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Bugaboo Cameleon vs Cosatto Mobi vs I'Coo Targo? Help!

19 replies

corgikelly · 06/11/2008 07:52

I'd mentioned last week that I was going to London to do some pram test driving -- thanks to everyone who suggested places to go!

We ended up at Mamas and Papas, Mothercare and John Lewis (where the assistant was incredibly helpful!). It helped so much to actually get our hands on the prams and fool around with them the end result is that we quickly eliminated two that I thought were top contenders according to our criteria the iCandy Apple and the Maxi Cosi Mura.

Here's the rub: now in the lead is the Bugaboo Cameleon. I love it, and it ticks just about every box, but I just can't countenance paying that much for a bloody pram!

There are two other prams that, on paper (or rather, on screen), seem like reasonable alternatives to the Bugaboo -- but I can't find any place that has either available for viewing. Grrrr. I really don't want to get anything I haven't tested, but as I keep looking for a distributor, I wondered: does anyone have any experience with the

Cosatto Mobi
or
I'Coo Targo

??

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
overbuurvrouw · 06/11/2008 08:12

I don't know the Cosatto Mobi or I'Coo Targo but I have the Bugaboo Cameleon and it was worth every penny IMO. I really didn't want to spend that much either but I'm so glad I did!

They have good re-sale value too, in fact you could always look into getting one second hand...

Tinasan · 06/11/2008 08:47

I've had the Cameleon for two years now and I love it. I'd say it's worth getting if you walk everywhere (we live in SW London and I mostly walk instead of using car/transport) - if you had to constantly fold it up to put in the car you'd be better off getting a more compact pram that was easier to fold. However in terms of comfort for the baby (my toddler still drops off in it and is so much comfier than she would be in anything else), ease of pushing and overall durability it's definitely a good buy. If you work out the cost of daily use over 4 or 5 years (assuming you have more kids) it is a good buy! Plus the resale value is very good - my friend just paid £350 for a Frog, the older version of the Cameleon!

wellbalanced · 06/11/2008 18:25

I too liked the Icandy and the Maxi cosi mura until i saw them in shop. Maxi cosi was far too bulky and the Icandy seemed to have chasis problems (were two in for repair when i test drove it!)
I also liked the look of the Cosatto Mobi but was put off this by two diff shops saying it was cheap and abit rickety (one shop had it half price and wasnt pushing sale she said stay well clear!) So i quicly went off this.
Not seen the Icoo so cant comment.
I too loved the Camelon (even thou when i had one 5 yrs ago it had a chasis folding problem i was told this has been fixed)(used as nanny by the way) I loved to look the push but agree not the pram for putting in and out of car alot. But i too can't justify spending so much when i wanted everything with it-change bag, parasol, footmuff, maxi cosi adapters, maxi cosi seat etc so i was looking at £900 ish.
So i went for the First wheels pram V similar to Bugaboo with alot of same features and a nicer price!!!
www.firstwheels.nl/en/elite-functies.php
I bought mine in black with red accesory pack (liner, hood, carrycot cover) and ive bought all extras Footmuff, change bag, parasol etc in red! Maxi cosi seat goes on too!
Not seen any in action and all the reviews i read and heard were good so im happy. Just waiting for baby to come so can try out!

Sorry to babble on but hope you find the pram for you!!

Fllightthebluetouchpaper · 06/11/2008 18:31

I am selling my cameleon. I really have not liked it nearly as much as some of the others I've had (have had over 50 prams/pushchairs...don't ask!)

I haven't tried the other two though.

Bugaboo seemed to me very poncy and not that strong. Good points: large basket, not always very accessible though. Swivel wheels: always good.

Bad points:
(not used carrycot section, ds was too old)
seat in lie-back mode is ridiculous, knees up in the air.

Going up and down kerbs dodgy as swivel wheels are so small, and it threatened to tip over several times on our front step.

Wheels get stuck quite easily, useless on uneven ground.

Doesn't go in boot unless you take it to bits.

Fabrics get mucky and bobbly very quickly.

Other than that it was Ok but mine was half price to start with, and I am selling it for about what I paid (well, one bid so far - might go up, who knows!)

I wish I hadn't bothered really.

Fllightthebluetouchpaper · 06/11/2008 18:33

oh and the raincover was an exercise in precision faffing. It was really hard to get on.

I just cannot understand why all the fuss.

wellbalanced · 06/11/2008 18:52

With a bugaboo alot of ppl want it for the name?? Its v popular

Fllightthebluetouchpaper · 06/11/2008 18:55

Yes I am glad they are popular, as mine is on ebay! lol

I haven't found my perfect pram yet.

There are a few things it needs though.

  1. Solid build quality - puts up with a lot of use and rough territory, plus children climbing on and off, shopping, etc doesn't make it tip
  1. big basket that you can actually Put Things In.
  1. Swivel wheels. Especially as child gets bigger.
  1. Fits through shop doorways!
CarGirl · 06/11/2008 19:03

I love my bugaboo, I too have had a multitude of pushchairs and prams, I've not had the problems flight mentions. It is very light to push even with a heavy toddler in it.

Frog/gecko is easier to steer than a cam.

worth getting one second hand rather than pay out for new?

I've also got a nipabout by outnabout which has a taller seat unit than the cam and is even easier/lighter to push.

Fllightthebluetouchpaper · 06/11/2008 19:19

Listen to Cargirl on this, she is more sensible than me and i was probably using it backwards or something...

I like my prams rough and ready

Nordic or German pref. and built like sherman tanks...I do not do finesse

CarGirl · 06/11/2008 19:22

If it's a big drop you still need to bump it down on its back wheels - lol!

I have a bad back so I can't do the sherman tank thing plus I'm tiny & a weakling which doesn't help!

Fllightthebluetouchpaper · 06/11/2008 19:24

Yes that might have worked better lol

Ds quite scared of it now

Our Teutonia has its own gear system and headlights.

corgikelly · 06/11/2008 20:33

Such good feedback from the front!

I is confoooozed.

However, am intrigued by reference to Nordic and German prams. I'Coo is German, and I may have found a store in Rotterdam (about a 90-minute drive) that carries them. Am also curious about Emmaljunga from Sweden, though I would imagine that costs the earth.

wellbalanced, thanks for the First Wheels tip - that seems like something to pursue!

And yes, a secondhand bugaboo would seem to be the only way to reconcile my appreciation for it (which has been tempered by Fllights's warnings) with my horror at the priciness of it all!

The search goes on...

OP posts:
CarGirl · 06/11/2008 20:54

2nd hand is good because if a pram isn't right for you sell it on again and you don't actually loose much money, and if you've bought wisely you may gain some......

corgikelly · 06/11/2008 21:10

Fllight, I know you haven't found your perfect pram yet -- but can I ask what's come closest?

I agree with your criteria, and would also add:

Reversible seat position
Carrycot option
Comfortable ride for baby/child
Sturdy enough to handle both cobblestoned streets and walks in the forest

OP posts:
kitsmummy · 06/11/2008 21:30

Well i've been using my Bugaboo cam for 2 months now and I absolutely love it. It's a dream to push around - I could steer it one handed around M&S today depsite being laden down with a baby and bags hanging off of it and my other hand holding more bags. And it just looks so good too . Oh, and I've seen the black and cream cam in Mothercare and that colour combination looks amazing, much better than it looks on the website.

bilblio · 06/11/2008 21:50

I second the suggestion of the FirstWheels pram. We've had ours for 15 months now and it's fab, and it gets a LOT of use. DP takes DD out every day on the mile long trek to town and back, along canal towpaths and cobbled streets. It gets a lot of hammer but is taking it well and DD seems very comfy in it.

I spent ages trying to decide on a pram, I kept going back to the bugaboo, my SIL had one which I'd used a lot, but I couldn't justify the price. (Actually my parents said they'd get the pram and I felt too guilty asking for that much, even though they said they would... Then MIL said she'd get it, so I certainly couldn't justify it!) Eventually found the Firstwheels and it was fab. Just as good as the bug, my Dad says he prefers it actually, and half the price.

Fllightthebluetouchpaper · 06/11/2008 22:11

Sorry to wander off half way through my list!

Your criteria are pretty much what I'd have written if I'd had a moment to finish.

Emmaljunga are fabulously built and go for very little on ebay as they aren't very trendy.

I've had 5 of them, similar models...very nice but I'd not buy one new. The main problems with them are weight in terms of pushing, and no swivel wheels - however they have brought out one called City Cerox since then and it has swivels, not sure how heavy it is.
Weight is good with a small baby but not a hulking great three year old!
Also I'd say air tyres are necessary, they make all the difference when you have a larger child, seriously it's much less work pushing a buggy with giant wheels than a maclaren type.

As for my perfect pram - my favourites this far have been: (in no particular order)

Quinny Freestyle 3 wheeler - beautiful quality, easiest thing in the world to push with heavy 3/4yo in it, but basket was rubbish and it didn't swivel enough, just tilted.

Mountain Buggy - perfect in many ways, but it tipped too easily with shopping on the bar, or when child tried to climb in and out at the front it would tip sideways.
Basket was good, light to push, sadly not rear facing but you can use carrycot with it initially.

Easylife sport - very heavy, a bit too heavy really when you add child and shopping. More solid than MB and would never, ever tip and can take up to about a 5 year old or more, which most of us don't need it to - but still

Emmal Edge duo and Teutonia mistral type models are very nice but again, heavy and no swivel.

For time being I am reverting to my old M&P pliko, while the bugaboo wafts merrily off to its next owner

Why Oh why did I sell it?!!

Fllightthebluetouchpaper · 06/11/2008 22:16

Or another underrated one is the once popular M&P Ultima. They still make a comparable model I'm sure? With a G matic chassis? Anyone know?

It's simple and you get a rear facing seat unit, or carrycot, or car seat for early days (very useful).

Solid and big basket and swivel wheels.

I must say my absolute pet hate, though, is seeing tiny new babies in prams without air tyres - every little bump or tree root etc makes them throw their little arms in the air. It really upsets me to see this! I think it must disturb their sleep.

I would recommend air tyres for that first little while at least - maybe 6 months or so till they sleep through pavement issues!

nappyaddict · 11/11/2008 00:32

I find that if you try to get one pushchair to fit all criteria you end up with one that tries to do it all and does most of it craply.

I have found most people need at least 2 if not ore

I like to have at least one big sturdy pram for walking and one lightweight pram for public transport and chucking in the back of the car for short trips out.

My favourites are

traxx ecuador, mutsy, mamas and papas skate, urban detour quantum, maxi cosi mura, gesslein f2, gesslein future, gesslein vision s, mothercare my4, mothercare maiu, bebecar ip-op, mia moda allegria, mia moda atmosferra, petite star whirl, petite star dot, luna, mothercare vesta, bugaboo bee, jane carrera, jane solo.

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