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I fell in love with pop-top Freedom Microlites at the Lawns caravan show in 1992.

Not really sure why they were there as the show is run by HERCMA (Hull & East Riding Caravan Manufacturers Association), and they are made by Predom in Poland.

I finally bought one last September.

We had a Lunar Saturn for 14 years - and had regular problems with damp penetration.  In late 2005, we decided that it had to go and started to do a bit of research.

The Caravan Club had published the results of a member satisfaction survey in 2005 which asked about quality and reliability.  I saw the results on the Geist site here:  http://www.geistowners.co.uk/What%20is%20a%20Geist.htm

As you'll see if you look, Vanmaster came top, followed by Hymer and Burstner.  The next British maker was Coachman who came 7th and Bailey at 8th.  Lunar were 14th.   So ...... I started by looking at the Hymers at Lowdham Leisure in Huddersfield - and then the Burstners at MG Caravans in Todmorden.  I was very impressed by the build quality of the German vans and not bothered about their weight, as I had an Isuzu Trooper at the time which can tow just about anything.

We rather liked the layout of the Burstner S-Class S500TS which is a UK spec & layout van (door on the UK kerbside), has 4 berths; has a fixed bed and lots of bells and whistles such as a built-in radio/CD player.   There was a huge twin-axle Burstner too with a virtually identical layout but about a metre longer because it had an end washroom tacked onto the back. 

We also spent quite a lot of time looking around a new Bailey Senator Wyoming which had the same layout as the twin-axle Burstner.  The Bailey was nice, seemed maybe more stylish than the German vans (to use a word I never normally do) but we weren't convinced that the build quality was quite on a par with them.

In the end price paid a part too.  The Bailey was about £3000 or so more than the S500TS by the time you'd added on the cost of a decent motor mover, which for a twin-axle van that size is really essential.   So, we bought a Burstner S-Class S500TS in Feb 2006.  It's been brilliant.  We are all very pleased with it.  We have had no faults of any kind either when new or since - apart from a minor gas leak at the regulator that just needed a tweak with a spanner.

I don't know why but Bursner have stopped making the the UK spec vans now.  You can still get a similar size and layout Burstner - but it is a continental layout, not to UK spec but is a few thousand cheaper.  MG Caravans don't think they can sell the continental layout vans, so have decided not to stock them this year.

Cheers
Andrew

reason I bought the Garland was the weight, car can only pull 1000kg garland unladen is 820 so gives me 180 as a load allowance, plenty

also the damp meter was nice and silent (unlike the rest of the vans I looked at) and I got a great deal from Eglinton caravans Irvine

It was a good price!  We paid £2800 for the van and all the contents and a virtually new canvas full size awning.  It is a 1997 so was less then 10 years old when we purchased it.  When I say all the contents I mean all, from cutlery to plates, iron and ironing board, aquarolls and waste containers, literally everything!

They towed it to the site we use which was 7 miles from their home and set it all up before we arrived so all we had to do was open the door and sit down!

Ideally we would like a longer lounge and bigger bed as we have to sleep separately as neither bed is the size of a double let alone our super king at home!  However we have had lots of weekends away and our main hols for the last 20 months so consider it good value for money.

If we didn't care for my folks I would change it for a new van but I can see the day looming where we won't be able to holiday so financially it would be a stupid thing to do.  Meanwhile, we will enjoy our bargain van and live with the niggles because of the pleasure we get.

Ali

Never having owned a van before it was all about layout and look for us. We partly wanted to be able to use quite secluded sites so the end bathroom was a must. I really liked the amount of work top space in the kitchen, and the bed seemed a good size. We are very happy with our Elddis Avante. We would like a fixed bed in the future but so far none of the bathrooms have come up to scratch, so we have not been tempted.

Valerie

Fixed rear bunks and dinette with door to close off the rear 3rd of the van, works very well with son (8) and daughter (11) having their own space. They survived 2 years together sharing a double bed in the previous van (top n tail), so it had to be if we were to continue with the caravan.

We are now debating selling up after this season, possibly looking at a static or having a year off to reflect.

Mick