best parent facing pushchair to fit in small-ish boot?

[CherryPie3]

Hello there :)

I am looking for a functional pushchair with a parent facing option as my baby is still
quite small, well he's almost 7m.

Both myself and my husband drive Fiat Grande Punto's and the boot okaaay but not huge.

I'm so confused by all the choice, I very much like M+P Sola in Truffle but don't know how folds down...no strore near me to go check...

I have a Silver Cross linear freeway right now and its fab but just so big. Great for going oout on walks but no so great trying to fit in a small car! :(

Please help :)

haha - can you tell its the left handed bf'ing stylee typing

How about the new Quinny Zapp Xtra? See Here

The frame is very compact, removable seat and faces both ways... I have a buzz and love it but would definately consider this one if I was buying one now...

If, you have the budget I love my bee plus, or a older bee is also good. I have had both and they have fit in my dads tiny Car and friends small car as well.

Hi Dalrymps, I like ths Zapp but everyone seems to have that near me - would like to have something a bit different I think.

:)

is that the bugaboo purplebuns? Yes I do like that too but not sure I could justify the cost to dh who will be flashing the cash

Hi, yes it is the Bugaboo, and to me the bee plus is worth every penny and my sceptical DH really likes it now also.
I don't have to worry about buying another pushchair as I know DD won't grow out of it and it is a breeze on public transport and goes round a teeny shop beautifully, as well as being really, really light, and the basket holds a lot (especially in rear facing mode) as well :)

Also babies look soo cute in it! :o

OP im in the same situation!

Britax smart is parent facing, and the mamas and papas sola...

im still trying to decide - i love the look of the bugaboo bee but i can't afford it! :(

Bugaboo bee?

I can never understand why a parent would want their baby to stare at their crotch all day though, rather than being able to look around at all the trees, people, animals, beautiful scenery etc.

I think if you keep an eye on Preloved, Gumtree and Ebay you can get a reasonably priced bee, a Sola is £250 new isn't it? I reckon you could get an older bee for that:)

a pink one, but you could always sell the covers or see if anyone would swap on the pushchair for sale topic?

I've got a Loola Up, bought it in the Boots sale..

www.boots.com/en/Bebe-Confort-Loola-Up-pushchair-red-black_859227/

I wanted something similar to my Silver cross and this is it. It does fold much narrower - I have a Zafira so boot space isn't comparable to your Punto(!) but it only takes up 1/3 of it and fits in better than my McLaren. However, it is heavy!!

cuppateajanice - I love outward-facing pushchairs too, so i would love to have the option of both. (m&p sola does both)

which enables your child to have a nosey at scenery, other people, birds, flowers, animals etc. but also has the opportunity to talk, and interact with whoever is pushing them - which i know my DD loves. :)

Thank you for all your replies, think I'm gonna have to go out and push a few and fold a few to see...it's all very well liking how they look on websites but functionality isn't usually very clear is it?

Got a few examples from here tho so thanks!!

And I do like forward facing pushchairs too, but when they're little I want to be able to interact with my little boy - he loves and his gummy smiles make my day :).
He can face forwards when he's bigger.

xxxx

Hi CherryPie. I've just bought the M&P Sola in truffle and we tried it out in our Fiesta boot prior to buying. It's a relatively small boot and fitted fine, either on its side or flat. We didn't need to take the wheels off but you can really easily to fit a smaller boot.

We looked at the Bugaboo Bee too, but I decided I preferred the Sola. Feels sturdier than the Bee and much easier to turn around (parent to forward facing and vice versa). I also think it's easier to fold, though you do need two hands. It does fold with the seat in, but only when facing forward.

We haven't actually got ours out of the box yet but I'm very pleased with it and looking forward to trying it out in a few weeks (currently 33+4).

Yes the Bee Plus is fiddly to change around...I need to get instructions out every time because if you do it wrong you can break it...Plus you need to take baby out of the seat...If the Sola is similar to change around like the B Smart it's a doodle and can do with baby in seat but no doubt instructions will say remove baby first...Having said that i love my Bee Plus and rarely use it rear facing.

I think I'm sold on the Sola

The size of a fiesta boot and a punto boot must be very very similar as they're both relatively small cars!
It must be the truffle one tho :):):)

Thanks again eveerybody!!

let me know how you get on cherrypie with the sola! im so tempted to get one! but just can't bring myself to order unless 100% sure!!

where did you get yours from?

theres a few on ebay for like 149, but im reluctant to buy off ebay, and 2nd hand??? not sure why just never used ebay before..

they are 260 on the MP website otherwise!!

heres the two on ebay..

cgi.ebay.co.uk/mamas-papas-sola-pushchair_W0QQitemZ200569011158QQcategoryZ66700QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp5197.m7QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D4%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D6639604883826949249

cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mamas-Papas-SOLA-GRASS-2-1-Pushchair-260-/120676321623?pt=UK_Baby_BabyTravel_Pushchairs_GL&hash=item1c18de8957

I haven't actually got one yet...and believe me I have scoured eBay raw!!! The Sola's very rarely come up on there and when they do they're usually silly prices.

I missed out on a truffle one on eBay a couple of days ago - missed it by 15minutes . Only one grass sola on there now and a few orchid ones.

There were more grass ones but they were snapped up on buy it now's before I could even show dh!!

The second link you posted is only 25 mins drive from where I live and thats the one I would have gone for (if I'd had the bloody chance..)

I may just get one from M+P - at least I know then that theres a guarantee with it, and someone to physically take it if anything did go wrong with it - plus would have the chance to have a proper look at it and test it in my boot first. I want to see how it looks when laid flat in forward facing mode. I had a M+P Ziko Herbie that looked lovely when laid back in rear facing - but forward facing....looked all wrong!

Reeeealllyy dont wanna pay £260 tho...

On a different note altogether....someone emailed me on fb last night to see if I wanted a cress luna with accessories for £20, so am gonna give that a whirl I think, forward facing only I know but for £20...resale on eBay would be more than that if I no likey :)

We'll have to see....
(Also if you beat me to purchase a Sola keep me posted :))

:) That luna is a bargain, a friend of mine had one and got on very well with it.

Thats exactly it, with ordering direct from the M&P site you have the chance to test it out, and if you don't like it - send it back with the guarantee refund etc.. £260 is a lot of money i know but looks lovely. im going to do some more searching, then just order i think. i can always send it back..

will keep you posted!