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We have just bought a new Corona 556 and so far have had no problems whatsoever, very impressed with attention to detail and overall quality for the price.

why do they have so many names ???? we have just got a magnum 534  which is also a compass, but on the key fob it says corona 534

sarah

Quote: Originally posted by somersetsun on 21/9/2006

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why do they have so many names ???? we have just got a magnum 534  which is also a compass, but on the key fob it says corona 534

 

sarah

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Friends of ours bought one lat year and had the same with fire, had come away every time they had towed it somewhere.

Had one or 2 other small annoying problems but otherwise happy with van.

We are about to buy a Compass Magnum 362 , 2004 model. Has anyone any comments please?

Many thanks

Peter and Jessie

Quote: Originally posted by shooie on 21/9/2006

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We have just bought a new Corona 556 and so far have had no problems whatsoever, very impressed with attention to detail and overall quality for the price.

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We bought our first 'van in May last year, a 2002 compass omega, it was the best in our price range, the condition and equipment level was superb, I would have no hesitation in recommending compass caravans.

kiwipete,

We bought a new Mendip Magnum 362 from Mendip Caravans in Huish, Somerset, in June 2002. It's a dealer special on the Compass Corona 362, as I'm sure you already know. We traded in our old, basic-spec Abbey Acclaim which we'd had for 19 years and 33,000 miles, and still got £800 for it.

We have been absolutely delighted with the Magnum in all respects - build quality, equipment, comfort, etc, etc. Blown-air heating system is wonderful. We go to the various caravan shows, and never find anything we like as much. It tows like a dream behind our Mondeo TDCi 130 6-speed hatch. I use a Bulldog stabiliser. On a nine-week trip to France in 2005 we covered 4000 miles, staying at 15 different sites, so most of that mileage was towing, and the overall average mpg was 36. Ditto for 6 weeks in Holland, Germany, Italy and France in 2004.

Because it's a short van with an end kitchen noseweight is not a problem. In the front locker I carry two full 7kg gas bottles, spare wheel, all toilet etc chemicals, assorted bits of wood, etc. The noseweight with this lot is 66 - 68kgs, and it sits dead level on the towbar. We don't bother with an awning, but have a basic Dorema sun canopy for hot weather.

It's quite a rare van, because most people now seem to go for huge ones, but it's perfect fo us. Other 362 owners we've met on sites, including a retired CC warden, rave about their vans as well. We keep ours at home, and have a Reich mover fitted, without which I wouldn't be able to keep vanning. Just writing this makes me want to go off, but unfortunately another raft of health issues look like making this year a problematic one.

Good luck, and I hope this post helps.

Graham

Hi Graham

Thanks very much for a comprehensive reply, it certainly confirms what I thought of it. The layout although perhaps not what we had in mind but as you write , works well. I actually havent seen this one yet its enroute to NZ now but intend to buy it when it arrives.

I didnt realise it was a Compass Corona 362, but now will look up a little more on the Net.

Once again thank you so much for your help , much appreciated and if you are ever out in New Zealand, please contact us would like to meet you.

All the best,

 Peter & Jessie

Peter,

The van is built by the Compass division of Explorer Group. In the UK, the larger caravan dealers such as Mendip, make a deal with the manufacturers of vans that they will guarantee to shift so many vans at a higher level of specification than the manufacturer's standard one, with only a modest increase in price. Such vans are known as "dealer specials". Mendip call it their Magnum range, and do various-sized vans in. So you get a lot of extras as standard for a much lower price than you would have to pay the manufacturer if you as an individual ordered them to be fitted, as you can do, or bought a model from their top range. It's all about dealer buying power.

For example, our van had as standard over the basic Corolla 362 of the time :-

Radio/CD player, Kel alarm system, lockable corner steadies, lift-out carpets, external BBQ point, exterior wet locker with mains socket, bigger fridge with electronic ignition, Omnivent extractor fan, spare wheel and tyre, high-quality interior-sprung mattresses, blown-air central heating on gas and electric, alloy wheels, blinds, curtains and flyscreens on all windows, and a full flyscreen on the door, etc, etc. Yours should be similarly equipped, with perhaps even more goodies, being two years younger. Anyway,hope this helps - happy caravanning!  

Graham

Hi Graham

Thanks for all that . I had no idea that was the way the system worked in the UK but can understand the logic of it.

Id like to email you direct. Could you contact me on kiwipjg at yahoo.com.au  then I'll get back to you.

Thanks

Peter