Am I mad to buy a new Mountain Buggy when DD is 21mths old?!

[amazonianwoman]

I have a Bugaboo Frog which I'm selling as I'm sick of the 2-part fold and the fact that it takes up the whole boot (and we don't have small cars), but mainly cos we mostly do off-road walking.
Am I mad to buy a Mountain Buggy when DD is already 21mths old? She is a good walker already, but obviously there are still plenty of times when she needs a buggy - shops/sleeps/long walks.

We're also ttc no.2 so it will get used for a 2nd baby (like the idea that I can get a carrycot - prob from ebay - and can attach a kiddyboard)
I would've bought the MB 1st time round except it didn't have an adjustable handle then and we're both tall.
Am I mad??!! Cost (from chariotsatp) will hopefully be covered by selling the Bugaboo + loads of accessories.

Also, any opinions on MB much appreciated.

TIA

amazonianmum, what did you decide?

thinking of same swop myself (from bugaboo frog to MB urban) now that 2nd baby on the way. Just spent 30 mins justifying it with dp, who is not impressed. We already swapped from Powertrack 360 to Bugaboo when DS 9 months...

DS 2.5, will be 3 when baby born. Already finding it hard to steer bugaboo whilst holding his hand, small front wheels go dilly dally. And can only barely fit (with some effort & removing the bar) into Yaris boot. Don't take it out in car much as DS walking most of the time, but dread doing it everyday when baby born!

Have seen MB urban in Leeds shop & was dead impressed by easy folding and pushing. Generally think 3 wheelers easy to push (my 1 positive comment on Powertrack.

My only concern is whether the seat is upright enough as that was problem with Powertrack (DS miserable not being able to sit upright). Any MB owners have a comment on this?

Looked up costs and we will get good resale value on Bugaboo as carrycot never used & aubergine popular. Want to buy 2nd hand MB tho as can't possibly spend any more on pushchairs!
Help!

dd (10 months) doesn't try and 'sit up' in hers, ITH... (MB Terrain).

I haven't used other buggies to compare the seating angle in the upright position, sorry...

I still haven't decided, and now have a serious addiction to surfing the net/forums/online stores/ebay ogling Mountain Buggies, but not doing anything about it LOL.

Bugaboo has come ever so slightly back into favour in the hot weather as the hood offers fantastic sun protection (I'm paranoid tho', have had malignant melanoma), but like you, I just don't bother putting it in the car much cause I can't face the hassle - we have a Passat salon (huge boot) and an A4 estate (biggish boot) and the Bugaboo still fills them both and just really gets on my nerves (putting it politely) when I'm wrangling it in/out Must say I don't have TOO much trouble pushing one-handed, but have nothing to compare with...

Only thing putting me off (other than price and short lifespan with DD, who is 2 next month) is that the MB Urban is very long with the new adjustable handle, I think I prefer the 2004 model with the fixed handle. DH may have to stoop a little, but then he's used to bowing down to me ha ha ha. I also think the fixed handle would be stronger, as per the Terrain.

And have just spied the Mountain Buggy Breeze...

OMG decisions decisions...

Oh yes, wondering about the uprightness of seat too! Bugaboo seat is very upright. Guess little ones would soon get used to the MB...

And I think I'd have a nervous breakdown trying to get the Bugaboo into the boot with a new baby AND a terrible twos toddler

The MB has an integral 'roof' (with viewing window) for sun protection, but additionally we bought a £10 parasol thingy (from jojo maman I think) and we also have a outlook / shade-a-babe type of mesh sun protector than covers the entire buggy. You can see the shades on the pushchairs.co.uk site ITH.

Glad I am not the only person to spend hours pondering this question, bored myself to sleep last night with bugaboo vs mb. Will have to take ds to nearest shop and see what he thinks, but possibly could have less fussy baby this time! Had a friend over from Oz who had MB (can't remember if terrain or MB) and she thought Powertrack was ridiculously laidback so presumably MB wasn't (she hadn't actually brought it with her).

Course have just remembered that will have carrycot to assemble/disassemble either way as would buy one for MB. Don't know how bugaboo carrycot goes on and off, but MB method seems easy enough from website. I just remember getting horribly frustrated when ds was newborn not being able to easily go anywhere because of pushchair. We do have another pushchair (I hate to admit it). Bought mum a graco citisport off ebay as she has ds one day a week and we found bugabooo such a pain in the a**e to take over there and back. She also got stuck gtrying to stick it her boot. Hard to explain to anyone else how to fold the bugaboo when I still get it wrong myself!

On bugaboo plus side, do like being able to have ds face me on way home from nursery etc. I'd miss that.

Amazonian woman, only noticed steering problem quite recently with ds since he turned 2 and got heavier (and he's only on 25%).

OK, so I'm biassed, but there are always a pile of Bugaboo owners lamenting the fold, the size in the boot, travelling by bus etc. etc. and considering selling it / swapping it, but there are very few similar tales of woe wrt MB. That says it all IMHO.

Of course you could lock an Urban front wheel, but the Terrain makes pushing a no-brainer, plus it has a fine tuning nut you can turn on the chassis if you ever need to true it up so it. The reduced length, width, weight and better balance sold it to me.

And cos I am aussie, also find sun protection on bugaboo to be great and reassuring. Powertrack hood was useless. own a shade a babe but ds naturally won't have it on HIS pushchair so that was a waste of money. Won't have raincover either. Sigh. Course DS will be 3 by time baby born, so I hopefully imagine he won't run away from me or jump in front seat of car then as he does now.

Forgot that ds won't actually let me put sunshade down on bugaboo.

Bit of an aside, but I have a Protect-a-bub which pulls right OVER the buggy but not down to their feet like a raincover. DD doesn't mind it, but would never entertain a shade-a-babe type now.

H2D - I know terrain is narrower, is it also shorter than the Urban? Think I might get 2nd hand terrain...

AQ - fitting carrycot onto bugaboo is easy, prob same as MB. I accept that chassis and cot combo will always be a PITA getting into car boot (whichever make), but that's only for around 5mths.

Only other concern re MB - have heard that some kids outgrow them at 2.5 when heads touch hood, so would be great to get feedback if you're going to test drive one with your son.

I think it must be as the weight is distrubuted further back (more over the rear axle) on the Terrain, but I might be talking pants.... ask Nigel at pushchairs.co.uk for a definitive answer. He really knows mb ! (No connection btw).

Thanks, will do, although getting a little embarrassed as I've already asked him loads of Qs. Think I might have to set up a new email address LOL.

He's always supremely helpful and knowledgeable tho'!

3 dds and i'm in my 7th, yes SEVENTH buggy/pushchair. Love the MBs as make walking dog easier but DONT let any older child EVER sit on little foot plate at front as wheel will never be the same again. Got my first MB when dd2 was 2yrs which seemed wasteful at time but never looked back!

EmmyLou - thx, and the million dollar question(s) - do you have the Urban (fixed handle or adjustable handle) or the Terrain???!!!

Urban, fixed handle, swivel wheel. But i'm only 5'4" and dh is away a lot so i call the shots on things like buggies. Can turn it on a sixpence - lurvley! Do keep stroller buggy in car for shopping trips but with dd2 (v slim build) used MB all the time - less children then so more room in car - also, dd3 is much bigger/heavier than others were and like to spread wear and tear. Had a crappy Babydan buggy (umbrella fold type) which I took on recent trip to Australia but it started to fold itself up while crossing busy Melbourne street with dd3 asleep inside! Could've been damaged on flight? But had always been soooo difficult to steer anyway. Hated it with a passion. Headed for nearest department store to buy replecemnt and was told dd3 (at 2 and a half, tall, not skinny but not fat either...)was too big for many models which had weight restrictions! Not come accross this in UK have you?

Amazonianwoman, will certainly let you know if ds fits in MB! His head is getting dangerously close to top of sunshade in bugaboo though, and he's on the short side.

I Do take the point about length, the bugaboo is quite short in the body. All 3 wheelers are quite long though aren't they?, just takes getting used to (although I used to miss the kerb sometimes with powertrack!). I just can't see the advantage of fixed wheel myself although I've been advised by several people that it's better. I am often inside tiny little local shops & swivel wheel(s) the business then. Have only seen MB with fixed handle, which was fine for mine & dp, but we're average height.

don't think I can be bothered to do more than look at MB in shop at the moment, just too tired. But best make a decision and sort it out before 3rd trimester.

IIRC you can buy taller canopies ITH !

im still waiting for my mb!! its hopefully going to be delivered on tuesday though..............

my huge 4 year old fits in my urban no problem....

after waiting for 2 bloody weeks for my mb to come back in stock, and waiting in all morning for it to be delivered, i have just been sent a lovely mb CARRYCOT!! my 14 month old dd is going to be very squashed in that! i have emailed the glasgow pram centre and said that if they cant redeliver tomorrow i want a refund so i can go elsewhere, how can it be this hard to get a pram?

I lied. I starting thinking about swapping to a MB again. I feel so dirty.

my mb has just come, at last! am very pleased with it, im off now to try it out on some rugged terrain........err, ok then, the park

Ooo how exciting! Pls report back!!

its lovely!, im really pleased with it, dd looked really comfy with the seat laid right back. its really easy to steer, but it will take me a while to get used to going up and down curbs, i kept tipping it. its huge though, huger than it looked in the shops, so will still need to keep my maclaren for the buses.