Is the Versa an ideal all rounder?

[peanutMD]

To be used on public transport, for walking in all sorta of weathers and for chucking in the car occasionally?

I'm looking into my options for a pushchair to use when a compact is required as I have bought a second hand Babystyle Luxe for walking which is great for purpose but its pretty huge :o

The original plan was to get a BJCM to go alongside the Luxe but now I'm thinking I could stick with the big pushchair for atleast 6 months then (if funds allow) I could sell this on and get a Versa to use for everything.

So would it be practical?

It is a great all rounder but it's really not what I would call compact. Which dimension would be the most important, width, length, moderately both? It's not really massive but I think 59cm wide and pretty long, Tiggy will know how long but I know it's not short because it is exactly the same length on my awkward front porch step bit as my Jane Twone tandem.

I loved the versa and the huge seat would certainly last until you no longer needed a pushchair but did not get another after mine went back with the recall because ultimately I was looking for something narrower (narrow being my personal thing, length bothers me less in my day to day life) and also because the normal versa has bouncy suspension and eva wheels and the gt versa forever air tyres but much stiffer suspension, neither of those suited me perfectly. I wouldn't rule out my getting another one day when they come onto the second hand market because they really are excellent.

I think the Versa would probably do everything. Its an excellent all round pushchair. Its small if you pull it apart eg to store but its on the long side when folded generally - the front wheels stick out a fair way. But if you had to strip me of all my pushchairs and leave me just with the Versa then I would be very happy with it as my one and only pushchair.

I suppose I was thinking of open size, the fold is pretty compact if long as Tiggy says. Tiggy have you got a photo of it next to a bee or scoot to show the size difference? It's harder to gauge size when it's not next to another pushchair..

I dont have any photos of the Versa next to a Bee or Scoot. Do you mean folded or open?
The BJCM comes in a much bigger box than the Versa if that helps. this photo shows that open the Versa (middle) isn't much different in size to the BJCM. I think this photo also illustrates what I was saying on the other thread about the front of the City Select sticking out and how much wider it is.
This is the Versa next to the Cameleon. The Cam chassis is a similar size underneath but the Cam seat is longer. If you remove the front Versa wheels then the package is a fair bit shorter.

Open I meant, I took the OP as meaning compact open size but that might be incorrect! I mean logically I would say it will be a lot bigger than an umbrella fold or a proper compact stroller like an xtreet or yoyo for example.

Should've known it would be you two that would reply :o

I guess that width is probably most important but length is an issue too when I'd be using public transport, is it longer than the BJCM (I never had an issue with this).

Now you've got me thinking again, although I am having problems getting the courier to come at the right times to collect my Swift Fold so unless this goes I will be stuck with that which should be... erm interesting

What was wrong with the swiftfold again, I've forgotten?

It is on the heavy side would that be an issue.

Looking at those photos, it doesnt look much longer open than the BJCM. It doesn't feel it IRL.

Anyway maybe we are getting too predictable ihateparties??

Nah Tiggy, without you and Parties I would've driven everyone around in RL mad if I couldn't hassle both of you with daft questions and talk about prams all the time :o

Parties I can't quite put my finger on the issue with the swift fold tbh, I think I'm being a pram snob because of the Graco wheels.

Although it does seem really heavy (9.5kg) and whilst the fold can be done one handed it only goes relatively compact if you remember to push the middle of the basket up or it stays open slightly and it us impossible to unfold with one hand as you have to pull the fold strap whilst putting the frame back up as letting go locks it

"A pram snob"

Never.....!!

Lol tiggy totally is I'm not, haucks, gracos, britax, all sorts of naffness. Cheap pushchairs are my favourite.. i'm just waiting for, you know... a really um, good one...

:o Parties, just because you are willing to try a cheapo does not mean you are going to like it though!

And I bet your snobbery has got in the way a few times...unless of course there are cheapos that you would recommend?

The SwiftFold is going to the courier depo today before I change my mind and just stick with the bloody thing.

Its not that...she buys them....and then tells me afterwards, as she Ebays them, that I was right. Strangely the pushchair which brought us together wasn't a cheap one!! LOL

Some of the cheap ones have been the best sellers and lost the least money... just not the best um.. pushchairs. I remain confident someone WILL make a good cheap one. Actually the b agile is good and cheap. It was cheaper a few months ago though. Hmph.

We should be talking about best value shouldn't we really, not cheap vs expensive

:o I didn't realise you two were an old married couple! :o

I'm sure everyone would LOVE a cheap pushchair, if it did the job right!

I have started looking out for second hand bargain BJCM (which is not happening) so that I will be able to justify a new one eventually...

DP is finding it quite amusing that my addiction has returned this time but before the baby is even bloody born lol

I have now seen the Mountain Buggy mini which looks rather funky and is £100 more expensive that the BJCM whoops :o

Talk to the tiggy..she's got one

is there anything Tiggy hasn't had?!

I can only assume she lives in some kind of pram centre store :o

sounds about right...

Pah! Old married couple!! Ha ha!
I live in a normal house, but a pram shop would be dreamy!!

LOL re the Mountain Buggy Mini - yes I have one and its absolutely AWFUL to push which is a real shame because I love so much about it. Its supposedly got new type of tyres but all they do is vibrate horribly as you push. I think I mentioned the Scoot 'ticks' as you walk - a vibration not a noise that you can feel. Well the Scoot 'tick' is almost non existant compared to the pneumatic drill type of vibration the Mountain Buggy Mini gives you. I was warned about it before I bought it, but I dont listen if I like the look of something. But I wish I had listened!!! That, and the handlebar moves in and out (its the first MB I have seen for years with a detachable handle). So your hands are going in and out and up and down and generally its very uncomfortable - especially with the ridged rubber handle to boot as well.

The harnesses are a piglet to do too - whoever decided to put the harness adjust around the back of the pushchair, clearly doesn't use a pushchair every day. So, as the weather changes, one day the children have a raincoat on - fairly thin, or some days they have a thick winter coat, or other days we are nipping in and out and they have a thin hoodie on. But how many people leave the harness set up for the next day? So you put your child in the seat and the harness is too long or short. But you have to somehow pin your toddler into the seat with one hand, reach around the side of the pushchair, whilst getting down on your knees behind the pushchair to faff with the MOST fiddly seat recline ever, to find you have lengthened the straps instead of shortened them. Cue major ARRRRRGHHHH as you have to start all over again, the toddler gets more wriggly, makes a bid to escape - and all this in a busy multi story car park with your appointment in 5 mins time....you get the picture!!!!! And this harness is meant to be a new selling feature!! Why fix the old style harness when it worked perfectly fine! The old harness allowed an instant adjustment - easy peasy.

But the big positive is that the pushchair is really really light - so easy to fling into the car. Its easy to open and fold. I could see someone adding a strap and wearing it over their shoulders to carry a baby upstairs (its suitable from birth). BUT it is incredibly long folded - nearly a metre long! Its easy to manoeuvre as well.

Anyway I hope that like all first batches of Mountain Buggies, that MB go away and have a rethink and perfect what could be an excellent light weight pushchair.

Ooh thanks for that Tiggy, possibly saved me a small fortune there!

I am thinking that I will stick it out with the Luxe and if it comes to it I may try for a Versa at 6 months, might even get a bargain by then...

If I feel that I need something smaller I will cut my losses and get a BJCM but only if I reeeeaaallllyyy need to lol