Wednesday 18th October 2006

Airstream 'vans are UK-bound

Another expensive toy to buy....

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Airstream 684

It would appear that Airstream caravans are coming to the UK. They've been a symbol of wealth in the US for 75 years but now the company's expanding into Europe -- and the UK is first.

Airstream in the US rivets the distinctive aluminium bodies onto a Euro-spec chassis, and ships them over for localised interior fitting.

The twin-berth, 1,600kg 532 costs £34,880 and the 2,200kg 684 costs £41,780 for four-berths. And there's loads of options too.

So if, despite everything, your secret hankering is to tow the weight of another car and a half behind your Rangie, here's your chance to blow the cost of a Porsche Cayman S on a toy without an engine.

• europe.airstream.com

[dans]

Caravans on PH. whatever next!!!

[subaqua]

Maybe we should request that hamster's first job when he returns to TG is to blowup one of these!!!

[hendry]

So my question is, given how cool these things are (for caravans!) what could you possibly tow the thing with that continues the theme?

This hung out behind a Kia Sorrento just isn't going to work. I am struggling to think what cars we do have in the UK that are cool enough to make a combo work...

[smele]

Surely anything that comes from the states that is as big and shinny as this should have bigger wheels?

[timberwolf]

hendry said:

So my question is, given how cool these things are (for caravans!) what could you possibly tow the thing with that continues the theme?

Jay Leno's Tank Car!

www.caranddriver.com/features/8789/tank-vs-crank.html

You'd certainly want that much power. 2200kg!

[baskey]

i may be alone but i have often thought if i get the space i'd like one as a 'garden office'. but then again i didn't realise they were quite that dear!

[Wigeon Incognito]

hendry said:

So my question is, given how cool these things are (for caravans!) what could you possibly tow the thing with that continues the theme?

I reckon a Mercedes G55 AMG would fit the bill quite nicely.

[FourWheelDrift]

Looks like a gypsy caravan to me.

[Mista_V]

hendry said:

So my question is, given how cool these things are (for caravans!) what could you possibly tow the thing with that continues the theme?

This hung out behind a Kia Sorrento just isn't going to work. I am struggling to think what cars we do have in the UK that are cool enough to make a combo work...

"When you absolutely positively have to pull every mutha****a on the road, take no subsitute"



Ford F-650 Super Crewzer (can you get a more "yank" name?!)

300HP, 860 LB/ft of torque...this thing could probably pull a fleet of the things...although not sure i'd want to fill the tank up!

[sleep envy]

Nick P - your thread has arrived!

[J111]

2,200kg 684
Surely that's the MTPLM ??
How many 2.6 tonne tow vehicles are on sale here ? Range Rover and, err ?

Edited by J111 on Wednesday 18th October 12:16

[Garlick]

I'll take a Lambo LM002 as my towcar and i'll see you in Le Mans. Imagine the reaction as you pull onto the campsite!

[collateral]

I don't think trailers have ever been seen as a sign of wealth in the US, quite the opposite.

Maybe this is what you live in in a 'rich' trailer park?

[FourWheelDrift]

collateral said:

I don't think trailers have ever been seen as a sign of wealth in the US, quite the opposite.

Maybe this is what you live in in a 'rich' trailer park?

Trailer Park trash

[hendry]

FourWheelDrift said:

Isn't that the Scissor Sisters and U2?

[beasto]

Ah yes, the Basecamp model is the one to go for.

But any of them beat the plastic-wood-and-swirly-carpet look favoured by other caravan makers, who seem to be locked into the 1950s.

[DennisTheMenace]

Garlick said:

I'll take a Lambo LM002 as my towcar and i'll see you in Le Mans. Imagine the reaction as you pull onto the campsite!

Bloody hell it didnt break down

[J111]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Can the AA handle a 4 tonne load ?

[oppressed mass]

GET THIS ABHORRATION OFF PISTONHEADS....IT HAS NO PISTONS

[Gentelman]

Man, I live in America and I thought they stopped making those things in the 50's!

But I think the "symbol of wealth" that's referred to here isn't a trailer but these $100-grand "Recreational Vehicles" (RV) the size of tour buses with everything from hot tubs to satellite TV that can be seen crawling down the interstates over the summer months, often with an SUV or even a smaller trailer in tow.