Budget £250-300, 7 month old baby - which to get?

[emilygal]

We originally bought a second hand Huack Infinity travel system when Lyra was born but the wheels have finally started to buckle from hanging grocery bags off the frame and years of use prior to us.

Baby is now 7.5 months old and we are looking to buy a replacement pushchair with a budget of up to £250/300. We live in an area with a lot of pavements - but due to many trees they tend to be pretty bumpy with roots. I'd occasionally visit the park too which is gravel and want to hop on buses or pack the pushchair into the boot.

Had read amazing things about:
Maclaren Techno XLR - £240 at Mothercare
www.mothercare.com/Maclaren-Techno-XLR-Stroller/LU1311,default,pd.html#avtc=817d4ef95d02832eb436258757577f58

But not sure because our current model is forward and backwards facing which I like and I'm dubious as to how the Maclaren would fare with my grocery shopping bags on its lightweight frame!

I found the following stroller which we could use for simple lightweight option and then thought perhaps could buy a bulkier model with adaptable seat that is OK on rougher terrain too?
Obaby Atlas Scribbler Stroller - £54.99 at Mothercare
www.mothercare.com/Maclaren-Techno-XLR-Stroller/LU1311,default,pd.html#avtc=817d4ef95d02832eb436258757577f58

I've been reading loads of reviews and I think I've got the short-list of bulkier adaptable seat pushchair options down to the following:

Graco Evo Pushchair - £249.99 Mothercare
www.mothercare.com/Graco-Evo-Pushchair--Plum/595084,default,pd.html

Quinny Buzz 3 - £299.52 John Lewis
www.johnlewis.com/quinny-buzz-3-pushchair-rocking-black/p231443988

Baby Jogger Mini 3 wheeler - £240-259.95 John Lewis
www.johnlewis.com/baby-jogger-city-mini-3-wheeler-black/p231450223
www.johnlewis.com/baby-jogger-city-mini-3-wheeler-purple/p231472718

Would be really interested in opinions about these pushchairs in comparison to each other?

out of those I would say the maclaren techno or the baby jogger. they both have the ability to be used until you no longer need a buggy. However neither rear faces. The maclaren you wont get a huge amount of shopping in it. the baby jogger does have an underseat basket that is easy to access when the seat is upright.

the quinny buzz will be rubbish for shopping, the basket is tiny and doesn't hol very much but does give you the rear facing option and is easy to fold/unfold.

I had an obaby stroller and it developed a very annoying squeak in the frame after a few weeks use.

I also had the previous model to thi, great price, reliable brand, good sized seat so should last, good sized basket for shopping, www.mothercare.com/Britax-B-Smart-3-Pushchair--Neon-Black/798025,default,pd.html

would leave you enough budget to get a small stroller for quick trips and car journeys like this
www.mamasandpapas.com/product-tour-buggy-purple/104866100/type-i/

Hi,
I recently bought a Baby Jogger city Mini for my 19 month old. She's my third baby, so I've had a fair number of prams, but I can honestly say if I'd bought this one in the first place I'd not have had the others (apart from the Maclaren Quest, which I also have, managed to persuade DH that I could keep it as the Baby Jogger won't fit behind the third row of seats in our car if they are up).
It's a much smoother ride than I expected, and copes fine with the paving slabs round here that have been lifted by tree roots! Also good in the park, but ours has decent paths, not gravel. Fits easily on a bus, and folds in an instant if you need it to. It's easy to carry when folded too, it's flat and square-ish rather than long and thin like the Maclarens.
I got a black one from Kiddicare for £174 (it was reduced to £204 I think, then there was another 15% off if you spent more than £100). I really wanted a purple one - never had a black pram, I prefer bright colours - but even I'm not silly enough to spend £250 when I can get the exact same thing for £174. I have a nice BuggySnuggle footmuff to jazz it up instead (that was from the previous pram, I didn't buy it specially for the Baby Jogger)