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Original poster

Bugaboo cameleon - views please

101 replies

pooka · 04/01/2006 23:10

Has anyone got a cameleon? What do you think of it. Am on the brink of maybe buying one, but would really appreciate advice on whether, really, they're worth it!
Thanks

OP posts:
Rowlers · 31/01/2006 20:14

I like the look of them.
The crap stroller I'm using now is so uncomfortable to push I have constant backache.
If I had the 600 notes I'd buy one.
Couldn't care less about chavness.
Wouldn't buy fleeece though.

Hulababy · 31/01/2006 20:45

BIL & SIL have just bought a chameleon for their forthcoming baby. We were having a look this weekend. The style isn't my choosing, but it did look pretty sturdy and plenty big enough - some of the pushcahirs/prams you see seem so little that I can't imagine them lasting that long. And it is funky too

Jaynex · 03/02/2006 14:37

I love my cameleon. I wish I'd got one sooner. So much lighter and easier to push than 3 previous pushchairs/buggies I've had.
Bit fiddly to get in and out of car but I love it.
Got the sand and pink combination as I'm quite outgoing and loved the funkyness of it.
It's quite nice with the dark grey or sand fleeces to have it more conservative and smart.
There are loads where I work (Kensington, London) and where I live (Dulwich) but I don't mind. It just makes me think that more people think they're great pushchairs. The resale value is very good so even though you do have to have a big initial layout you don't really lose much when you get rid of them. Unlike my m&ps which I ended up losing far more money on even though it was a much cheaper system.
I haven't seen any chavs yet. Are they young teenagers with tracksuits and burberry baseball caps like Vicky from Little Britain?
Most of the women I see with them just look ordinary to me.
And as I said, I have seen an awful lot of them around.
: )

cull · 03/02/2006 14:52

can't speak for the cameleon, but i LOVE love love my bugaboo frog. specially in shops cause it turns so easily.

Jaynex · 03/02/2006 15:01

I think they're more or less the same. You can't get the frogs anymore.
2 of my friends had a frog each from when their babies were newborn. I scoffed at the amount they paid but was very impressed with them after spending a lot of time with them. As I said before I wished I'd got mine sooner.

vickiyumyum · 03/02/2006 20:24

i don't think they are for chav's, for a start how can chavs afford them? i know a previous poster implied that they brought them with there sure start grants, but if you had received £500 would you really spend it all on a buggy? + some more. the people i see puching them are manily the yummy mummy types, too much money and too much time to go shopping in john lewis (wish i fitted into thet category, however only have the too much time to spend in john lewis, not sure that i have the money though!!)and mums in more so called middle class areas, seems to be favourites with lots of dads in my area too.

i brought the frog from another mumsnetter and it is fantastic, can't wait to start using it. i did look at the cameleons and the only thing that put me off was the fleecy fabric and was worried about how that would fare over time.

i have noticed a lot of people on this board and other parenting boards are buying the cameleon in Pink are there more hospitals around with more reliable scans? i was told at my scan that i am expecting a girl, but ahve still played it safe and gone for a vlack one. although must admit to buying a couple of pink pram blankets in john lewis (still in packets ready to take back if i ahve too!)

Jaynex · 04/02/2006 11:59

Hi vickiyumyum,
I'm due to have my 3rd girl and I fall into the buy everything in pink category (including cameleon fabrics).
My partner was quite hopeful for a boy and we asked them if they were absolutely sure about the sex. They zoomed right in on the scan and explained that what we could see was referred to as the 'hamburger'. The labia looked just like the two little halves of a hamburger bun. It was as clear as clear could be and no mistake.
I would have been very happy with a frog and was also a little concerned about the fleece material. I was assured that it would be durable and I quite like the cozyness of it.
Some of the colourways are not to my personal tastes but I saw a lovely dark grey (almost black) base yesterday with the red fleece on and it looked really smart.
The cameleon is slightly wider (seat and carrycot) and so will suit bigger and older babies.
I also got mine at a complete bargain price from ebay and I know that I will get more for it than what I paid when I have to sell it.
I'm still not completely sure what a chav is but I'm an older lady so not quite on the ball with what's happening these days.
: )

vickiyumyum · 04/02/2006 19:05

i am having ascan on wednesday (34 weeks) and will be asking again to check the sex of the baby, if it is a girl i know i will find it difficult not to go mad buying loads of pink, and will probably regret not buying a pink buggy, as this is our last child and we have 2 boys already so a girl would be the icing on the cake so to speak.

black was a conscious decison though as i had in mind that if it is a girl pink accessories would look nice with it and if it is a boy i could use brighter things like red blankets. if it is a girl i have seen a gorgeous pink shaggy fleece buggysnuggle that might just make its way into my house i am really grateful to norfolkturkey for selling me hers at such a reasonable price. she was absolutley gutted to have to sell it but with another little girl needed a twin buggy. i hope she is as happy with her powertwin as she was with her bugaboo!

kitegirl · 05/02/2006 06:29

Does the chameleon/gecko work on the beach/in the snow/in the mud?

Jaynex · 05/02/2006 11:44

Yes.
They are more or less the same as the frog.
The chassis works in the same way.
Have a look at:
www.bugaboo.com/

funkymonkey · 07/02/2006 16:19

Chavtastic or not, my Chameleon is great. It is so easy to put up and down and fits into really tiny boot spaces. It is well made and will last up to age 5+ so I don't think it is that much money to spend. My only regret is that I ordered in Black before my DD was born and would have liked pink, but may treat myself to extra fleeces (you can buy these separately).

(Buy the Chameleon rather than the Gecko as the shopping basket is bigger and the handle adjusts up, a must for mums over 5"5'......)

zazazoo · 08/02/2006 15:16

last year when I was prengant I wanted the frog, then decided against it because of the fact that you need to take the seat off for folding it. Thought I would do loads of folding ... not true!
I bought a jane carrera c, then i bought a maclaren quest in the summer for travelling... and two weeks ago both me and dh (who always loved the frog)decided we were ready for the cameleon. Dark grey and red, it's lovely!
At the moment what I really like is the reversible seat, it's great to "chat" with ds when we are out! It's also quite good on snow, ours was a disaster!
Happy so far, the fleece thing is ok but I like the frog's fabric better!

4blue1pink · 08/02/2006 15:25

I did not love chameleon - looks or fabric BUT parcaticality wise it sold itself to me and i have bought one

I just adore changing the handle direction/carrycot direction - all so versatile and practical. I notice a lot of us who have bought them are not first time mums and know that practicality can outweigh looks ( hope that does not sound smug - not meant to)

Fleece looks a bit iffy but i have bought a FROG footmuff rather than chameleon fleece one for mine next winter to combat the fleece crappiness.

Blondeinlondon · 08/02/2006 15:39

When I see them I just can't stop thinking of the big fat wad of cash they cost!

mrsbg · 06/09/2006 20:23

My husband found the chameleon in his research and we have been thinking about getting one for months. We have asked everyone we see that has one whether they like it, and everyone does and they swear by it. We have checked them out in stores and my husband is sold on it and so am I.

The real issue is cost but if you look at second hand ones, the re-sale value is excellent. Take a look at ebay, ones that are a year old are still selling for £400.00.
If you can even get some back when you sell it, we think it is worth it.

A pram is so important.

I am sad to hear that they are chavvy! but in this case, who cares.

ScottishMummy · 17/01/2007 10:43

Got a Bugaboo and LOVE it - worth every penny!!

Has
COMFORT for baby
Front facing so u see baby
Lightweight
Fits easily on london bus
great range of accessories

BUY BUY BUY i say

also good rsale value on ebay too

Iriam · 25/01/2007 22:53

Other posters are right...the fleece is rubbish. mine is full of holes where the hood frame rubs against it and is faded badly...and I don't exactly live in the Sunshine State. I should really claim on the guarantee but cant face going through that again.

Yes the famous guarantee - well beware the after sales customer service from Grace and Bibi when your Bug chassis falls apart after 10 weeks on a road with your baby in it! The company will fix it but they really couldn't care less. Secretly I think they thought I did it on purpose.

Ailsa2 · 26/01/2007 10:21

Scottishmummy, you must love the cameleon! Have asked in Pram Centre to borrow one on deposit to 'test drive' but they won't hear of it. How does it cope on rough ground/beach on 4 wheels? Can't decide if it's the best option but love the fact that it's rear facing. Thanks

meanscottishbint · 26/01/2007 10:33

does it really matter if celebs have them. i have a chameleon bugaboo and it has been great both as a pram and a pushchair. it was worth the money imo. if you like it buy it!

meanscottishbint · 26/01/2007 10:36

what is chavvy anyway? i have have better things to do than worry about looking like a chav....

NotAnOtter · 26/01/2007 10:37

ahhhh i wonder if lockets got one!!!

NotAnOtter · 26/01/2007 10:38

i love mine love it - not good for beach though

Pinktrappedwindjenny · 29/01/2007 17:51

I'm in the middle of deciding which pram to pick, and must confess, was always intending to get the Bugaboo Chameleon in Black.

However, I've been put off by the fact that you have to remove the seat to fold it. Isn't this a huge pain for those who have them?

aquasea · 01/02/2007 17:33

Surely the people who call Bugaboos chavvy are just jealous?! I have seen no chavs with them and in fact only see them in upmarket areas. I think they are lightweight, extremely manoeuvrable and fairly small. All practical points. The one problem I would worry about is whether it's a pain that it doesn't fold up with the seat on it.

If they are chavvy just because they are popular (in some areas!) then that's just plain silly. They are popular for a reason, ie, they are practical and people like them...hence being happy to pay the high price for them.

Go on, mummys, push your bugaboo with pride!

P.S. I don't have one but don't like this chav label being used over something that clearly isn't!

buggies4less · 01/02/2007 22:04

hi, i retail bugaboo buggies, the feedback i get from my customers is generally good, a few people do complain about the size when compressed and the fact the seat unit does not compress, but on the whole i hear mostley good things about them, light and versatile, good quality and bugaboo have great customer service. if you need and more information or advice email me on [email protected] (by the way we have some great deals on them at the moment)

thanks

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