Baby got wheels - stroller evolution

My daughter is a year and a half and we're on our second stroller. It's a nice stroller - a Maclaren, the biggest and best that Maclaren makes. And we're starting to think about getting a new one. Don't get me wrong. We have a great stroller. But it's falling apart because we use it in ways it was never meant to be used. You see, we live in the city, with potholes, uneven sidewalks, stairs, curbs and other obstructions that reak havoc on the stroller that, according to Eli - the owner of Magic Beans in Brooklne - is a shopping mall stroller. Ours has never seen the insides of the shopping mall. I don't own a car, so the stroller is our only mode of transport during the week and we log at least a mile a day, sometimes even more.

I am an honest believer that there is no perfect stroller, so I don't blame our for falling short. Perfection is an art that has alluded the stroller world, even with some hefty pricetags that are out there. Take our first stroller for example. We had a MicraLite. True to its name it was very small and very light. But it had a terrible basket on the bottom that couldn't hold anything. But it had full wheels on the back which could go up stairs beautifully (a trait I didn't appreciate until we got our Maclaren). It also had long U shaped handle, which was perfect because you could drive it with one hand thanks to the middle bar, but also had horns on the ends for hanging things like blankets and bags and groceries. We really miss the middle bar because it's really hard to drive the Maclaren while talking on the phone or as my husband always says - it's hard to drink his coffee and drive the stroller.

Why do we like the Maclaren? First and foremost, we had the spiffiest model which reclines to a comfortable 5 degrees. This was key when we go for day long trips or on vacations because our daughter can sleep in the stroller pretty comfortably. Secondly, we love how well it can fold. There is a slight negative part to this, since it becomes very long when it folds, so in some of the smaller cars we've rented, it has been a real challenge to get it into the trunk. Also, the basket and all of its contents are crushed when the stroller is folded.

So, what's next for us? At this stage, it's really unclear. I would like a light stroller, wich chunky wheels at the back and a big basket. I would also like for it to fold easily and compactly. It must have a middle bar so my husband can get his coffee. It must have a basinet so that when/if we have baby#2, we can have a properly positioned infant. And if possible, I would like for it be no wider than my hips. Otherwise, I fear that my hips will expand to fill the space.