Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

bugaboo is calling......should i .listen?

27 replies

happyfairy · 03/10/2010 17:55

so i had a huge mothercare graco style job for ds 5 years ago and am looking more carefully this time.

i like the bugaboo chameleon but obv its alot of money for a pram but am willing to save hard if its really as great as its rumored to be.

does anyone have any real negatives to it or points i should no?

also im thinking of putting it on a babyplan at mothercare to spread it out has anyone used the plan and was it worth it/ did u have any problems with it and do you get much of a discount for opening the plan??

thanks

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

WillbeanChariot · 03/10/2010 18:32

I've got a Bugaboo Frog (older model). I love it. I got it off Ebay for about a quarter of the price of a new one with all the bits. I would recommend it, but I wouldn't have paid £7-800 for it.

champagnesupernova · 03/10/2010 18:34

I wouldn't myself.
Waste of money IMO -esp if you're going to buy it on the never-never to afford it.

onadietcokebreak · 03/10/2010 18:44

I would waste the money myself- but then again I am not a massive bugaboo fan. If you really want it I would look around second hand or put the money into your own account as you are tied to mothercare with a babyplan.

onadietcokebreak · 03/10/2010 18:45

Also are you planning on having more childre after this one? I would rather buy the Baby jogger select i paying that kind of mony.

NonnoMum · 03/10/2010 18:49

I"m a big fan of posh buggies. Not for the status symbol, but cos they work SOO much better than the cheapies.

I bought an expensive buggy five years ago for £500 and it has been brilliant and seen my though three kids.

Haven't had a bugaboo myself but would ask myself -

-will i do a lot of walking?

are there likely to be any more kids??
is it important to me to be able to easily push one-handedly? (hold a toddler in the other or carry shopping?)
does it have good resale value?
can i get parts/service fairly easily?
will it fold/store fairly easily?
is it good for the baby? (i.e lie flat in early months - a comfy ride etc)
and can I afford it without compromising finances?

kiwidreamer · 03/10/2010 18:49

I love mine, it's been brilliant for DS now 2.2yrs still gets lots of use as I walk lots. We were ok with the price tag on the basis that would do both children we were planning and they have good resale... also a healthy tax rebate helped pay for it! I wouldn't put it on credit but if the Mothercare system is pay off the ticket price over a set time, no interest etc then I don't think there is anything wrong with that, lay away / lay buy is very popular in OZ / NZ. However we got ours new off an eBay retailer and got a maxi visit capsule in the deal for an excellent price.

kiwidreamer · 03/10/2010 18:53

Ha ha auto correct - meant to be maxi cosi capsule of course. Also to add when the chassis broke from pushing it around in all that snow last winter Bugaboo were outstanding. A new chassis arrived within the week of my complaint to the retailer, didn't have to faff or bother at all.

anastasiak · 03/10/2010 19:12

I love mine. It was worth every penny. Plus, you can sell it on second hand for a good price, which you won't be able to do with cheap crap.
IF you can't afford a new one, you could get a second hand one in the first place? Try and get one with the foam rather than the pump up wheels though - much better. All the fabric parts can go through the washing machine so you can give a second hand one a good clean before putting your own DC in it.

moonstorm · 03/10/2010 19:23

I have a Bugaboo Gecko (sort of 'lesser' version of the Cameleon)

Whe I bought it, I wasn't convinced by the 'look' but bought it as it fitted evrything I needed unlike other prams. I am so glad I did (but I would be careful about buying on a plan, maybe look 2nd hand??)

It's light, easy to push and it has hardly worn. I've just set mine up for dc2 and it looks as good as new (aside from a few more scuffs). I did get 'slime' put in the tyres fir fear of getting a puncture when out and about, but that was just my preference.

I hope to be able to seel mine on when I no longer have use for it.

The only downside for me was the seat doesn't lie flat - it was difficult at around the 6 month mark when crossing from pram to pushchair - but I actually think lying on your back is more comfortable with legs bent, than strapped in straight.

I used this until the end - never need a Maclaren-type stroller (and the 'footrpint' of teh Maclaren was similar to the Gecko - not smaller - although the stroller would fold smaller).

However, a friend bought the My3 (?) from Mothercare and the design seems similar, but it was much cheaper - I don't know how well it's lasting, though.

angfirsttimer · 03/10/2010 19:30

I was seduced by the bugaboo and loads of friends said it was great.
I do like it and love the way it looks, especially the fact that you can put the car seat on it, but from a practical point of view I have a few reservations about with the experience of actually using one for the last seven months.

if you have a small car you will struggle to fit much else in the boot.
you have to remove the carry cot/seat to fold it
the basket underneath is inaccessible with the carry cot on
it is a question of either the carry cot/or the seat as you use the same frame so it is not practical to swop between the two, relevant when your DC is nearing 6 months and you want him/her to be sat up some of the time but would also like the option of having them lying down to sleep as the buggy seat does not go completely flat.

So if none of those things bother you go for it, I just wish I had known those things when I bought it, would probably have bought the quinny instead. but then again maybe I wouldn't cos it is really pretty.....!!!

BarbieLovesKen · 03/10/2010 19:49

Im sorry, but (just personally!!) I never got why anyone would spend that kind of money on well.. a buggy. (and I can be frivilous!!) DHs first car cost the same... I think its madness.

You could probably get everything for the baby for that much money. For DS, we got a gorgeous 3 in 1, (car seat, carry cot, stroller, can face outwards or towards parent) it was ?230. Still perfect and will do this baby too.

Hopefully · 03/10/2010 19:53

We were given one by insanely generous MIL, and I have to say I LOVE it. DS is a huge 2YO, and still has plenty of room in it. Downsides are:

It's not as good off road as they'd have you believe. Fine for the odd awful path/field, but you couldn't go for, e.g. a day out walking with lots of muddy footpaths without a seriously strapping man accompanying you
It's not tiny in the back of a car (we never really use the car, so it isn't a problem). If you take all the wheels off, it goes pretty flat, but for quick folding and unfolding on a daily basis you might not want to do that. Saying that, I can easily fit it in the boot of my tiny little Clio without taking the wheels off.

Upsides:

Incredibly light to push and steer round town - we walk miles every day and I can push it with one hand and grapple DS with the other
narrower than it looks - can't remember ever really struggling with shop doors
car seat clip on thing meant when they were little you could just take the base if you were nipping somewhere for a short time (I appreciate this might be true of other prams too - I have no idea)

On the whole, if mine got pinched tomorrow, I'd buy another one immediately, even for the ginormo-price tag.

Labella77 · 03/10/2010 20:09

I got a My3 from Mothercare and it was terrible, ditched it after 3 months. Awful to fold and take apart. I then get a Baby Jogger, whcih is the best pram in the world, FACT and only £200. One handed folding without having to take bits off and it's so light.

There is nothing like it. I have had all my friends get one after me aswell and they used them from birth. You can get a car seat attachment if you prefer for when they are tiny, or as my buddy did, just used it in the flat position. it has an excellent undercarriage for shopping and you can get bits to stick on the front like belly bars for later etc cheaply. It goes from flat position to upright by the pull of a strap.

You will need a toe cosy though as the back isn't the most comfortable looking thing, i use a sheepskin.

Say no to Bugaboo and the expense and say yes to Baby Jogger. It will change your life!!

Maclaren · 03/10/2010 20:27

I had a Bugaboo for my 2nd DS its the best buggy from birth as the carrycot is brilliant! it is so light and easy to push I have just bought a new one for my 3rd DS who I am having next Friday! if you go for a second hand one remember that the warranty is non transferable also make sure you get the 2nd gen one as it has a better easily to use chassis and foam back wheels :)

I have also had a Baby Jogger it doesnt compare for a newborn def not cosy and secure like the Bugaboo also I found it a lot heavier and hated the massive front wheel! also its hard to use a cosy toe as they dont stay up!

onadietcokebreak · 03/10/2010 20:40

You can get a carrycot for a baby jogger....... FACT! A ebayer send me pics and you can remove pushchair fabric and it look like a traditional pram.

I also heart my baby jogger- It is 2 weeks old (the buggy not child who is now 3 - I wish I had got it from the beginning) and so easy to push even though 3yo is 17kg

Original poster

happyfairy · 03/10/2010 22:58

hey thanks for the replys

its not about the money really we can afford it if thats what is best for our needs - its more about how good it is overall

its def not about the status either - in fact maby itll put me off if people think im a snob for having one??

the mothercare plan is were u put items on a list and pay off monthly until delivery with no intrest.

so my needs are:

want a carrycot
puschair to face parents
option to add car seat
four wheels
easy to push
fairly washable
will use mainly in towm and dog walking/ school run
boot size isnt a problem as im changing car anyway

also like the option of changing fabrics that is possible with bugaboo

OP posts:

Original poster

happyfairy · 03/10/2010 23:01

also bit worried with second hand ebay you dont see what you get would rather buy pram new to be honest am getting other stuff second hand but the pram is the one thing i am determined to get right!!

OP posts:

angfirsttimer · 04/10/2010 09:08

Sounds like bugaboo would suit you, can I recommend a company called lullabys.co.uk (I am not connected to them in any way) they were brilliant and carry some colour ways in stock so you don't have to wait the normal 6-8 week lead time.

angfirsttimer · 04/10/2010 09:10

Ah sorry just noticed the bit about mothercare plan

TwentiethCenturyHeffa · 04/10/2010 09:18

I have a Bugaboo Gecko and I love it :) It's being used for DC2 now and still going strong. We don't really need to put it in the car much so the size isn't a problem, and I don't need to use public transport so it's not a problem that it doesn't fold down easily, especially as we don't fold it up at home either. I do loads of walking, out every day (even in heavy snow) and it's survived brilliantly.

WillbeanChariot · 04/10/2010 09:34

Most of the ebay ones are pay on collection so you can see what you're getting. Just an idea. But then I buy everything secondhand.

Original poster

happyfairy · 04/10/2010 09:38

thanks will look at lullabys - not tied to mothercare but thats the only baby shop round here! am in north scotland

also have been looking but noit seen any bugaboo prams within less than about a 3 hour distance on ebay there was one in the paper but i was only 8 weeks at the time so didnt want to tempt fate!

OP posts:

evs34 · 04/10/2010 15:26

we have one and it is brilliant. daughter 18mths now and still uses it. lots of the girls are having issues with their various prams/ pushchairs but we are still going strong. no 2 on the way and so the plan is to keep on using it!!
go for it.

PJen · 04/10/2010 15:50

Hi happyfairy, if you are buying it from mothercare, they have a 10 percent sale right now till November 7th. I don't have the code with me but ask for it in the shop or maybe someone has it. I bought the Quinny Buzz this wknd and it was on sale and on top of that I got 10 percent off...

Original poster

happyfairy · 10/10/2010 13:41

so went to see all the prams in this town lol and decided on the bugaboo have it with the cot and car seat on a mothercare plan got 4 months to pay it off and had load of discount with the club vouchers and a 10% off voucher so getting it for around 600 which i thinks ok? time to get ebaying to pay it off!

OP posts:

Flip

1 2