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Original poster

Which Maclaren?

29 replies

nicm · 17/10/2003 10:14

Hi

I was just wondering if anyone had any advice on these. I quite like the quest but also like the techno but am not sure if it is really worth the extra money?

Thanks

OP posts:
Ness73 · 17/10/2003 10:16

The Techno does look snazzy but I adore my Quest and think it's all you need really. The Techno looks like it has extra padding on the seat but the Quest is ok in that area too. It's such a breeze to push, fold/unfold (genuine one-hander!) and well-made..stands up to a lot of abuse. Go to kiddicare.com for whatever you decide..they always have the best deals.

codswallop · 17/10/2003 10:17

I just have a mirage - its 4 years old and fine.

WSM · 17/10/2003 10:18

I have a Techno. Not really sure what the difference is between the Quest and Techno. The handles are different (spongy on Quest, ergonomic rubbery stuff on Techno). The brake sytem is a nightmare on the Techno. You are supposed to be able to flick the little catch across with your foot, but it is so small that I always find myself having to bend down and flick it manually. I don't know whether it is the same braking system on the Quest. I would say go to your local Mothercare World or big Maclaren stockist and physically compare the 2 (test drive etc).

codswallop · 17/10/2003 10:18

but doens seem to be made any more!

Ness73 · 17/10/2003 10:19

It is the same crappy brake system on the Quest - my one gripe.

WSM · 17/10/2003 10:20

It is bad, especially if you are forking out for £150 for a Techno.

Davros · 17/10/2003 10:35

I have Techno following recommendations on mumsnet. AGree about the brake, its awful. Otherwise its good, I wouldn't use it for a newborn as its not nearly comfy enough. I got mine from Kiddicare.com also recommended here and it was a LOT cheaper. You could probably get both there at a lower price.

CnR · 17/10/2003 10:40

I think that braking system is the same on all McLarens - it's a pain isn't it? WE have the Volo and it is on that too.

GeorginaA · 17/10/2003 10:53

Yes brakes are awful on the Maclarens but overall I've found my Volo to be the absolutely best pushchair I have ever owned (and it's our 5th... cough)

I am going to need a better one suitable for a newborn next year though - which Maclarens are suitable from birth?

lisac · 17/10/2003 11:09

I've just bought my second techno (wore out the first) and they have changed the brakes. You just need to push down a lever with your foot - much easier to use!

CnR · 17/10/2003 11:10

GeorginaA - have to agree RE the Volo. It's a fab buggy and so so light. WE use it in the car all the time, and bought it specially for holidays.

We have a big 3 wheeler for in town - great but not practically for taking out in our car really.

Dickers · 17/10/2003 11:30

One word of caution my DS who is one,completely refuses to go in his maclaren buggy (very big paddy, goes stiff as a board and because the barkes are so crap you can't force him into it because it is wheeling off across the floor!) He will only go in a pushcahir if it has a front bar so he can sit forward and hold onto the bar (might be my bas driving ) the seat also has to be parallel to the ground. I ended up buying a mothercare citilight which I'm quite impressed with. It weighs the same as my quest and the brakes are much better.
If we didn't have this probelm I would be quite happy with the Maclaren apart from the brakes.

Gem13 · 17/10/2003 11:44

GeorginaA - fancy setting up a buggyaddicts anonymous group? I'm on my fifth too but have bought ahead for number 2!

I have the Quest as a second buggy. Not impressed. Brakes are annoying, hood has crumpled (how?) and I haven't managed to attach the raincover. It sits in the boot for those quick trips in town. DS looks uncomfortable too if he starts to get sleepy as it doesn't recline very far.

My 3 wheeler (Instep Nipper) is fab but then that's really for walking from the house to somewhere and I don't go on buses.

Dickers · 17/10/2003 11:56

ooh Gem13 agree with you about the Maclaren rain hood, I nearly broke my fingers trying to put the rain hood on, so make that "I would be happy with the maclaren apart from the rain hood and brakes"

The rain hood on the citilite is very good.

Just read my previous post and it should say "bad driving"

Jenie · 17/10/2003 12:10

Are the buggies that Toys R Us sell in their baby dep not Mclaren made? Even though they don't have Mclaren on them. I'm sure that when I was having problems with mine (fadding on seat due to lacquer not being applied) that they said that they had to send it back to Mclaren to have it tested as they'd made it.

Might be wrong of course but it may be worth checking out as I have a buggy from them and it's great and suitable from birth.

Jenie · 17/10/2003 12:11

I'd like a buggy that has wing mirrors so that I can stop swerving into people. I'll never pass my test at this rate.

GeorginaA · 17/10/2003 12:54

I haven't even got the excuse that we were buying ahead - definitely need buggyaddicts anonymous.

First one was a travel system that my mum bought us. Cost way too much and was so bulky that we only really used it for the first few months - as soon as you wanted to go on a bus or in a car it was useless!

Second one was a Graco Citisport - very good pushchair, lighter and did get a lot of use. Wasn't easy to fold though and didn't fold very small.

When we got the Micra, found that we could only fit the pushchair in the boot and nothing else would fit so went to Mothercare and bought their cheapest umbrella fold (about 15 quid I think) without really looking at it to keep in the car.

Discovered after first use that cheapest meant the wheels at the front didn't swivel!!!! Abandoned that one at my mother's house as an emergency pushchair and bought a 25 quid one from Mothercare instead.

That lasted us a while, but once we'd moved and were using it as a main pushchair rather than a "now and then when we're out in the car" pushchair, it took a hammering and all its flaws became apparent (not very comfortable for ds, had a list to one side - so much so that my left shoulder would ache for days after using it). I'd had my eye on a Volo and when the Mothercare one's folding mechanism went kablooie I took it as a sign from God that we needed to buy the Volo

Ds is only 2.5 years old... sigh

dadslib · 17/10/2003 12:55

Message withdrawn

GeorginaA · 17/10/2003 13:05

I'm eyeing the Techno XT - does it lay down completely flat, dadslib? And can you get some sort of coseytoes to fit on it?

dadslib · 17/10/2003 13:11

Message withdrawn

GeorginaA · 17/10/2003 13:17

Um... I meant does the seat go back all the way so it's suitable from birth? (sorry, didn't phrase it well)... it's good if it's an umbrella fold - means it'll fit into our tiny boot!

I will do, but our local Mothercare is useless, so it means a trip into Leamington Spa at some point with dh, so I was trying to do some fact finding now

Azure · 17/10/2003 13:48

I've got a 2.5 years-old Techno (from Kiddicare) and my main gripes are the brakes (never worked them out, don't use them) and the fact that the back wheels have completely worn down. Has anybody else had this problem? It is so difficult to push now - I thought it would last for a lot longer. I used it from when DS was a couple of weeks old, using a sling otherwise. Am interested in getting a Volo - do they recline?

dadslib · 17/10/2003 14:19

Message withdrawn

dadslib · 17/10/2003 14:20

Message withdrawn

LizC · 17/10/2003 14:31

Georgina A - you can buy Maclaren footmuffs, they're not specific to any one of their pushchairs though in terms of fabric. When I bought mine they just came in navy blue or black (black would be ok for the Techno I think?). They cost something like £25 or £30 and they are really cosy, fleece lined. I got a blue one and stuck it on my Maclaren, which I think is a Vogue (same size wheels etc. as the Techno, but blue patterned fabric, doesn't have reflective strips or padded handles).

I do like my Maclaren by the way, but like everyone else I hate the brakes and the rain cover and to be honest tend to use my Mothercare 3 wheeler most of the time as it's sooo easy to push! Bought the 3 wheeler for 'off road' walking and the Maclaren for round town, but end up using 3 wheeler for everything as it folds up well in the car boot, has a swivel front wheel and is more comfy than the Maclaren. Actually, having said all that maybe I wouldn't buy another Maclaren Vogue if I had my time again - ours doesn't fold quite flat (and definitely won't fold anything like flat with the cosytoes fitted) and I don't think it's suitable from birth whatever Maclaren say. Should have got one of the smaller Maclarens really, so I wouldn't recommend the £150 Techno which is the same size as my Maclaren. Think the Volo is probably good value though - might sell our Vogue and get one. Had been wondering about cheapie Mothercare ones to sling in back of car easily, but maybe not after comments on here)...