I'm about to part with a stupid amount of money and need your advice before I do!

[addictediam]

So I've fallen in love with the bugaboo donkey, it seems to do everything I want. With the carseat and bits and pieces its going to cost us around £1300 [nervous] we initially thought it wouldnt fit in my car (fiat panda) but it does and John Lewis even let me push it around their car park and up and down the curbs and it was a dream to push. I'm just worried I have rose tinted glasses on!

I've read the reviews and most seem good, but I just wanted to know if anyone here has one and would you recommend it?

I love mine but sadly i'm going to be selling it soon because we downsized both cars so it'd be a hassle to get in, though will admit i've not actually tried...Was going to be my snow pushchair but i'm not sure the bus drivers will be happy to see it being put on the bus because of the wide handle...It's an obsolute dream to push even with a 2.5 year old daughter, albeit she is tiny but a full load of shopping doesn't affect the pushing until i get to the hill just before my house.

i have seen a few bad reviews... someone on here was really unhappy with hers.
something to do with having both seats rear-facing and them not reclining properly?

might be worth doing a search on here?

Someone here does I'm sure. Are you buying it for one baby or twins?
I have to be honest bugaboo are not my fave brand after I had some big problems with my cameleon and my bee plus. I think they're overpriced and not all that quality wise personally.
For a single baby I'd get the uppababy Vista (i do have one and love it! So practical and light to push), I would also view the mima xari, the mima kobi, and the iCandy peach. The kobi and peach are also fab for twins.

It's for a baby and toddler (well she will be 14 months so still baby really) suzie you should try it first, i was shocked, I didn't even need to fold it up to mono to fit it in!

I've read a few threads but will do more searching.

I didn't like the peach, I don't like the one baby sat on top of the other, or a train effect of one in front of the other. (I'm quite fussy! )
I haven't seen the kobi so will search that now.

The issue with the Donkey if I remember correctly is that both seats don't recline flat when outward facing because the shoulders don't fit past the handlebar (or something like that).

But - there are also more serious issues apparently with some Donkeys - I know some are going in for repair but Bugaboo were being non responsive. Again I don't know much about this but it's something to ask about.

Finally before you do spend lots of money have you seen the Stroll-Air My Duo? It's a lot less money and does similar things - in some places better eg long adjustable footrests, huge hoods. It would be an import job but they are coming over to the UK at some point (hopefully soon). It's definitely worth a look though. The upper weight limit is a bit higher too.

Just to add my daughter shouts like mad when I am setting my Peach up to be able to go in the lower seat of the Peach. She hates her baby brother getting the prime lower spot!!! I like him in there because I can get more shopping in the basket! She was the same with the B-Dual and Verve. I think it's like a secret den or playhouse or something!

the stroll-air is beautiful.
I had one on order from the US when they were first released, but they kept putting the date back and back and back and eventually I had to get something else :(

am definitely going to have twins next time so i can get one!

I really wanted to order a Stroll-Air but just didn't dare take the plunge, partly because I read the seats were narrow. But I have been fortunate enough to get a TwinGo which is very similar (the Stroll-Air seems to be higher spec and takes car seats), and yes at first I thought the seats were narrow but I can easily put both ands down the side of my reasonably big 3 year old and the actual measurements aren't bad at all. I REALLY wish I had taken the plunge earlier this year and bought the Stroll-Air because apart from short harnesses and fixed liners (both of which could be resolved), the TwinGo is one of the best pushchairs I have owned. Having played with the Donkey, apart from the Mono mode (which would only be useful for us if a door was very narrow), I can't see that the Donkey is worth the extra.

Sorry that should be "both hands" - my iPad doesn't like "h" for some reason - probably sticky fingers!

i suppose the donkey is useful if you want to go on to use it as a single once your older child is walking.
or if you had twins, and then when they were bigger you had another baby.

so it's versatile. but it's also a HUGE amount of money

Oh - just go for it, lady!
(Congrats by the way - I've got a 14 month gap with two of mine - SOOOO much fun!!)
HAve just come back in from a walk where I was using my 'reserve" buggy and it is such a pain. Go for the latest model and give yourself a treat...

Thanks nonno, I'm pretty sure I'll just buy the donkey!

We've looked at other models we'd have to import such as the beep beep, twinner twist duo and I think I looked at the stroll-air but the thought of buying before you can try has put dh off and i agree!

Ok, yep I'm going to do it, I'm going to buy the donkey [really nervous] and as dh has pointed out, its an investment as when dd is old enough to walk everywhere and bump isn't it can still be used. Then it can be put away for if I'm ever stupid enough to get pregnant again :o