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Original poster

OK Pram Nutters - advice please! Mountain Buggy or E3 or what?

54 replies

QueenPeaHead · 03/10/2006 11:45

I have a Mclaren Ryder that I use in town, when I need to sling a buggy in the car etc. I also have a Jane Powertrack 360 which I use around home (middle of nowhere, rutty muddy tracks, off road sort of stuff). It rarely if ever gets put in the car, but it gets bumped over fields and through woods etc. It is 3 years old, has never been very good really (very wobbly front wheel if you go too fast, front wheel has needed rewelding, back wheels get punctured/flat ALL the time and the pump that comes with it is crap), brake handle falling off and not working etc.

So I think, reluctantly, I need to replace it. Trouble is my 4th and last child is 8 mths old, so she'll only be using whatever I buy for maybe 18 months more before she is walking around everywhere. I was hoping to keep the jane going until she was out of it, so am a bit cross at the thought of having to get something else. I keep looking at the mountain buggy terrain, looks good and solid, no gimmicks etc - but it is very expensive. The e3 is cheaper, but is it as good and solid? Or is there anything else that I should be looking at? It needs to be solid, have good pneumatic wheels, good ground clearance, and a raincover. Do I really have to spend almost £400 to get that?

Oh, and what is the difference between Mountain Buggy Urban dn Terrain, because look the same to me!

OP posts:
misdee · 03/10/2006 11:49

i would not go for the new e3, i would recommend an old style kiwi explorer over the e3 everytime, especially for one child. i have one for dd3+heart equipment, as i couldnt justify £300+ (got it for £90 on ebay, free delivery as the lady was near me) for carting equipment about. its sturdy, front wheel can lock, is higher than the e3 and better all round IMO. it doesnt lie flat if baby falls asleep, but relines slightly, which is fine for dd3.

i also have a ryder and wont part with it

misdee · 03/10/2006 11:50

urban has swivel wheel, terrain doesnt. think thats all the difference.

Bramshott · 03/10/2006 11:52

I have an XTS Twister for muddy-type use and I'd heartily recommend it. The Mothercare Urban is also supposed to be good.

misdee · 03/10/2006 11:53

wouldnt get an mothercare urban detour for off-road. its great for about town and is strursy, but can be heavey going.

hoxtonchick · 03/10/2006 11:56

deffo get a mountain buggy. i like mine so much. living in central london, we have the urban, but they're practically indestructible.

Original poster
QueenPeaHead · 03/10/2006 11:58

is the kiwi explorer also phil and ted? haven't heard of that one.

haven't heard of xts as well, will have a look...

any further thoughts/reviews most welcome!

OP posts:
Original poster
QueenPeaHead · 03/10/2006 12:01

misdee don't think they make the kiwi explorer any more, it is all just e3s.

will have a look on ebay

anyone want a clapped out jane powertrack?!

OP posts:
Enid · 03/10/2006 12:05

I have a maxi cosi one which I think is now the Quinny? anyway it is fabbo on our muddy rutted tracks and fields

I borrowed it from a friend as my old Boogie was much like your Jane powertrack by the sound of it.

If I were you I wuold splurge on a new one and sell it on Ebay when you are done.

btw, Halfords sell great stuff called Slime that you inject into the wheels to prevent punctures - during hedge cutting season I would get at least one puncture a day but Slime has changed my life

misdee · 03/10/2006 12:05

yes its by phil and teds, they dont make them anymore but they do pop up on ebay. i got mine jsut because it was a lot cheaper than an e3 (kiwi has double seat, rainover and all the accessories to use it as two toddler how we use it, and also extras for newborn set up). it really is a lot better for babies once they are past the lying flat sleeping at every 5minutes stage.

Bagpuss30 · 03/10/2006 12:05

QPH, I could have just written a similar post, although I seem to have aquired three different pushchairs for various situations which I think is really far too many. I am hoping to downsize my collection () to just one which will be kept in the car and used until ds2, who is 15 months, no longer needs it. I have been looking at Mountain Buggy but am unsure of the need to spend so much money for such a short amount of time. I also have just phoned the lady who runs Practical Pushchairs, which is where we got our E3 from nearly 3 years ago, to see what she suggested, and she reckons that the new Nipper 360 might be good as it is light but robust and will cope with all terrain walks quite well, but will also still fit in the boot of our car. Unfortunately they aren't available until the end of October, so I can't see one yet to find out if it is any better than the E3 in terms of lightness and ease of use etc. Oh, she said that they will be around the £200 mark pricewise too which seems better than MB to me!

Enid · 03/10/2006 12:05

I saw a fab phil and ted in our local sainsburgs t'other day

it had a sling underneath for the toddler

it was sooooooooo cool

misdee · 03/10/2006 12:06

but if you get a second hand MB then you can sell it on for similar price afterwards.

Original poster
QueenPeaHead · 03/10/2006 12:12

so bagpuss if you already have an e3, why do you need another one? do you not like it or has it died on you or what?

I really won't ever put it in the car, so I'm not so worried about size. but the price of the nipper is def. appealing....!

OP posts:
Pollybloodyanna · 03/10/2006 12:31

I've had both - the Mountain Buggy terrain is by far the best imo.

Bagpuss30 · 03/10/2006 12:36

TBH I find the E3 bulky for the boot of the car. It doesn't have a catch to close it (only the wrist strap thingy) and I have to turn it onto the seat with the wheels in the air to put it in our boot. dh and I both love it as a buggy but find it difficult for these reasons. Also, dd has outgrown the toddler seat now and so I have loads of bits of it lying around the house. I may still end up keeping it yet, but would rather prefer something that was good for all situations and could just live in my car boot thus freeing some space in the house!

Original poster
QueenPeaHead · 03/10/2006 12:53

Hmmm. If I were you I'd wait for the nipper then, it sounds v good...

mountain buggy urban £369 at kiddicare - ouch - anyone find anything better?

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Pollybloodyanna · 03/10/2006 12:57

I got mine from here . If you can get one with the special tyres as they aren't supposed to puncture as much.

Bagpuss30 · 03/10/2006 13:01

Pushchairs.co.uk for £339 plus £10 delivery (they put in a pump or a bumper bar for free if you pay with a debit card) - Hub2Dee recommended them to me a while back, or Groovystyle.co.uk for £349 with a sun shade thrown in for free.

I am tempted by the Nipper but the MB appeals to me with the no frills styling and if I sell the 3 I currently have then it should cover the cost nicely. dh says I can have which ever I think is best provided it doesn't end up costing him anything .

accessorizequeen · 03/10/2006 13:02

If you're used to a powertrack 360, you might find a mb terrain hard to get used to (it has a hard shopping basket compared to soft one for urban, also you can buy a handbrake for the terrain, can't for the urban plus terrain is slightly more compact). I had a 360 & it was a bit crap really, you'd love the mb urban by comparison. Why not buy a 2nd hand one on ebay, then more affordable? You could get a 2004 version for a good price as you don't need to buy a carrycot or any of the newborn stuff - 2005 version just has better height for a buggyboard which you don't need & slightly better basket etc - 2005 versions go for more money, but not necessary in your case. I've gone from a 360 to a bugaboo to an mb urban - mb wins hans down & it meets all your criteria. If you do want to buy a new mb, I got an urban for £300 via ebay (2005 version).

Bagpuss30 · 03/10/2006 13:02

Polly, great minds eh?

Original poster
QueenPeaHead · 03/10/2006 13:24

brilliant, thank you very much, I'm going for the terrain with the super dooper tough tyres.

now, navy or black? hmmmm, decisions decisions...

OP posts:
FioFio · 03/10/2006 13:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
QueenPeaHead · 03/10/2006 13:35

oi fio, are you calling my daughter a dog?

outside, NOW!

OP posts:
Bagpuss30 · 03/10/2006 13:36

Ooh, black QPH, and get a nice buggysnuggle to go in it. Am v , but terrain won't fit in my boot I don't think as it is too long.

Original poster
QueenPeaHead · 03/10/2006 14:14

ordered!

couldn't choose a colour so went for black because you said so bagpuss

thank you everyone

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