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Hi All,

We're considering buying a new van to replace our Sterling Europa 490. We love the fixed bed, and wandered upon chance into a Senator Indiana, which has the bed on the nearside and seems so very spacious. It has a "side board" type unit on the nearside which is handy, and we fell in love with it, as it felt so big. We know the Senator is 4 inches wider than other Baileys.

We then discovered that the Pageant range had a van with the same layout - the burgundy. Its 100kg lighter than the Senator, and £2k cheaper.

We've compared the two like for like, and the Senator has:

• Onboard water tank (sounds like a good thing)
• Alarm (can have 'van on home alarm system)
• Heki rooflight over bed (something and nothing)
• 4 inches wider (good point)
• External gas BBQ point (good point)
• Microwave (no use to us as we rally and have no hookup)

Everything else that the Senator has, the Pageant seems to have.

We're trying to justify (or not) the extra £2k - it seems a lot to pay for the few "extras" listed above. I have been in both, and I do prefer the Senator, though I can't explain why - it just feels nicer - I get in the Senator and fall in love, and get in the Pageant and feel "it's alright". I wonder if I have let the marketing of "Senator's are top of the range" get to my head!?

Anyone got any experience of either 'van, and what do you think - are Senators really worth £2k more than a 'van that is essentially the same?

All comments appreciated!!

Lisa Jane

We have just bought a Senator Indiana. We have been out in it once for a week.Like you we liked it as soon as we saw it mainly bacause it was very light and open.Again we ,like you ,were very positive that it was what we wanted although we did wait untill looking at others at the last show at the NEC.

We were lucky in that we able to sell our old van privately,through this site's ads,so we got a good deal. You could probably get one for about £13,600 for delivery in June for a straight buy based on my bartering at and before the show.(this is the price quoted by Chichester Caravans and the best we could get)

I can only say you will not be disappointed. We wanted a fixed bed because my wife has a bad back and we use a memory foam mattress topper which worked really well.

Let me know if you need any more specific information.

I should add that I had to buy new bigger aquarolls because the filter was toobig to get inside the 29 litre size.However, Towsure had a very good offer on them last week and I sold the old ones easily.

We have a Bailey Pageant Bordeaux which is similare to but not the same as the burgandy. If you do lots of cooking in the van, then the extra work space in the Indiana is a big plus as long as you don't get in the way when people are trying to watch the t.v!! Also the toilet is on the other side to the bordeaux, so if you have anyone in the awning, they won't here you tinckle! LOL The 2 front seats are long enough to use as singles in the bordeaux but NOT in the burgandy (well not long enough for our long legged teenagers, anyhow!)

We recently had a look around this years Senator range and fell in love with the Oklahoma. My O/H is fighting the urge to sell the Bordeaux and move up to one! Men!! (we havn't even had the brand new awning out yet!!

wow, i love mine,off again next week.knew as soon as we stepped inside that was the one.hey misterg...........no snags at all yet. fingers X-ed.

alex.

Hi Mark Lisa

Just purchased the indiana, absolutely thrilled with it for all the reasons you stated. We had a Fleetwood Colchester for 5 years with an end kitchen as I always thought that central kitchens were not practical as we are both not lightweights (passing each other) but the room we have with our new van is amazing even while cooking and the storage space is endless (still not managed to fill all the lockers). and I love not having to make beds up.  The security systems are a godsend as an Alko wheel lock comes as standard (makes our old wheel clamp look dated). Oh and did I mention the cd/radio as standard, before we had a radio plonked on table.  We've only stayed in it 2 weekends and can't wait for the next. Good luck with your choice.  Happy caravanning.

Does the Pageant have a front chest? The one I saw had 'U' shaped seating. A real faff at mealtimes if you've got to get the table out every time.

Me, I'd go for the Indiana. It's still cracking value, and chances are you'll save money in the longer run by hanging onto the Senator for longer. But hey, I'm good at spending other people's money!

Andrew

We paid the extra money to have the front chest installed, was well worth it as it has a flip over table on the top and we've never needed to use the table.

We have now decided to sell our Bordeaux (there an advert on here on the free adverts (3/08/2007). Love the 'van but hubby wants to have a seasonal tourer pitch now and the only ones on the site we want come with a caravan. we definately dont need two, LOL!

I have the Indiana, and love it, and like you it was a toss up between the Pagent or the Senator, we bought it at the London show, and we went from one to the other and back again,  we decided to go with the Indiana, because there were another couple looking round the Indiana at the same time as us, and it didn't even seem crowded.  If you can aford the extra, then go for it, otherwise you might always be thinking that you wished that you had.