Message Forums

As some of you may have read previously, we're 'in the market' for a new van and have 15-16k hard earned lolly to spend, including trade in for a 3 year old Elddis 524. We tow with a 2004 2ltr Tdi  Mondeo hatch, which we don't want to change - well, yet, anyway. It's either the car or the van... and this time, it's the van.

Being close to 'a certain age', our wants are few, but quite specific - a  decent length fixed bed (preferably island) and a washroom, as opposed to a wetroom. The Squirrels have left no stone unturned in their quest for such a van. These are our findings:

1. There are vans out there which fit our price bracket and requirements, but are too heavy for our car. Do they think we're all made of money? We don't drive a 4x4.

2. Most of the vans which can be towed have configurations we don't want.

3. We liked the Lunar Lexon SE, but can't find a local dealer - Lunar? Where are you?

4. Vans have microwaves and proper ovens - aggghhh - can't they be optional? We're happy with a good old bbq and Remouska!! Anything to keep the weight down...

5.There only seem to be 5 'British' makers - what happened? In no particular order - Bailey, Lunar, Explorer Group, Coachman and Swift. Explorer and Swift have different 'brands', but they're all basically the same. What happened to Abbey? And others I can't remember!

6. The only van which seems to suit our requirements is the Pageant Sancerre: some of you may have read our opinions on this. We will revisit it...I suppose.

In a word, we're disappointed. Our new caravan will be the second-hand market of the future - and if fuel prices and taxes go up, we'll all need economical, yet comfy vans.

Please, manufacturers, take note....I'm sure we're not the only 'ordinary' people to fall foul of this!!

I doubt there is "the perfect van" that will suit everybodies needs.

However we found a British made van, towable by our Renault Clio which suits 99% of our needs. (see our gallery).

Reading your letter, I can only suggest that you will have to change your criterion.
Towing with your car AND wanting an island bed is pushing it a bit don't you think?

We have 2 - 6' 6" single beds and there was no other British van that could give us that. As bed is the place where you spend the most time, memory foam matteresses were a must and our van has them fitted as standard.

Our van perhaps cost us over the odds and we had to wait 10 months for it to be built, but at the end of the day, the quality and its resale value will more than make up for its cost. And, it will take us anywhere we wish to go as we explore the backwaters of the UK and further afield.

As you say, who knows how fuel and taxes will go, but we will still be enjoying caravanning even if they o through the roof.

If you did decide to change your car, 4x4s can be picked up quite cheaply. And an oven and microwave are very handy believe me.

Anne

Hi Mrs Squirrel - just to let you know that Abbey was taken over by Swift, but I'm not sure if they still use the brand name.  The Bailey California has a MTPLM of 1495kg as opposed to the Sancerre which is 1435kg.  We preferred the Sancerre - we like our own (larger) telly and couldn't really see the need for the extra lights.  The California is also more expensive.  LadyBailey from Dorchester are selling it for £13,055.  There is a place in Ulverston, Cumbria who are probably a bit cheaper.  Personally, I would be prepared to travel to get the right deal.  It might just be worth going further afield for the Lunar Lexon if this is really what you want, or if you get a better deal.

We picked up our Sancerre on the way to our holiday, so spent a really good couple of weeks putting it through it's paces..  It was a 'bit of a squeeze' for our young daughter in the back of the car we managed.

Hope you get sorted soon.

Just realised what I have written:

We picked up our Sancerre on the way to our holiday, so spent a really good couple of weeks putting it through it's paces..  It was a 'bit of a squeeze' for our young daughter in the back of the car we managed.

The squeeze in the back of the car was because of the equipment, not the caravan!!

Just realised what else I have written:

We preferred the Sancerre - we like our own (larger) telly and couldn't really see the need for the extra lights.  The California is also more expensive.  LadyBailey from Dorchester are selling it for £13,055. 

Sorry, I was referring to the cost of a Sancerre, not the California.  I seem to be losing the plot at the moment.

Have tried not getting british... ?

Adria do a nice Adora 612 DP which is a nice van.  It may be a bit heavy but still illigal to tow with your mondy.  I have altea 542DK and the quality is good, the adora is even better.

http://adria.uk-virtualtours.co.uk/caravans.html

Just a thought...  Good luck hunting.

Cheers

Richard

Why would the Adora 612dp be illiegal to tow with a mondeo? MTPLM is 1500kg which is less than the mondeo's kerbweight, it is also less than the max towing weight and the combination is less than the max train weight for the car. I tow a 1450kg Hymer Nova with my mondeo hatchback and it is wondefully stable and has more than enough power and torque to tow the caravan very well. In fact over 17 years I have never found a more competent towcar in all the cars I have used and that includes a few 4x4s.

Thanks for all your comments and advice! I think the main things that surprised us are the (now) small number of British manufacturers and the dealers who only seem to offer a limited choice of brands. It's not that we don't want 'non British', but nowhere seems to sell them near us, so we can't even take a look.

With the caravan business booming, we're all being offered less, not more, choice. Anyway, I now know that we'll be having an oven and a microwave (I haven't used the oven in our current van, as I rely on the trusty remouska, which will roast a perfect chicken for us out in the awning!) However, I may well be converted to the joys of the microwave, especially for ready meals when we arrive on site.

Just as an aside, I was told that Bailey will not be offering its island bed Senator Virginia in 2010. Perhaps that tells me something......

A few weeks ago we were told the California was already sold out and would not be available until the 2010 vans are released.

Good luck with your hunt, oh Swift stopped the Abbey brand for 2009 so it has only just disappeared off the radar.

Ali

RE you comment "Lunar?Where are you?"

http://www.lunarcaravans.com/find-a-dealer/

funny how 15 years ago they managed to make a 5 berth van with about 16' internally and still towable by a 1.6 sierra. then again 15 years ago they didnt have domestic quality doors, microwaves, full cookers and a load of other stuff that isnt needed.

och well thats progress

We are looking for a similar 'van to be towed by my Skoda ( we would then sell my wife's A4 we currently use for towing and buy her something like a Fabia Greenline).

We have ruled out the Sancerre as we don't like the wood finish.  Everything else is too heavy.  So we are now waiting to see the 2010 Lunar Quasar 544 which is the same layout as the Lexon SE but shorter, narrower and lighter.  We will need to spec it up with an omnivent (Lunar have dropped this from the Quasar range for 2010) , Alko ATC and Alko shocks - apart from that it looks good from what we've seen of it on the internet.

Hope to order one once we have seen it in the flesh so we can be 100% sure it is right for us.