Which Stroller to buy?

This is for the benefit of our many friends and family we know that have children or are expecting. Some of them have already "made the leap" so to speak, and purchased a good multi-function stroller. So, for those of you who aren't convinced, or you are unsure because of the price, here's a list of reasons why I think it's worth it to spend the money and get a good stroller, Chariot or otherwise.

1. You can do many more activities with a multi-function stroller
We have used this on many occasions. One example is if we are biking on a trail, and plans change. We already have the stroller wheels in place, so we just lock up our bikes and put the wheels in place, keep walking, and then come back to get the bikes. Another example of this is an event like the Portland Bridge Pedal. If you wanted to ride, and then go to the events afterward, including food and entertainment on the waterfront, a Chariot works nicely because just like before, you can easily switch the stroller from bike mode to stroller mode, and everything is stored right on the stroller.

2. You will get what you pay for
When we purchase our first Chariot Cougar 2 used, it was in decent condition. We were able to sell it for only $50 less than what we paid for it about 1 year later. If we were to sell our current stroller, which was purchased new, we would be able to sell it at a loss of only about $150-200 at most. This makes purchasing a higher end stroller like this worth the luxury because you are only spending about $150 to use a nice stroller/bike trailer for 4-5 years.

3. Ease of use
Most strollers I know are difficult to use depending on the terrain and other factors. With the Chariot, you are able to change the stroller to fit the terrain. We have found that stroller wheels fit most of our needs, including jogging and trail walking, but we still have the jogging kit for those bumpy trails. There are few other strollers out there that turn and brake as easily as ours with ONE hand. Everything is smooth, and the hand brake is located right on the handlebar, just like a bike would be. When I want to switch the jogging wheel, it takes just 45 seconds, and it's done. NO HASSLE and only one stroller to keep in the garage instead of two or three.

4. Comfort
Not many strollers out there have adjustable shocks on them. More companies are catching on now. I remember biking the Portland Bridge Pedal in 2007 and seeing so many trailers with kids in them who weren't happy. They are sitting right over the rear axle of the trailer, getting a pounding on their read ends(no more spanking necessary, just threaten to put them in the bike trailer). The padding and five point harness in the Chariot CX2 or Cougar 2 along with the shock/leaf spring system is much more comfortable for our 14 month son to ride in. He often sleeps in his stroller, unless he is to busy watching everything go by. Another great feature is the completely enclosed compartment for cold or rainy weather. With the CX2, you also get a nice sunshade and tinted side windows, which zip off in nicer weather for better air flow. The little things that Chariot thought of when they made this stroller add so much to the overall experience. They add up in a big way.

5. Convience
We often walk to the grocery store in town. The Chariot has a cargo rack on top, and a large storage bag in the back, more than enough space for whatever you're carrying. Also, check out this guy's brilliant idea, something you wouldn't be able to do with any of the other strollers I know: http://www.liquididea.com/2007/07/customizing_the_chariot_with_a.html
The ability of this stroller to be used for a variety of purposes makes it definitely worth the price. There are many good accessories for it also, even though we have decided not to purchase many of them.

Although everyone is different and uses their strollers for different purposes, I would say that anyone who can get over the high price, realizing they will get most of it back when they sell it, will not regret that they purchased this stroller. Let me know what you think!(I can hear the Bob stroller people out there already saying that they have the best stroller)