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Had our A461DB since new in 2003.Great van well made and simple to maintain.The van is very European so no oven etc but who the hell wants to go away and take a house on wheels? its great to have a simple van without all the frills and it makes them lighter than many others.

I would buy another Adria without any doubt and i would not touch a Bailey or similar with a barge pole.

We too have a Altea 542 UK 2008 model. We bought a Lunar Zenith 4 on Dec 2007, but we were nosing around an Adria Dealer June last year and ended up buying a brand new Adria 542UK, so only had our previous van 7 months! (The Lunar was not new by the way) I love the caravan it's brilliant, only thing I would do is buy a new one because the front bed looks easier to make up, but we are pro's at the bed now and we can't afford to buy another new caravan!!

We always go Adria spotting, when we are out with ours, we hardly ever see another one but it seems they are so popular! So where do they all hide??

we have owned our adria 542uk for 2 years and although we love it, the front bed after a fortnights holiday starts to annoy me.

when i look at other vans though i can't justify all the extra expense just because the front bed cushions are a bit movable during the night

the adria has so much room and storage that other vans can't seem to compete with

but when the kids have left home i would love to own a fixed bed caravan

wow i love the geist too,but unsure because they sell direct not through a dealer but they look lovely caravans good family layouts

ive just bought a matress topper for the adria though

i think problem is worse because if all 5 of us watch tv in the evening we make the bed up so its comfy for us all but means the front bed takes a battering, 2 adults 2 teenagers,neither small and a boney 8 year old

Haha -  we make our bed up and leave it up so we all end up watching tv on the bed - 1 v large and 1 med large adult, 2 teenage girls (not small ones) and 2 Jack Russels!

We are hoping to go up to Geist later in the year to have a look. It seems they have models to view (and second hand vans) but then order direct from Germany. So we'll have a look and see what we think. Of course, my all time fav is the Hymers but they are mega expensive and very heavy but wonderful vans!

we are going to the birmingham show in oct but we have promised each other that we won't be tempted to buy a new van but its good to look - yeah i know - silly idea

i still love ours but love to see all the other layouts

can't understand why they seem obsessed with microwaves though, can't see it myself

i'm more bothered with a place to put the telly

oh and our dogs now jealous cos his legs are too little for him to get up on the caravan bed-thank god

We too have the Altea 542 Uk 2008 model (blue upholstery) and have just returned from a two week break in Brighton (sheepcote valley CC site) I cannot give the van or its towing ability more praise than 100%. After a few miles you would even know it was there. Best thing ever bought and for the price (8K) at campbells. just giving it a clean and wash with a weeks relax before the next jaunt. (Wirral country park).

We dont have the grill or oven but found it more practical to use an electric grill AKA geroge foreman and a microwave. eating healthily and seeming to loose weight as well all sound good. In essence would not change it for the world.

happy caravaning to all

Chris W

ours is stripey blue and cream interior

mattress topper worked like a dream

we use little portable oven that sits at the back of van next to bunks and a grill plate thing also very sadly bought a sandwich toaster

adria tows much better than the 6 berth bailey that we owned for a while

I have a new 2009 542 DK which does an oven (which I do use), and the bed is easier to make up, and I would agree that one of the nice things about a van like this is that in its basic form it is a comfy spacious van with plenty of storage.

Ok it does not have the external BBQ point or the status aerial on the roof but so what....  I have done what you have done wizzo and put a sky satelite system in place.  I have also added an external power socket underneath the van to allow me to put the george forman out in the awning along with lighting without going throught a window or door.

I am planning to keep this van for at least 10 years and only change (to a fixed bed) when the kids are a lot older.

I also a agree that with the towing comment as the longer A-Frame doe smake a difference.

Anyway....  enjoy caravanning not matter what the make and model!

Cheers

Richard

I could not agree more with having a basic van and adding those little extra luxuries. Like all other posts we have an ouside socket fitted, but miving from a tent to a van we had a spare 3 socket RCD unit available, so use that in the awning connected to a 3 way converter under the van, therefore the fitted socket is somewhat redundant, but can be used. going away next week to try a satellite installation. i.e. DIY. heres hoping.

Cheers

Chris W

Quote: Originally posted by TrigGLX on 14/8/2009

I could not agree more with having a basic van and adding those little extra luxuries. Like all other posts we have an outside socket fitted, but miving from a tent to a van we had a spare 3 socket RCD unit available, so use that in the awning connected to a 3 way converter under the van, therefore the fitted socket is somewhat redundant, but can be used. going away next week to try a satellite installation. i.e. DIY. heres hoping.

Cheers

Chris W