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02/7/2009 at 7:42pm
Location: NE Scotland
Outfit: Bailey Autograph 745 motorhome
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Joined: 21/2/2008 Silver Member 
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Hi, as David said we took delivery of a Carolina a few weeks ago (after owning Swift stable vans for 25 years or so). We had a Sterling Eccles Jewel, a fixed bed with side bathroom but really missed an end bathroom as we use CL often in this country, we also missed an on-board tank as we use our van a lot in the winter in quite often very cold conditions. So, when Swift announced they were bringing out a clone of the Carolina we thought "great" - went along to the Scottish Caravan Show to see one so that we could place an order with our dealer. We liked the principle of the layout, OH liked the slide away TV point BUT we hated the interior upholstery and woodwork finish, the kitchen was small, Swift had left out lots of little "extras", the van was longer than we wanted and heavier. So, that was it we were going to wait for a couple of years to see if they changed the upholstery on the Sterlings. We were coming back from a trip away to a motorhome show as we had been considering buying one, called into our dealers to arrange our annual service, went and looked at the Bailey and we were sold. I liked the layout much better than the Swift stable one, loved the Senator alternative upholstery, the bathroom was a good size (not as large as the Swift one but plenty big enough), the design of the wardrobe is brilliant - plenty of hanging space in our half and lots of really good sized shelf space in the other. Kitchen was a good size, as big as the one we had in the Jewel, OK the "sideboard" was smaller but the TV is mounted on a swivel wall so that it can be viewed from the living are and the bed easily freeing up the whole of the small "sideboard" and fruit bowls etc will not block the view of the TV!!!! The spec was much higher than the Swift stable vans - onboard water tank, ATC traction control, tracker system together with the 1st years subs, external barbecue gas point, etc etc. So instead of booking a service we purchased a new van.
We have had one weekend away in the van so far complete with grandchildren and still think what a cracker of a van - everything worked, including the clever TV/DVD/Radio system (good quality TV too - we didn't think we would use it as we already had a flat screen, I've now acquired that for the kitchen). The van also tows well even seems to give us better mileage - that obviously needs to be tested on a longer trip.
So - are they worth looking at, yes in our opinion they are.
Oh and the fixed bed mattress is more comfortable than the Jewel's one!!!!!
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03/7/2009 at 2:09pm
Location: NW of Glasgow
Outfit: Sterling Searcher 2008 Volvo XC90
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JJEE.....we have the Sterling Searcher 2008 model which is a big twin with side fixed bed and large rear bathroom. The decor is a little different from the 2009 models....I didn't like them either.
We chose the Sterling as we wanted the Alde heating and the big fridge/freezer, also it could take the roof mounted air con. It has an on-board tank, which is useful, and we have added the air con, shocks and various other bits and pieces....extra lights, sockets, towel rails.
We like the light "wood" finish it has. Our worktops are black marbled, the only compromise, but nicer than the new brownish ones.
It tows very well, you do have to remember the extra length in tight situations though. We have a mover fitted, we need that to park it at our house, good for positioning on pitches too, though it is easier to reverse than our single axle Emerald was.
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Jennifer
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Topic: Bailey Carolina
