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| Value for Money | 10/10 |
|---|---|
| Reviewer Rating | 9/10 |
| Overall Rating | 9.5/10  |
Full review by
mandykshoes
expert review 
on 27th Jun 2007
User Rating : 9
Respect :
0
Good Points: Steers easily, and it's light to push, even with a heavy toddler! Easy to fold and open, easy to store in boot, and freestanding, as long as the brake is on. Lightweight. Large shopping basket with zips on the sides for easy access. Fantastic accessories, including fabulous raincover, which fits very well. It has a large opening at the front with zips and Velcro. Offers good protection from the rain, and covers the feet area well, too. Spare inner tubes and wheel covers included. Sun visor included (very unusual, and provides good protection from the sun). Storage pocket behind seat - big enough for keys, phone and purse. Seat cushion can be reversed (cotton on one side and fleece on the other), and it is easily removed and washed. Comes in a good choice of colours. Pushchair fabric is very easy to keep clean, and it has a good waterproof finish. The hood is big and strong. The bumper bar has a removable fabric cover that matches the pram. Wheels easily removed if necessary. 5 point harness, which is simple to use and easy to adjust. Baby looks comfortable. Will easily suit baby up to age 3 - 4, because the seat is wide and the seat-back is tall. This is a sturdy pram. Also, the hood is high up so it does not irritate. Hood has a window with a flap, and you can hold it open with provided Velcro tabs. Foot rest is adjustable to 3 positions.
Bad Points: Bumper bar is difficult to fit and remove. The seat is quite wide and sloping, so baby has a tendency to slide down. The most upright position is still quite laid back - OK if your baby is used to this and they can pull themselves forward using the bumper bar. The lay-back positions are only 3, and the zips to adjust the seating position may irritate you. I actually don't mind these zips, as baby is not disturbed by a jerky mechanism! My son has a tendency to allow his legs to fall off each side of the foot rest (when raincover is in place he can't do this, because of the way the raincover works), which does irritate me a bit, but he seems to like it! The Velcro could be a problem on older models. The zips for the recline on the seat back could be a potential problem, and care should be taken when doing up and undoing these zips.
General comments: I have had a three wheeler pushchair before, and so I have a little experience at using them. The Red Castle Whizz is lovely to steer and light to push. It is easy on pavements and round the shops, and on grass and uneven ground, because of the large pneumatic tyres. You may struggle a bit in shops with narrow isles, such as clothes shops and department stores. It is good in the supermarket though, as you can steer it with one hand, so you can hold your basket with your free hand.
I love the colour schemes. The seat cushion is reversible, and it is lovely - a great idea, as you can have a change of colour if you want.
The rain cover is very good, especially the way it does up by the feet. The rain will have trouble getting in, and I have been caught in a real downpour!
With regards to the bumper bar; it's probably best to decide if you want it on or off rather than messing around; unlike many I have seen, it does not have a hinge allowing you to open it. It has to be completely removed, and it's a bit fiddly.
I wish the 5 point harness had a crotch pad. The seat does slope a bit, and as a result, the baby can easily slide down towards the crotch strap. It may be uncomfortable. (Look at the Phil & Ted 3 wheeler for a good example of a 5-point harness - best I have ever seen)!!! I guess it is better suited to a toddler, or if you have a smaller baby, you could get the car seat, which is compatible with the Whizz as a travel system, and wait to use the pushchair later on...
I know the car seat is quite unusual because it reclines flat for a newborn baby; this also means that it would be a very good option for someone wanting to off-road with a young baby, without having to compromise on baby's comfort. There is also a carrycot available...
Overall, I am very happy with my purchase, and I would definitely recommend it!
mandykshoes's review and ratings | 761 words | 1 comment added.
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