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Never brought a caravan from new, but contemplating a purchase pehaps in Oct at the show.

Just wanted some advise on things to ask about/watch out for, haggle on price and anything really.

Any pitfalls to be aware of, what about part exchange? Guarantee's or warranties??

All advice welcome.

Just did this for the first time recently, rather than give you a list I think the main thing is to haggle hard (even if it feels uncomfortable, hey this is your hard earned dosh). Have a percentage in mind that you expect in terms of a discount and be clear what your van is worth if p/e.

I expect to get 10% off just for turning up and asking, up to 15% by working at it, beyond there is the golden land. Time of year matters eg when they still have last years stock to clear and new are coming in.

Top thing is play it cool,be  polite but be prepared to walk away if the deal isn't right.

Buying at the show:-

1. Can all servicing/warranty work be carried out by my local dealer or will I have to take the van to another part of the country for service etc. to comply with any warranty conditions? (If they say it has to go to such and such miles from where you live just consider the cost/inconvenience etc.)

2. Delivery timetable. Indicate that if they say it will be January 2011 that you will be booking sites from February so they had better deliver on time. Quite a number of floks booked sites from last Show and delivery was delayed so they lost their holidays. You may need to set up a compensation argument.

3. Check the budget. There may be a change in the level of VAT between buying at the show and delivery. If there is then make sure the VAT arrangements are clear so that you avoid any extra cost on delivery.

4. Extras - ask about gas water hogs waste hogs locks etc as freebies...may as well get new if you can - especially alko locks if you dodn't have them already and the chosen van takes one

5. Make sure you know exactly what style/layout of van you are after. Don't jump in at the first good deal and then find the van does not suit your style of caravanning.

6. MTPLM - Can you car pull it?

7. Do you want something extra fitted e.g. stabiliser. Get it fitted during factory production as that should be cheaper than retro fit.

Have fun looking

Phil

Thanks, some great advice there.

I'm looking for a 2 berth van suitable for my OH who is a big tall chap. 6' 2". Currently he never sleeps well as the beds are just not long enough.

Also some of the shower cubicles are comical when he gets in them. Either they are:

too short, he has to bend is head over to fit

Or to thin....the advert for the deodarant where you can't lift your arms up springs to mind!

Also with his long legs room around the toilet, else he can't sit down....it sounds really funny but are their any caravans built for tall people???

I'm 6' 4" and am OK in a 6' 3" fixed bed and in most washrooms. Only trouble I had was an Abi Ace Pioneer XL 1991 which had a very small washroom with a corner cut off. To bend down to the sink I had to stick my bum out through the door and to shower my head stuck out the roof light. The bed was only 3' 4" wide as well. Didn't keep it for long.

Our two later vans have been fine in the washroom. The rotatable toilets are fine as well as you can adjust them for maximum legroom.

Non fixed beds are longer if they go across the van. They are probably longer than most domestic beds.

I'd go to your local dealer & select a model layout which you like. Tell him you intend going to the show to see what bargains are about & ask him to give you his very best price. Once you're at the showm, you'll soon establish which is the best route to take & it may even be worth calling your dealer from the show asking if he can get close to what you've been offered at the show.

As far as part exchanges are concerned, the dealers at the show will offer you what glasses guide tells them according to the description you've given them of you van. They stick the damp meter in it when you arive at their premises with it & probably try to reduce their offer to you. When we last part exchanged one, we asked the dealer to look ours over before confiming the deal so we both knew where we stood. As we had no lans to use our old one before taking the new one he was going to take it straight in but we sold it private. We still got it gone straight away & spent nealry 2 months with no van. 

Personally, although I wouldn't pay through the nose, I'd rather have a good relationship with my local dealer & get as good a price as possible from him than risk having to go miles for service forr warranty work after buying from a dealer at the show. If there's a bargain to be had, surely you should be able to secure it at your dealer. If you go in as first timers, it's surprising what they'll sometimes throw in as a starter pack.

Most vans have long term warranties nowadays, it'll be worth while establishing service costs if this may alter your choice of manufacturer.

BB

Yes I was wondering about servicing and the like, don't want to have to travel miles as you say. I will watch out for that.

Just need to find a van I like and settle on it. But there is so much choice. When I think I have decided then another one comes along and its all up in the air again.

I am wondering if Bailey will be bringing out another alutec in Oct, which maybe their stater range....not so much kit?  

Quote: Originally posted by chriska1111 on 05/6/2010

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Ranger is next on the list to be replaced by alutec...im waiting for this one as should be a good buy.

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I hope you're right chriska, I was chatting to a man recently who reckons they'll bring out an all singing all dancing Flagship. To launch an Alutec model in the entry level of the range would be a better idea. Why they couldn't keep the names as they were & simply change the build proces is beyond us. We're glad ours is just a year old so it won't bother us now.

BB

Pegasus = senator

olympus = pageant

xxxxxxx = Ranger (without microwave and stereo etc) ...the gt60 which did have these was to commemerate baileys 60th aniversary.

Bring it on...

chris

Is there anything to watch out for, when buying new and fitting a motor mover?

I have one I would wish to be fitted on anything I would buy new.

Is this allowed to be done as a self fit, or do they insist on it being fitted by a dealer cos of warranty?

My motor mover is not yet a year old, so I wouldn't want to buy another new one just yet.

Another question.

For those that traded in, is it usual to leave gas bottles, regulators, batteries and the like on the van traded in, or did you take them off and keep them for the new one?

I've never left anything in a van I've traded - you need to be with the dealer what he is expecting.  Generally if you leave something in it is reflected in the price eg a mover would add about £300.

I'd get yours fitted on the new van as part of the deal.