Maclaren Europe Limited Techno XLR Buggy

Maclaren XLR with Recaro profi plus car seat.

Amazing buggy and amazing car seat. If you can ignore the diabolical colours Maclaren have chosen. And their diabolical marketing and sales strategy. However I am assured their service and after sales is excellent.
We got a 2006 version in standard Techno grey thank god, I certainly would not push my baby around in the brown/pink or cream orange combinations.
RECARO Car seat - this is a top notch car seat with the highest safety rating, actually beats the maxi cosi on safety but loses points for having a gloomy view! Daft. Its isofix base is much cheaper too and the same base is used for the next size recaro seat. We got it for £60 so search about. (Incidentially, the next size car seat is also amazing.)
The material is a suede like feel and is very plush. It comes with removable head hugger, strap wraps and is all completely washable. We washed a lot as E has reflux. It dries quickly too on a radiator. It can be used with or without the isofix base. Its a rocker too and the canopy comes off easily.
Downsides - its narrower than other seats, but this is a safety aspect so it really holds them in. E head never slumped like other babies we saw, esp like Mamas and Papas seats.
The shoulder to crotch length is adjustable but E grew out of this quicker than her weight would indicate so its a bit on the short side at its highest length.
MACLAREN BUGGY
Fab buggy, wins all reviews as based on Techno XT. Has head hugger, soft liner, strap wraps, apron and leg rest. Basket is big enough but inaccessible when baby lies flat. The soft liner makes collapsing the buggy harder so I never used it, bought a sheepskin liner instead. Buggy weights are a must to stop the buggy tipping over when you hang change bag over handles. (Blooming marvellous).
Excellent lie flat position. E still goes to sleep at night if we're out and about age 1. This is a really roomy lie flat buggy.
Handle height is adjustable and good for the taller parent. We are 5'7 and 6'2 and we both use highest handle but Mum has short arms!
Best thing - not having to buy a maclaren buggy when baby reaches 6 months as I already have it. All my friends now have a defunct and very expensive array of mamas and papas, bugaboos and Haucks which they dont' use.
Downside - the hood needs extra velcro at the bottom as it tends to brush against babies head. Ok when they are little, but probably make them cross when bigger.
And you have to click both sides of the buggy to make it lie flat which is annoying when you have a sleepy baby but that's it.
We bought for £250 for buggy and car seat together on Kiddicare then spent £60 on isofix base Mothercare online so hunt about, and it comes in Navy/light blue so don't be put off by the terrible brown or orange. Hopefully Maclaren will wake up and make it in normal colours as well. John Lewis were stocking in 2007 and I think Mothercare are now stocking in 2008.
I cannot fault either buggy or car seat. This is an amazing travel system and seperates solution. It has just won best travel system in Which Jan 08.
10 out of 10 in all aspects.