The Silver Cross Surf VS The Bugaboo Bee????

[littleANDlost]

ok so we have started to look at prams and have decided we want one that goes from newborn to as old as we can, we also want one where the car seat can be used on it for convenience in a rush. We've narrowed it down to two The silver Cross Surf and The Bugaboo Bee.

I was very much sold on the Silver Cross until we went to john Lewis and the sales man there went through all of them with us and suggested the bugaboo would be better. It is lighter which is good as I’d have to carry the pram and baby up and down a flight of stairs every time I left my flat, he also said it was better quality. The silver cross however does look nicer and also has the added bonus of having it's own car seat that matches that fits on, with the bugaboo you have to us the maxi plus one and buy adaptors, It also looks better for the baby as I'm not sure I like the cocoon with the bugaboo as I’m worried the baby would get to hot as we go into summer (I'm due beginning of march) I’ve been researching both today and both seem completely inline with each other and seem to have equal fans on both side.

Has anyone else looked at these or brought for others babies? I need help!!

 

[AFC84]

I went to look at the Stokke Xplory, and was asking about any others which could recline flat and were suitable for a newborn without needing a separate carrycot. The assistant mentioned the Surf but said that she'd stopped recommending them as she'd had so many returned with problems

I'm absolutely loving my Xplory, and it has a pull back section on the hood with mesh ventilation. Would definitely recommend them, they're pricey but great quality and if you register online you get a 7yr warranty!

But out of the two I'd go for the Bugaboo, I do find them a bit odd looking but I've heard they're really nice to use and good quality.

 

[Pocketmonster]

The Quinny Buzz folds flat without the need for a carry cot x

 

[littleANDlost]

We had looked into both of these and still thought we preferred the surf or the bee.
With the faults with the silver cross we had heard the 3d was quite bad for them so spoke to mother care and john Lewis about it, mother care said the 3d has has bad reviews but the surf was fine to her knowledge, john lewis said that he had heard nothing of the surf but that he had heard it about the 3d however the amount they had brought back compared to the amount they sold was nothing really. We had looked into the 3d (the website has a free car seat with the black 3d right now) but because of all the reviews over the faults decided against it.
The surf has apparently been updated quite a few times since being realised as has the bee so some of the faults have been ironed out. Things like the basket now come with the surf and not as an extra add on and the bee was made wider for toddlers.
I'm hoping when it comes nearer to the time of actualy needing to buy it everything will become much clearer and i will just know what one i want!

 

[AFC84]

It was only about 3-4 weeks ago in Bentalls and was definitely the Surf she was on about, but who knows...she probably just gets more commission on the Xplory

Maybe post a thread in Baby Club, probably a better place to ask

 

[littleANDlost]

i had posted in third tri as well but might try baby clud, the bee is deffinitly getting more thums up than the surf. Who new how stressfull this all was lol! thanks for the advise though. xx

 

[AFC84]

They do seem to have a pretty devoted following! It really is, takes forever trying to decide

 

[flippityflop]

I'm getting a Bugaboo Chameleon and I did look at the Silver Cross as well. The man in John Lewis recommended the Bugaboo over the Silver Cross 100%. I felt the Bugaboo was lighter, easier to steer and just generally a nicer feel to it. But that is just me!

 

[donnalou]

I've gone for the Surf it just looks and feels much better quality than any of the others that we looked at. We spend hours in Kiddecare going through loads.I did buy the separate carry cot though and went for the Maxi Cosi car seat with adapters because I wanted a base and the silvercross car seat doesn't have a base.

 

[littleANDlost]

what is the difference between the Bee and the Chameleon, for some reason we haven’t really looked at this, Do you need to get a separate carry cot for this one?

 

[flippityflop]

what is the difference between the Bee and the Chameleon, for some reason we haven’t really looked at this, Do you need to get a separate carry cot for this one?

The Bee is smaller and therefore cheaper. With the Chameleon you get the frame and then two bits of material. One bit straps on as the carrycot and when baby is old enough you remove that bit of material and add the other bit which is the seat. So the frame remains the same but you either have a carry cot or a seat on. That's all included in the price.

When talking to the man in John Lewis he recommended Chameleon to me as I wanted to be able to go walking in the woods and parks with the pram as I have dogs. My best friend has the Bee and that was perfect for her, but with the Bee you just get the one seat whereas with the Chameleon you actually get two (carrycot and seat).

The good thing about the Chameleon's carrycot is that it is essence just a bit of material, so storing it when you're finished with it is not a problem as the frame stays on the pushchair.

He said the Chameleon for me when I said I lived in Reading as it was a bit more rural whereas he recommends the Bee for those just needing it for urban living.

It's so hard to choose isn't it?!

 

[littleANDlost]

I’m now much more interested in the Chameleon, we currently live in Southampton but I grew up in Winchester so am hoping to move back there so rural friendly sounds good. I’m not sure what made us skirt over it when looking at them. It is so difficult, I'm so glad we still have a few months to decide. Thanks for all the advise though ladies!!

 

[twigpig]

I looked at the Bee but not the Silver Cross one, so here's a few of my thoughts....

The Bee doesn't have a carrycot/pram bit, as the pushchair bit can be laid flat. Not an issue for some, but Hubby wanted a carrycot in the early months, so this took to Bee out of the running for us.
I thought that the seat itself sat a little lower in height than some other pushchairs.
The steering was excellent. Really comfortable and east to adjust height of the pushing bar etc.
The basket below is awkward to reach as there's a plastic bit of the frame in the way. Hopefully looking at the pictures, you'll see what I mean.....
The Bee plus (newer model) seems much improved - it's easier to adjust seat and the hood isn't as deep. Might be worth a google search. I watched a video that took you through the differences, but I didn't bookmark it - sorry.

I really liked the bee, and if carrycot was an option, we may very well be buying a Bee. Hope that helps

PS - The Cameleon remains on our shortlist of 2. The main problem is that even in pushchair mode, the chair is removed for folding, and it does take up a lot of space in the book/trunk. I can fit it in my small car, but it leaves me no space leftover, which could be problematic for such a long period of time. I could swap and take hubby's car, but would prefer to be driving in my own smaller car. Just a thought.....

 

[littleANDlost]

One of our main things is not wanting a carry cot and wanting one where the seat is fine for a new born baby with out one, these where the only two we could find that where like that (but will now also be considering the Cameleon as well i think) I think i;m going to go havea nother look after work again. I've googled both and gone on both websites and just can't decide still! argh!