Buy British, why not?

[L' Hobo]

Ok, the broad brief is an A class with a bigger screen than the Elysian on a 6 cylinder MAN truck or coach chassis with a manual gearbox and a large garage.

An ex Football Team Coach SHOULD fit most of your requirements, just needs tweeking a bit as most are fly-by-wire gear changes these days.

 

[jongood]

An ex Football Team Coach SHOULD fit most of your requirements, just needs tweeking a bit.

I'm actually extremely happy with what I've got, but the point is there is very little choice at the top end of the market from UK manufacturers. IMO the real problem with many sectors in UK is the reluctance to make significant long term investment.

 

[Folkranger]

Without seeing the which report and what the ratings are for and what vehicles I couldn’t possibly comment other than to say we have had no issues with the past 5 we have owned.

I'm pleased to hear that.

 

[Old Gibber]

This is the first bit.

What an odd thing to say. A motorhome never gives you the same lifestyle as at home. The bathroom is just one example. You either accept walking to the shower block on a cold wet morning or make do with a lesser shower, and having to empty the loo fairly frequently. Completely different to going into the en-suite on a morning.

This is what you were quoting

I cannot for the life of me understand why anyone chooses a lesser lifestyle choice when buying a MH than what they enjoy at home, why travel and accept discomfort it makes no sence.

Im struggling to see how Ive got this wrong?

You were comparing motorhome holidays to hotels, my response was in regard to accepting a lesser lifestyle in a motorhome compared to what one enjoys at home.

Sigh. Whatever.

 

[jongood]

You were comparing motorhome holidays to hotels, my response was in regard to accepting a lesser lifestyle in a motorhome compared to what one enjoys at home.

Sigh. Whatever.

Its all about choices mate.

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[funflair]

Ok, the broad brief is an A class with a bigger screen than the Elysian on a 6 cylinder MAN truck or coach chassis with a manual gearbox and a large garage.

Sounds like a PhoeniX Jon, oh wait, sorry they are German

 

[Old Gibber]

Its all about choices mate.

Obviously still on a different page.

 

[nicholsong]

Having started my MHoming with a N&B Arto 12 years ago, and still being very happy with it, if I wanted to upgrade I cannot think of many choices available in the UK market, except maybe RS, but aren't they built to order and how long does one have to wait.

I would more likely go onto the European S/H market where there are multiple good quality MHs around for immediate delivery.

Geoff

 

[ceejayt]

If you can afford there (probably justified) prices

Friend of mine just got as new Morelo Palace, lovely bit of kit, comparing prices we were within £1 in total! Comparing spec slightly more difficult - I have a slide out (not available on the Palace?) and an inboard generator which he does not. He has twice as much Lithium as me and some lovely features like central locking on the lockers.

 

[ceejayt]

Ive been lucky enough to own a few motorhomes over the years. Some top line German manufacturers included. I have very recently returned again to RS and am delighted with it. The build quality is without doubt the best I've had and the service from RS just superb. I have no doubt I will be sticking with them in the future

I am on my third Elysian, one of the best things is that if something does go wrong there is no ’dealer’ hassle - you are just talking to the manufacturer. It’s a big plus.

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[Old Gibber]

Friend of mine just got as new Morelo Palace, lovely bit of kit, comparing prices we were within £1 in total! Comparing spec slightly more difficult - I have a slide out (not available on the Palace?) and an inboard generator which he does not. He has twice as much Lithium as me and some lovely features like central locking on the lockers.

With a starting price of £180,000 I would expect it to be a lovely piece of kit.

 

[maison]

Is it right fo

. This is the same as when i say "One day I'll own a Hymer". It doesn't matter, on an emotional level, whether Hymer are as good as they used to be or not, their perceived value to me is raised beyond mere financial or technical considerations.
Anyway, that's a long enough essay i think! Hope i answered your question to your satisfaction though!

I also had a dream re motorhomes. Mine was to own an AutoSleeper as they were regarded as being a “good” U.K. marque.

When I retired I bought one, new. It was a disaster for us. In particular the 5 gas leaks we had from different parts of the gas system. Other faults also led to a loss of confidence so we traded it 14 months later.

As the Chinese saying goes “Beware of what you wish for”.

However, good luck and I hope that your Hymer, when you eventually buy it, matches your hopes and expe.

 

[jongood]

With a starting price of £180,000 I would expect it to be a lovely piece of kit.

I'm pretty sure you won't put a Morelo Palace otr for £180k.

 

[busby]

Some of the town/city roads in France are easily as bad as ours with the broken up, pot holed and patched up surface.

Never noticed,,always found French roads good..BUSBY.

 

[busby]

A VW conversion is always at least 10 grand more than any other van of equivalent size. Is the quality that much better? Of course not. But it's the brand that sells because gullible people are a-plenty who believe they are getting a superior product.....It's a Volkswagon don't you know?

VW parts are very expensive and before the T4 they were awful to drive,,,BUSBY.

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[Old Gibber]

I'm pretty sure you won't put a Morelo Palace otr for £180k.

Its very unlikely I'll ever put a Morelo Palace on the road anyway.

 

[gus-lopez]

Never noticed,,always found French roads good..BUSBY.

But he was quoting towns. Some are truly awful.Try through the centre of Pau. Like the Lebanon in some parts last time I went through-.

 

[funflair]

I'm pretty sure you won't put a Morelo Palace otr for £180k.

Sadly you are right Jon, unless we suddenly hit €1.8 to £1

 

[funflair]

Friend of mine just got as new Morelo Palace, lovely bit of kit, comparing prices we were within £1 in total! Comparing spec slightly more difficult - I have a slide out (not available on the Palace?) and an inboard generator which he does not. He has twice as much Lithium as me and some lovely features like central locking on the lockers.

Not sure how that works when the RS web site says, 2021 RS Elysian…. *From £249,995.00 which is well over what we paid for a decent spec Palace or have prices gone up that much in a couple of years.

EDIT actually just been adding up and Palace prices have gone up twice since we bought ours so then it comes down to how much discount can be had on each.

 

[Lenny HB]

I'm pretty sure you won't put a Morelo Palace otr for £180k.

Just about get a Home (cheapest Morelo) on the road for that, they have a list of €160k but you need to add €60k of options.

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[jongood]

I am on my third Elysian, one of the best things is that if something does go wrong there is no ’dealer’ hassle - you are just talking to the manufacturer. It’s a big plus.

You can get work done directly with N&b its just further to go.

Its very unlikely I'll ever put a Morelo Palace on the road anyway.

You should have a look in one, even a home compares favourably with some ok hotels and then you add in the extra choice. You pays your money.....

 

[cyberyacht]

I would think that, to justify that sort of expenditure, you need to be either full-timing or spend most of the year away in it, quite apart from having either very deep pockets or deceased wealthy relatives. Anyway, one wouldn't fit on my drive.

 

[busby]

But he was quoting towns. Some are truly awful.Try through the centre of Pau. Like the Lebanon in some parts last time I went through-.

Come on Gus that's one town in a country twice the size of UK.The Road I live on is as smooth as a babies bum but drive off it onto the main road and it's pot hole after pot hole..BUSBY.

 

[slowdriver]

You pay your money and make your choice. Same as it ever was. I think people are remembering the days when European vans were the same price or cheaper than UK vans. Apart from the differences in dealer markups across the UK and Europe, and any additional costs associated with the RHD vs LHD base vehicle - which I assume are not great, the main determinant is going to be the exchange rate. Most people don't buy motorhomes every year or two and therefore they encounter the impact on big ticket items only occasionally, perhaps once or twice in 20 or so years. Since 2000 the value of the £ compared to the Euro has oscillated between its high of 1.72 (May 20th 2000) to its low of 1.068 (March 23 2020). If you are thinking of buying a European van it is worth considering drip feeding funds into a Euro account to even out the effects of such fluctuations. The cost of an €80,000 motorhome at the best exchange rate in the last 22 years would be £46,510. The cost at the worst £74,906. I'll buy wherever I can get the best product for the best price. That in my opinion and experience is sadly, rarely in the UK. It's mainly because of the way businesses are financed and managed I think.

I said "If you are thinking of buying a European van"
I should have said "If you are thinking of buying a van in Europe and importing it". It's not the same thing at all.
then the exchange rate matters a lot. Nowadays, post-Brexit import tax is also a consideration if you're buying a new van in Europe. I tried to figure out from the UK GOV site what that additional cost might be but it was not possible, or not without losing the will to live. I believe if it is a significantly second hand van then maybe the import duties and VAT are much reduced.

 

[Richard Mason]

RS are a bespoke manufacturer and you can have any layout/configuration you desire

A friend of ours had a big RS. The shower leaked, door handles didn’t match. It had to have an extra brace fitted in the roof. Endless crap.

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[Ian Bosman]

All I can say as a German brand owner which we bought at 8 years old with no faults at all, the issues we have had have been down to the internal locker catches which are generic plastic and so I keep a stock of new replacements on board and the water pump failing. Other than that nothing to complain about. Today the upholstery is as it come out of the factory as is every other part and the rear lounge layout suits us although the makers do various layouts so have no idea why people in the conversation here have been saying that it was the layout that they could not find from the Germans. Until recently the German vans did not have ovens which we found in our last British caravan became another storage locker as my wife and I do not wish to be cooking at that level of cuisine while on holiday. But they are offering ovens now if you must have. My van now at 12 years of age still does not rattle at all. Many of the comments refer to Autotrail who are foreign owned! British built, yes or maybe? The Mondeo is also a foreign owned marque let us not forget as is Vauxhall and even JLR.

 

[Ian.s]

A friend of ours had a big RS. The shower leaked, door handles didn’t match. It had to have an extra brace fitted in the roof. Endless crap.

The Elysian I have is my second RS, Any problems Ive had and they have been minor have been fixed without issue. I hasten to add the minor problem I've experienced with the over seas motorhomes ive owned have been simular but have taken longer to solve. There is no doubt in my mind the build quality of the RS is second to none. Just one mans experience I know

 

[funflair]

I said "If you are thinking of buying a European van"
I should have said "If you are thinking of buying a van in Europe and importing it". It's not the same thing at all.
then the exchange rate matters a lot. Nowadays, post-Brexit import tax is also a consideration if you're buying a new van in Europe. I tried to figure out from the UK GOV site what that additional cost might be but it was not possible, or not without losing the will to live. I believe if it is a significantly second hand van then maybe the import duties and VAT are much reduced.

Yes the exchange rate matters but it matters to the dealer importing a van from Europe before selling it to you in £ or €, as for import duties that you mention we have had a few funsters import new vans no "post B" and they have confirmed that there are no extra duties only the 1% vat difference. My experience is that if a van is more expensive in the UK it is basically down to dealer margins and a little bit of additional transport cost.

Second hand might be different to above.

 

[funflair]

A friend of ours had a big RS. The shower leaked, door handles didn’t match. It had to have an extra brace fitted in the roof. Endless crap.

Still easier to get it fixed in the UK that taking it back to Germany unless you believe that German vans are perfect which in my experience they are not

 

[Ian789]

I'm confused. I thought that Fiat had the biggest market share and VW the smallest.

Fiat has a much bigger market share of base vehicles, but these are converted by scores of manufacturers and sold and 'supported' by hundreds of dealers, which is where many of the problems seem to originate. The california (which is not without problems) is manufactured in house by VW and comes with a standard VW warranty covering the base vehicle and the conversion. It is that approach which I believe would improve quality and service. Whether Fiat/Peugeot/Citroën would set up their own manufacturing or partner with an existing PVC converter I'm not sure but I think it could be good for the consumer.

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