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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:
Bagpuss30 · 03/10/2006 14:32

QPH. Will you give me an update when it arrives? I want to know if they are really worth it . I have discovered that most of the nearby baby shops don't stock MB so will have to plan a special trip to Manchester if I want to see one in rl. Also, does anyone know if the raincover is a good one i.e. could it stand up to a 15 month old kicking it repeatedly?

hoxtonchick · 03/10/2006 14:39

bagpuss, buy one! i've been saying that to you for a year . dd quite happy with the raincover, surprisngly....

Original poster
QueenPeaHead · 03/10/2006 14:56

well bagpuss it is coming tomorrow, so I shall give you a full rundown!

hurrah.

do you think I can chuck the Jane in the skip (I happen to have one at the moment) or should I do the worthy thing and try and find it a new home?

Hmmmm

OP posts:
Original poster
QueenPeaHead · 03/10/2006 14:58

whaddya think, bagpuss?

OP posts:
Bagpuss30 · 03/10/2006 15:55

Ok HC, I know, I know, .

QPH, yes that's the sort of thing. I wish I could do pink but ds2 wouldn't be impressed . They also do a lovely one with velvet outer and angora and also a knitted one which is striped (that comes in blue too). I look forward to your report tomorrow then . y'know, they all ganged up on me on the July 05 thread and told me to buy an MB last year, but I didn't listen .

After using the E3 for the school run, I think I have all but decided that selling all three buggies and moving to one is the best plan. I still need to check which will fit in the car though. I may have to give the people on the pushchairs website a call .....

accessorizequeen · 03/10/2006 16:46

Urban raincover is v.good, very sturdy & folds down well too.

hub2dee · 04/10/2006 12:51

'ganged up' on you..... 'gentle persuasion' I'd call it, Bagpuss.

Wow, an MB thread I (nearly) managed to stay off. We've got a Navy terrain and this sets off dd's pink clothes / buggy snuggle very nicely indeed ! Here's her full product promo shot for the mogel portfolio.

You will love it, pea head.

hub2dee · 04/10/2006 12:54

(btw - misdee - the Terrain is both a little lighter and a little narrower than the spinny wheel Urban. Other differences: the current ones don't have an adjustable height handlebar (the Urban does) and you can't buy a 'safety bar' thingy for the Terrain - only the Urban).

I make myself yawn sometimes, ya know...

Bagpuss30 · 04/10/2006 14:03

Oh, Hub, you'll never guess what (after all my to-ing and fro-ing yesterday) neither of the MB models will fit in the boot of my car!!! So I guess its back to the drawing board for me - I really did quite fancy one too, especially after all your gentle persuasion . dd looks so sweet in her buggy snuggle - its enough to make me very broody....

Nipper looks next favourite I think, plus 3 kg lighter than an MB and also half the price. I have a brochure in front of me now and so I'm going to read it and see what I think.

hub2dee · 04/10/2006 14:55

I presume you popped the rear wheels off ? (They have quick-release springy things and come off in 2 seconds). It is NOT a small buggy, but I still think it rocks.

Maybe the Nippa will work for you ? Good luck !

Bagpuss30 · 04/10/2006 16:36

No, I didn't, was just going off the dimensions on the web but my boot is quite large and deep, just not the right shape for a lot of three wheelers really, hence have maclaren also etc, etc. Couln't do with having to take the wheels on and off all the time, find all that far too clumsy, was just after something simple but practical to see us out of our pushchair days. The weight does also bother me as the E3 is 10 kgs also and I find that a bit much (I am clearly a wimp though). Thanks again anyway .

hub2dee · 04/10/2006 16:41

No sweat. FWIW a 3 kilo difference is highly significant. Some friends have a 3 wheel jogger (I think it's an Instep Nippa, but I might have that 100% wrong) and it seemed very well made. Felt v. nice.

Original poster
QueenPeaHead · 04/10/2006 17:09

well it is here! and v nice it is too, I really like the simplicity and solidity of it. makes the jane powertrack look like an overengineered piece of crap. why I didn't get one 8 years ago I have NO idea.

hub your dd looks very lovely (and very cosy). my MB came with a sheepskin liner though, which looks very comfy - I can't put a buggysnuggle on top of it, can I? Oh dear, quandaries, quandaries

OP posts:
cupcakes · 04/10/2006 17:18

we always used a sheepskin liner as the base with a buggy snuggle on top in winter.

I am very tempted by the MB Terrain. Dh however wants to replace our old XTS Boogie with a new one (plus carrycot). It is a lot cheaper but I really like the MB and I think it will be better for dog walking...

hub2dee · 04/10/2006 17:29

Glad you are smiling. Cannot advise on your snuggle / lambskin dilema, sorry. You could possibly fashion a fetching winter hat out of it if you cannot use it though, LOL.

cupcakes - if your XTS has died, why replace it with the same ? Get the MB and flog it afterwards and you won't lose out.

cupcakes · 04/10/2006 17:55

we've had the XTS for almost 7 years constant use (with one year off in the middle) and it has been really reliable. Also, it's what we're used to and that has some appeal.

So - does the terrain not have the adjustable handle? So far I've only tried out the Urban but i don't like swivel wheels.

hub2dee · 04/10/2006 18:15

7 years (even 6) solid use sounds fairly good ! Yes, Terrain is fixed only. I think the rationale is less weight, greater strength also less to go wrong IYSWIM.

hub2dee · 04/10/2006 18:17

(you can also lock the Urban swivel btw, but I don't know how precise the lock is IYSWIM).

Gem13 · 04/10/2006 18:29

MB Terrain is fab. Buy second hand, use and sell on for the same.

TarkaTheHeadlessOtter · 04/10/2006 18:32

i am dreaming of a double urban ...

Gem13 · 04/10/2006 18:33

Just looked at the rest of the thread and seen you already have it in your possession! Hurrah...and crikey - that was a speedy decision!

I have a double Terrain with a carrycot on one side. I love it. Looking forward to getting it down from the loft to push DD and D? in it later/early this/next year.

Gem13 · 04/10/2006 18:34

I had a double urban for a while (and sold it on). Lovely to push around the shops and flat parts of town, a killer up the hills. It's a lot heavier than the Terrain.

TarkaTheHeadlessOtter · 04/10/2006 18:37

which would you go for hub2dee urban/terrain?

Pollybloodyanna · 04/10/2006 18:38

I have had too many pushchairs , but my favourite two are my MB double and my single terrain. My double has lasted me 6 years.

MrsApronstrings · 04/10/2006 18:48

I have the mountain buggy (bought for 4th and final child) and what I would point out is that it has a really large seat . I can still push my 4 year old who weighs 43 pounds in it if we go an a long fmily walk and he gets tired - cant think of ANY other pushchair that has that longevity.