Are all new Swift Kontiki blinds faulty/creased?

[Zoshee]

Hi all,

Can I ask if anyone with a Swift Kontiki 2023 onwards has noticed their front window blind is excessively creased.

Long story short, the dealer reported the creased blind to me as part of the "pre inspection check" a day before we collected our new Kontiki. One of the numerous faults that would be fixed under warranty I was told. This is another long drawn out story for another time.

We waited the long lead time (with any warranty parts it appears from Swift it appears) and I took it in to be fitted.

Waiting for 4 hours for the privilege only for it to be fitted with a blind that was more creased than the one that was replaced. Someone didn't have the sense to question this and just fitted a brand new creased blind "because it was on the jobsheet".

I've now been told by the dealer they are all like this and it's Swifts bad parts so there is nothing they can do.

So anyone out there with good front blinds?

We've had a Swift van before and it was fine so this isn't a Swift bashing exercise I just want to know if this is true or if we're being fobbed off.

Edit: for clarity here is the response from the dealer

Following your visit to us last weekend our parts team have been looking into the issue with the cab windscreen blind.

Having looked at several other vehicles we have on site and swift parts, we have found that all of these blinds are creased the same as the replacement on your vehicle. This is due to the way they are manufactured from Swift and is unavoidable. Therefore another replacement blind would be exactly the same as the one you currently have.

I am sorry we could not provide you with a different response on this

Thanks

 

[Tony50]

They must have all the original parts that have been removed/replaced and have recorded the service correctly any reputable garage is competent at doing this and is happy to discuss with you all the procedures they follow.
You should always be able to see any parts that are removed and replaced, but if its a brand new vehicle often ther are servicing packages available which can make it easier

I wonder if leasing motorhomes will ever become the norm?

As an Ex. Garage Owner and knowing how manufacturer' work I can assure anybody if can avoid paying they will, I was the Renault Truck Service point for the IP postcode in Suffolk,which, stretches from Lowestoft that's to Norfolk border, then as far as Thetford,and Colchester, when Claiming payment if they could avoid payment they would,and I was a Garage!!

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

As an Ex. Garage Owner and knowing how manufacturer' work I can assure anybody if can avoid paying they will, I was the Renault Truck Service point for the IP postcode in Suffolk,which, stretches from Lowestoft that's to Norfolk border, then as far as Thetford,and Colchester, when Claiming payment if they could avoid payment they would,and I was a Garage!!

Have said before about a mate of mine, spent a fortune setting up in a yard with big unit to service excavators he was awarded the area dealership for.
He made a good job of looking after customers but ultimately it was the manufacturer who refused to pay most of his warranty claims, as he knew most of his customers he felt obliged to sort their breakdowns out asap to get them back working then argue the claims after unfortunately the manufacturer thought different
Shame as they were a good machine and I had 2 new ones from him, was the only 2 I bought as went to a different manufacturer then.

 

[minesapint]

When I called swift, they said for the first 3 years from new it is better to take it back to the dealer. Swift would simply refer you to the dealership.
We decided that even at £100k that Swift is a second rate company and their pretend A class top of the range motorhomes are actually third rate pieces of excrement.
I sold my 6 million pound business in January and have more than enough money to take this lump of GRP scrap to beachyhead, shove it in auto drive and film it driving over the edge of a 200 ft drop. Then getting the film on every news channel going.
There needs to be a fast track system to Sue the rear off any company who puts out dodgy items that are sent back for warranty work. On the third return within 1 year you should be refunded or the whole unit replaced and on every replacement the warranty starts anew.
People less fortunate than I have worked hard for many years and have saved every penny for a Moho, looking forward to taking kids and grandkids to special places for that most precious thing, family time, some just to meet up with friends, others to have romantic weekends by the sea. Then comes along the poor cheap design of a Swift and your dreams are in tatters. It’s not right. It is simply not right.
Back to Lowdhams on Friday, last time, for I’ve arranged servicing and Habitation service elsewhere, any more warranty work, and it’s gone, whoosh, never to be seen again..

We started off with a Dethleffs, then a Hymer, then made a mistake and bought a Swift, after many warranty issues I sold it after 18 months, and bought a Hobby, and then a Burstner. We had a few issues with the Burstner which were solved by the dealer, but nothing like the problems with the Swift.

 

[Nanniemate]

As an Ex. Garage Owner and knowing how manufacturer' work I can assure anybody if can avoid paying they will, I was the Renault Truck Service point for the IP postcode in Suffolk,which, stretches from Lowestoft that's to Norfolk border, then as far as Thetford,and Colchester, when Claiming payment if they could avoid payment they would,and I was a Garage!!

Sadly customers don't care if you (the garage) get paid as long as they have proof of work
I have had new cars but never a new van (unlikely to ever have one)
HYUNDI & honda dealers no issues and never whinged about not getting paid but did explain the hoops and records they needed to supply.as proof of claim
Their both still trading. But perhaps that's due to the quality vehicles they supply
Honda had more complaints about removing the free-flowing coffee machine than any work they did .
So they reinstated it on a token collected from reception ....stopped the staff drinking it

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[Tony50]

Sadly customers don't care if you (the garage) get paid as long as they have proof of work
I have had new cars but never a new van (unlikely to ever have one)
HYUNDI & honda dealers no issues and never whinged about not getting paid but did explain the hoops and records they needed to supply.as proof of claim
Their both still trading. But perhaps that's due to the quality vehicles they supply
Honda had more complaints about removing the free-flowing coffee machine than any work they did .
So they reinstated it on a token collected from reception ....stopped the staff drinking it

I resent whing a it's aimed probably at me, I was on here saying that's what happens, I had not said this to my customers.

 

[Nanniemate]

I resent whing a it's aimed probably at me, I was on here saying that's what happens, I had not said this to my customers.

No it was not meant at you at all . If I wasn't getting paid I'd be whinging and not doing the work like I said sadly the customer doesn't care if the garage got paid. I certainly don't it never crossed my mind . I took it I for servicing and that was it. Honda paid the bill as far as I was concerned. And if they didn't not my problem.
I was offered a contract a few months ago from an organisation who had bought out a client who paid within 7 days of invoice. I didn't like their terms so I turned it down.
I had a job done a few weeks ago would not paid until it was completed. The contracter claimed if he did not take money home wife would divorce him.
My response finish the job get paid. Your marriage not my problem
None of my clients give a monkies if I get paid. Its not their problem

 

[Tony50]

No it was not meant at you at all . If I wasn't getting paid I'd be whinging and not doing the work like I said sadly the customer doesn't care if the garage got paid. I certainly don't it never crossed my mind . I took it I for servicing and that was it. Honda paid the bill as far as I was concerned. And if they didn't not my problem.
I was offered a contract a few months ago from an organisation who had bought out a client who paid within 7 days of invoice. I didn't like their terms so I turned it down.
I had a job done a few weeks ago would not paid until it was completed. The contracter claimed if he did not take money home wife would divorce him.
My response finish the job get paid. Your marriage not my problem
None of my clients give a monkies if I get paid. Its not their problem

I take a different view , I like to think people stay in business by being paid,I do care that business owners I know personally survive.

 

[Nanniemate]

I take a different view , I like to think people stay in business by being paid,I do care that business owners I know personally survive.

Unfortunately being bottom of the chain when organisations have gone under because they claim not to have been paid by lager organisations they never paid me or my colleagues and the client just found someone else what we like to think would happen and reality dont always match. Even if I wasn't paid I paid my contractors
Even when they knew I had not been paid they still took the cash
They were feeding their family not mine

 

[Zoshee]

Bloody van. Now I've joined the not so exclusive club where the water pipe comes away from the chasis. Only noticed when we were driving off the drive and the wife shouted it was lose. Then I touched it and the whole bracket came away. It's two flimsy screws which have been just screwed in. We were off to my daughters graduation so had to drive up instead and book a hotel.

I was thinking something more flexible so if you do hit a speed bump it doesn't destroy itself but bounces back. Maybe a powerful magnet on a bracket....I think I'm getting desperate

Here's something I posted a while back of my drive. Incidentally it didn't come off here because there's a screw and washer missing and it's nowhere to be seen.

Not taking it to Brownhills so I've got it booked in elsewhere this week to get it sorted so fingers crossed.

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[Suzukikettle]

Exactly the same problems we had with ours but unfortunately we had a lot more than you. Most of which have been put right by the dealer and myself we had exactly the same fault you had with the blinds. I have removed that stupidly low water pipe after it was knocked off 4 times I have replaced it with a new pipe and manual dump valve. Unfortunately Swift are socking in their build quality and attitude to customer care they know exactly what these problems are.

 

[Zoshee]

I was thinking of replacing it with a manual valve as well. It's just a gimmick being able to dump it from the control panel. Waste is ok but fresh water electronic value is a problem that didn't need solving.

Could you show a picture of what you've done? I'm wondering though if the water pipe will still be too low. There's a slight drop in the tank I can see where the water pipe connects to the tank.

The other thing I was thinking about was getting Air Suspension on the van so it raises it by a couple of inches. I think VB Air is something like £9k though so it'd be the cheaper version with just the manual back air suspension fitted.

My dealer is rubbish and couldn't tie their own shoe laces without chopping them down to an inch in the process which is a bit concerning to be honest. Doesn't give me much faith in the whole thing.

 

[Suzukikettle]

Hi Zoshee, As per your request these are the components I have fitted to my Kon Tiki 784
1 x M of 28mm leisure water pipe
1x 28mm Blue manual water valve
1x 8mm x 300mm screwed stainless rod cut to suit Motorhome
1 x 28mm stainless pipe round bracket
1 x 28mm 90o Elbow
This is what I have used on mine I have retained the original pipework and motorised valve to refit when I sell the Motorhome
I have repaired most of the shocking faults that Swift left when the Motorhome was built

 

[Zoshee]

Brilliant thanks. I'm going to do this I think. Might get the parts and wait until it decides to part ways with the van again.