Hello everyone! This is my first post here and I'm really hoping someone will be able to help even though it's such glorious weather at the mo! Basically we have places a small deposit on a 1996 Avondale sand beck, we came away from the dealers (red lion caravans southport) and had a look on the web but they don't seem to make this model until much later, I rang the dealer who then said it had passed an hpi check (I have a signed receipt with this info on) and then said it was an osprey, I know this is not the case though as they are 5.29m long internally and this is 4m at the most, he's now saying its a dealer special, and I'm starting to get nervous, any advice please? The van is a 2 berth with end kitchen, rear o/s bathroom and 2 parallel Sgls at the front with a removable set of drawers to make a large bed, Many thanks in advance
If the caravan is not as described you are entitled to your money back. Under the circumstances if you are not happy now and worrying about it, you will always be unhappy with it and the 'edge' will have been taken off what should have been an exciting and trouble free purchase.
I, personally, would ask for my money back. There are lots of good, genuine caravans out there and you don't need to buy an 'iffey' one.
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Your probably right, I was excited now it all seems a bit spoiled, i didn't notice any birds no, I know the front locker was removable though if that helps, what wouldthe birds mean?
In that time they produced caravan models with the name' s of birds, mine is a Mayfly, as Gailk suggests Sandmartin. My Mayfly is a two berth with a layout you describe, my front draw unit can be removed if required but not necessary if making up the large front bed, or the berths can be used as two singles
Its sounds just like our 1995 Sandmartin. The earlier photo is of an earlier model. We used to have a 1986 model like that one. We have had our second one now for 15 years and still love it.
Yes realbusdriver that's the bird badge that is on my front locker. Pippa10 your Sandmartin looks very much the same as my 1996 Mayfly Classic 25 (built to celebrate 25 years of Avondale)
Thank you all so very much, how kind of you all to help x the decals on the van definitely said sandbeck but it looks very much like the model with the two grills on the side the 1995 one Just without the small window in the 'roof bit' it definitely had the numbers on the window so I'm going to do my own hpi check it's only 15 pounds and worth it for the peace of mind, I really have fallen in love with the van as its so nice and well looked after. I'll post on here what the outcome is!! Once again thanks ever so much everyone you've all been a great help x x
(I would be slightly concerned if it has a different decal on - just the cynic in me, but has it be damaged and had the panel repaired, and hence the different name? I hope not, but remember you can fall in love with lots of caravans before your find your "keep" one! )
Good Luck
------------- Gail
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You're right, we're going to pop up there this pm and have a really good look at it, rather than just bounce on the comfy seats!! We're upgrading from our first caravan, a very elderly abi marauder which is falling apart around our ears so I think we've perhaps got a bit carried away at the prospect of a bit of luxury, hopefully it will all be good and well ask to see all the docs etc, I'm so pleased to have found this forum it's great to have so much shared experience and knowledge at your fingertips eh? Thanks again
Hope it all works out, I know what you mean about getting carried away, they are lovely caravans to look at, saw one on a site, and thought mmm yes thats the sort of caravan I want when just the 2 of us. Since then we have decided as there is nothing wrong with the one we have, although it is getting on in years, we will stick with it for the time being.
Hi everyone, just thought I'd post the outcome of the mystery van saga!! We went to the dealers yesterday and checked the number was the same on every window and the chassis and then phoned cris, so the caravan is an Avondale sandbeck dart 380/2 chiltern, weird eh? The lovely man at cris says it would be a dealer special whatever that means, and it's free of outstanding finance, not stolen or an insurance write off, so all is well, were collecting it tomorrow and off to claylands in garstang for the jubilee weekend! It's not a bad life really ha ha ! Hope you all have a lovely weekend and thanks again for your help and advice.