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I would love to persuade Swift to produce a top spec van (Challenger/Eccles SE level so Alde etc) in the Sprite Major FB body .... why?  Well it gives the fixed bed end washroom layout in a slightly shorter van .... 17ft4 instead of 18ft4 in the current 570/Ruby SE ....again why?  Well our current van is 17ft2 and we can comfortably turn this at the end of our drive ... we couldn't do this with an 18 footer  AND the 18 footer is a bit heavy for my Skoda Yeti while a shorter one would be lighter AND although we love our fixed bed in the Benmore we are missing our end washroom a great deal.

Frustratingly Swift produce the ideal size/layout of van (Sprite Major FB) and the ideal spec (Challenger/Eccles SE) ... but sadly the twain do not meet!

Had a good look at the Major FB today as I was concerned loosing a foot in length might compromise the van somehow but it doesn't .... in fact it is very hard to see where the length has been lost.  My dealer agreed ... and felt there was a market for such a van (albeit maybe not a huge market!)

Question is how do I make sure Swift hear my views and come to the party? I've mentioned it on Swift Talk and none of the staff have bitten!

Suggestions on a postcard please? 

I find it extremely frustrating that all caravan makers think that anyone who wants a more compact van is happy with entery level spec.  With car makers like VW and Audi bragging about loosing 100KG off the new Golf/ A3 something has to give.

I appreciate your points ... the frustrating part is that they are very nearly producing the 'van we want!  The Sprite shares a body shell with the Challenger/Eccles SE so its almost there.  Time will tell ... my dealer is on the case (perhaps just to shut me up!)

Choosing a caravan is always a compromise and we are happy with our current 'van BUT in an ideal world ..... lol.

Quote: Originally posted by Tentz on 01/10/2012

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In the UK(I guess)there are far more retired & older couples whose kids have grown up that can afford brand new caravans, so these will be UK caravan maker's target market. Younger people with families tend to buy secondhand. Talking majorities here of course.

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Quote: Originally posted by saftlad on 01/10/2012

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That would obviously lead us to the question of how do families buy the right layout secondhand if it's not being bought by the older couples in the first place?

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Quote: Originally posted by Tentz on 01/10/2012

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Quote: Originally posted by saftlad on 01/10/2012

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That would obviously lead us to the question of how do families buy the right layout secondhand if it's not being bought by the older couples in the first place?

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Manufacturers are not interested the secondhand market, buyers want a layout that suits them not what might suit subsequent owners. Generally secondhand buyers have to compromise more so than new buyers.

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They can't be over interested in buyers of new vans either Tentz. We've always bought new double dinette  caravans but, unless we've missed it in their brochures our favourite maufacturer no longer offer one. We wouldn't entertain a fixed bed so yet another customer lost.

BB

Quote: Originally posted by Basilbrush on 05/10/2012

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Quote: Originally posted by Tentz on 01/10/2012

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Quote: Originally posted by saftlad on 01/10/2012

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That would obviously lead us to the question of how do families buy the right layout secondhand if it's not being bought by the older couples in the first place?

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Manufacturers are not interested the secondhand market, buyers want a layout that suits them not what might suit subsequent owners. Generally secondhand buyers have to compromise more so than new buyers.

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They can't be over interested in buyers of new vans either Tentz. We've always bought new double dinette  caravans but, unless we've missed it in their brochures our favourite maufacturer no longer offer one. We wouldn't entertain a fixed bed so yet another customer lost.

BB

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If Swift pay as much attention to you as they did to me over a couple of warranty issues, you'll be better off talking to the wall.

Re current vans.  i agree with the comment above regarding vans and older people being a target audience.  Are age/less mobility/overweight the crucial factors in van design these days?   Single beds - fixed beds - wider vans - longer vans - big washrooms and connections to 'super pitches' seem to suggest so.