Anything I should know about Mclaren Stollers?

[highlander]

Well, I think my bargain pram is reaching the end (sob ). DS is 1 now (today!! ) and I think a buggy would be better. I was thinking of the McLaren techno XT - fits our budget and looks like it will be OK in the rain. Would you go for a cosytoe as well? (we go out a lot)

My current pram 9really old-fashioned (metal basket underneath etc) is not designed to be out in the rain at all and the cover is so close to DS's face it freaks him out.

Techo is a good one, we have a Triumph (I think) and it is the lighter one but doesn't have the extra pockets in the hood and isn't as sturdy.

I think you can get lots of other strollers but Mc always seem to get good reviews.

oh you will miss the carrying space underneath, you really will with a maclaren, and the brakes on them are sh(te.

Can you afford a Little Nipper, they are FANTASTIC

If I were you I would look at the Quest as well, the Techno is quite a bit heavier.

I would say definitely all the bells and whistles - sunshade, rain cover, cosytoe, esp at this time of year!

Link to little nipper please, I am after a new buggy.

I have the Triumph too and it's OK, but it tips over as soon as I take ds out if I have a bag on the handles and this aspect of it drives me mad. It does it with just a light bag. I've seen some weights that you can put on the front wheels to hold it down, so I'm going to get some of those. It's OK in the rain though.

sorry don't have a link, but they are wonderful, very light and sturdy and you can easily do buggyboard and loads of carrying space and you can fold them up to fit in the back of a roomy car

Suzy, I just googled Little Nipper

I have just bought the techno and have been using it for a few weeks, I am really happy with it, haven't used it in rain yet but cover looks ok, would def go for the cosytoes coming up to winter.
Very easy to push and manouvere, storage pockets on back of hood good, shopping basket is small though.

Highlander, we love the XT except for its brakes - suzywong speaks the truth there. They are awful
I would say if yout ds is one (happy birthday mini-highlander) - don't bother with a cosytoes, because the odds are he will be walking before too long and the mud issue will raise its messy head. Or maybe go for a buggysnuggle which washes easily.

duh! I forgot. Our "handy window in hood" (for checking dd for nits from a safe distance presumably, because all you can see is the top of her scalp) leaks in heavy/prolonged rain. Leading to outraged toddler squawks.

The Cosatto Helix is just like the XT, a fraction of the price, and the brakes are great!! It is fantastic!

i had also heard awful things about the shit brakes on mclarens so we went for a cosatto.
much more reasonably priced than the mclaren and just as good!
we have a lunar, which has been really fab so far. i think with mclaren yuo are just paying for the name... other companies make buggies which are just as good for less money!

Exactly, Starlover!

only downside is finding somewhere that stocks things other than mclaren.
we bit the bullet and ordered ours from the internet without seeing it.. but i have to say i do usually like to have a good look and see what things are like before i buy

I have had several Basil Fawlty moments with my Maclaren Vogue (silver medal to techno's gold medal). i.e. F'ing and b'ing at it, thrashing it with a stick, kicking brakes. Biggest let down are the brakes. And the crap shopping net. DD loves to pull the hood all the way down and peep through the plastic window though, so they do have entertainment value.

Your ds may not like the raincover if it fits onto the hood as it is quite close and easily kicked about - perhaps buy a framed one to give him more room. Having said that we rarely used ours. The cosy toes is a pretty snug fit so it depends whether you think you'll get use from it as it may only do one winter for you.

the new techno XT has better brakes - I had the old one and would not have bought again except they have changed the brakes

don't think the other MCs in the lower price bracket have the new style brakes tho' so do be careful

what about a M&P pulse? I hear good things about them, although I found the frame a bit plasticky.

kiddicare is generally v. good on reduced price mc claren's - just be careful about model year (those damn brakes!)

SPRAY@Basil Fawlty moments, me too GB. I was sooooo happy when i finally bunged it in a skip.

That's good that they've changed the brakes, let's hope the do so for the rest of the range

What's wrong with the brakes?

bought the Techno XT. DS seems very comfy in it, but a bit 'exposed' at the sides.

The brakes seem OK, but not nearly as good as the pram.

Strollers, eh......what a bloody rip-off!

Gingerbear - That is one bizarre link!

We have a Maclaren Techno XT thingy and I love it, got it from kiddicare at a very good price (99.99, I think)

Since when did they become 'strollers' Too american for my liking, they were buggies in my day I tell you, buggies....