Advice on First Motorhome

[Sally70]

My husband and I have looked at numerous Motorhomes over the last month or so and have narrowed it to down to a choice of two below

New 2024 Bailey Alora 69-4S motorhome For Sale

The Bailey Alora 69-4S motorhome offers a bespoke and compact experience. Complete with cab air conditioning, cruise control and Apple Carplay

www.leisurekingdom.co.uk

There is a closer dealer for the Bailey but there website is not great and this one has a decent video. This is a narrower van than the Weinsberg which is probably better on a lot of UK roads.

Weinsberg CaraCompact 600 MF Pepper (BN2422) | Nick Whale Motorhomes

www.nickwhalemotorhomes.co.uk

The model we are looking has a drop down bed in the living area as well as the bed in the rear.

A lot of the time it will my hubby and me only but will take grandchildren sometimes thats why we want the option of sleeping four. Both have there plus points. There is around a 10k difference between the two but the Weinsberg comes with an Awning, TV and Sat dish which the Bailey does not include. Awning I think is probably a must the TV we are not that fussed about. The Bailey does come with Solar installed. The Weinsberg does have a Mercedes engine which is a plus point for hubby.

What are other Motorhome Forum members thoughts on each?

 

[Sneds]

You could buy an awning, TV and Sat dish for a lot less than £10k so I wouldn’t let that influence you too much.
The German is likely to be better put together but dealer proximity is important if any warranty issues present themselves.
Nothing wrong with any of the diesel engines.
The overwhelming thing is the layout, what do you feel more comfortable with?
I’d call each dealer and book an appointment, ask them if you could be left alone in the van for an hour. Sit, lie down, swivel the front seats, sit in the front seats facing forward.
Take a newspaper or your i-pad and sit and read or Google.
Then decide, or buy another one

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Payload as well, small people have lots of "essential " stuff all biting into your Payload, check it's going to work on both of them.
Mike.

 

[KASPAR]

We have recently acquired a Weinsberg Cara Compact Meg 640 Pepper MB Edition 2023 model year, the difference between the Suite is number of berths and the higher roofline.

More than happy to have got a Mercedes Sprinter based MH with the 9g auto gearbox.

The Weinsberg is plated at 4200 ex works, if you have a C1 you are set to go.

We have previously had British built leisure vehicles and wouldn't bother again due to poor quality. Bailey use cheap labour to throw them together.

Weinsberg dealers will support the vehicle regardless of who sold it. Ours came from ooop north, our local darn sarf dealer will cover any warranty issues, none so far. The MB bit is covered under MB warranty and is done through MB Commercial vehicle service centres. MB recognise the low mileages in comparison to courier vans and give reduced rates. You also get the Mobilo 2 year breakdown service Europe wide at each 2 yearly service. They only need 2 yearly servicing.

Peter Vaughan of MMM did a review that puts it in perspective, Weinsgerg was Germany's best selling MH in 2022, and to get a MB based MH at that pricepoint is a bargain.

see this thread for more info: https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/our-new-mh-synergy.305224/#post-6196662

Good luck with whichever you choose.

 

[HKF]

Layout, layout, layout!!

Layout is the most important thing. You can add other things later. Make sure you're not being blinded by the 'pretty' things and good luck with your first purchase

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[f6c]

Welcome aboard

 

[Northernraider]

Without a doubt the weinsberg is the better option.

German over British every time
Mercedes over Ford everytime

There's no comparison between those 2 vans in my opinion

 

[Dutch 68]

My husband and I have looked at numerous Motorhomes over the last month or so and have narrowed it to down to a choice of two below

New 2024 Bailey Alora 69-4S motorhome For Sale

The Bailey Alora 69-4S motorhome offers a bespoke and compact experience. Complete with cab air conditioning, cruise control and Apple Carplay

www.leisurekingdom.co.uk

There is a closer dealer for the Bailey but there website is not great and this one has a decent video. This is a narrower van than the Weinsberg which is probably better on a lot of UK roads.

Weinsberg CaraCompact 600 MF Pepper (BN2422) | Nick Whale Motorhomes

www.nickwhalemotorhomes.co.uk

The model we are looking has a drop down bed in the living area as well as the bed in the rear.

A lot of the time it will my hubby and me only but will take grandchildren sometimes thats why we want the option of sleeping four. Both have there plus points. There is around a 10k difference between the two but the Weinsberg comes with an Awning, TV and Sat dish which the Bailey does not include. Awning I think is probably a must the TV we are not that fussed about. The Bailey does come with Solar installed. The Weinsberg does have a Mercedes engine which is a plus point for hubby.

What are other Motorhome Forum members thoughts on each?

Weinsberg every time in comparison with a Bailey

 

[Brize]

Hi Sally, welcome.

I would also be tempted by the Weinsburg as well. It's made by Knaus, which is a good solid German make, and usually reliable. Solar is straightforward to put on.

I wouldn't be influenced too much by the engine. Layout is critical, overall weight, and payload. Look at the internal facilities/utilities, bed sizes, garage size/layout, and length of overhang at the rear.

The only other thing to point out is that the doors are on different sides, only perhaps significant if you intend to stay solely in the UK, but actually of less importance these days.

It's a bit of a buyer's market at the moment, so you should be able to get a better price for the Weinsberg if you choose that van.

Good luck!

 

[rolosroller]

Out of the 2

------------------------------------- Weinsburg

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[Sally70]

We have recently acquired a Weinsberg Cara Compact Meg 640 Pepper MB Edition 2023 model year, the difference between the Suite is number of berths and the higher roofline.

More than happy to have got a Mercedes Sprinter based MH with the 9g auto gearbox.

The Weinsberg is plated at 4200 ex works, if you have a C1 you are set to go.

We have previously had British built leisure vehicles and wouldn't bother again due to poor quality. Bailey use cheap labour to throw them together.

Weinsberg dealers will support the vehicle regardless of who sold it. Ours came from ooop north, our local darn sarf dealer will cover any warranty issues, none so far. The MB bit is covered under MB warranty and is done through MB Commercial vehicle service centres. MB recognise the low mileages in comparison to courier vans and give reduced rates. You also get the Mobilo 2 year breakdown service Europe wide at each 2 yearly service. They only need 2 yearly servicing.

Peter Vaughan of MMM did a review that puts it in perspective, Weinsgerg was Germany's best selling MH in 2022, and to get a MB based MH at that pricepoint is a bargain.

see this thread for more info: https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/our-new-mh-synergy.305224/#post-6196662

Good luck with whichever you choose.

Thank you for your in depth reply. Do you mind me asking which dealer did you buy from? Have just looked back at my emails and it was mid June when we viewed the Weinsberg and at the time they were not willing to offer any discount and would only include a couple of small extras we had asked for. Have noticed over the last few weeks many dealers offering big discounts and dropping prices. Our local Benimar dealer is full up with Motorhomes which can only mean the sales have slowed a lot.

We both would probably prefer the Weinsberg but the 10k difference is making us unsure. Had seen Peter's video before - He is always very enthusiastic and does his job well.

 

[Northernraider]

Thank you for your in depth reply. Do you mind me asking which dealer did you buy from? Have just looked back at my emails and it was mid June when we viewed the Weinsberg and at the time they were not willing to offer any discount and would only include a couple of small extras we had asked for. Have noticed over the last few weeks many dealers offering big discounts and dropping prices. Our local Benimar dealer is full up with Motorhomes which can only mean the sales have slowed a lot.

We both would probably prefer the Weinsberg but the 10k difference is making us unsure. Had seen Peter's video before - He is always very enthusiastic and does his job well.

To be honest £10k between a quality German van and a budget British van is nowt.

 

[Norfolk Nige]

My last van was a Weinesberg. Excellent vans, far better quality than the British vans I had prior to it. No choice in my book.

 

[scotzsue]

We have a similar layout to the Weinsberg, bit transverse rear bed. I find the front half dinette cramped especially when we have the grandkids with us, thank goodness for awning and pop up it is a lovely looking motorhome worry about the security aspect of fords too. Would second spending some time in both and check that payload. Enjoy your search.

 

[Jev88]

Hate to say that Swift Group builds quality won't compare to German built.

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[Shrimp]

If we were in that sort of position we would definitely go for a German van, better build and quality.
Wouldn’t worry about the awning, if it’s the wind-out Fiamma type you will be constantly winding it in or out depending on the wind!

 

[KASPAR]

Thank you for your in depth reply. Do you mind me asking which dealer did you buy from? Have just looked back at my emails and it was mid June when we viewed the Weinsberg and at the time they were not willing to offer any discount and would only include a couple of small extras we had asked for. Have noticed over the last few weeks many dealers offering big discounts and dropping prices. Our local Benimar dealer is full up with Motorhomes which can only mean the sales have slowed a lot.

We both would probably prefer the Weinsberg but the 10k difference is making us unsure. Had seen Peter's video before - He is always very enthusiastic and does his job well.

We bought ours from Select Motorhomes as it was a pre owned by a member on here. New it was from SMC.

At the time, late June there were reductions of c£8k being touted by dealers including NickWhale, Alan Kerr and Abacus on the new unsold 2023 models under the 'Champions Deal'. Worth asking for best price or to match that earlier offer; you don't ask you don't get Unsold stock must be costing them.

Most of the below have the awning fitted. They are new too, not used as the headline.

Checking auto trader just now the 'Champion Deal' runs to 15/10/2024 and is £3500 at Nick Whale:

Used Motorhomes for Sale - Auto Trader UK

www.autotrader.co.uk

£7596 off at Davan: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/motorhome-search?advertising-location=at_motorhomes&make=WEINSBERG&model=CARACOMPACT SUITE 640MEG&postcode=rg224ua&sort=relevance&year-from=2023

YourStyle Leisure, Winsford: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/motorh...age=2&postcode=rg224ua&year-from=2023&fromsra



We are dead chuffed with our Weinsberg and happy we bought it.

Good hunting.

 

[enark]

I would vote for Nick Whale, a good honest dealership.

 

[mitzimad]

most people stream tv from there phones so a sat dish isnt a necessity now days

 

[cyberyacht]

Weinsberg Pepper's seem very popular on the continent. One site I stayed on, every other van seemed to be one. The width differential is only 3" so not really significant.

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[Lenny HB]

No comparison it's got to be the Weinsberg, why would you consider a Bailey with the risk of water, ingress, soggy floor, strange water systems, just a few of the problems that come with Baileys.

 

[Sally70]

Firstly thank you for all the replies. Looks like we will go for the Weinsberg after nearly everyone who has commented has favoured them. Hubby has been speaking with Davan motorhomes today anyone dealt with them? They have offered us a better deal than Nick Whale who we viewed the motorhome from. Will give them another chance to see if they can beat the price as they were very helpful when we viewed. It is definitely a buyers market compared to a few months ago.

 

[CAB96]

Firstly thank you for all the replies. Looks like we will go for the Weinsberg after nearly everyone who has commented has favoured them. Hubby has been speaking with Davan motorhomes today anyone dealt with them? They have offered us a better deal than Nick Whale who we viewed the motorhome from. Will give them another chance to see if they can beat the price as they were very helpful when we viewed. It is definitely a buyers market compared to a few months ago.

How far away is each dealer?

Even with a 'better' van there's bound to be things that need putting right.

Worth considering if a small difference in price is worth the extra travel.

 

[Norfolk Nige]

With the Weinesberg you can also get habitation checks and warranty work done at Knaus and Weinsberg caravan dealers. Makes it a lot easier in many cases as don’t have to travel half way across the country in many cases. When I had one I bought from SMC in Newark but had the hab check done in Norfolk at Beez leisure.