Eureka! I know what I want - now come and put me off it...

[buttonmoon78]

I know what I want!

Back history... I asked for advice on what to get ds. He is only 6m but is big esp v long and his Loola is just not fitting the bill. The seat is fine, but the straps, even with the extension are just not long enough. So I was looking for a new buggy and had my eye on loads. However, I couldn't find many seat/strap measurements online.

I finally bit the bullet this morning and took babybutton to Mothercare for a try out of various buggies. The assistant was lovely and fetched a tapemeasure so I could check all the sizes etc. We discounted immediately the Cameleon (and therefore Gecko), the Babystyle Oyster, the Silver Cross tank (ds burst into tears on being but into it!) and the Quinny Buzz. All had seats where he had less than 3-4" headspace for growing room. The P&T Vibe had loads of space but doesn't do rearward facing so the assistant pulled down the Bugaboo Bee. I scoffed as he fitted in beautifully but the seat would only fit him for another 6 or so months when she smiled and pulled a little lever whereby the whole seat back and bottom extended by loads! Magic! We wooshed around the shop and even on the corduroy paving outside which was ace and babybutton was loving it! He was sitting with his legs splayed out over the sides - we is classy! I'm so chuffed to find something I want. Now I just need to sell another dc to afford it . I've checked on ebay and there are a few available but I need to make sure it's a newer model so it has the extendable seat.

So... come and tell me why I don't want this. I'd like to know up front what I'm getting myself into. I know that there have been wheel issues but tell me what it's like living with one. And is it worth getting the footmuff etc as 'it fits so well' or better to get a generic one? The footmuff which I have for the Loola is lovely and warm so I'd be happy to use that (it's black).

I think I am not the only one who would suggest not to buy a second hand Bee at this point in time. I frequently buy used pushchairs but the Bee is one I wouldn't touch second hand. The Bugaboo warranty is worth a lot and isn't transferable and with issues with wheels, handlebars etc and after learning the hard way with a minor issue on my Cameleon, I remember then swearing not to buy another Bugaboo without the warranty.

Meanwhile the Bee - I find it like a stick insect to push - all spindly with give in the chassis. The seat is great for nipping into shops etc but isn't cosy. I wouldn't walk far with a Bee anyway. It's really a 'shopping mall', nipping into places from the car pushchair. The fold is fabulous though. The basket is basically accessed from the front which is a bit of a pain with legs in the way. I have had mine a few weeks and have only managed to reverse the seat once. It's stuck fast at present so its not easy to use!

So all round it depends what you will be using it for. It suits me for nipping in and out of places from the car but to walk anywhere, I personally Luke something sturdier.

Why don't you have a look in an independent pushchair shop? The range is usually much better.

i would not recommend buying a bee second hand, if you really want one, get one new, they do and are going wrong, from what i can understand, the wheel issue is still their and they have not found a true fix that lasts, they are pretty and nice to push, but thats about it, i have been tempted a few times to buy another and just can not bring my self to part with that kind of money for something that will end up with wheel issues and i am not prepared to start replacing washers etc every few weeks go to a few small pram shops with your tape measure and lo and try some more out, you will find alot more different makes that mothercare don't stock.
what is your budget and requirments, between us, we have owned alot of pushchairs, or could you not hang on a few months as the baby jogger versa is out in a few months

Oh you see? Now I'm doubting myself again

I'm thinking £4-500 all in ideally though I don't mind shopping about for accessories second hand.

So give me some ideas then? I liked the Vibe but having ds facing me is pretty much a dealbreaker I reckon. I don't know that he's got a few more months in his current buggy. I'm already having to squash him if he's wearing a coat, just to get the straps done up.

What about an icandy? We're not overly blessed with independent pram shops round here!

I hope to give you a balanced opinion... i.e. not all good, not all bad! I've had a bee plus for 18 months. I have had issues...the extending seat back kept slipping down, the raincover split and I have the shimmying-wheels. In all cases bugaboo have responded quickly to my issues and sorted them out no problem but that is because I bought it new, registered the warranty and have kept proof of purchase, which they have asked to see every time. Sounds bad...but I do still really like the bee. I've had no issues with changing the seat from front to rear facing, and quite often do it when I'm out and about (there is a knack but once you've got it, it's no problem) the fold is great and it's a dream to push, light, nippy etc. though it doesn't cope well with uneven ground. I live in a town and have a 1km walk into the centre, I use the bee every day and my dd loves being in it. At the moment we are -7 daytime temperatures and I have the footmuff on..my dd calls it her snuggly pushchair. I can't deny I'm disappointed in the issues for a pushchair which costs so much but I'm planning on using it for dc2 as it really suits my needs. I had a quinny buzz for dc1 and i don't want to go back to a 2 piece fold. I hope they soon have a more permanent solution to the shimmying wheels so that you don't have to change washers, but tbh I've only had to do that twice in 18 months and it only takes 1 minute so it's not a major issue. but I have a quinny zapp too which I love, unlike most people, so maybe I have funny tastes in pushchairs!?

If you get a Bee then just bite the bullet and get it from mothercare, at least then you can take it there if you have any issues with it. I wouldn't get one second hand either, most of the second hand ones on ebay are about £300 anyway! On the other hand Kiddisave have some good deals on the Bee as well so maybe worth looking there (although I've never bought anything from them myself so don't know about customer service).

A couple of months ago there were loads of threads on here saying how the bee is the best pushchair ever so I think a lot of people really really like them.

The only other thing I can suggest which fits your criteria is a Britax B Smart 3 or 4. They are very roomy and nice to push (also much cheaper than a Bee), however they are quite large!

I agree with going to an independent shop. You'll get more honest advice and better customer service probably.

Have a look at the UppaBaby Cruz. It'll be a few months before it's in the UK, but your son is unlikely to get too much bigger in his body and this is as wrapped up as he's likely to be. If he starts crawling soon then he's more likely to get a bit smaller around the waist.

The Peach does have a big seat, but you'd possibly need to get the extension straps from iCandy for an old model.

If you have a look at bestbuggy.co.uk you can work out which seats are tall as the girl is very tall and over 3 now.

Emma, please can you help me with the knack to remove the seat. Do you need to get the seat at a certain angle? I got no instructions with my Bee and it looks so easy on the demo videos. I have managed it once! Any tips would be appreciated!

Buttonmoon, Ive just bought the bee+ yesterday! Love it
I'd second NOT going to mothercare - Ive had horrendous customer service off them & had to demand a refund when after waiting 6 weeks for a replacement part I then found out they never actually ordered it!
the baby store ltd have it for £410 at the min, or I got babybaby online to price match!
So far so good, but my last pushchair was the Cameleon so I had the matching footmuff already.

Tiggywunkle -(Thanks for your advice on my thread!) you need to adjust the back of the seat so it is almost touching the footrest, then lift up, its lining it up thats a bit tricky, which is harder if you have got the footmuff on! And it does fold in rear facing, again the seat just needs to be in the right position!

Twiggy, you have to squeeze the levers on the seat back together (not too hard) and then lower the back right down to meet the seat. When it's far enough forward you should feel the seat lift out of the hinges at each side. You need to hold the back edge of the seat (where the material gathers up) and the front edge and lift. It's much more difficult if you have the footmuff on. The key is how you squeeze the levers together, and it helps if you lower it in 2 stages. Hope that makes sense. You can access the instruction manuals through the Bugaboo website or post a message on the bugaboo Facebook page if you're still at a loss.

Thanks for the advice. I need to have a good play, squeeze the levers right and lift it in the right place!! LOL Wish me luck!

I meant Tiggy of course!! Good luck.