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25/8/2014 at 4:43pm
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Ranger is traditional wooden construction - and best avoided, imo.
The Olympus Series 1 was released just after the first Alutech 'Pagasus' and shared most of the Pegasus features - its distinguishing feature being a slightly narrower body than the Pegasus.
The Series 1 vans had some very nice touches - LED pelmet lights, door flyscreen, pleated blinds in a full frame surround, illuminated grab handles, high quality upholstery, etc - they were a full bells 'n' whistles package, presumably specced to attract buyers to the new Alutech concept.
The Mark 2 Olympus had a lower specification as cost cutting began to bite.
At that time Bailey also launched the Orion, which was noticeably inferior (again, imo) to the either of the Olympus series.
Realising that the Olympus (even in its down-specced Mark 2 form) was still too close to the Pegasus, Bailey dropped the Olympus and Orion models completely and replaced them with the 'Pursuit'
Although better in some respects (GRP outer skin, for instance) the Pursuit is an object lesson in cost cutting. The back cushions are ridiculously low, the overhead lockers have no catches on them (why????) all the concealed internal lighting has gone, as have the illuminated grab handles, as well as virtually every other feature that made the Olympus such a nice van .
Bailey's aim is, presumably, to make the Pursuit so unattractive that prospective buyers would opt to spend
more and buy a Pegasus.
With Olympus models, the reverse was true - people chose Olympus (especially the Mark 1 series) because they had virtually all the specification of a Pegasus, but at a noticeably lower price.
Which is why the Olympus is no more ;)
As you mention the Ranger, I assume you're looking at second-hand vans. If so, the Olympus is definitely the van to go for.
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25/8/2014 at 7:20pm
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Quote: Originally posted by matthew burns on 25/8/2014Thanks, yes we are looking at second hand, around 2010 model.
Then you'll be looking at an Olympus 546 if you want a six berth.
Triple bunks, plus a side dinette that can make another bed, all enclosed in a separate compartment with a sliding door
The bottom bunk can be lifted to provide storage space, if not required.
Downside is the relatively small wash/shower room located opposite the kitchen.
The only problems reported are some instances of water ingress via the front bottom seal. The front is part of the roof, and is bent down in one piece, and located into a plastic 'L' strip attached to the caravan floor.
It's fixed using bolts located under the floor at the front edge, and is supposed to sit on a bed of mastic before being bolted - but a few owners have found the mastic application rather sparing.
The two side lockers and centre gas lockers have moulded plastic trays screwed to the floor. These should be removed to check for water staining underneath. Some will be fine (clean untreated floor) some might show signs of water staining, and some that have already been in for rectification will have a black paint compound applied underneath the trays.
Actually, the 2010 models seem to be amongst the best Alutechs that Bailey have so far made - it was a new process, and they were very keen to get things right, so production was slower and more scrutinised. Certainly, most of the Alutech water ingress reports seem to apply to more recent vans - and one wonders whether there is a bit more speed and a bit less care taken in producing them now.
Apart from that (and it's all pretty minor stuff) the 546 is a great van - being the Series 1 it has all the extras - like the removable on-board water tank for winter use - that have gradually vanished from subsequent mo0dels due to Bailey cutting costs.
Perhaps the only real gripe is the lack of any blown air heating ducts at the back of the caravan.
Post last edited on 25/08/2014 19:26:15
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02/9/2014 at 11:43am
Location: Teesside
Outfit: Mitsubishi ASX4
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Quote:
Although better in some respects (GRP outer skin, for instance) the Pursuit is an object lesson in cost cutting. The back cushions are ridiculously low, the overhead lockers have no catches on them (why????) all the concealed internal lighting has gone, as have the illuminated grab handles, as well as virtually every other feature that made the Olympus such a nice van.
Bailey's aim is, presumably, to make the Pursuit so unattractive that prospective buyers would opt to spend
more and buy a Pegasus.
With Olympus models, the reverse was true - people chose Olympus (especially the Mark 1 series) because they had virtually all the specification of a Pegasus, but at a noticeably lower price.
The Pegasus equivalent to my Pursuit is £4500 more, and weighs in 250kg more. However the payload is 50kg less. It is also a metre longer.
We've not had anything fall out of the overhead lockers yet, not sure where the problem is here.
£4500 is an awful lot to pay for illuminated grab handles.  Didn't I hear that water got in through these anyway???
Plenty of good practical reasons there I think for buying a Pursuit.
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