Swift Basecamp
Discussion
Agreed, except I wouldn't want to pay that kind of money for a used one either 
I find it surprising that there is no mainstream manufacturer building a small compact van for Dacia Sandero money, rather than asking for a premium plus price for not very much, based on marketing lifestyle or perceived quality over the actual substance.
I find it surprising that there is no mainstream manufacturer building a small compact van for Dacia Sandero money, rather than asking for a premium plus price for not very much, based on marketing lifestyle or perceived quality over the actual substance.
Balmoral said:
nd at the end of the season, there will be at least price parity too. We are limited for space (access lane too narrow for a regular caravan) so considered an Eriba, but had the same mental block with pricing (It's how much? 
). I built a camper-van out of a minibus instead.
Is not a camper van is a different use case? A Caravan tends to be a hotel replacement that you do in a muddy field without mains drainage or breakfast downstairs after a shower, whereas a camper van tends to be a journey machine that allows you to stop for a kip in places away from hotels etc so you can cover more miles and see more stuff. ). I built a camper-van out of a minibus instead.Or am I getting this wrong?
xstian said:
After many years of owning campervans I've been thinking about buying a caravan. A small van would suit us and I like the look of the Basecamp. I'm 36 and earn ok But there is no way I would want to pay £17k for one and I don't know anyone my age who would. Maybe when the mortgage is paid off I might consider it but by then I'll want something more comfortable.
I can't see them selling many, which is a shame because if it was 10 years old and £5k I would be very interested along with quite a few others I know. I think we will go for a kip shelter or to be more precise a kompakt 300. You can pick up a 2008 for about £5k if you can find one for sale. Basic but that's what we want.
Sounds like we're in a very similar boat, I wanted a small van to replace the camper, but there just isnt that many options on more modern vans. I can't see them selling many, which is a shame because if it was 10 years old and £5k I would be very interested along with quite a few others I know. I think we will go for a kip shelter or to be more precise a kompakt 300. You can pick up a 2008 for about £5k if you can find one for sale. Basic but that's what we want.
I do think Swift are taking the piss with the cost of the Basecamp. £17k is ridiculous. We bought a Bailey pursuit at £10k, and only a couple of years ago they were only £13k new. I think they're now about a similar cost of the Basecamp now but they offer a lot more features. I've got a good internal living space, relatively lightweight (for the size) and its got all of the usual expected features (more than we need) in a modern caravan.
I did look at the Opus camper, which is a trailer tent in effect, but at £18k for the new air version, they are also way to expensive for what they are. It seems to be that you add a lifestyle twist to something and its instantly priced at 40-50% more than it should be.
Output Flange said:
Balmoral said:
considered an Eriba, but had the same mental block with pricing (It's how much? ).
I had the same thought. But, when you look at the residual values the actual cost of ownership looks like it will be pretty low. ).The subject of this thread - as it is the different proposition I keep suggesting - has no such basis or track record upon which to plan!
Not sure a small caravan is necessarily much cheaper to make - and if you're trying to hit lower weights (so it can be towed by smaller cars) it could cost more for lighter materials. You need to put the same expensive bits in - cooker, fridge, heater, shower, toilet, etc. I imagine those aluminium bench/beds that fold up for storage are pricier than fixed wooden ones too.
V8mate said:
That is certainly a really important factor. I saw a very smart 2004 Eriba in eBay for £12,995. Barely dropped 50% in 14 years!
The subject of this thread - as it is the different proposition I keep suggesting - has no such basis or track record upon which to plan!
From what I've seen, Airstreams and Eribas seem to have strong residuals, and pretty much nothing else really does.The subject of this thread - as it is the different proposition I keep suggesting - has no such basis or track record upon which to plan!
I don't think there's anything about the Basecamp in particular that would make me think it'll perform differently.
Would you be hiring a caravan or motorhome anyway? Does saving that cost influence your decision? We had a week's motorhome hire planned for this year that would have cost £1300. That saving alone is worth a couple of years in depreciation costs!
Globs said:
Is not a camper van is a different use case?
Or am I getting this wrong?
Not at all.Or am I getting this wrong?
Our problem is a really narrow access lane to our house, I would have liked a good normal caravan (was considering Swift and Coachman), but this was not possible as I really didn't want to have to store it off site. An Eriba was an option as it fits down the lane, but I don't understand the price vis a vis a regular caravan and it was too small. A van conversion camper van was another option and an Autocruise Rythm was favourite, but I (or rather, the Royal we) didn't want to part with a sum like that as a solution.
I built my own, to my spec/trim/equipment level for 20% of the cost of the Autocruise, it's huge compared to the Eriba and it fits down the lane too. Despite the questionable choice of base vehicle, those who have seen it can't believe I knocked it up myself. Spent Christmas and New Year in the South of France in it
t caravan.Output Flange said:
V8mate said:
That is certainly a really important factor. I saw a very smart 2004 Eriba in eBay for £12,995. Barely dropped 50% in 14 years!
The subject of this thread - as it is the different proposition I keep suggesting - has no such basis or track record upon which to plan!
From what I've seen, Airstreams and Eribas seem to have strong residuals, and pretty much nothing else really does.The subject of this thread - as it is the different proposition I keep suggesting - has no such basis or track record upon which to plan!
I don't think there's anything about the Basecamp in particular that would make me think it'll perform differently.
Would you be hiring a caravan or motorhome anyway? Does saving that cost influence your decision? We had a week's motorhome hire planned for this year that would have cost £1300. That saving alone is worth a couple of years in depreciation costs!
At the moment, we tend to go to a place with bikes etc and rent a property, so this would replace that... £60-80/night cost, but hopefully opening us up to more interesting location opportunities.
I'm really crap at including residuals in financial decisions though. I absolutely and fully understand how car leases work, for example, but am one of those dummies who can't look past the 'yeah, but after I give it back I have nothing' issue. So, equally, when I buy something, I never think that I'll own it for x years, then sell it and it'll only have cost me the usage/depreciation. I always buy the whole thing assuming that I'll take it to the tip when I'm done.
That approach - which I realise is unhelpful - means that I have to see value in the whole purchase price. And why this toy struggles to make sense at seventeen grand.
V8mate said:
It has an MTPLM of 1,015kg - so I assume that as long as your car weighs less than 2.5 tonnes you're fine on a regular licence?
I can't say I've paid much attention to the new towing rules as I'm on old rulez.
Yes I am off the age where I cant tow much so would work for me, BUT I think I would still rather get a camper I can't say I've paid much attention to the new towing rules as I'm on old rulez.
richardxjr said:
I'm target market for the BaseCamp - first time vanner, active bicyclist who travels around doing outdoorsy stuff. Kid and dog too.
Figured If I'm going to drag a shed around it may as well be the biggest luxuryist thing I can fit on the car. And half that budget please.
I am in the target market to. Young couple that are active with dog but looking about the Eriba is a much better price, Just spotted one at £8k with awning etc much better price and value.Figured If I'm going to drag a shed around it may as well be the biggest luxuryist thing I can fit on the car. And half that budget please.
richardxjr said:
I'm target market for the BaseCamp - first time vanner, active bicyclist who travels around doing outdoorsy stuff. Kid and dog too.
Figured If I'm going to drag a shed around it may as well be the biggest luxuryist thing I can fit on the car. And half that budget please.
I'd take lightweight over luxury if the option was there. Are we the target demographic if we've got kids?Figured If I'm going to drag a shed around it may as well be the biggest luxuryist thing I can fit on the car. And half that budget please.
Why would buy a £17k caravan that only slept 2 and then go and buy an expensive awning to sleep in? I might as well just buy an air tent and trailer, or an Opus.
The Opus is another triumph of style over substance (especially if the reports of major leaking are true).
For the same money, you'll get a Pennine Pathfinder with proper kitchen, two king-size beds, loads of storage and a washroom. That's built far better too.
Or, what we've just done - less than £2.5k on a 2008 model that is plated at 750kg (no washroom in ours) and weighs 650ish kg. It's immaculate, with full awning, bed skirts, etc. Also low enough it made 1mpg difference in fuel economy behind our S Max.
For the same money, you'll get a Pennine Pathfinder with proper kitchen, two king-size beds, loads of storage and a washroom. That's built far better too.
Or, what we've just done - less than £2.5k on a 2008 model that is plated at 750kg (no washroom in ours) and weighs 650ish kg. It's immaculate, with full awning, bed skirts, etc. Also low enough it made 1mpg difference in fuel economy behind our S Max.
Chicken Chaser said:
richardxjr said:
I'm target market for the BaseCamp - first time vanner, active bicyclist who travels around doing outdoorsy stuff. Kid and dog too.
Figured If I'm going to drag a shed around it may as well be the biggest luxuryist thing I can fit on the car. And half that budget please.
I'd take lightweight over luxury if the option was there. Are we the target demographic if we've got kids?Figured If I'm going to drag a shed around it may as well be the biggest luxuryist thing I can fit on the car. And half that budget please.
Why would buy a £17k caravan that only slept 2 and then go and buy an expensive awning to sleep in? I might as well just buy an air tent and trailer, or an Opus.
(At £990, bespoke doesn't come cheap, however!)
There’s a guy at my caravan storage facility has a Basecamp, he’s only used it a few times but wants to trade out of it. It’s got all the disadvantages of a caravan (towing speed, needing somewhere to store it) but is significantly limited on space. The dealer has offered him a trade in against a regular ‘van but at horrific depreciation that he’s not yet ready to swallow. He’s had a punt at trying to sell it privately but nothing doing.
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