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Original poster

Urgent E3 question

58 replies

bluebear · 27/03/2004 13:15

Any members of the E3 fanclub available to tell me the difference between the old explorer and the new E3.
Urgent because local shop is doind 10% off, today only! Baby is going nutty so finding internet searches hard to do...help.

OP posts:
Noodleboo · 30/03/2004 21:36

Thanks all - will probably buy here despite price for piece of mind ( though I know the E3 is so brilliant it won't go wrong!)

I had a large quote from Kiwidad as I included double buggy, storm cover (double) suncover (dbl)and cocoon. Does everyone buy the cocoon or do they just use blankets - it does look very cosy though and despite this being number two, am still very fussy!

Just want to say that without mumsnet, I would not be buying the E3 - I think the interest in it on here is phenomenal but SOOO interesting Feel like I have it already - made dh stop outside closed shop today so I could press my nose up against the window and stare at the E3 longingly as not buying it yet (but really really want to)!!

mumbojumbo · 30/03/2004 21:40

I bought the cocoon which was very snuggy for ds2 when he first used the buggy.

The only problem I found was that he out grew it rather quickly and then had to lie underneath wrapped in a blanket.

BearintheBigBlueHous · 30/03/2004 21:58

The cocoon is great but will be warm now it's no longer wintry - it was ideal for DS this winter, but I'm not sure we'd have used it if he'd arrived at a different time of year.

Original poster
bluebear · 31/03/2004 16:00

Dh has business trip to san francisco in a couple of weeeks so we are now thinking of him popping across the golden gate bridge to rodney and bringing ours home himself (saves 55GBP shipping but still have to pay tax and VAT), but I'll have to wait even longer

OP posts:
Millie1 · 31/03/2004 18:53

Re Cocoon ... like the others DS outgrew it at about 9/10 weeks though I didn't put him into toddler seat til 16 weeks so we had a few weeks off the road - weather bad anyway! If you're having a spring/summer baby you might find it much too hot but that said, I think the baby area would be very awkward to use w/out the cocoon. Don't really know how you'd do it as it's at a funny angle and cocoon is great for getting bambino in and out. Maybe someone else can shed light on this?

Noodleboo · 01/04/2004 11:39

Sorry, another cocoon question - do you put baby in with head towards single wheel as in P & T's brochure or towards you at the back?? If they are head near the single wheel, if you have toddler in the top seat, won't they be squashed??

Original poster
bluebear · 01/04/2004 13:07

Don't know about the cocoon Noodle sorry.

If any one is interested, I've done some calculations and if you're thinking of importing an E3 from the states it can be cheaper to import just the single buggy and buy all the accessories over here (if you can get to a shop that stocks them). I'm turning into an E3 bargain hunter obsessive!

OP posts:
BearintheBigBlueHous · 01/04/2004 14:41

Noodleboo, when you've got a toddler up top, the baby's head faces you (ie away from the single wheel)- so you're looking down on her/him. We never used the buggy for just a baby, but I guess you could slot it in either way then.

Original poster
bluebear · 20/04/2004 19:36

Me again...ok so dh is in San Francisco this week and the plan was that I was to order the buggy from Kiwi dad and he is going to pick it up and bring it home (saves shipping but still paying tax).

But...just gone onto Kiwi website and there are two versions of the E3
v2 is 22GBP more expensive...anyone know the difference?

And if BITBBH is around..how vital are the handlebar extensions..dh is 6 foot so we were going to get them without him trying the buggy without because I said you had them (he respects the Bear!)

ARGHHHH...I want my buggy!!!

OP posts:
Gem13 · 20/04/2004 19:48

We bought the handlebar extension on bear's advice as DH is 6'3 (I'm 5'7). It's good as you can turn it either way. It's not comfortable for me at its maximum height so we comprised and have it upside down permanently (its not so easy to turn around) which means it is higher than the regular one.

It is exciting waiting for it to arrive. Does this mean your DH will meet Rodney in person?

Original poster
bluebear · 20/04/2004 19:53

It is a possibility that dh will meet the infamous Rodney..but he has a very full schedule so I am seeing if the hotel will accept a very large package!

OP posts:
Original poster
bluebear · 20/04/2004 19:54

I know I've said this but.....I want my buggy!

OP posts:
BearintheBigBlueHous · 20/04/2004 20:10

Sorry for the delay. The buggy is a delight to push now that I have the extension - DW doesn't mind having it higher despite her being titchier. I was starting to worry that I'd be less than chuffed with the double buggy after a few days of using it with only the original handle, I could feel it in my back going downhill. I cheered up when Jenna told me I could get the extension and since it arrived I've been cock-a-hoop. No seriously it works a treat. I'm not sure that you can get them from retailers - we got ours direct from P&T.

Original poster
bluebear · 20/04/2004 20:23

kiwi dad's got them on his site now.

I've mailed to ask the difference between version 1 and version 2 but no reply as yet and I want to order it tonight..think I'll have to ring California now.

Thanks for confirming handlebar extensions are worth it..

oooh I'm so excited but will have to wait till dh flies back at the weekend

OP posts:
kiwisbird · 20/04/2004 20:42

where are the two versions? can't see it on his site?

BearintheBigBlueHous · 20/04/2004 20:44

OK, very quickly as I'm off down the pub in 3....it looks like the main differences are that the main seat can recline a bit (Sleepytime) which it couldn't before and people had griped abou this, although we've been fine with it - just using the zips to recline it a little when DS(baby) is in it as a single buggy. And the other noticeable difference is that doubles seat is better padded and the straps are too. I hate it when I've bought something and a new model comes out, but I don't think these changes will keep me awake

Original poster
bluebear · 20/04/2004 20:49

Bear! You know EVERYTHING about E3's....swoons!
The difference as I see it is that the v2 is 22GBP more expensive (27GBP once tax is added)

Since I have a habit of letting my sprogs sleep in the buggy I'm guessing the recline feature is worth the dosh.

Kiwibird - there's no extra piccies or info..but if you look for the box to click to say you want to buy one...there's now 2 boxes..a v1 and a v2.

OP posts:
kiwisbird · 20/04/2004 20:51

well I am happy with the zip lieback dd prefers to sleep semi upright anyway.
And I have not got the doubles seat yet
Only thing that peeves me at all is the dip in the E3 seat, it is like a wedge and my little lass struggles to get her skinny bum out of it to sit upright!

Original poster
bluebear · 20/04/2004 20:56

Oh no..don't say anything negative about it..I have until 10pm before I am ordering mine..don't bring me back to reality.

OP posts:
kiwisbird · 20/04/2004 21:02

my dd has bum smaller than 10p piece, its still a squllion times better than anything else

kiwisbird · 20/04/2004 21:06

the pram that is not her bum, although it is cute!

Original poster
bluebear · 20/04/2004 21:14

T'is done... dh gave permission so I have spoken to Rodney himself..as he was unpacking his first shipment of new E3s and ordered a blue one version 2
He says the v2 handlebar is like the handlebar extender for v1 so we shouldn't need it!
LOL at 10p size bottom Kiwibird...my dd has bottom like a melon and she's only 6 months old..takes after her mum!

OP posts:
Original poster
bluebear · 20/04/2004 22:22

in case anyone is interested info on E3version 2 from stratford strollers

New alloy frame (only 7.3kgs)
Easier folding system - 2 press-release flippercatches
'Slide on' doubles kit (patent pending) - easier to install/remove
Seat wider by a massive 25-60mm
Larger parcel tray
Seat locks for toddler seat (prevents seat falling forward)
Longer handle (75mm) for taller people - more room in doubles configuration
Longer adjustable crotch strap on harness
Larger newborn bed

OP posts:
Bagpuss30 · 21/04/2004 09:09

Hate it when this happens although I did e-mail my supplier in a bit of a panic and asked if mine would be obsolete and whether I needed to buy all the extra bits now. She said that the new doubles seat would need an extra gadget to fix it to the version one E3 but that all the accessories would be interchangeable so not to worry . I still love mine, dd still falls asleep in it (even fully upright, so no probs for us) and I have had many admiring glances at nursery recently (so has the pushchair, lol!). Rodney now seems to stock the handlebar extender too, although if we do decide to extend our family further I doubt I'll need it as I'm rather average in the height department. Still waiting for my panniers too which is a pain as I need them for my shopping .

Kiwisbird, my dd has bottom the size of a conker and I was also wondering about the seat. I was thinking that a liner might solve the problem.

BearintheBigBlueHous · 21/04/2004 09:32

D'oh. Apple did the same thing to me yesterday as well, announcing a new faster and cheaper Powerbook 6 months after I got mine. D'oh, d'oh, d'oh! How can I hope to keep ahead of the crowd if all my style statements are made obsolete. Seriously, all the changes to the E3 look like good ideas - more room in the parcel tray and newborn bed would make/have made some difference to us, but I can live with it, just so long as we keep turning heads. Bluebear you willl be the veritable cat's pyjamas with the first E3v2 in the UK - make the most of your fifteen minutes...