2004 Model: We like it but it's expensive
Written: Aug 29 '04 (Updated Feb 07 '05)
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Pros: Lightweight, Easily folds into small space, Reversible handle, Adjustable wheels, Fits the Primo Viaggio carseat
Cons: Expensive, Not as well made as it looks, did not exactly last 6 months
The Bottom Line: Expensive, not as durable as it should be. Works nicely with the companion carseat and is very lightweight, folds into a tiny space. We would not do it again.
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| gsx1300r's Full Review: Peg Perego Venezia Single SA - Black Sable Standar... |
Feb 7, 2005: It's been nearly 6 months now, so I'm updating my review. I will leave the original review alone and put the update at the very end.
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We're new parents and have only had a couple weeks' experience with this stroller, but I thought it was time to put some of our experiences and thoughts into writing.
My wife chose this carriage/stroller because of the way it works with it's companion carseat, which I reviewed recently. (that review is here: http://www.epinions.com/content_152952016516). The carseat literally snaps into this stroller, which has brackets that fold out of the way when you're not going to use the carseat.
I'll start by listing the most notable features and I'll describe our experiences along the way.
The unit is VERY light - only about 22 pounds. Probably anyone could easily lift this thing.
It folds-down almost with the flick of a switch. You press two latches, numbered 1 and 2, then the thing literally collapses and has two plastic hooks that hold it together. It stands up on its own when folded so that it takes up very little space. It fits very easily into our trunk which is not that big (1997 Mazda Protégé). We can store it in the trunk the long way, wheels in first and handle towards the trunk lock. That way it leaves us about 2/3 of the rest of the trunk (the left half and part of the right side, over the wheel well. When folded it's barely more than a foot thick (maybe 13 inches). It takes less than 5 seconds to either open or close the unit.
It's reversible - meaning that you can flip the handle around so that you can have the baby facing you or facing where you're going. My wife likes to see our baby, but I think when he gets a little older she'll let him see where he's going. Each of the four wheels can either swivel or lock, in addition to the brakes. The locks cause the wheels to only move straight and in swivel mode, they freely rotate. It reminds me of a shopping cart where you normally have the front wheels rotating independently and the wheels nearest you going straight only. You can decide which wheels to lock and which should rotate, so that if you like the standard shopping cart configuration you can do that even when you flip the handle and reverse the stroller. In other words, no matter which direction you choose to push the stroller, you can decide which wheels turn and which ones stay put. The handle also swivels up or down so that you can lower or raise the point at which you hold on. I like it down so that it gives me a few extra inches distance from the wheels when I walk but my wife likes it up where she thinks it's easier to push. So, we are both happy with the handle.
The backrest adjusts so that you can have the baby sitting upright, laying back reclined, or totally on his back. There is a lever you pull from behind the backrest that's easy to use but secure enough that it won't move on its own.
There's a 5-point harness system that is overly complicated. We're still not sure why you would need such a high-tech harness in a stroller, but we're using it "just in case." The upper-body portion of the harness is very complicated and takes some getting used to, but it would definitely hold a child in even if the stroller was to flip-over (heaven forbid), so we're using it each time.
There's a very large basket underneath for storing all the essentials and there's a cup holder for mom or dad, which we have yet to attach. There's also a tray for the child, but we haven’t' used that either. I guess when the child gets a little bigger and we're a little more comfortable, we'll use the tray for him and the cup holder for us. For now, the stroller has been just for the short walks around the block and necessary trips to the store. No sight-seeing yet.
The hood attaches firmly and clicks into place and locks open. There's not much to say about the hood, other than it works. They say it's water resistant, so I guess if you get caught in the rain your child can stay relatively dry. The fabric is also washable.
Dropping the Primo Viaggio carseat into this stroller is literally a snap. The latches fold down so that when you're using the stroller without the carseat the latches are not in your baby's way.
It comes in five different color combinations, but we have it in the standard blue.
They call the wheels "multi-terrain," but I'm not so sure. They look rugged enough, sort of like dirt bike nubby tires, but they get stuck on small sidewalk cracks and small gravel. We've learned to go slowly on anything other than a smooth surface, for fear of stopping short when the wheels hit something out of the ordinary.
The hollow aluminum frame, which is how they keep it so light, feels a little shaky over rough terrain. We imagine we feel the joints twist and flex, but clearly that's not the case after careful inspection. I wish the thing felt a little more solid, but I think it's just my imagination that's making it feel anything other than solid. According to the other reviews I've read, and people I've asked, Peg Perego makes very durable products that hold up well to normal use and even some abuse.
So far we’ve been very happy with this purchase and have no regrets. After we've used it some more I'll post our observations and let you know about any problems. If you have any questions for me, or want me to test anything for you, do not hesitate to ask. I'm happy to help.
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Feb 07, 2005 UPDATE.
The stroller has not held up as well as we'd hoped. One side of the collapsible handle came free and the screw somehow fell out after 3 or 4 months of use. We had to replace it with our own screw to put it back together. Not a tremendous problem, but very annoying - especially at the moment it happened!.
The collapsible hood's plastic hinge fell apart after the 4th month. One side won't stay "plugged into" the frame and keeps popping out, and the other side that does the "clicking" into place (to hold the hold at different heights) keeps separating. There should be a screw to hold it together, instead of the plastic snaps..
The wheels, which we originally thought would not make it have done just fine, believe it or not! They are as durable as they look.
OVERALL: Would we buy this again? No. From what we've seen and what we've asked other parents, it seems the Graco line is more dependable -- and cheaper! We're planning to put this on one ebay soon, now that our son has basically outgrown the matching carseat/carrier. See my updated review of the carseat, too! If we have another child, we'd rather buy a Graco than use this one again -- we're afraid another 6 months of use would kill it.
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 300
Age Range of Child: 0 to 12 Months
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Epinions.com ID:
gsx1300r
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Member: pete weinman
Location: Staten Island, NY
Reviews written: 61
Trusted by: 9 members
About Me:
Husband, Daddy, NYC Marathon Runner, and motorcycle rider. You can trust me, I'm a lawyer.
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