Boxster S to Burstner 747
Discussion
I'd certainly recommend motorhoming - and I'm sure OP would too, given his new purchase.
It's of course horses for courses and each to their own in terms of whether you go:
- motorhome
- caravan
- campervan
- Pod
- tent
But personally I love the ability to trog off with everything on board, pitch without faffing around (just plugging into the mains, worst case scenario) and being able to stay where I like, without having to hook up water and waste water services - being totally self-sufficient and being able to move on the following day. Plus, driving a 4.6t rig is good fun!
It's of course horses for courses and each to their own in terms of whether you go:
- motorhome
- caravan
- campervan
- Pod
- tent
But personally I love the ability to trog off with everything on board, pitch without faffing around (just plugging into the mains, worst case scenario) and being able to stay where I like, without having to hook up water and waste water services - being totally self-sufficient and being able to move on the following day. Plus, driving a 4.6t rig is good fun!
If you like an outdoors life style and get bored staying in one place then its ace.
Its also good for family & dogs
Its also a cheap holiday (if you get over the purchase price and get the man maths correctly!)
I've been motorhomeing since i was a child, so was always going to happen! but can understand why people wouldn't like it.
the parents in-law have recently taken to it too.
its worth hiring / trying before you buy if its your first time - as what you think works may not.
and one mans meat is another mans poison
(eg a friend is about to get a T5/T6 - he hired one, went to Ireland in the rain and loved it - 2 people & a 2 year old in c 1m2 would not be my idea of a holiday!)
i'd recommend uncrowded french country side and CLs in the UK rather than "caravan sites"
roll on June and more of this:
Its also good for family & dogs
Its also a cheap holiday (if you get over the purchase price and get the man maths correctly!)
I've been motorhomeing since i was a child, so was always going to happen! but can understand why people wouldn't like it.
the parents in-law have recently taken to it too.
its worth hiring / trying before you buy if its your first time - as what you think works may not.
and one mans meat is another mans poison
(eg a friend is about to get a T5/T6 - he hired one, went to Ireland in the rain and loved it - 2 people & a 2 year old in c 1m2 would not be my idea of a holiday!)
i'd recommend uncrowded french country side and CLs in the UK rather than "caravan sites"
roll on June and more of this:
its worth keeping an eye out here:
http://www.goodmansmotorhomes.com/motorhomes_londo...
as they look very keenly priced for 1-2 year old motorhome
(as long as you are comfortable with potentially 26 other families having slept in it)
http://www.goodmansmotorhomes.com/motorhomes_londo...
as they look very keenly priced for 1-2 year old motorhome
(as long as you are comfortable with potentially 26 other families having slept in it)
custardkid said:
its worth keeping an eye out here:
http://www.goodmansmotorhomes.com/motorhomes_londo...
as they look very keenly priced for 1-2 year old motorhome
(as long as you are comfortable with potentially 26 other families having slept in it)
I purchased my Motorhome from Ricky @ Goodmans - excellent price and a great guy to deal with. I was looking at a brand new Sunlight A72 at approx £48k (with TV / Awning etc) we got an 8 month old one from Goodmans for £32k with Awning / Bike Rack / TV / Aerial etc. You cannot argue with a saving like that. In effect Goodmans are the sales arm of MCRent UK, and are majority owned by Dethleffs - in effect you are buying the van direct from Dethleffs! Do not expect any money off the advertised price, however he may throw in an accessory or two (we had a brand new 4 bike rack fitted and he gave us 2 x gas bottles)http://www.goodmansmotorhomes.com/motorhomes_londo...
as they look very keenly priced for 1-2 year old motorhome
(as long as you are comfortable with potentially 26 other families having slept in it)
He normally sells them all of after either one or two seasons renting, so they'll be either 6 or 18 months old - yes they are well used, so check them carefully. Point out any issues to Ricky and he'll normally sort them by swapping bits from van to van, some examples of what we found.....
- Windows didn't match - occasionally these get broken and replaced, the van we brought had 3 different type of Window fitted when I viewed it (most were tinted with a grey border, one had a silver border and one was not tinted) - he swapped them from other van so all of ours matched
- Check the tyres - a couple of our were low - he swapped the wheels from another van
- Check all interior fittings, some pieces get broken - he swapped a few "clips" that hold the seats on.
- Check the bodywork - he had a couple of minor dents and scratches repaired on ours
- Check operation of all window blinds - a couple of ours didn't stay down and needed new clips.
After owning the van for a few months, and with only a couple of weeks warranty remaining we noticed that the bathroom floor had a crack in it - I tried to deal with our local dealer (Lowdhams) who wouldn't even look at it for a month (and therefore out of Warranty), Ricky processed the claim for us directly with the factory which was much easier than dealing with a dealer. A new bathroom floor was fitted by Lowdhams a couple of months ago, almost 6 months after the warranty ended - but that was down to us wanting to use it all summer (obviously without being able to use the shower)
Overall the van has been great, it was home for 2 adults, a 7 year old, a 5 year old and a large dog for many separate weekends a 6 week break last year. Its now being made ready for similar usage this year.
we've gone for a Sunlight T67 by Dethleffs / Hymer similar to its Carado twin, but 'younger' trim & colours
Like this:
video tour here: (apologies about the quality of the presenter - but only decent video i could find)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9AUgWAEWrU&t=...
enough room for 4 adults when we go with the parents in law
and future proof for Kids (we are younger than most motor homers) so they can go to bed in the back and we can stay up and use the pull down bed in the front
<3500kg and <3m in height making french / Austrian / Swiss / Slovenian (other?) road charges a bit simpler
will also be able to tow the track car without having to take another test!
will just need to cut back a bit as carried c 700kg payload in the old van vs c550kg payload on the new one
not the plushest being a 'budget' model, but with Hymer build quality, wanted to like the Benimars on the Fords, as they are good value, but the Tregano group vans (Benimar/chausson/roller team etc) felt too flimsy
a proper hymer would be £20k-£30k more
could have had one for Feb delivery, but wanted the 150bhp engine (this is PistonHeads!) I'm sure the 130 is fine in the UK, but the hills are bigger in Europe, so had to do a special factory order
will update more when it arrives!
Like this:
video tour here: (apologies about the quality of the presenter - but only decent video i could find)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9AUgWAEWrU&t=...
enough room for 4 adults when we go with the parents in law
and future proof for Kids (we are younger than most motor homers) so they can go to bed in the back and we can stay up and use the pull down bed in the front
<3500kg and <3m in height making french / Austrian / Swiss / Slovenian (other?) road charges a bit simpler
will also be able to tow the track car without having to take another test!
will just need to cut back a bit as carried c 700kg payload in the old van vs c550kg payload on the new one
not the plushest being a 'budget' model, but with Hymer build quality, wanted to like the Benimars on the Fords, as they are good value, but the Tregano group vans (Benimar/chausson/roller team etc) felt too flimsy
a proper hymer would be £20k-£30k more
could have had one for Feb delivery, but wanted the 150bhp engine (this is PistonHeads!) I'm sure the 130 is fine in the UK, but the hills are bigger in Europe, so had to do a special factory order
will update more when it arrives!
Nice looking MH and it is exactly the same layout as the Adria Matrix 670 that we have currently got. It works well for 4 adults for short periods as getting up and down in to the drop down bed is a bit of a ball-ache.
We have now gone back to an overcab MH (due in May....) because the layout works better with children and we wanted a bigger garage. Being over 3m tall just means that we will avoid France as much as possible! Spain is far kinder to MH owners on the motorways...
We have now gone back to an overcab MH (due in May....) because the layout works better with children and we wanted a bigger garage. Being over 3m tall just means that we will avoid France as much as possible! Spain is far kinder to MH owners on the motorways...
Bit of an update
New motorhome collected,
fitted a double din radio, with apple car play (over rated) usb and reversing camera, (not to the bodywork!)
a bumper protector
Valeo reversing sensors (wip)
bike and storage racking in the boot
Then had a quick weekend away in wales with the parents in law and 3 dogs, and van felt as roomy as the old burstner despite being 80cm shorter, and the dinning area for 4 was much more comfortable than the old pullman dinette
down side was the dogs couldn't make it up the steps onto the back beds with out assistance... still it means they stay put as they cant make it down ether!
drop down bed tested, sturdy & very comfortable
then the weekend after off for two weeks in the Ardeche (me, wife and dog)
all went well except for a slightly dodgy flap on the Thetford cassette - now replaced with a new cassette
and catching the door on the opening window - grrr
this was late June so it was c 36deg but the van stayed cool ish and obviously we were outside most of the time
the extra pace of the 150 engine was also appreciated on the way down
Devon next weekend, then cream fields 5 up!
the blob is me - this was next to the campsite in the upper Ardeche found in "wild swimming france" book
motorhome on left of picture. the sewer looking thing is a fish escalator and the cute to the left of that is for kayaks
and yes the dog liked kayaking, except for capsizing on a rapid
New motorhome collected,
fitted a double din radio, with apple car play (over rated) usb and reversing camera, (not to the bodywork!)
a bumper protector
Valeo reversing sensors (wip)
bike and storage racking in the boot
Then had a quick weekend away in wales with the parents in law and 3 dogs, and van felt as roomy as the old burstner despite being 80cm shorter, and the dinning area for 4 was much more comfortable than the old pullman dinette
down side was the dogs couldn't make it up the steps onto the back beds with out assistance... still it means they stay put as they cant make it down ether!
drop down bed tested, sturdy & very comfortable
then the weekend after off for two weeks in the Ardeche (me, wife and dog)
all went well except for a slightly dodgy flap on the Thetford cassette - now replaced with a new cassette
and catching the door on the opening window - grrr
this was late June so it was c 36deg but the van stayed cool ish and obviously we were outside most of the time
the extra pace of the 150 engine was also appreciated on the way down
Devon next weekend, then cream fields 5 up!
the blob is me - this was next to the campsite in the upper Ardeche found in "wild swimming france" book
motorhome on left of picture. the sewer looking thing is a fish escalator and the cute to the left of that is for kayaks
and yes the dog liked kayaking, except for capsizing on a rapid
Congratulations on the new van. A few niggles and teething problems is typical of a new van. Having seen what my Uncle has been through with his 130k Hymer Starline, I'd say you've got off lightly. I bumped into the owner of a brand new Concorde Carver in Canterbury at the Weekend and he said his van had to go back to the factory for 1 month to fix some kind of electrical issue!!!!
Glad it works for you though and wish you many happy miles of exploring both in the UK and abroad!
Glad it works for you though and wish you many happy miles of exploring both in the UK and abroad!
Gassing Station | Tents, Caravans & Motorhomes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff