How to fund a new van?

[missing the VR6]

HarryW said:

Also don’t necessarily get hung up if it’s got AC fitted or not you can get it supplied and fitted for about £1900 with auto additions who’ll fit whilst on your drive if necessary.

We had it fitted to our current van, it's more that it has it already which is just a handy bonus and means the outlay for the van is capped at the RRP or hopefully discounted price. Our last van was £72,500 but by the time we'd put all our extra bits on it was £76,000.

[HarryW]

missing the VR6 said:

HarryW said:

I notice the mention of Rapido, if you prioritise living space I’ve always had a soft spot for the 8094 (and older 9094). With full rear lounge and opposite seats for the front dinette. Very tardis like imho for its footprint.
I think Nags has got an older one in stock at present, might be too old for you though?

I do see the appeal of that type of layout, but we simply can't be bothered to make beds every night and put away in the morning, which is why we're after a Island bed. We have a transverse bed at the moment and it's a bit of a pain to make up, we've decided if we're going to spend a huge amount of money for us, it needs to tick all the boxes. Thanks for the suggestion though.

Yes totally get the not making the bed up and the pluses of an island bed. I like a rear lounge and separate dinning area too. I’m not so keen in having a permanent bed taking up half the van myself. However The only main stream van I can think of that has both of those is the Burstner Lyseo 745. It has a rear lounge (ish) and a lowering island bed.

Here’s one…
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/motorhome-details/202...

Edited by HarryW on Tuesday 27th February 18:07

[The Selfish Gene]

HarryW said:

Yes totally get the not making the bed up and the pluses of an island bed. I like a rear lounge and separate dinning area too. I’m not so keen in having a permanent bed taking up half the van myself. However The only main stream van I can think of that has both of those is the Burstner Lyseo 745. It has a rear lounge (ish) and a lowering island bed.

Here’s one…
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/motorhome-details/202...

Edited by HarryW on Tuesday 27th February 18:07

blimey they've gone up - I paid under 80k for mine brand new - almost identical

[HarryW]

The Selfish Gene said:

HarryW said:

Yes totally get the not making the bed up and the pluses of an island bed. I like a rear lounge and separate dinning area too. I’m not so keen in having a permanent bed taking up half the van myself. However The only main stream van I can think of that has both of those is the Burstner Lyseo 745. It has a rear lounge (ish) and a lowering island bed.

Here’s one…
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/motorhome-details/202...

Edited by HarryW on Tuesday 27th February 18:07

blimey they've gone up - I paid under 80k for mine brand new - almost identical

Yeah I know tell me about it, I almost bought a brand new ready to go loaded 744 9 speed automatic for £75k just after lockdown, they’re nearer £100k for similar spec a few years later.
Barking.

[rugbyleague]

HarryW said:

The Selfish Gene said:

HarryW said:

Yes totally get the not making the bed up and the pluses of an island bed. I like a rear lounge and separate dinning area too. I’m not so keen in having a permanent bed taking up half the van myself. However The only main stream van I can think of that has both of those is the Burstner Lyseo 745. It has a rear lounge (ish) and a lowering island bed.

Here’s one…
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/motorhome-details/202...

Edited by HarryW on Tuesday 27th February 18:07

blimey they've gone up - I paid under 80k for mine brand new - almost identical

Yeah I know tell me about it, I almost bought a brand new ready to go loaded 744 9 speed automatic for £75k just after lockdown, they’re nearer £100k for similar spec a few years later.
Barking.

Question for me who is uneducated in matters motor-home who thinks he might buy one, do the overhead beds in this motor-home make the ceilings too low? i.e. can someone at 6ft stand fully upright without banging their head?

[The Selfish Gene]

rugbyleague said:

Question for me who is uneducated in matters motor-home who thinks he might buy one, do the overhead beds in this motor-home make the ceilings too low? i.e. can someone at 6ft stand fully upright without banging their head?

I am 5'10 and I was fine......I think 6' may be a little duck - but it's ok when you're sitting down :-)

[rugbyleague]

The Selfish Gene said:

I am 5'10 and I was fine......I think 6' may be a little duck - but it's ok when you're sitting down :-)

Thank you I guess I will need to go look at one, any view on the A class version (Burstner Ixeo 744?) seems quite rare compared to fixed beds?

[egor110]

Definitely go to a dealer for a mooch around a few models.

Me and nagshead are both down in the southwest.

Is it definitely A classes your looking for ?

Fine for long winters driving around Spain but a ball ache down the lanes of Devon and Cornwall .

[rugbyleague]

egor110 said:

Definitely go to a dealer for a mooch around a few models.

Me and nagshead are both down in the southwest.

Is it definitely A classes your looking for ?

Fine for long winters driving around Spain but a ball ache down the lanes of Devon and Cornwall .

I've been reading your posts with interest! Honest answer is I don't know what I want, I live in the Lake District and have had a look at Panel vans, Coachbuilt and A class.

The lanes up here are similar to the Southwest + we are a long way from Europe.........

I think I like what A class stands for in terms of space, visibility and comfort however I'm sure its size may outweigh the benefits (puts on tin hat)!

[egor110]

Biggest question is where's it going to be kept then that kind of dictates max length of vehicle.

I'm parts rather than sales but at first glance A classes look impressive but i now see the component parts which kind of takes the sheen off.

A classes sems more rattly/creaky compared to van conversions.

Other makes with rear lounges are rollerteam pegaso and rapido 9094.

[rugbyleague]

egor110 said:

Biggest question is where's it going to be kept then that kind of dictates max length of vehicle.

I'm parts rather than sales but at first glance A classes look impressive but i now see the component parts which kind of takes the sheen off.

A classes sems more rattly/creaky compared to van conversions.

Other makes with rear lounges are rollerteam pegaso and rapido 9094.

thank you for this, parking for vehicle at home all fine, previous owner used to run a transport business (including trucks) from my house.

Maybe I am at first impression/early days point of view and need to educate myself properly.

I'm thinking I don't want to be making beds up each day but also feel a fixed bed can take up a lot of usable space.....

I like both your examples!

[egor110]

Every customer had there own needs and the same customers needs change as they get older.

ie they do want a permanent bed and 2 singles rather than a double.

Also there are definitely some brands with far fewer warranty claims than others.

[rugbyleague]

egor110 said:

Every customer had there own needs and the same customers needs change as they get older.

ie they do want a permanent bed and 2 singles rather than a double.

Also there are definitely some brands with far fewer warranty claims than others.

Thanks for this if you could league table the warranty claims (recognising that some vehicles will sell more than others which could increase warranty claims) which brands would be near the top?

Edited by rugbyleague on Saturday 2nd March 17:12

[egor110]

rugbyleague said:

egor110 said:

Every customer had there own needs and the same customers needs change as they get older.

ie they do want a permanent bed and 2 singles rather than a double.

Also there are definitely some brands with far fewer warranty claims than others.

Thanks for this if you could league table the warranty claims (recognising that some vehicles will sell more than others which could increase warranty claims) which brands would be near the top?

Edited by rugbyleague on Saturday 2nd March 17:12

I did a list based on 2 weeks worth of warranty jobs but I'm away for a fortnight.

From memory adria and carado we're best .

Auto trail were worse but there uk based so far easier to get parts .

[rugbyleague]

egor110 said:

rugbyleague said:

egor110 said:

Every customer had there own needs and the same customers needs change as they get older.

ie they do want a permanent bed and 2 singles rather than a double.

Also there are definitely some brands with far fewer warranty claims than others.

Thanks for this if you could league table the warranty claims (recognising that some vehicles will sell more than others which could increase warranty claims) which brands would be near the top?

Edited by rugbyleague on Saturday 2nd March 17:12

I did a list based on 2 weeks worth of warranty jobs but I'm away for a fortnight.

From memory adria and carado we're best .

Auto trail were worse but there uk based so far easier to get parts .

No worries at all I would be really interested in it when you are able.

[missing the VR6]

rugbyleague said:

Question for me who is uneducated in matters motor-home who thinks he might buy one, do the overhead beds in this motor-home make the ceilings too low? i.e. can someone at 6ft stand fully upright without banging their head?

The Coachman we're looking at is great for height for me at 6'1" but the Adria Matrix I think with drop down bed like the Coachman, my head rubbed the roof quite a bit.

[nagsheadwarrior]

Have ypu looked at the Merc based Adria Matrix VR6? Presumably I guess you have rather than the Fiat, shame you don't fit they are quality kit

[missing the VR6]

nagsheadwarrior said:

Have ypu looked at the Merc based Adria Matrix VR6? Presumably I guess you have rather than the Fiat, shame you don't fit they are quality kit

We looked in one at the caravan show the other week, and the dealer with the Coachman is an Adria dealer so saw one again. But my head touches the drop down, and it misses the feeling of space the Coachman has, probably due to the width. I also thought it was a little overpriced compared to the Coachman, which to me was bigger, slightly better quality and slightly cheaper. Happy to be corrected on the price as maybe it had stuff the Coachman didn't but it looked about the same level of kit.

[POIDH]

Could you hold off until autumn?
I'm watching the van we bought in November being sold for 15-30% more than month - not just asking price, actually shifting as everyone panic buys for the summer ahead...

[nagsheadwarrior]

New van prices go up not down

vr6 we sell Coachman and adria don't think there's much spec difference tbh tho I'm not Coachman expert.
Irks to habe ticcall them Coachman when they are nit really