Let me take you for a ride.... (Mamas & Papas Pliko Pramette)

Member Name: anwar7

Product:	Mamas & Papas Pliko Pramette
Date:	11/09/04 (4451 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: see review

Disadvantages: see review

I purchased this buggy as part of a travel system with a matching car seat from John Lewis in Reading. I have bought a lot of baby equipment from this retailer as they price match, offer free delivery and give brilliant after sales service. At the time, 24 months ago, I paid £269.00 for the complete system; the price included a foot muff and rain cover. I intend to review the car seat at a later stage. I choose this particular model as it had good reviews ,offered good value for money and most importantly would meet my needs.

What you get for your money

Mamas and papas is a well-known make and I have always been impressed with the quality of their products, the Plikomatic pushchair is no exception.

The frame of the buggy is made from lightweight aluminium, although at 6.5 kilos it is not exactly light! The fabric used for the seat is a hardwearing cotton fabric, which is easy to wipe clean, although it can?t be completely removed to wash. The seat unit is extremely well padded, with side wings. There is a 3-point harness with a plastic fastener. The fabric is available in a choice of colours, I chose blue with a black stripe, mainly as I thought this fabric would be less likely to show the dirt than some of the lighter ones!

The buggy comes complete with a fabric hood and a large plastic rain cover, which simply zips onto the hood. The buggy is has 4 reclining positions that are operated via a bar behind the seat unit. The buggy has lockable swivel wheels with good suspension.

The buggy is very easy to fold (umbrella style) and can be stood upright, which is great if you are short on space. The buggy can be folded with the hood and rain cover in place unlike many other models.

The buggy comes with matching cosy toes which can be zipped onto the seat unit and wrap around the bumper bar. There is a small net shopping basket, although it holds very little.

The handles of the buggy have two heights and can

be easi
ly adjusted to enable adults of different heights to push. The brake is easy to operate by pushing a bar at the back of the buggy.


The pros

The buggy is really well padded and the wings at the side of the seat unit allow a child to rest their head in comfort when they do not want the seat reclined. The buggy is really easy to recline and can be laid completely flat for a newborn. I like the way I can simply lift the bar at the back of the seat unit with one hand and recline the seat when my son falls asleep without waking him up.

The buggy is a real pleasure to push, even over rough ground as it has good suspension. The wheels can be locked to prevent them from swivelling and are easy to release for walking around shops.

I really like the design of the hood and rain cover. It is possible to leave the rain cover zipped onto the hood, which saves struggling to attach it when it rains. I also like the way the buggy can be folded with the hood and covers attached, again this saves time and means I don?t need to find somewhere to store them! The rain cover is really roomy giving the child freedom to move around when it is in place, unlike some which appear very claustrophobic.

The adjustable handles mean that my tall partner can push this buggy without straining his back.

Although it is heavy this buggy is easy to fold and can be stored upright. The fabric is easy to clean and has remained looking fresh.


And the cons?.
*****************
This buggy is designed to use from birth and if I had done so I would have liked to have my baby facing me. With this buggy it is not possible. Some other makes have a reversible handle allowing the child to face either the parent or the way they are going.

I was pleased to have matching cosy toes included in the price, but they have proved a real nuisance. The cosy toes zip onto the fabric of the seat unit and wrap around the bum
per ba
r. However a
s there is nothing to hold them in place a lively baby or toddler can easily kick them off, as my son does constantly, meaning I have to keep stopping to wrap them back over the bar.


The buggy is heavy at 6.5 kilos and is therefore not the best choice if you use public transport.

The plastic harness fastener is difficult to operate and I have managed to catch my fingers in it a few times! Mine has also warped slightly with use (as has a friend of mines). The straps also slip down my son?s arms no matter how I adjust them.

The shopping basket is very flimsy and only really suitable for a few small items, as things tend to fall out. I use a rucksack if I have more to carry.


The buggy can be purchased separately or as part of a travel system with a car seat, which attaches to the frame. It is widely available from many high street retailers such as John Lewis or mothercare.The buggy is suitable from birth until around 4 ,depending on the size of the child.

Overall I would recommend this buggy as it is easy to push and comfortable for the child.

Summary: