Anyone buy at the NEC?

[GMLS]

My van on order with expensive upgrades has gone up 12k and might even be more if it arrives later this year after the Sept 2022 price increase. It would be tempting for the Dealer to weasel out of deals, claiming they can't fulfill returning deposits and re sell on with greatly increased profits per van!
Just saying!

Yup.I'm in that position with delivery delayed from this April to October. I've already taken legal advice and have solicitors letter drafted if they try that one.

 

[Nigel L]

Very exciting, keep us posted. Out of interest, is there much difference to the Vantage Neo (other than a saving in price)?

Yes, we were keen to take a look at the Neo out of interest.
Have to say, the Consort actually does come out far better overall. As well as the extra cost of the Neo (approx £7k extra), the equipment was also inferior. No reading lights, these are an additional £250 extra (each light), not many USB’s and these were an extra £85 each. The Consort has 14 usb’s.
No rear top locker storage in front of the rear doors, and no rear shelf to hold the cushions in place, and the rear doors now have a rigid plastic covering, in place of the carpeted finish, it just made it look cheap. Only a 2 year warranty, and an additional grand to extend to 5 years. 5 yr standard with Consort.
We did consider a Vantage a couple of years ago, but are so glad we waited, as do genuinely feel that the Consort is just much better value for money, and knowing that it will be screwed together beautifully.

 

[GMLS]

How Much!
All our vans have been new factory order only ever put down a £1k deposit.

That was it.Take it or leave it but on the basis of avoiding the imminent price increase on a factory order to our specification.Saved a total of £8k if they honour the deal.If they don't I will loose my xxxx !. Reality is if I'd had an extra £4k in my pocket, I'd have left it in shares and it would now be worth £3.5k

 

[GMLS]

If delivery dates are vital to you make them a 'Condition of the Contract.

That will concentrate the minds, because if they are not met the seller has to pay compensation or you can reject the goods as not complying to a condition.

I suspect that at the moment no dealer in UK would sign a contract like that.

Tried that.Not a chance.Too much out of everyone's control, force majeure with semi conductor factory fires, etc etc

 

[monzer]

Granted I didn't have a look in every single van but my thoughts were that the majority were crammed and quite claustrophobic.

No where really to laze out and relax. I'll keep my B524 and that's a relatively small van.

The queue for the morelo was too big

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[VXman]

Do people really think they get a good deal at shows like this? It strikes me that people get excited by all the shiny new stuff and the dealers will take advantage. Surely a good bit of bartering on a quieter day at the dealership is more effective on getting a good price?

Other stuff I looked at was not cheaper at the show. e.g. Cadac show offer was cheaper at Go Outdoors with their discount!

 

[sonar]

Buy now get it in 12 months plus if your lucky!!! Just wonder if that is part of the reps sales pitch!

Wow that sounds like an dfs three piece suite delivery schedule

 

[Snoopy]

Went yesterday, was busy up to around 2.30ish then started getting less busy, by 5.30 there was hardly anyone there. We bought a quest4 pro and treated Mrs Westy to an OMNIA cooking system for her birthday. If I was buying I’d have bought a Carthago liner for two, but I don’t have that kind of dosh. But by god have motorhome prices gone up, especially the Frankias

Hi, we have the quest 4 pro, had it couple of years now, work great for our needs,( you can get the attachment to add to The canopy! That may not be the correct thing to call it, either way it attached to your van, we're eagerly awaiting quest to make the taller version at present
As we need that to fit our height on the van, also we just bought from Go Outdoors online, the quest Universal pop up inner tent, was down to £35, looked white on line, when it arrived it was black, which we prefer, it's free standing but has loops to attach to i suppose any awnings,
Hopefully later can put some pics up of it set up( in the living room) yes if buying in-store remember can get an extra 10% off if you member of either club.

 

[frenchie 79]

So, did anyone actually place an order for a new van at the show?
We went on Tuesday, and didn’t see many people sat with the salespeople on the stands filling out order forms etc.
We bought a new van, but went up to Leeds to see Consort prior to the show as they weren’t going.
Have to say, didn’t see anything that came close to what we’ve ordered, (pvc size) for value and quality of fit and finish.

We went on Saturday.Didn’t see anything better than the one we’ve got.Happy with out Bailey Autograph.Spoke to a couple quing to look in Adamo.They said they ordered one last year.Told they would have it feb,now been told end of June.Came to have a look & remind themselves what they had bought.Apparently if you order at show you should get one in November.I take make a purchase,packet of mash potatoe you add boiling water too

 

[Essgeebee]

Didn’t go to the NEC but saw some lovely Burstners at a dealership in Somerset last autumn. Prices seemed OK for the quality and spec compared with our three year old Autotrail. Just been watching YouTube videos of new models and the prices are now extortionate, with extra charges for roof lights and stuff that are basic in most vans. We had planned on upgrading to a new Burstner Harmony Line 680 G this coming winter but not now, with prices like those. Might look at a 2 or 3 year old model.

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[Littlewheels]

Very exciting, keep us posted. Out of interest, is there much difference to the Vantage Neo (other than a saving in price)?

Many years ago l commissioned a van to be built to my own design,very successfully as it turned out. l had special decals made in order to make it appear a brand to improve its presence and called it a Vantage on the basis of Vantage being a Anagram of “ Get a Van” just saying.

 

[Platelet]

We went on Wednesday and as previously mentioned it was crowded, with some people very rude and not sticking to the 1 family per van rule. Our biggest gripe was that the majority of the dealers were using a large plastic semicircular step which was more or less the same height as the first step in the van. My wife is disabled with left leg problems and uses a stick, she was unable to enter the vans that we would have liked to have a look at and left it up to me to take photos of the inside. This is alright in theory but doesn’t project the cramped feeling in some of them. The prices of some of them were way out of our league but for the price and value I was taken by the Wildax 4x4. Considering the price of the base vehicle and the cost of the fixtures and fittings it was reasonable to me. Mrs P not so!

 

[Jenka]

We were there on Friday and bought there Deffleths Eurostyle 7057 DBL. Went back and forth between that and Adria until a nice salesman from Preston informed us there weren't any Adria Corals left so decision made back to lowdhams for the Deffleths. Trade in deal not to bad but have option of selling privately as well. Delivery date this May which I thought was a bit quick considering it's a Fiat chassis so we'll see.

Excellent choice Lowdhams pre order stock so fingers crossed mine was delivered on time !

 

[Snoopy]

WESTY66, Pictures of quest Universal pop up tent, which will go in our quest pro 4....haha made hubby lie down, very spacious in there....from Go Outdoors.

 

[Bleau’s]

went on wednesday and it was very busy with the only free space available was around the holiday lodges and on the beach area no social distancing in the motorhomes tried to look in a few a-class ones but the queue to long as short on time due to being at work there .

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[Wannabee]

went on wednesday and it was very busy with the only free space available was around the holiday lodges and on the beach area no social distancing in the motorhomes tried to look in a few a-class ones but the queue to long as short on time due to being at work there .

Went yesterday (Saturday) and as others have reported not too crammed despite being sold out. We would also have loved to have bought the Carthargo Liner for 2. Available as well if you have the £185k spare. Which we don’t. I now see the point of the A Class with the drop down bed in the space above the cab seats, making in effect a double ended van. Great show we’ll go again. Bought a Westfalia bike rack and some other bits and bats.

 

[BillyKontiki]

We were there on Friday and bought there Deffleths Eurostyle 7057 DBL. Went back and forth between that and Adria until a nice salesman from Preston informed us there weren't any Adria Corals left so decision made back to lowdhams for the Deffleths. Trade in deal not to bad but have option of selling privately as well. Delivery date this May which I thought was a bit quick considering it's a Fiat chassis so we'll see.

Good luck with that bud, took me a year to get a recall fixed with fiat.

 

[Steve-N]

How Much!
All our vans have been new factory order only ever put down a £1k deposit.

We ordered a Compass CV 40 9sp auto in grey (Fiat ducato series 8) with all bells and whistles in Jan as a new factory order with only a £1k deposit . .
I would advise to anyone ordering a new van to strongly resist the likes of dealers wanting £5k deposits . .

The deals are out there to be grabbed. . . just shop around

 

[Chris Laing]

Good luck with that bud, took me a year to get a recall fixed with fiat.

There's been far too many small fix recalls with Fiat I think we've had 3. The first took 3months to get checked. Nothing wrong. The second didn't actually need done and we got.one recently but Ive just ignored it. I'll see if I get a reminder before it goes in May I would rather have a Fiat with a couple of recalls than a Ford that disappears of your drive like a magic trick

 

[minesapint]

Watched the TV show version, no crowds and could sit sipping a glass of vino in peace and quiet.
Having said that, why do TV presenters seem to think the 'only' campervans anyone ever wants are V-Dubs !!

Totally agree, the programme was a chance to show us many more of our possible toys, but it just semed to be a missed opportunity.
It was a programme for the bloke in the cap to act stupid, the lady was quite good.
But overall disapointed, as were many of our caravanning and motorhoming friends.

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[nicholsong]

Granted I didn't have a look in every single van but my thoughts were that the majority were crammed and quite claustrophobic.

No where really to laze out and relax. I'll keep my B524 and that's a relatively small van.

The queue for the morelo was too big

And I wonder how many in the queue have the money to buy even a basic Home model?

I am surprised some of those up-market builders do not do a credit check on those wishing to view to weed out the time wasters.

I have recently been interested in a particular Morelo Home model (island bed)but would not queue to see one - fortunately we are not so far from the factory.

 

[monzer]

And I wonder how many in the queue have the money to buy even a basic Home model?

I am surprised some of those up-market builders do not do a credit check on those wishing to view to weed out the time wasters.

I have recently been interested in a particular Morelo Home model (island bed)but would not queue to see one - fortunately we are not so far from the factory.

Steady I can't afford one and I wanted a look in the Morelo. Just so happens that I'm an impatient bugger.

 

[WESTY66]

And I wonder how many in the queue have the money to buy even a basic Home model?

I am surprised some of those up-market builders do not do a credit check on those wishing to view to weed out the time wasters.

I have recently been interested in a particular Morelo Home model (island bed)but would not queue to see one - fortunately we are not so far from the factory.

I’m lucky I have friends who tolerate me licking the windows of their Morelos

Although to be fair they just haven’t caught me yet

 

[funflair]

Steady I can't afford one and I wanted a look in the Morelo. Just so happens that I'm an impatient bugger.

Did you get a look?

 

[dash300]

We ordered a Compass CV 40 9sp auto in grey (Fiat ducato series 8) with all bells and whistles in Jan as a new factory order with only a £1k deposit . .
I would advise to anyone ordering a new van to strongly resist the likes of dealers wanting £5k deposits . .

The deals are out there to be grabbed. . . just shop around

The deposit isn't too much of a problem it's getting the things delivered, and the way things are going currently demand is exceeding supply so deals might not be quite all they seem.

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[funflair]

And I wonder how many in the queue have the money to buy even a basic Home model?

I am surprised some of those up-market builders do not do a credit check on those wishing to view to weed out the time wasters.

I have recently been interested in a particular Morelo Home model (island bed)but would not queue to see one - fortunately we are not so far from the factory.

If somebody hasn’t got the money now they might have in 5 or 10 years time and a lot of us have long memories, we bought our Palace party because of how we were treated when we turned up at the factory on our tandem OK it took us 5 years to make our minds up.

 

[monzer]

Did you get a look?

No I couldn't be arsed joining the queue. Like I say, I'm too impatient for my own good. I should have turned up next day on a tandem

 

[Coolcats]

VW have allegedly stopped supplying many of their bulk customers direct (according to two I've spoken to, who regularly build on VW base vehicles, and who are having difficulty getting any now), and are shipping stock to their main dealers only. This means that converters are having to buy from the dealers, rather than direct from the manufacturers, which adds a not inconsiderable amount onto the base vehicle cost to the converter, before they've even got the vehicle on site to convert it. Some converters have formally complained to VW about this, but we wait to see what the result will be. I don't know if this is just while the 'chip shortage' is making things difficult, or if it's an expected ongoing policy. Meanwhile, that single decision by VW will automatically be pushing up the prices of new VW-based campers by several thousand pounds each. If you factor in a base vehicle costing over £40k, plus £5k+ for the roof (if it's an SCA one), and £3k for a RIB bed, you're already approaching 50K before any other fit out elements like electrics, gas, furniture, so it's not surprising to see so many VW campers at the upper £60k range, where previously only the very top of the range with every bell and whistle van would above £50k.

on the other hand if vehicles are in short supply due to chips etc a Main dealer supply over small numbers at converters has to be a priority

 

[Lenny HB]

If somebody hasn’t got the money now they might have in 5 or 10 years time and a lot of us have long memories, we bought our Palace party because of how we were treated when we turned up at the factory on our tandem OK it took us 5 years to make our minds up.

You just wore the poor bloke down.

We didn't have any trouble getting into a few at Caravan Salon a couple years ago found them very helpful.

 

[funflair]

You just wore the poor bloke down.

We didn't have any trouble getting into a few at Caravan Salon a couple years ago found them very helpful.

No you don’t need to flash your Rolex first there, in fact they will let ant riff-raff in.

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