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Subject Topic: Purchasing a caravan in France Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonNigel Wales
07/11/2015 at 9:13am
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I've been trying to get a new Trigano Silver 380 pop up caravan in the UK - and it's an uphill struggle! Dealers stock limited upholstery options, and there is virtually no discount....rip off Britain at its best!

While If I cross the channel to Normandy, I can get one £2000 cheaper with loads of accessories thrown in.

Apart from having different electrical sockets...and no UK warranty...is there any other differences? and is it legal to bring one back into the UK?


PersonSGThomas
07/11/2015 at 9:33am
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We have the 420 and have found that the few dealers that exist are nothing but letter boxes for Trigano in France.

Firms like Camping & Leisure have a great number of second hand models and perhaps can be help you.

The major difference in France could be in the upholstery, it does not have to conform to such strict standards as in the UK.

Some models may not have the battery hatch.

Avoid the "planchette" grill version. It seriously reduces internal space and is very inconvenient in the awning.

Insist on a mover and be wary of the electric roof raisers. It is really no effort to raise it manually and we have seen many Silver that have electric raisers in trouble.

You can insure the model in the UK and register it with CRiS.


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Personmadasaman
07/11/2015 at 11:54am
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would you have to pay import duty?

-------------
73 going on 25
Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder


PersonOpensauce
07/11/2015 at 11:59am
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When you collect caravan from French dealer put your numberplate on rear using double sided tape fixings & tow away. No requirement for French registration because once your car numberplate is on the back, it's a UK caravan. No stopping at UK customs or anything because you will have paid the vat in France & no import duty as it is within EU. A new caravan will have same 13pin towbar plug as fitted to current UK supplied caravans.


PersonOliverDay
07/11/2015 at 12:43pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Nigel Wales on 07/11/2015
While If I cross the channel to Normandy, I can get one £2000 cheaper with loads of accessories thrown in.

Did you see that Stuart - £2,000 cheaper.

Just think that's over 200 camping nights or enough wine that you'd have to leave some for your family to inherit.

-------------
Ollie

2016
Monplaisir - Provence
Camping Les Gorges du Loup


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PersonSGThomas
07/11/2015 at 12:53pm
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Quote: Originally posted by OliverDay on 07/11/2015
Quote: Originally posted by Nigel Wales on 07/11/2015While If I cross the channel to Normandy, I can get one £2000 cheaper with loads of accessories thrown in.

Did you see that Stuart - £2,000 cheaper.

Just think that's over 200 camping nights or enough wine that you'd have to leave some for your family to inherit.


We are still working through the massive savings we had accrued by having bought the Holtkamper in Holland. That worked out nearly £5,000 cheaper.
I believe you bought yours in the UK


PersonNigel Wales
07/11/2015 at 2:28pm
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I made a mistake...the caravan is £3911 cheaper !!! and you get a free stabiliser and sun shade worth £500 so the overall saving compared to a UK one is £4,400!

My God...that's ridiculous!

All French Taxes paid.


PersonMrT007
07/11/2015 at 2:53pm
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That's just mad!

-------------
Up there for thinking, down there for dancing. 😎


PersonOliverDay
07/11/2015 at 4:11pm
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Stuart's sobbing like a baby!

-------------
Ollie

2016
Monplaisir - Provence
Camping Les Gorges du Loup


PersonOpensauce
07/11/2015 at 6:00pm
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It's only just this yr that France has got more competitive with it's pricing on all sorts of goods & their economy is still on the slide coupled with best rate of £/€ for yrs. France does now appear to be learning lessons from UK with longer opening hours, more 7 day trading & the gradual realisation by companies that it is the customer who is king not the employees.

This yr I put a set on tyres on my car in France for £10 a corner cheaper than best price I could find for same tyre in UK. Until this yr tyre prices were always dearer in France. On French websites you have add fitting cost of tyre, around 16€ to advertised price of tyre though.

I noticed this yr everything from meals out to coolboxes & clothes were as cheap or cheaper in France which previously was not the case. 1€ was as low as 70p this summer & only about 73p now which is far better than last yr.

Prices are pitched anywhere at a price it is believed customers will pay though & with UK economy on the up & France still on the slide prices on each side of channel will tend to diverge.

These caravans are a tiny niche market in UK but more popular in France due to poptop caravans going class 1 rate on toll rds so there will also be more competition for sales.


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PersonNigel Wales
07/11/2015 at 10:33pm
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Everything seems to be getting geared towards consumers...my Renault engine blew up after 66,000 miles when the timing belt went. Renault France put a brand new engine in free of charge even though the car was outside warranty...I was told that I'd be lucky to have got a free fan belt in the UK let alone a £5000 engine.

In regard to the caravan...even though it's all supposed to be tax paid...I'm still going to use different ferry operators for each leg of the crossing...better to be safe than sorry.

Also, the beauty of the pop up roof is also cheaper crossings and I won't have to upgrade my car (with new diesel engine :-) ) to pull it!


PersonOpensauce
08/11/2015 at 7:56am
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Theres no need, it's quite legal to buy in France & bring to UK, look on ebay, plenty are making money buying old Eriba caravans abroad & selling at a profit in UK. You will have purchase receipt so just book cheapest return possible, car one way & car/caravan the other way. I priced up a Dover/Calais day return, car out & car/caravan back & it was only about £60.

If you are on the fiddle though, going out & back with separate ferry companies won't work. The customs have computer records of car reg no's out & back whatever route you take.


PersonKelper
10/11/2015 at 10:26am
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We are buying a caravan in Germany .... saving a lot compared to UK.


Personneil and lena
11/11/2015 at 6:50pm
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Can I ask how you pay for such a large purchase abroad ? do you use credit card , cash ?


PersonOpensauce
11/11/2015 at 7:12pm
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Usual way is bank transfer.


PersonKelper
13/11/2015 at 1:10pm
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The message from our 'putative' supplier is:

"unfortunately we don´t accept credit cards.

We do accept ec-cards (eaps)."

I think bank transfer will be the way we go.



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