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Its a brand new sterling Europa 540 2007 demonstrator model. Window price was 13,475, we said we had an Abbey Alfa 540 (1990) to maybe part exchange but didn't know whether to sell it privately or not, we' been offered £1000 at 2 other places, he said we could have the new van for 11,800 without part ex or 11,500 with part ex, he said you can look at it 2 ways, i'm either giving you a lot of discount off the new van and £300 for our old van or a lot for your old van and nothing off the new van. As it was the last one we asked for a price with the extra bits we needed and he said he could do us this deal..

Van, Apache Torino awning, ground sheet, microwave, cd/radio, motor mover, hitchlock, wheel clamp all for 13,890 so we asked him to hold it for 24 hours for us to decide and we'd get back to him. We weren't sure about microwave so asked how much less that would be,, he said about £115.

Went back yesterday and said we wanted the van but didn't want the microwave, we asked about the cost of an alarm and the theft busters thing where they etch all the van and stuff inside and microdot it, it was about £300 for the alarm and £200 for the theft busters, He said he'd do it instead of the microwave for the same price, well we were well happy. After we'd paid the deposit etc my hubby asked what groundsheet it was and it was the open weave, hubby said he wanted the close weave and so he said he'd swap it for that too :) 

We pick it up on 17th...can't wait

All in all i think we had a bargain, do you agree??

Now all we gotta decide is whether to try and sell our old van and gain a bit more money or part exchange it  ..... anyone wanna buy a 1990 Abbey alfa 5 berth

As long as your happy with the deal then you have a good deal.  Sounds to me that you have a good deal with price reduction plus all the extra;s.  Shows how much they can make on these to be able to drop it that much and still make money.

My preference would  be part x the van but thats just because im lazy and couldnt be doing with the old one lying around for who knows how long...

Thanks, yes we're very happy, can't wait to get it and get on the road now

I agree sell it yourself your bound to get more for it!

 Well done on the new van it sounds great!

I use my microwave loads, sometimes we don't even connect the gas for a weekend away.  Loads of our friends have eaten their words after saying, "What do you want a microwave for?", then coming over to borrow it!  I just wish I had had it when the kids were younger and they disappear as you are dishing up dinner!

PS It's a lot of hassle selling a 'van privately!

It sounds a great deal to me.

Enjoy

With regards to the microwave we are still taking one, the cupboard above the cooker is a large one with a door and plug inside if we had included the microwave they would have fitted a holder in the cupboard and removed the door so we would lose space for one and we thought we could get a cheap new microwave and put in in the cupboard or even in the awning as we have done before and had the extra cupboard space to use.

Old van is all cleared out ready to take pic and put it on ebay

Quote: Originally posted by nic.ade on 07/4/2008

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With regards to the microwave we are still taking one, the cupboard above the cooker is a large one with a door and plug inside if we had included the microwave they would have fitted a holder in the cupboard and removed the door so we would lose space for one and we thought we could get a cheap new microwave and put in in the cupboard or even in the awning as we have done before and had the extra cupboard space to use.

Old van is all cleared out ready to take pic and put it on ebay

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The built-in caravan microwaves are much lighter than household ones - ours has only a thin clear acrylic film for the 'glazing' and is also fully vented at the front.  I don't think a normal one can simply be pushed into a cupboard space, because of the ventilation.

I didn't think ours was a particularly useful feature when we ordered the van, but now (like Rizzo) I find it great!  It mostly gets used for Jacket Potatoes, but is also handy for cartons & pouches of heat & serve foods, which are great for caravanning and cutting down on washing up.  It is useful to be able to take/buy frozen stuff and defrost it too.

Quote: Originally posted by Ulti-Mates on 07/4/2008

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Quote: Originally posted by nic.ade on 07/4/2008

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With regards to the microwave we are still taking one, the cupboard above the cooker is a large one with a door and plug inside if we had included the microwave they would have fitted a holder in the cupboard and removed the door so we would lose space for one and we thought we could get a cheap new microwave and put in in the cupboard or even in the awning as we have done before and had the extra cupboard space to use.

Old van is all cleared out ready to take pic and put it on ebay

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The built-in caravan microwaves are much lighter than household ones - ours has only a thin clear acrylic film for the 'glazing' and is also fully vented at the front.  I don't think a normal one can simply be pushed into a cupboard space, because of the ventilation.

I didn't think ours was a particularly useful feature when we ordered the van, but now (like Rizzo) I find it great!  It mostly gets used for Jacket Potatoes, but is also handy for cartons & pouches of heat & serve foods, which are great for caravanning and cutting down on washing up.  It is useful to be able to take/buy frozen stuff and defrost it too.

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We did ask the dealer if we were able to put a normal household microwave into the cupboard and he said yes, he also knows people that have done it. The cupboard space is huge so there would be ample ventilation too. Hadn't thought the fitted one would ne lighter though, thats a point to consider