DBF and I are going car seat researching tomorrow. We plan on going to BabyCo and YCN (I'm in SA), researching what styles we want and then shopping around for the best price. I am leaning towards the S&S Meridian. We are going to try and hold out til the June sales (I'm due in August) so we can save some money.

We plan on buying a cot bed so are going to buy a good inner spring mattress seeing as he will be in the cot for a number of years.

I have bought a Emmaljunga pram second hand in almost perfect knick (complete with bassinette and toddler seat) for $100. Very happy with that bargain. We will use this as a basinette too.
Good luck. Shopping for baby can be very daunting. I have one child but he is 12 so things have change a lot in that time. But other things haven't.