LMC, Rapido. Itineo ?
Discussion
I'm sure my experience it's totally applicable, but I would seriously question whether an Italian built motorhome is the way forward. Jody kinda hit the nail on the head with his comment re: Rollerteam in a posh frock.
Yes my Rimor was old and yes it was cheap to start with (relatively speaking), but it was a world away from similar vintage motorhomes costing around the same price from France, Germany or even in some cases, England. I’ll confess, Jody did his best to convince me not to buy my Rimor given the Italian build quality and I ignored him………..at my peril as it turns out. Three months later it was sold and 12 months thereafter, Jody sold me a Hymer of similar age which I’d still have now if I weren’t fulltiming.
Personally, with that kind of budget I would be looking at used Hymers and you could also squeeze into a ten year old Concorde at that price – check them out. The difference in build quality, in every aspect, is worth the fact it’s used vs. brand new. IMO it’s the equivalent of buying a brand new Vectra vs. 5yr old 7-series. Yes, it’s always lovely to drive a brand new vehicle, but the difference in quality is so vast that I’d rather be the second or third owner and experience that quality than be the first owner of something a bit suspect. Horses for courses and each to their own, but I think you should at least have a good prod around lots of used vans before you take a punt on the new Italian jobber.
Yes my Rimor was old and yes it was cheap to start with (relatively speaking), but it was a world away from similar vintage motorhomes costing around the same price from France, Germany or even in some cases, England. I’ll confess, Jody did his best to convince me not to buy my Rimor given the Italian build quality and I ignored him………..at my peril as it turns out. Three months later it was sold and 12 months thereafter, Jody sold me a Hymer of similar age which I’d still have now if I weren’t fulltiming.
Personally, with that kind of budget I would be looking at used Hymers and you could also squeeze into a ten year old Concorde at that price – check them out. The difference in build quality, in every aspect, is worth the fact it’s used vs. brand new. IMO it’s the equivalent of buying a brand new Vectra vs. 5yr old 7-series. Yes, it’s always lovely to drive a brand new vehicle, but the difference in quality is so vast that I’d rather be the second or third owner and experience that quality than be the first owner of something a bit suspect. Horses for courses and each to their own, but I think you should at least have a good prod around lots of used vans before you take a punt on the new Italian jobber.
Edited by Spuffington on Thursday 20th September 16:36
cayman-black said:
Thank you for the advice Spuffington. Don't worry i,m miles away from deciding yet. But my preference would still be new or a new last years model.
As i,m in Italy mostly i was thinking it might make sense, but perhaps not. Rapido and LMC are still right up there though.
I very nearly bought a Rapido before my Concorde and probably would've done had I not set foot in a Concorde. They're pretty damn good build quality although interior colour schemes can be a little questionable. But I'd put them up there with Hymer (Hymer have slipped a tad IMO).As i,m in Italy mostly i was thinking it might make sense, but perhaps not. Rapido and LMC are still right up there though.
What's surprising with Rapido is the water ingress warranty is only five years the same as Mobilvettas, whereas LMC offers twelve years, hmm.
Not sure if its an important issue or not. Also the Rapido is 7.5 meters whereas the other two are just under seven meters, will i notice the difference in driving?
Not sure if its an important issue or not. Also the Rapido is 7.5 meters whereas the other two are just under seven meters, will i notice the difference in driving?
I would agree with some other comments posted here regarding the Mobilvetta, but my views are based on <20 minutes looking at a brand new on at the NEC. They are very nice motorhomes, and they look more expensive than they are, they are lovely and shiny both inside and out, they seem to have all of the right bits to make them seem high end - but as with a few other of the budget makes I felt that the build quality / rigidity of the cabinets etc was not anywhere near as good as many others. Basically, as Jody said "in a posh frock"
I appreciate that you are in Italy, so the NEC is difficult - but such a show REALLY helped us, by looking at many makes you can quickly get an eye for where the money is saved in each make.
Although I have a Pilote (French) and I am extremely happy with it I do not think it is as well designed and built in some areas as my previous Sunlight (German budget brand) was, it is evident that not as much design commitment has gone into the hidden parts. As an example in the Sunlight the cabling was all neat and tidy from the main electrical panel and all across the motorhome (wherever you could see it), it was all 2 core cables nicely taped / tied up and no big loose loops anywhere visible- The Pilote however has what looks like hundreds of loose lay cables coming out of the electrical system and there are loops / different lengths all over. Whilst they are "hidden" from view a simple removal of the drawer under the fridge results in a visible "nest" of cables that are nowhere near as tidy as they are in a German motorhome. The same also goes for the water pipes - I've ended up fixing them a little more neatly (Tie wraps and sticky pads) as they were driving me crazy as the connections knocked when the pump ran.
As for pricing - push the dealers as hard as you can at this time of year, especially on 2017 model vans as the 2018 models are now being built and released. As an example I brought mine in November last year and being a late 2017 spec model I managed a hefty discount over a 2018 model that I would have had to wait 3-6 months for (Approx 20% over base model, probably 22-24% when you include the options it had been specced with)
I appreciate that you are in Italy, so the NEC is difficult - but such a show REALLY helped us, by looking at many makes you can quickly get an eye for where the money is saved in each make.
Although I have a Pilote (French) and I am extremely happy with it I do not think it is as well designed and built in some areas as my previous Sunlight (German budget brand) was, it is evident that not as much design commitment has gone into the hidden parts. As an example in the Sunlight the cabling was all neat and tidy from the main electrical panel and all across the motorhome (wherever you could see it), it was all 2 core cables nicely taped / tied up and no big loose loops anywhere visible- The Pilote however has what looks like hundreds of loose lay cables coming out of the electrical system and there are loops / different lengths all over. Whilst they are "hidden" from view a simple removal of the drawer under the fridge results in a visible "nest" of cables that are nowhere near as tidy as they are in a German motorhome. The same also goes for the water pipes - I've ended up fixing them a little more neatly (Tie wraps and sticky pads) as they were driving me crazy as the connections knocked when the pump ran.
As for pricing - push the dealers as hard as you can at this time of year, especially on 2017 model vans as the 2018 models are now being built and released. As an example I brought mine in November last year and being a late 2017 spec model I managed a hefty discount over a 2018 model that I would have had to wait 3-6 months for (Approx 20% over base model, probably 22-24% when you include the options it had been specced with)
cayman-black said:
Not sure if its an important issue or not. Also the Rapido is 7.5 meters whereas the other two are just under seven meters, will i notice the difference in driving?
I'm not convinced there is a massive difference between 7 and 7.5m when it comes to driving, they are both too long for a standard parking space and both will be similar to drive. Our previous was 7.3m (+ bike rack), current is 7.5m but no bike rack. At the end of the day its normally the width that gives the biggest issues on tight roads. Personally though I think 8m would be my limit.However for living space that extra 50cm can be a big difference and make a massive difference to the internal layout and make it so much more usable (eg full length bed rather than a slightly shortened one, or a separate shower vs a combined toilet / shower - even an extra few cm of kitchen worktop space in the kitchen can make a massive difference.
A small number of sites have size limits, but these are normally once you get over 8m. A very small number have 7m restrictions, but these are not normally because of the site, but because of the roads leading to the site.
I,m tempted to go and look at the LMC,s i have seen advertised in Germany as from what i,m reading here they should be made better and i have seen one at a good price.
As for payload i will not need much as it's only for two of us and our dogs which is why i don't want one with a large garage, its more floor space i need for the dogs really!, hence rear lounge models.
Are the Lmc,s good recommended? Thurbs , chopper. thx.
As for payload i will not need much as it's only for two of us and our dogs which is why i don't want one with a large garage, its more floor space i need for the dogs really!, hence rear lounge models.
Are the Lmc,s good recommended? Thurbs , chopper. thx.
I'd still not exclude looking for payload. As someone else said, in the pursuance of keeping vehicles under the 3.5t threshold, it is very difficult to find both good quality AND payload. Once you put 100l of water on board, c. 60kg of partner, 20kg of dog, 20kg of clothing……food, drink, etc etc on board, it’s very easy to be at, or over, the gross plated weight in a lot of vans. You’d be amazed at how much you do have on board even if you travel relatively light and that’s without adding things like solar panels, satellite domes, TV’s and other gadgets on an options list.
Spuffington said:
cayman-black said:
Thank you for the advice Spuffington. Don't worry i,m miles away from deciding yet. But my preference would still be new or a new last years model.
As i,m in Italy mostly i was thinking it might make sense, but perhaps not. Rapido and LMC are still right up there though.
I very nearly bought a Rapido before my Concorde and probably would've done had I not set foot in a Concorde. They're pretty damn good build quality although interior colour schemes can be a little questionable. But I'd put them up there with Hymer (Hymer have slipped a tad IMO).As i,m in Italy mostly i was thinking it might make sense, but perhaps not. Rapido and LMC are still right up there though.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
However, I do wonder at the practicalities of such a big monster
Grandad Gaz said:
This Concorde looks stunning!
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
However, I do wonder at the practicalities of such a big monster
That's bigger than my house!https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
However, I do wonder at the practicalities of such a big monster
340kg isn’t a lot at all!
Depends on your dogs and the size of yourself and the wife, but add then all up and it can be a shock. At least it was for us, over 200kg for 2 adults, two young kids and a dog.
Add an awning at 30kg, Second gas bottle (20kg), half a tank of water (50kg) and a few other bits and you are soon overweight.
If you have the right license consider a first reg upgrade to either 3650 or even 3800kg if the van supports it. We had ours plated at 3650 to make sure we had a bit spare (i still think we run over when fully loaded for a longish trip)
Depends on your dogs and the size of yourself and the wife, but add then all up and it can be a shock. At least it was for us, over 200kg for 2 adults, two young kids and a dog.
Add an awning at 30kg, Second gas bottle (20kg), half a tank of water (50kg) and a few other bits and you are soon overweight.
If you have the right license consider a first reg upgrade to either 3650 or even 3800kg if the van supports it. We had ours plated at 3650 to make sure we had a bit spare (i still think we run over when fully loaded for a longish trip)
carinatauk said:
Yes i have that thanks!VEX said:
The best 6 berth, 6 belts we found was a Dethleff Trend 7877. Loved the size and space it offered, but not right for us at the moment with two daughters.
Maybe once they have buggered off to uni in 8years time and we’ve retired.
Just had a look , way to big for me and i really only like the Integrated A class models with their massive front screen and cabin.Maybe once they have buggered off to uni in 8years time and we’ve retired.
Even though the first MH to catch my eye was the Swift Bessacarr 562, nice rear lounge.
Is Swift any good?
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