheels and axels put on my swift (started GDP g it when my son was 11 months so the very slight inc of seat height not noticed) fabulous!!

[TuesdayNightDateNight]

5 years ago I would have raved about the Mountain Buggy family but in my honest opinion there is better out there now.

MB was taken over by Phil and Teds and I do think the quality has declined a bit. The main selling point of the MB was that it was a tank. A very simple frame which absolutely did the job. The recline is/was annoyingly fiddly and there wasn't much suspension but they were so amazing to push and so sturdy. I think the best model was the original one with the fixed handle. I never felt the later models handled as well.

Now, I think I would look at the Baby Jogger range before going for an MB.

The MB is a bit big folded and definitely not one handed so it depends on what you need!

[OutsideOverThere]

Tuesday I have heard this about the quality. In what sense do you feel it's worse now? The place we got ours from a few years ago no longer stocks them - they said they have 'lost confidence' in the brand.

i got one of the last before they were taken over. It's the urban elite with cotton canvas seat etc. It's beautiful. Before that I had a couple of the fixed handle ones and loved them.

The polyester fabrics don't appeal to me at all. But I've kept this one thankfully and it's wonderful.

No one round here sells them though (south east).

[OutsideOverThere]

OP - might be worthwhile looking on ebay near to you, as the older ones are better I think - from what I have heard anyway. Ours certainly were fantastically built, both my first ones were second hand and were still fine to use.

[AlmondFrangipani]

Thanks for all the advice. I noticed too that John Lewis only have 1 model of MB but lots of Baby Joggers so might see if they have many in stock in the Mall. Or I might pop to Clevedon!

Thanks x