Oh god which P&T? Brain about to explode!

[crazycatlady]

There are so many models. Help!

Options we are currently considering:

• A brand new P&T Explorer or Vibe (the newest models) - about £600 all in
• A second hand P&T off eBay to try and save money - I'm guessing about £2-300 all in.

Is it worth spending the extra cash to get a brand new one with all the quirks/problems ironed out? Every older model I see on eBay I then google/MN search on and there's a whole host of problems...

We have a DD who has just turned 2 and DC2 due any minute.

We also have a Bugaboo Bee and sling but we do an awful lot of walking, DD not a reliable or sensible walker on busy roads of which there are lots as we live in London. I don't have a car so we'll be using the buggy daily. We have decided on a P&T as our narrow hallway necessitates an inline rather than side by side, and it seems the best brand of all the inlines.

Any tips/thoughts gratefully received!

We have a Vibe and mine are now 4 and 3 - ! It still works for them just fine, but the 4 yr old has to sit in the front or it can just tip over backwards. They can also miraculously still both sleep in it, if totally exhausted / the timing is right.

The back seat snaps off and on very easily and the whole thing folds up easily too - I keep it in the back of my car for one or both, when needed on days out.

There is no storage in the stroller though, if you have two kids in it as the under basket becomes foot space for the back seat sitter. But you can get side-bags which work fine and you can probably stuff about 4-5 bags of groceries in those. If I get stuck, I balance a bag on the top of the hood and clip one (old bugaboo bag clip) on the handlebar.

I would add that the Vibe has a break button and release in the center of the handlebar so you cannot push with one hand without going off the pavement / into the trees and you may occasionally suddenly break by accident...I still do this....

But its great for getting in and out of shop doors (a side by side is always too wide) and round the supermarket as its as narrow as a single stroller, essentially.

Our second child sat in the back seat from 4 months - with extra padding in the seat and a snowsuit on her - so she had the support. In warmer weather it might be later, 5 or 6 months depending on the child.

I know a couple of the older model P&Ts - the joggers, have recent recalls due to finger injuries on the fold release. This is not going to be an issue with the Vibe.

Good luck deciding.

PS . We've had this Vibe over 2 yrs now and the only maintenance we've had to do is get the tires blown up from time to time (couple of times a year?)

Thanks for that! So I could get a second hand Vibe on eBay and it would be the same model you have? Sounds good, although I do like to push one handed so I'll have to check out that brake button...

The really old ones seem to have few problems. I have an E3 and other than the raincover, i love it.

I got a Sport off ebay after selling our original one then changing my mind.

The only problems I have with it are flat tyres, but, the tyres were pretty well worn when we got it so newtyres and tubes are going on at the weekend, courtesy of DH.
Shouldn't happen so often with new all round.

Great piece of kit. :)

I have a 2 year old Sport (no longer made, replaced by Explorer) which I love and has been fault free for 2 years and which I intend to use should we have a DC2. I would be confident in a second hand one, always many on Ebay and www.pushchairtrader.co.uk.

I think Loo is right.

The older ones seem better.

To lift, it is reassuringly heavy beast of a thing but light to push if that makes sense.
Most pushchairs are aluminium but this is steel I think.

No little catches to snap off like most M&Ps I've had, no bending of the frame with rough handling and in an emergency, if needs really must, you can get 3 kids on them!

The Sport is fine, not sure why the other models are worth paying anything more for. I love it, got a similar age gap and its been a godsend even though its a bit of a beast.

I quite like the look of the Sport. Think I'll check out eBay then and the pushchairtrader site (thanks for the link, didn't know about that one!) to see what's what. Would be great if we can avoid forking out £600 for the full kit brand new.

If you can't get a second hand one, then look at Kiddicare. Ours was about £200 cheaper there with lots of accessories than at Mothercare. (We didn't get the doubles kit, but went for it with other accesories).

Thanks everyone, we settled on a new explorer in the end. It is looking lovely sitting in my hallway . Bought it from our local Peppermint shop even cheaper than Kiddicare. Can't wait to get out and about with it.