Nec Motorhome Show

[mids]

I went on the first day (the Tuesday). Took about 50 mins to drive to within 2 miles and then an hour to queue through the roadworks and then into the NEC. At one point the marshals were sending people into a full car park and cars were queuing to get back out, it was so poorly organised.

Anyway, it was the first time I'd been to the show. I expected it to be rammed with slow moving pensioners and I wasn't wrong, it was worse than trying to find your way around a packed supermarket full of nattering old folk. Really didn't enjoy it, only lasted a couple of hours and won't be going back.

It was made worse by the fact I've spent the last year or so researching motorhomes (and thanks to Jody for his advice!) but just before the NEC show I hired a motorhome for a week (a T-Line 590) and it didn't go well at all for reasons I won't waffle on about (mainly trouble leaving it in remote places whilst I went off to walk the dogs). So I'm now wondering if a caravan might be the better solution which meant that my head was spinning by the time I left the NEC and still is

[LeighW]

troika said:

Went last week. Saw dozens of T6’s with ikea cupboards made by Fred in the shed. Scratched my head and ordered a new California for less money. I’m truly amazed that a lot of these converters even exist.

The Ikea cupboards comment is a bit unfair, it's just the same vohringer ply that you'll find in and Elddis/Swift etc. That said, I agree that I just don't see the value in an £70k/£80k Transporter conversion - or a California if I'm honest. Horses for courses etc.

Some of the finishing on motorhomes from established manufacturers left a lot to be desired too, a few that I looked in had catches loose on cupboards, chipped edges inside cupboards, sealant in showers applied by Stevie Wonder etc, and these are show vehicles!

Not that this was my cup of tea, but the price of this van, well...

[troika]

Mars said:

Did you see the prices associated with all those VW vans in that one hall? Insane - most didn't even have any water capacity at all let alone a shower, toilet, kitchen sink.

Bet they sell them all.

Saw one at something like £105K. Madness. Imagine trying to resell it!

[troika]

LeighW said:

The Ikea cupboards comment is a bit unfair, it's just the same vohringer ply that you'll find in and Elddis/Swift etc. That said, I agree that I just don't see the value in an £70k/£80k Transporter conversion - or a California if I'm honest. Horses for courses etc.

Some of the finishing on motorhomes from established manufacturers left a lot to be desired too, a few that I looked in had catches loose on cupboards, chipped edges inside cupboards, sealant in showers applied by Stevie Wonder etc, and these are show vehicles!

Not that this was my cup of tea, but the price of this van, well...

Yes, saw that one. Daft money, I’d buy a Sven Hedin or Hymer Grand Canyon and save a packet.

Thing with the California is that it’s a known quantity and easily re sold. Expensive yes but value, possibly in the scheme of things. I’ve ordered one of the final 6.1’s. Big discount, 5 year bumper to bumper warranty and servicing, 0% finance over 5 years. This will be the last 100% VW camper before the Ford shared platform. May even be sought after one day, who knows! The conversions, other than Westfalia (silly money), just don’t have the quality IMHO.