Consort motorhomes "Lifes too short" (1 Viewer)

[OttovanKamper]

Just wondering as I know if you get a conversion on an existing panel van then it goes to van with windows and it is so hard to get the DVLA to accept anything else

 

[Derbyshire wanderer]

Just wondering as I know if you get a conversion on an existing panel van then it goes to van with windows and it is so hard to get the DVLA to accept anything else

A conversion request from a manufacturer listed as a bonafide conver business isn’t going to have problems with DVLA. The product is there on the internet for all to see that it isn’t a part time parcel van, part time camper.
I can imagine that private individual requests can sometimes be literally a camp bed and a Primus stove so they all get scrutinised.

 

[Badknee]

When Consort returned to the scene all he could get hold of were white vans, not his choice.

 

[CazPaul]

When Consort returned to the scene all he could get hold of were white vans, not his choice.

When he had Vantage it seemed all he could get hold of was Grey.

 

[Graeme20]

I might be biased now but having looked at all the pvc’s we think the Vantage Neo is the best of the lot particularly if going out for extended periods.

The Vantage Neo is a lovely van. We had decided to buy one, after 3 NEC shows and looking at dozens of motorhomes. We arranged with Vantage to go and look at a used one. Drove 3 hours up to Leeds to have a look, only to find they'd sold it already. We were not impressed, and decided to go and look at Consort nearby.

We looked at the Consort Oslo, the equivalent of the Neo, and could see it had been improved in a number of areas by Scot, over his original Neo design. By coincidence Consort were doing a Hab check on a Neo, which was parked alongside the demo Oslo. We climbed in between the two for a while, and placed an order for the Oslo in the end. A silver one. A new one at the time wasn't much more than the used Neo we wanted.

I guess Vantage have probably moved the Neo design on as well now

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[CAB96]

Reading this after the thread regarding the DVLA and ‘vans with windows’.
What happens when you buy a PVC from Consort that is based on a new panel van.
Is it a motor caravan or the dreaded van with windows?

What's dreaded about it?

The insurers are all up to speed, as far as I know, and it doesn't affect speed limits.

It is simply the "appearance in traffic."

I had heard in the past of sites refusing anything that wasn't listed as a motor caravan (although how did they check? I can't find that information online). But surely there can't be any left that do that?

 

[OttovanKamper]

What's dreaded about it?

The insurers are all up to speed, as far as I know, and it doesn't affect speed limits.

It is simply the "appearance in traffic."

I had heard in the past of sites refusing anything that wasn't listed as a motor caravan (although how did they check? I can't find that information online). But surely there can't be any left that do that?

Actually it does affect speed limits.
A van with windows has 50 mph on national roads, 60 mph on dual carriageways. While motor caravans 3500kg and under have same limits as cars.
I know as we had a VW T6 conversion and that was a van with windows and no way would DVLA accept anything else.

 

[Jim]

A van with windows has 50 mph on national roads,

Not if it is being 'used' as a motorcaravan.

 

[CAB96]

Actually it does affect speed limits.
A van with windows has 50 mph on national roads, 60 mph on dual carriageways. While motor caravans 3500kg and under have same limits as cars.
I know as we had a VW T6 conversion and that was a van with windows and no way would DVLA accept anything else.

Did you get prosecuted?

Doesn't matter what the V5 says, a motor caravan is defined by it's internal features, not what the DVLA record it as. If it meets the definition, it's a motor caravan.

The police and automatic cameras use the DVLA database as that is all there is, but passenger vehicle speed limits apply to any motor caravan with unladen weight of 3.05t or less.

Any speeding ticket can be appealed, if you were over the LGV limit but under the passenger vehicle limit.

 

[OttovanKamper]

Not if it is being 'used' as a motorcaravan.

Yes, however you have to go through the pain of proving that you are indeed a motor caravan to get the speed offence removed.
There is a great deal of talk about it on VW forums. So in the end it is easier to just drive slower.
As said most times you are picked off by cameras so no one to speak to and then the first you know is when a letter arrives.
Anyway I have a motor caravan now so no worries

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[Jim]

Yes, however you have to go through the pain of proving that you are indeed a motor caravan to get the speed offence removed.

But you said a van with windows was restricted, it is not. Though if the thread at the bottom of this article I wrote is anything to go by then plenty are still confused about this anomally

Motorhome Speed Limits.

Motorhome speed limits are not straightforward as they depend upon the weight of your empty motorhome. This article explains all.

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[janets]

We compared the equivalent Vantage to the Consort van we bought. The Vantage was top our list until we saw the Consort. Scot improved and modernised the design in a number of areas, and what sealed the deal when we bought two years ago was the fact the Consort was much cheaper too.

Hi Graeme,
I'm down the road from you in Bournemouth........we are very keen on the Consorts (thinking of upgrading from our VW T6) but not seen them in the flesh and Leeds is a long way! Could I be cheeky (really cheeky!) and ask if we could have a quick look at yours sometime? Would really appreciate it........Janet

 

[Graeme20]

Hi Graeme,
I'm down the road from you in Bournemouth........we are very keen on the Consorts (thinking of upgrading from our VW T6) but not seen them in the flesh and Leeds is a long way! Could I be cheeky (really cheeky!) and ask if we could have a quick look at yours sometime? Would really appreciate it........Janet

Hi Janet, apologies for late reply. Ive sent you a message

 

[carolyn]

Yes, however you have to go through the pain of proving that you are indeed a motor caravan to get the speed offence removed.
There is a great deal of talk about it on VW forums. So in the end it is easier to just drive slower.
As said most times you are picked off by cameras so no one to speak to and then the first you know is when a letter arrives.
Anyway I have a motor caravan now so no worries

I am not sure if you are still interested in this business about what do PVCs get registered as on the V5. We have just put a deposit down on a new Consort Oslo and our Guarantee says it will be registered with the DVLA as “body type Panel Van” on the V5C. Obviously this is specific to Consort.

 

[Lenny333]

I am not sure if you are still interested in this business about what do PVCs get registered as on the V5. We have just put a deposit down on a new Consort Oslo and our Guarantee says it will be registered with the DVLA as “body type Panel Van” on the V5C. Obviously this is specific to Consort.

carolyn Congrats on your order!

We’re expecting to pick up our Oslo in 4-6 weeks… the base van is with them and we’re waiting on a definite pick up date from Scot and Jane.

We can’t wait after ordering almost 2 years ago

What engine spec. / options did you go for?

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[ALI G]

Have a look at the DVLA website as what you need to do to register as a motorhome.Take lots of pictures of your van, I also included a picture of the Consort brochure front cover printed off the photos and filled in the appropriate panel on the V5 posted to Swansea new V5 received back within a fortnight as a Motorhome.

 

[Emmit]

Didn't Scott used to own Vantage motorhomes?! has it been renamed Consort. Just interested.

Apparently? he sold Vantage and as usual in business dealings, he kept out of the market for 5 yrs? then the lure of being a masochist and building vans took over and he started up Consort.
I relay this message second hand as I accompanied two Funsters to Leeds to Vantage to look over their now van.
If Consort are up there with Vantage then they're alright.

 

[carolyn]

Have a look at the DVLA website as what you need to do to register as a motorhome.Take lots of pictures of your van, I also included a picture of the Consort brochure front cover printed off the photos and filled in the appropriate panel on the V5 posted to Swansea new V5 received back within a fortnight as a Motorhome.

Scot told us what we’d have to do if we want but I doubt we’ll bother. Thanks though. We are very lazy!

 

[carolyn]

Apparently? he sold Vantage and as usual in business dealings, he kept out of the market for 5 yrs? then the lure of being a masochist and building vans took over and he started up Consort.
I relay this message second hand as I accompanied two Funsters to Leeds to Vantage to look over their now van.
If Consort are up there with Vantage then they're alright.

It was only 2 or 3 years whilst Scot and Jane went travelling.

 

[yorkiebar]

We’re expecting to pick up our Oslo in 4-6 weeks… the base van is with them and we’re waiting on a definite pick up date from Scot and Jane.

Congratulations!
I take it you went for the automatic given the 2 year wait ?

Are you extending the Fiat 2 year base vehicle warranty ?

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[Emmit]

It was only 2 or 3 years whilst Scot and Jane went travelling.

Can only go by what we were told in Leeds @Vantage.

 

[yorkiebar]

Apparently? he sold Vantage and as usual in business dealings, he kept out of the market for 5 yrs? then the lure of being a masochist and building vans took over and he started up Consort.
I relay this message second hand as I accompanied two Funsters to Leeds to Vantage to look over their now van.
If Consort are up there with Vantage then they're alright.

It's all on the Consort website -> https://consortmotorhomes.co.uk/our-story/

2016: Sold vantage
2016 - 2019: Travelling in van
2019: Started Consort

 

[Lenny333]

Congratulations!
I take it you went for the automatic given the 2 year wait ?

Are you extending the Fiat 2 year base vehicle warranty ?

Yep, we went for the automatic and associated wait

We probably will extend the warranty but will tackle that when we get the van recognising that we only have 2 weeks to do it apparently.

Did you go for a manual?

 

[carolyn]

carolyn Congrats on your order!

We’re expecting to pick up our Oslo in 4-6 weeks… the base van is with them and we’re waiting on a definite pick up date from Scot and Jane.

We can’t wait after ordering almost 2 years ago

What engine spec. / options did you go for?

That’s exciting. We couldn’t bear the thought of ordering and waiting that long! We have timed it just right. We’ve been watching the website for ages and suddenly noticed it had changed with Autos in stock for summer delivery! I was emailing like a shot! We had the last 6.4 metre .

We’ve got the new 9 speed Auto 180. We’re having a diesel heater, extra solar, remis cab blinds, leather and a few other goodies. Oh and the smaller fridge.

It’s all happening rather quickly!

What about you?

 

[yorkiebar]

Yep, we went for the automatic and associated wait

We probably will extend the warranty but will tackle that when we get the van recognising that we only have 2 weeks to do it apparently.

Did you go for a manual?

We have an automatic Reef, we waited about 15 months from order to collection (in Jan 24).

Regarding extended warranty, Consort can do that for you and that's what we did. Otherwise you have 14 days from date of first registration (not collection date!) to sort it.

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[yorkiebar]

We’ve got the new 9 speed Auto 180. We’re having a diesel heater, extra solar, remis cab blinds, leather and a few other goodies. Oh and the smaller fridge

We went for diesel heater, remis blinds, fly screen. Didn't bother with leather or the ceramic paint protection. Will look to add extra solar when we take it for a habitation check.

 

[carolyn]

We have an automatic Reef, we waited about 15 months from order to collection (in Jan 24).

Regarding extended warranty, Consort can do that for you and that's what we did. Otherwise you have 14 days from date of first registration (not collection date!) to sort it.

That’s what Jane told us which makes life so much easier as we’re probably going to be collecting ours not long before our daughter’s wedding. We’re not completely insane, it’s a very tiny wedding, only 12 of us ! If it was a big shindig we might forget.

 

[Lenny333]

That’s exciting. We couldn’t bear the thought of ordering and waiting that long! We have timed it just right. We’ve been watching the website for ages and suddenly noticed it had changed with Autos in stock for summer delivery! I was emailing like a shot! We had the last 6.4 metre .

We’ve got the new 9 speed Auto 180. We’re having a diesel heater, extra solar, remis cab blinds, leather and a few other goodies. Oh and the smaller fridge.

It’s all happening rather quickly!

What about you?

We ticked pretty much all of the options except the diesel heater as I don’t think we’ll be using it too much in cold weather!

We went with the larger fridge as we consider wine to be more important than clothes

 

[carolyn]

We ticked pretty much all of the options except the diesel heater as I don’t think we’ll be using it too much in cold weather!

We went with the larger fridge as we consider wine to be more important than clothes

We really dithered about the fridge as it was appealing but decided we’ve always been fine . Enough room for Nick’s cider. His red wine doesn’t need chilling!

We really liked the diesel option as we’re often away in the cold but certainly wouldn’t have bothered in your shoes. I suppose we’re future proofing a bit if LPG carries on getting harder to come by. It’s a pain near us now if Podimore is out of order.

You must be desperate for the phone call now.