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Quote: Originally posted by Janx on 08/9/2009

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Not sure if this is true but I have heard if after buying a german van you wanted to go back to a Britsh one, the trade in price is very very poor.

Though...some would argue I suppose, that if you had a German van you wouldn't want anything else.

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When are you buying the Hymer then Gazmister?

Do you want to sell the 560?

LOL Patches,

Have to win the lotto before we get that hymer, OH wants one of them big 4x4 volvo things first too so will definitely have to be a lottery win. Wild horses wouldn't get us away from the geist at the mo tho, LOL

As your only in staffs if you are ever around south Birmingham give me a shout and I will give you the guided tour and you can have a good look around our van to see if thats the model you really want (we are about 12 miles south of brum centre)

Hi! Thanks Heavens for this site!!!

I agree with the guy who recomended German They do seem to be built well and nothing is done on the cheap. Read Cracks in Baileys before you decide on buying one and also check out their after sales reputation. We have a new Bailey and when I have enough money to get rid German will be top of the list. They may cost a little more but you will be happier.

Good Luck

I bought a Bailey and wish I hadnt Type in search Baileys Cracks and read the problems I and others have had and other caravan site forums.The whole family has been disappointed no holiday this year Bailey said yes to repair under warranty but the service center (Bailey Approved) repaired the panel but did not dry it out so sealed in damp (you wont believe the smell in a new caravan). I am stuck with it as I cant lie to any one (even a Bailey dealer) to part ex any how the smell gives it away. I want to get rid and Geist seems a good van with good after sale. The german caravan council must be more thorough and do more than the british one and this shows in the product.The dealer who sold me the caravan has sold the company and the new Director says he is not responsible I have to mention here that I do not want to name and shame but every caravan blog will know of the suppier if I do not have a fair outcome shortly.

Good Luck I will let you all no the outcome just in case you are thinking of buying British built Bailey

we`ve had a Bailey (06 senator) for a month.just had the first trip away in it and its already becoming obvious that it aint put together as well as our 2001 elddis was.not sure how long it would last with heavy use, its all so flimsy.

its a lovely looking well kitted out van BUT, dont think we will have it very long.....aint got a clue what to get next though

Quote: Originally posted by spideygirl on 09/9/2009

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Ok i am getting nervous now, just about to purchase a Sancerre and thinking maybe i am making a mistake. How different are they? The reason i wanted to buy a sancerre was the layout, with the bigger bathroom. Should I compromise on what I want to get better quality?

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Ime glad you are happy but please check the top of the front and rear panels for cracks not just my advice but others with the same problem. And other caravan forums

I would stick to Geist. I did the same and liked the lay out but after you use the Bailey a few times you see how tack it is. A good idea is to phone Baileys and ask if they have changed supplier of the front and rear panels as it appears that this is how the leaks start. German vans will cost a little more but very worthwhile the little extra I wish I had.

Quote: Originally posted by dave8858 on 09/9/2009

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Ian1954

I'm sure German vans like their cars have excellent build quality.

Doesn't the door being on the wrong side prove inconvenient, if not to you perhaps to your fellow campers?

D

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May I add to the current conversation?

We went to France this year (summer).  We have a Swift Challenger and our friends have a Cristall Moorea.  We were hit by the hailstones which are the size of golfballs.  Our caravan roof ended up like the surface of a golfball - pitted from one end to the other.  Our friend's Cristall was hardly marked at all.  They had been told that the European vans were built to withstand people walking on the roof and certainly this lived up to its publicity.  However, on the same site was a Burstner? it looked to be quite an old one but it was affected more severely than our van.

We have returned to the UK claimed on the insurance and they are paying out £4500 for it to be repaired.  It apparantly will take between 10 and 12 weeks for the parts to arrive and a week to do the work.  We have found a same year Geist LV485, it hardly looks to have been used, we were thinking of downsizing and this is just what we want.  The insulation, thicker roof alluminium etc give us greater confidence in its lasting ability! and we feel this makes up for losing the fixed bed.

We're looking forward to using it for many years to come.

Quote: Originally posted by dave8858 on 09/9/2009

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Ian1954

I'm sure German vans like their cars have excellent build quality.

Doesn't the door being on the wrong side prove inconvenient, if not to you perhaps to your fellow campers?

D

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Ours is German and the door is on the Nearside the same as it is on the swift/bailey/elddis etc  Also the UK spec hymers are built with the door on the nearside too so no problem