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Our 2004 Argente 460/2 is to go back to the dealers to have the floor fixed. What I'd like to know is will the dealer just do the area which is delaminated or will he ensure the whole floor is done. I ask this because only near the sink is a true delamination problem the other is from creaking and cracking noises near the fire and bunks. Can't walk past the fire without it rattling. Or use bunks without them making clunks and bangs. Fire isn't loose 'van just been serviced and fire rattles more now than it did when we first picked the caravan up last year. Been advised that a carpet replacement is neccessary after the floor is done and Avondale have been waiting for a colour match for the job to go ahead. Hope this doesn't mean only half a job with the carpet joined? How do they fix the carpet back anyway? Think we'll trade this 'van in after work is done as although we like the layout we don't like the problems we're having.

Upset in finding Avondale no longer produce this model I wonder why???

Also caravan serviced by an approved Avondale dealer but not NCC approved workshop I am alarmed by this news (Vennings-Jones confirmed this).

Hope someone can advise

Regards Tigerman 

Is it being done under warranty

bit soon to be having floor done and a relatively new van.

The place they go mainly is by the kitchen as that is where you stand the most

Hi Ethel

Yes its being done under warranty. The spongy bit is near the sink area but the other problems aren't so clear cut. We noticed the fire rattled on out first outing. Thought it waas the fire as it eased off when the weather improved. However now its more or less rattling all the time. The 'van was serviced in April and the problem's worse now. We do think the 'van was twisted by how it was displayed at the dealers (on a steepish slope) as the door is hard to close as well. Could that explain why the 'van creaks so much?

We're still giving some thought to trading it in

Tigerman 

Hello again

You mention getting the caravan checked thoroughly can you tell me how or who will do this? We can't afford to pay for another service for a second opinion. I'll tell you we won't be ever taking a 'van for service at this dealership again. I don't know if they did everything they should include in the service because we have no written report! Next service will be with an NCC approved workshop.

Tigerman  

I'd write to Avondale direct and tell them all your problems and about how unhappy you are with dealer.  See if they will do anything with van.

We've just had our van serviced and got it back with a detailed invoice and check sheet showing what theya had checked.  But this was at a NCC workshop and also where we purchased caravan from second hand.  Can't fault them for service.

Already tried writing to Avondale. They don't really want to know about our problems, they tell us to go back to our dealer. We've a problem with this as the dealership comes in two branches and a sevice centre. The service centre is NCC but the two shops aren't although they do service 'vans. I get the impression that the shops think they're covered by the fact the srevice centre is approved. The dealers themselves allow you to believe they're an approved service centre and don't care about your problems. It's over 10 weeks since the 'van was serviced and we've not heard from them. Avondale had to order carpet to match so thats our delay. Customer care is lacking at these dealers. I'm also worried that the carpet is for only piecing up and not the whole floor, or why would a colour match matter?

Someone suggested Which? I thought about trading standards. We've got along time to pay for this problematic caravan.

Tiggerman

Where are you and what dealership is it?

Not that makes any diference to me but just wondered.

I'd certainly be trying to find out what i could do next if i wasn't happy.

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=8&TopicID=27536&SearchPagePosition=1&search=cracked+panels&searchMode=allwords&searchIn=Topic&forum=8&searchSort=dateDESC&ReturnPage=Search

Have a look at that post .  Not quite the same problem but they have had problems with Avondales

Hi Tigerman,

Sounds like you have a typical Avondale problem. My 2002 Eagle started with creaking units and floor in 2004. I have it serviced at an approved workshop, they reported the fault to Avondale who after 6 weeks agreed for the repair to be carried out under warranty. The service manager told me that the entire carpet,which is in one piece has to be lifted and as it is rubber backed and glued always breaks up so they replaced it with a completely new Hessian backed carpet so no joints or miss matched colours. According to the guy he repairs more Avondale floors which delaminate than the rest of the manufactures put together. His quote,-- "Avondale ,built to a price and not to a quality".

This has been my third Avondale van and certainly it will be my last. The list of faults in this van have been endless, a real 'Friday afternoon/Monday morning build'.