£225,000 at the NEC

[Al n Val]

So

we’re going to the NEC on thursday, we’ll be there a max of 6 hours possibly less looking to spend (maybe) £225000 less PX
on an A Class

1. max 8mtrs

2. Not white (silver)

3. 2 berth (poss 4) so 4 belts

4. Island bed (poss singles)

5. double floor but don’t want to have to climb a staircase to get in/out

6. big garage for folding elec bikes, chairs,table but no high bed inside

7. Must be auto and poss Merc but not essential so Iveco or something else

8. enough roof room for 600w min solar

This will poss be our last motorhome so good build quality with no shitty dealer backup service would be nice

Dealer max 2 hours but pre preferred less from West Yorks, is their any good dealers out there ???

Can you think of anything else and i’m not a fan of the TV in the hab door entrance either

cheers
Al

PS. Val will not entertain rouffle leather so has to be nice n smooth

 

[Ditcha]

That’s why I said various and not all Dave, the Frankia’s looked well tbh but the first thing we noticed were how shallow depth the steps were getting in/out.

Why oh why have they done that, it’s bloody stupid and everyone we saw going in and out remarked on it.

Yeah the steps are really shallow they are built for youngins Al

 

[Al n Val]

Exactly my view. Rapido do a lot right. And you can almost get two for the same money as a Carthago…..

Including FWD…..

I so agree, but as others do, they do wrong as well, my main gripe is the length of time it takes to get parts from Rapido.

Oh Please! Wells effin Fargo was quicker

They’ve agreed to everything we’ve asked them to but the time it takes is just out of order

 

[Ditcha]

The best driving van I have ever drove was a tag axle and they are nice and low one step in, our previous Malibu had fantastic amount of storage I would say more external/ under floor storage than our Frankia.

 

[Ditcha]

I so agree, but as others do, they do wrong as well, my main gripe is the length of time it takes to get parts from Rapido.

Oh Please! Wells effin Fargo was quicker

They’ve agreed to everything we’ve asked them to but the time it takes is just out of order

Same with them all Al in my experience.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Al n Val]

Yeah the steps are really shallow they are built for youngins Al

They’re no good for Hobbits mate

 

[Northernraider]

Only because they are built higher to accommodate rear wheel drive, I have much more storage on my FWD Carthago than I had on the similar size RWD Frankia.

And I have much more storage on my rwd Flair than I had on my fwd frankia .
Same overall height though but far more ground clearance.
Both same overall length height and width

 

[Al n Val]

Same with them all Al in my experience.

One of the reasons I can’t help thinking that I must be mad to change

Another £100k + maybe, new dealer who’s farther away, no overnight stop and crap service, it’s scary to think about

 

[Northernraider]

The best driving van I have ever drove was a tag axle and they are nice and low one step in, our previous Malibu had fantastic amount of storage I would say more external/ under floor storage than our Frankia.

Problem with them being low is always grounding out.

I hated my tag axle fiat frankia for thst.

 

[Ditcha]

Problem with them being low is always grounding out.

I hated my tag axle fiat frankia for thst.

Yeah I seem to remember you losing a bumper or two

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Ditcha]

One of the reasons I can’t help thinking that I must be mad to change

Another £100k + maybe, new dealer who’s farther away, no overnight stop and crap service, it’s scary to think about

What's that saying the grass isn't always greener

 

[Colin McCourt]

Yes and that's why the best brand motorhomes are rwd.

No need to go on boggy ground just try driving up a steep windy mountain pass.

I've had various vans of different lengths weights etc . Every fwd I've owned lost traction on those roads.

You will never and I repeat never get a rwd drive motorhome spinning wheels on tarmac .

Weight over drive wheels has been best since horses and carts and always will be


You seem obsessed with grass and fields. Its motorhomes I'm talking about not cows , they drive on roads.

I've personally seen fwd, rwd and 4wd get stuck on grass sand etc etc.

That's driver error. Stick to roads and rwd will always put perform fwd for traction.


As for all the stuff about storage again you'll find the best brand motorhomes are rwd and have the largest amount of storage and payload .

I have driven high passes in the Swiss alps, the German Alps ( where I drove the full length), the Pyrénées ( again the full length over all the Tour de France Cols), and throughout Norway. At no time has my FWD failed to negotiate them or loose traction. It’s normally down to the driver, not the drive train.

 

[Northernraider]

I have driven high passes in the Swiss alps, the German Alps ( where I drove the full length), the Pyrénées ( again the full length over all the Tour de France Cols), and throughout Norway. At no time has my FWD failed to negotiate them or loose traction. It’s normally down to the driver, not the drive train.

That's right . Some drivers just won't attempt to go where I go .

 

[Hawkstone]

We have just returned home and I must say I really enjoyed today. We only went to have a nosey and look at possibilities for the future. There were so many vans to look at and now I am so confused. Thought we may change down to a PVC but I found them too narrow and after having our big overcab I am loathe to start making beds up. My daughter is about to start her own conversion on a Lwb Boxer so we passed on a few ideas to her.
One thing that really made me cross was a few vans had no oven but a grill/oven thing above the dinette table!!!! Who the heck is tall enough to reach that there and why on earth would you want one up that high above your lovely seats and cushions? That has disaster written all over it.

 

[Just smiffy]

You’ve made the right decision Al, you’ve got a van that you know and it suits you. Just get the things sorted that’s needed, when you go down to beni again just pop in to a rapido dealer in France and order the parts and they’ll be waiting for you on the way back then get them sorted…

You’ve already got a great van and just a bit of fettling and it’ll be just right…

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[BikerGraham]

One of the reasons I can’t help thinking that I must be mad to change

Another £100k + maybe, new dealer who’s farther away, no overnight stop and crap service, it’s scary to think about

You know mate these vans will last 20 plus years as long as we look after them.

So if you are happy with what you have now then why look to change.

But also if your are talking about £100k plus to change then for gods sake, Have a few beers and curries and keep the pocket change

 

[enark]

I so agree, but as others do, they do wrong as well, my main gripe is the length of time it takes to get parts from Rapido.

Oh Please! Wells effin Fargo was quicker

They’ve agreed to everything we’ve asked them to but the time it takes is just out of order

Thankfully not had to order any parts yet, as nothing has failed …….big touch wood.

Oh bar the oven bulb….but that was easily replaced.

Had a Burstner previously, and cant see any difference in build quality.

 

[Clewie68]

That’s reassuring news regards Signature

thanks guys

They are bound to be good. Their made in Preston where I was made.

 

[stewartwebr]

Have you looked at RS Motorhome?

Oh they still in business, must be due another bankruptcy scam again soon, it’s every 5 years I thought.

 

[funflair]

Right then

just got back from the show and….

we’ll be keeping our Rapido, certainly for the time being, we looked at Carthago, Frankia, Hymer, Burstner, Dethleffs and Le Voyager.

Everything we looked at would give us less than we already have, we looked at up to £265k and there was nothing we’d change to.

So getting ours sorted and fitted with VB air and that’ll be it.

Can anyone please explain why on certain A class motorhomes based on Mercedes that the front wheels are narrower by approx 1ft than the rear wheels?

The front wheels were set into the front wheel arch so much it just looked wrong to us.

The good thing about going round shows is it makes you realise how just much you like the van that you have, or not in some cases I guess

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Saucer]

Right then

just got back from the show and….

we’ll be keeping our Rapido, certainly for the time being, we looked at Carthago, Frankia, Hymer, Burstner, Dethleffs and Le Voyager.

Everything we looked at would give us less than we already have, we looked at up to £265k and there was nothing we’d change to.

So getting ours sorted and fitted with VB air and that’ll be it.

Can anyone please explain why on certain A class motorhomes based on Mercedes that the front wheels are narrower by approx 1ft than the rear wheels?

The front wheels were set into the front wheel arch so much it just looked wrong to us.

The ‘we buy any motorhome’ lot did a review of an A Class rapido and made exactly that point about the wheels being very recessed.

It makes sense to stick with the rapido Al having spent so much energy getting it sorted.

 

[jongood]

But if the new ones are as well built as my old one I'd imagine you'd get a lovely motor for your budget

sadly they re just not, not sure about new Flair because I havent yet seen one ( I have no reason to go to showrooms) but since 2008 its all been focussed on lightness and bling.

 

[jongood]

Right then

just got back from the show and….

we’ll be keeping our Rapido, certainly for the time being, we looked at Carthago, Frankia, Hymer, Burstner, Dethleffs and Le Voyager.

Everything we looked at would give us less than we already have, we looked at up to £265k and there was nothing we’d change to.

So getting ours sorted and fitted with VB air and that’ll be it.

Can anyone please explain why on certain A class motorhomes based on Mercedes that the front wheels are narrower by approx 1ft than the rear wheels?

The front wheels were set into the front wheel arch so much it just looked wrong to us.

On the twin wheeled ones its because the front wheels are the same as the rear ones, they need a big offset to get twins onto the rear hub so the fronts look very narrow. I guess MB could get over it with a wider front axle but they dont. The 6.5 tonne Sprinter was a much better base for Mh's.

I'm really not getting why people want to go newer all the time, there's just increasing amounts of electrical and emmissions stuff to go wrong on them.

 

[Ditcha]

On the twin wheeled ones its because the front wheels are the same as the rear ones, they need a big offset to get twins onto the rear hub so the fronts look very narrow. I guess MB could get over it with a wider front axle but they dont. The 6.5 tonne Sprinter was a much better base for Mh's.

I'm really not getting why people want to go newer all the time, there's just increasing amounts of electrical and emmissions stuff to go wrong on them.

I suppose people go newer so they aren't restricted were they can go due to the ever increasing emissions zones no need to miss this area, drive round this area etc and it's only going to get worse and some people like having new stuff.

 

[funflair]

I suppose people go newer so they aren't restricted were they can go due to the ever increasing emissions zones no need to miss this area, drive round this area etc and it's only going to get worse and some people like having new stuff.

Nail on head there Dave I get Jons point as well but we are already into the AdBlue and electronic stuff so in for a penny and in for a pound comes to mind, also of course some of us just can't help ourselves when it comes to a bit of "tech and bling" the latest thing seems to be a Garmin CAN BUS system to run the whole habitation electrics so you can switch everything on and off from your seat by a touch pad or voice control, WiFi will allow you to control it from a remote location so turn on the heating and put the screen blind up or down as you are heading back to the van, you can also run pre set programmes like lights on dim TV down windscreen blind up etc etc

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[enark]

Is your jd fwd or rwd ?

How many fwd tractors do you see?

Awd, with proper tyres, which is what makes the difference, probably less hp than many MHs

 

[Clewie68]

I went with a new one as I found it impossible to find a used Malibu 600 DB K with the 180 hp engine and the diesel truma heating. Two things I really wanted.

I also found myself down the Porsche dealership Monday this week putting a deposit down on a new Cayman GTS 4.0. As I couldn't find a GT4 with ceramic brakes but without bucket seats.

A little bling is a good thing.

 

[bigtree]

And I have much more storage on my rwd Flair than I had on my fwd frankia .
Same overall height though but far more ground clearance.
Both same overall length height and width

Was your Frankia a tag axle ?

 

[Northernraider]

Was your Frankia a tag axle ?

Yes
All the fiat's are from what I've seen no ground clearance either

And then the euramobil also front wheel drive tag axle

Both required clutches at approx 30k miles , both constantly lost traction on wet steep inclines .


Never experienced loss of traction on tarmac in a rwd yet

And out all 3 this one has the largest payload, the greater storage , and the best ground clearance and the most power too.

And all were the same overall height of 3.2 metres.

 

[Ditcha]

Nail on head there Dave I get Jons point as well but we are already into the AdBlue and electronic stuff so in for a penny and in for a pound comes to mind, also of course some of us just can't help ourselves when it comes to a bit of "tech and bling" the latest thing seems to be a Garmin CAN BUS system to run the whole habitation electrics so you can switch everything on and off from your seat by a touch pad or voice control, WiFi will allow you to control it from a remote location so turn on the heating and put the screen blind up or down as you are heading back to the van, you can also run pre set programmes like lights on dim TV down windscreen blind up etc etc

Oh no not canbus !
I hate all the ablue/ emissions crap too along with Jon and many many others but I don't want anything restricting were I can go. Good thing is you can now keep the euro 6 standard without adblue but how long that will last is a bridge to be crossed when it happens.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Ditcha]

I went with a new one as I found it impossible to find a used Malibu 600 DB K with the 180 hp engine and the diesel truma heating. Two things I really wanted.

I also found myself down the Porsche dealership Monday this week putting a deposit down on a new Cayman GTS 4.0. As I couldn't find a GT4 with ceramic brakes but without bucket seats.

A little bling is a good thing.

Why not