My wife and I have a new baby, and we depend on our city's public transit system to get around. We had an old stroller left over from our last child (many years ago), and decided to use it rather than buy a new stroller. The old stroller worked great, until the day the wheels fell off. My wife by herself, with a load of groceries, a new baby, and a broken stroller. It took some doing for her to just make it home.

We concluded that the most cost effective manner to get a new stroller was to purchase one on eBay. After reviewing many different options, we chose the Zekiwa Alu Fun stroller. Made in Germany, this stroller seemed to have the most of what we wanted, at a price which was affordable. Advertised as having a retail price of $249.99, it seemed like a great bargain at $84.99 (which includes the cost of shipping).

The eBay seller was very quick to ship, which we appreciated.  The stroller arrived via UPS Ground. As we took the stroller parts out of the box, one thing became immediately clear. We wouldn't have any instructions to help, as they were written only in German. Neither of us can read German. Fortunately, the picture was clear enough that we eventually figured out how all the parts fit together.

When all the plastic wrap was off, and all the parts snapped into place, I stepped back to take a look at the completed masterpiece. It really is a thing of beauty. Its aluminum frame is not only functional, but very stylish. The fabric is noticeably high quality and somewhat plush. The wheels are wide, and larger than standard stroller wheels. But the real test was yet to come. It was time to take it for a test stroll!

Placing our baby in the stroller, it became immediately obvious that she liked it. The design on the inside of the fabric really seemed to interest her. As she nestled into the comfortable, warm fabric, she seemed quite content. The fabric provides great padding and I'm sure it will last for years. Even the restraint harness is padded. As we started our journey, the first thing we noticed was how easy the stroller seemed to glide. Although the swivel wheels in front provided some resistance on the rough sidewalk, the stroller still seemed to move easily along the path. The suspension system in this stroller is incredible! Between this and the larger wheels, bumps didn't seem much like bumps at all.

Not all was pefect, though. When I stepped up to the stroller handle, I couldn't find any way of adjusting the handle. Fortunately the handle is a bit higher than most standard strollers. I didn't have to bend over too far to push it. We ran into a problem trying to board the light rail train, as well. The back wheelbase is much wider than most strollers. While this is great for maneuverability on the sidewalk, it presented an obstacle when trying to board the train. The wheels didn't fit through the narrow door opening. We had to back out of the train and re-evaluate our options. When the next train arrived, we discovered that if we enter through the back door (where the bicyclists enter), the wheels presented no obstacle. Trying to navigate the aisle however, was difficult, as the back wheels kept running into seated passengers. Eventually, we reached the middle of the train, where there is a place without seats . . . the best place to park a stroller. So we know now that travelling on a crowded light rail train will be a bit of challenge with this new stroller. Perhaps we'll stay to the back of the train, where the bicyclists stand with their bikes.

Travelling on the bus likewise proved to be a challenge. The stroller doesn't fold up in the same manner as most strollers. It folds backwards, with the front bar (where an older child would hold on while riding) moving towards the ground. This exposes the foam grip and fabric to soiling and damage from being dragged on the ground. The stroller doesn't fold compact either. It is very bulky. Even the big double stroller we previously used, folded more compactly than this one does. Carrying the folded stroller up bus stairs is difficult enough. Finding an out of the way place on the bus to store the folded up stroller is even more of a challenge.

One last concern, the wheels squeaked. A brand new stroller on its "maiden voyage" and the wheels squeak! Fortunately, a couple of shots of WD-40 took care of that problem. Now the wheels spin effortlessly and quietly. We also discovered that if we lock the front swivel wheels in position, the stroller travels better over rough terrain.

Recently we rented a car for a week. It happened to be a VW Jetta. The German Alu Fun stroller slid right in the German designed Jetta's trunk. Obviously this stroller would be much better for someone who drives a car regularly, and one with a big trunk.

I guess we can't expect complete perfection from any purchase. We will compensate and learn to overcome the transit problems. The more we use it, the more we will learn how to effectively manage it. Overall, this is a great stroller and I am mostly pleased with it. It's a lot better than what we had before. Although I wouldn't pay $249.99 for this stroller, I do feel that it is well worth the $84.99 (which includes the cost of shipping) we paid for it.