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Subject Topic: should i buy an avondale dart 510L? Post Reply Post New Topic
Personjanjohn
01/6/2009 at 6:11pm
 Location: Littleborough
 Outfit: Autocruise Starfire View janjohn's Profile View Profile   Reply to janjohn Reply   Quote janjohn Quote  
Joined: 15/10/2008

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Having just sold (reluctantly) our motorhome we are now searching for an affordable caravan (in desperate need to get away!!!) Its probably not a good time as all the trade in bargains have probably been snatched up BUT have just veiwed an avondale dart 510L 2002 which looks great and hopefully going to view again to take a much closer look prior to purchase. apart from the usual checking for damp soft floors etc has anyone got any advise about the make/model? Much appreciated before we part with our cash cos this has to last us....cheers   


Personbill + kay w
01/6/2009 at 6:33pm
 Location: sheffield
 Outfit: Avondale Dart 525 4 & Ford Galaxy View bill + kay w's Profile View Profile   Reply to bill + kay w Reply   Quote bill + kay w Quote  
Joined: 26/6/2008

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Hiya janjohn, we only started touring in july last year after having statics for what seems like decades, we started with an avondale golden mayfair 475-4. their is only me and my mrs  (occasionally our 4 year old niece tags along ) and it was a fantastic van but due to me being disabled we did'nt think it through properly and decided we wanted one with a fixed bed so we p/x it for a brand new Avondale Dart 525-4 and we both love it. sadly Avondale is no more but you can still get a real bargain whether its new or used much loved one, the dealer we got ours from seems to be selling out as fast as they come in so good luck . Bill 

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Bill n Kay

............................
when the going gets tough... get someone else to do it.....

I smile besause I have'nt a clue whats going on... appreciate everything in life especially your friends...


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Personjanjohn
01/6/2009 at 6:44pm
 Location: Littleborough
 Outfit: Autocruise Starfire View janjohn's Profile View Profile   Reply to janjohn Reply   Quote janjohn Quote  
Joined: 15/10/2008

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Hi, thanks for that. We have a teenage daughter who HAS to bring a friend so the twin dinette layout provides them with their 'end' of the van. i was a little concerned having heard that avondale no longer exist and wondered if we would have trouble with spares etc. But to be honest we have been looking for a couple of months now and think we need to just go for it and cure our itchy feet..
thanks again
Jan


Persontheclarkes
01/6/2009 at 7:09pm
 Location: Swindon Wiltshire
 Outfit: Toyota Landcruiser Avondale Dart 556 6 View theclarkes's Profile View Profile   Reply to theclarkes Reply   Quote theclarkes Quote  
Joined: 05/9/2005

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We have a 2001 Dart 556/6, had it 3 years, and not had any problems with it, shame that Avondale are no more, this may put some people off, but I would have no problem buying another Avondale


Personcaravan21
01/6/2009 at 9:10pm
 Location: Lancs
 Outfit: Luna Quaser 525 View caravan21's Profile View Profile   Reply to caravan21 Reply   Quote caravan21 Quote  
Joined: 19/4/2009

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In April we traided in our Avondale Mayfair 4 berth.  We had a big problem with damp around the toilet system that holds the water to flush, we were told that this is a known problem with Avondale, so just check this out.


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PersonThe Woofs
02/6/2009 at 4:38pm
 Location: Heysham Lancs
 Outfit: Avondale Rialto 535 5 View The Woofs's Profile View Profile   Reply to The Woofs Reply   Quote The Woofs Quote  
Joined: 10/10/2007

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Hi, we've got an Avondale Rialto 535/5 which has a seam running horizontally along both sides of the van at waist height.  I don't know if the Dart has the same but if it has just check along this level as our seam has failed and we've picked up early signs of ingress.  We've resealed it with Sikaflex so after a bit of TLC all will be well again.  Apart from this we'd have no hesitation in recommending an Avondale as we love ours.  Also, just check the front and back panels for cracks.  Bailey's seem to be worse for these but sometimes Avondales have them too.  It seems to be an increasing problem amongst caravans thesedays. 


PersonDaleR
02/6/2009 at 4:40pm
 Location: Newport South Wales
 Outfit: Bailey Pageant Megane II SportTourer View DaleR's Profile View Profile   Reply to DaleR Reply   Quote DaleR Quote  
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I wouldn't worry too much about part availability, as the majority of parts are made by third parties and are applicable to other manufacturers as well so should be readily available, just avondale specific body trim etc might be a little harder to come by.


Personrd57chad
02/6/2009 at 6:12pm
 Location: manchester
 Outfit: Vx Antara & Elddis fusion 540 View rd57chad's Profile View Profile   Reply to rd57chad Reply   Quote rd57chad Quote  
Joined: 18/10/2004

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Our 3 year old Dart's floor had delamination around the spare wheel hatch area  i was told it was quite a common problem ? Also on ours the sliding door at the back used to derail if opened with more than a gentle push . In the end noticed the top rail didnt go back far enough allowing the back roller to drop off the rail . This was fixed by glueing a cork to the back of the door thus limiting its travel . Other than that it was a good van


Personbill + kay w
03/6/2009 at 7:22pm
 Location: sheffield
 Outfit: Avondale Dart 525 4 & Ford Galaxy View bill + kay w's Profile View Profile   Reply to bill + kay w Reply   Quote bill + kay w Quote  
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hi all, somewhere on ukcs there is a thread with a phone num for Avondale parts, i cant remember who posted it but I'm sure someone will be along to tell us . cheers Bill

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Bill n Kay

............................
when the going gets tough... get someone else to do it.....

I smile besause I have'nt a clue whats going on... appreciate everything in life especially your friends...


Personilsf
12/7/2016 at 9:07am
 Location: wales
 Outfit: None Entered View ilsf's Profile View Profile   Reply to ilsf Reply   Quote ilsf Quote  
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Did anyone post that phone number up?

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nod nod it must be a cod!!


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Personmarramc48
12/7/2016 at 3:51pm
 Location: Scotland
 Outfit: None Entered View marramc48's Profile View Profile   Reply to marramc48 Reply   Quote marramc48 Quote  
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Click onto "Search" box above and type in "avondale spares"

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mm48j


Personexplore
13/7/2016 at 2:30pm
 Location: west sussex
 Outfit: Bailey Senator Vermo View explore's Profile View Profile   Reply to explore Reply   Quote explore Quote  
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Hi' I bought an Avondale 510/5 brand new in 2003' it went back to the factory for damp after 1year. The 3rd year it went back again, just before they. Went bust. I sold it in 2007, advised it had more damp by the dealer that part exchanged it for a Bailey Senator. This van also had damp due to sub standard build quality.   I repaired my self. Still got the van, it seems Ok. In conclusion, I would stay clear of Avondale & Bailey Caravans. The best van I have had for no damp was a Craftsman, based on a Eddlis. So I would go for a Elddis.


PersonTaylor56
13/7/2016 at 7:34pm
 Location: 
 Outfit:  View Taylor56's Profile View Profile   Reply to Taylor56 Reply   Quote Taylor56 Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by explore on 13/7/2016
Hi' I bought an Avondale 510/5 brand new in 2003' it went back to the factory for damp after 1year. The 3rd year it went back again, just before they. Went bust. I sold it in 2007, advised it had more damp by the dealer that part exchanged it for a Bailey Senator. This van also had damp due to sub standard build quality.   I repaired my self. Still got the van, it seems Ok. In conclusion, I would stay clear of Avondale & Bailey Caravans. The best van I have had for no damp was a Craftsman, based on a Eddlis. So I would go for a Elddis.


Seem to remember a very long thread on here about how bad Elddis were. Don't think there is such a thing as a perfect van due to the stresses and strains of being towed around the terrible road in this country.
Check the Avondale very carefully just like you would any other make. It all depends on how it has been looked after and service history.
Yes I do own an Avondale Mayfair 556/6 and love it and it's few problems.


PersonSamandRose
13/7/2016 at 11:46pm
 Location: Midlands
 Outfit: 2019 VW Arteon + 2002 Avondale Dart View SamandRose's Profile View Profile   Reply to SamandRose Reply   Quote SamandRose Quote  
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We bought a 2002 Avondale Dart 515-4 last year (the same size as the 510-5 but with a 4 berth end washroom layout) and love it. The only problem we've had so far is that we found the cushions to be fine to sit on but hard to sleep on - but we solved that by buying a £100 mattress topper.

Magnum Motorhomes of Grimsby bought all of the Avondale spare parts from the administrators in 2009. But the chassis is made by Alko and everything electric is made by third parties so spares shouldn't be too difficult.



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