MorganMom
09-25-2004, 01:15 AM
After debating and agonizing about whether to go w/an E3 or a Runabout, I decided on the Runabout in Cherry. The Runabout won because of the higher weight limit on the toddler seat (DS was already at the limit on the E3's seat) and also because of the points Strollerqueen brought up: more useable storage in doubles mode, slightly plusher, etc.. My biggest concern was that I couldn't see the Valco IRL so I was pretty nervous about ordering a $400+ stroller sight unseen! LOL
I needn't have worried...I ordered from Rodney's site (www.kiwi-kid.com) and I just got the stroller today. First off, let me say that I am already in love w/this stroller!!! LOL And even more amazing, DH LOVES it too!
THE GOOD (so far):
-Easy to put together- had it assembled in about 10 min, despite being 7mos PG.
-Love the steering- we took it for a walk round the neighborhood and DH raved about how easy it was to push & steer even one handed.
-Lots of pockets/storage space. Big basket that's still somewhat accessible when the main seat is fully reclined.
-Pretty easy to fold once I figured it out.
-Toddler seat easy to install/take off.
-Plush!! I was worried the toddler seat would be uncomfortable for DS (it looked small in the pics), but DS fit w/plenty of room to grow and he didn't complain a bit about it. In fact, DS *loves* the toddler seat and wanted to "ride ride ride outside" as soon as he saw it. LOL
-I really like the flat recline of the main seat. Plus the way the fabric unfolds from the back means that if you have a newborn in there, it creates a little bassinette that is almost fully enclosed. I can see loading the baby in the main seat from the back so he's facing me if I want.
-At first I was worried there wasn't any leg room for the rider in the main seat when you use the toddler seat...but DS rode in the main seat and his legs just slid under the toddler seat w/room to spare. Even if there was a bigger kid in the toddler seat, I think they'd be ok with their feet touching for a a while.
-DS didn't mind riding in the main seat with the toddler seat folded under his legs. It props up his legs a little but he still looked comfy.
-The whole stroller feels very sturdy and durable, probably because of the aluminium frame. Not much plastic-y feel to this stroller at all.
-Folds small enough to fit in the back of my PT Cruiser, even with the toddler seat attached!!!! Woohoo!
-DH liked the wide stance of the back wheels alot. He said it made the Valco feel very stable compared to the Jeep 3wheeler we had before.
-The front wheel is really easy to remove and replace. Took me about 5 seconds to do it.
-Despite having just DS in the toddler seat, the stroller didn't seem overly tippy. This was a major concern of DH's, but the way the toddler seat is placed almost directly over the front wheel makes it pretty stable. The only time it got tippy was going sideways up an incline (which Strollerqueen had mentioned). If we had two kids in there, it'd probably be less off-balance.
THE NOT SO GOOD:
-The directions were pretty bad! LOL Luckily I've had a lots of practice w/strollers and I'm mechanically inclined so I could figure out a lot of the stuff w/out the directions.
-The locking strap is a little hard to affix w/the toddler seat in place.
-The fold will take some getting used to...requires 3 steps to fold and is a little awkward for me to open.
-Will have to buy an umbrella for the toddler seat (tho I don't really mind that and DS loves umbrellas!)
-Heavier than my other strollers (P3, Venezia), but it's a double where the others are singles so I can't complain.
In the 1/2 hr stroll we took around the neighborhood, we had 4 people stop us to ask us about the Valco. I got the Cherry Red and it's really a pretty color. Not too flashy but different. DH said it looks very "European" and that I'll be the envy of the other mall moms! ;) :D I was very surprised by DH's reaction, but he said this stroller was def. worth the $$$ and he's really impressed by the engineering and who 'efficient' it is (can you tell he's a computer consultant!? LOL).
Anyways, some pics of the stroller by itself and also w/DS in the toddler seat (w/a mouthful of pretzels :+ )
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/13620.jpg
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/13621.jpg
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/13623.jpg
I needn't have worried...I ordered from Rodney's site (www.kiwi-kid.com) and I just got the stroller today. First off, let me say that I am already in love w/this stroller!!! LOL And even more amazing, DH LOVES it too!
THE GOOD (so far):
-Easy to put together- had it assembled in about 10 min, despite being 7mos PG.
-Love the steering- we took it for a walk round the neighborhood and DH raved about how easy it was to push & steer even one handed.
-Lots of pockets/storage space. Big basket that's still somewhat accessible when the main seat is fully reclined.
-Pretty easy to fold once I figured it out.
-Toddler seat easy to install/take off.
-Plush!! I was worried the toddler seat would be uncomfortable for DS (it looked small in the pics), but DS fit w/plenty of room to grow and he didn't complain a bit about it. In fact, DS *loves* the toddler seat and wanted to "ride ride ride outside" as soon as he saw it. LOL
-I really like the flat recline of the main seat. Plus the way the fabric unfolds from the back means that if you have a newborn in there, it creates a little bassinette that is almost fully enclosed. I can see loading the baby in the main seat from the back so he's facing me if I want.
-At first I was worried there wasn't any leg room for the rider in the main seat when you use the toddler seat...but DS rode in the main seat and his legs just slid under the toddler seat w/room to spare. Even if there was a bigger kid in the toddler seat, I think they'd be ok with their feet touching for a a while.
-DS didn't mind riding in the main seat with the toddler seat folded under his legs. It props up his legs a little but he still looked comfy.
-The whole stroller feels very sturdy and durable, probably because of the aluminium frame. Not much plastic-y feel to this stroller at all.
-Folds small enough to fit in the back of my PT Cruiser, even with the toddler seat attached!!!! Woohoo!
-DH liked the wide stance of the back wheels alot. He said it made the Valco feel very stable compared to the Jeep 3wheeler we had before.
-The front wheel is really easy to remove and replace. Took me about 5 seconds to do it.
-Despite having just DS in the toddler seat, the stroller didn't seem overly tippy. This was a major concern of DH's, but the way the toddler seat is placed almost directly over the front wheel makes it pretty stable. The only time it got tippy was going sideways up an incline (which Strollerqueen had mentioned). If we had two kids in there, it'd probably be less off-balance.
THE NOT SO GOOD:
-The directions were pretty bad! LOL Luckily I've had a lots of practice w/strollers and I'm mechanically inclined so I could figure out a lot of the stuff w/out the directions.
-The locking strap is a little hard to affix w/the toddler seat in place.
-The fold will take some getting used to...requires 3 steps to fold and is a little awkward for me to open.
-Will have to buy an umbrella for the toddler seat (tho I don't really mind that and DS loves umbrellas!)
-Heavier than my other strollers (P3, Venezia), but it's a double where the others are singles so I can't complain.
In the 1/2 hr stroll we took around the neighborhood, we had 4 people stop us to ask us about the Valco. I got the Cherry Red and it's really a pretty color. Not too flashy but different. DH said it looks very "European" and that I'll be the envy of the other mall moms! ;) :D I was very surprised by DH's reaction, but he said this stroller was def. worth the $$$ and he's really impressed by the engineering and who 'efficient' it is (can you tell he's a computer consultant!? LOL).
Anyways, some pics of the stroller by itself and also w/DS in the toddler seat (w/a mouthful of pretzels :+ )
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/13620.jpg
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/13621.jpg
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/13623.jpg