Discount of new Malibu campervan, is it possible?.

[Clewie68]

Hello everyone,

This is my first post. I'll start with thanking everyone for their replies. I'm looking forward to learning and there's plenty I need to learn.

My first questions are about buying my first campervan. It's taken me a while to decide which van I think is right for me and I like the Malibu 640 LE K.

I went to one dealership two weeks back and learnt a couple of interesting things. The salesperson said it could take up to two years to take delivery. Mainly because everyone wants the 9 speed automatic gearbox. He said I'll pay the price of the van at delivery time not the price when ordering. Which would more than likely subject me to a few price rises.

Is this normal practice buying a new van?.

The second interesting thing the salesperson said, is that Malibu sometimes fix the price of their products at shows. The next one being the at the NEC in October.

Has anyone heard about price fixing?.

I didn't get a definitive response to my question about a possible discount from the salesperson.

Is it feasible to get a discount at the dealership?. Mainly to cancel out any price increases and get my order started.

I'm not sure what to do at the moment. Either wait for October for a possible price fix or try to get a discount and place an order soon.

Kind regards,

Mark.

 

[Just smiffy]

Here’s one available next month..

Malibu Van diversity 640 LE K

southwestmotorhomes.co.uk

 

[Clewie68]

I'm looking for a specific set of optional extras. Like the 180hp engine and a Truma 6DE, etc. It's highly unlikely I'll find my design already waiting on a forecourt. I'll have to place a new order.

 

[Clewie68]

Here’s one available next month..

Malibu Van diversity 640 LE K

southwestmotorhomes.co.uk

Thank you for the speedy thoughtful post though

 

[TheMachMan]

I guess the only chance of a discount is if you have competing offers from more than one source offering Malibu or another similar brand. Otherwise I think you might struggle. You certainly have some patience.

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[Clewie68]

I guess the only chance of a discount is if you have competing offers from more than one source offering Malibu or another similar brand. Otherwise I think you might struggle. You certainly have some patience.

That's exactly what I was thinking. Basically four dealerships. Edwards, GoEuropean, Southwest and Southdowns.

I've been to Edwards already. Great place, but the salesperson that deals with Malibu disappeared while I was there. Guess he thought I wasn't serious.

I also when to GoEuropean last friday. What a fruitless day that was. I was intending to go to the NEC show before GoEuropean but the weight of traffic on the M40 put me behind. When I got to GoEuropean I found out all the sales team were at the show. I would of thought they'd have left one person at Cannock just incase. Due to their bad decision, a stressful six hour drive and a waste of half a tank of diesel, GoEuropean are out of the running.

I might treat myself tomorrow and bimble down to Southwest Motorhomes. Then Southdown Motorhomes, perhaps next week. To get a definitive price. Anymore invisible man stuff and that's the red card. Let's see how serious they are about sales.

Patience?. Yeah thinking of it, I suppose I have. I ordered a large media unit for the living room in June last year. Still haven't got it,. Seems like everything I want, the world and his wife are already in front of me.

 

[lorger]

Be careful with the payload on certain Malibu models, before buying our new van we nearly bought a Malibu 640 I think, the 7.5 long with single or island bed. At that time the one we looked at was rated to 3.5t and when I asked about having it uprated I was told this wasn’t possible, the dealer could have been mistaken. Apart from that it was a lovely van.

 

[Lenny HB]

Not a chance of a discount with Malibu or Carthago.
A show offer with a fixed price may be an option if they do it again.

 

[Clewie68]

Yes. Great point. I haven't got the right answers from a dealer yet, but I'm aware of the issue. I first started looking at the 600 DBK, (f35 light chassis). By the time I'd finished on the configurator, the van was close to its limit of 3,500kg.

Enter the 640 LE K. From what I can read off the current price list. It can be up-plated to 4,000kg, (the f40 heavy chassis). The costliest option at £9,850..

I'm also thinking of putting a good Victron Energy system in after delivery. I'm thinking this is going to weigh in-excess of 60kg.

From what GoEuropean said to me last week. The sales team have software that tells them exactly what options can go on what van.

 

[Clewie68]

Not a chance of a discount with Malibu or Carthago.
A show offer with a fixed price may be an option if they do it again.

Mmmmm, that's what I fear. I'll have to ask the dealers.

What about all the prices rises passed on from Malibu until delivery?. Have you heard of this before?. Do other manufacturers do this?.

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[Pausim]

Here’s one available next month..

Malibu Van diversity 640 LE K

southwestmotorhomes.co.uk

That one is marked sold. I enquired about it last October but it was already sold. I ordered one that is scheduled for construction in June this year but I had to accept the Fiat specification that had already been ordered, luckily except for colour it was exactly what I wanted. The Malibu specification was open to any changes I wanted so I changed the model to 640LE K and specified only the options I wanted. Basically S W Motorhomes had taken a flyer on specifying the Fiat part of the order knowing that they could change the Malibu bits to suit a customer.

From what GoEuropean said to me last week. The sales team have software that tells them exactly what options can go on what van.

That is part of the Malibu ordering process. Since the EU introduced rules laying down minimum payloads they have been much more careful about not letting customers specify options that make the van too heavy. Their brochure now includes a figure for the maximum weight of options that can be ordered, for the 640LE K this is 203kg. My order confirmation also includes a figure showing how many kg I have spare for additional equipment.

 

[Just smiffy]

You don’t really expect the dealers to know what their selling do you…

Especially with knowledge about the extras you want, my advice would be to buy the model you want and get the extras fitted by the experts who deal in them and have the knowledge….

Even if I had the money I couldn’t/ wouldn’t buy a new one on order as I’d die of boredom waiting for it, if I lived that long..

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

Not sure if they will have what you are looking for, but saw a few Malibu's at Lowdhams Leisureworld a couple of weeks ago.
Another dealer to consider?
I have no affiliation to them by the way.
Can't even afford a coffee in their coffee shop!

 

[Clewie68]

Not sure if they will have what you are looking for, but saw a few Malibu's at Lowdhams Leisureworld a couple of weeks ago.
Another dealer to consider?
I have no affiliation to them by the way.
Can't even afford a coffee in their coffee shop!

I'll look. Thanks for the heads up

 

[Orion]

What about all the prices rises passed on from Malibu until delivery?. Have you heard of this before?. Do other manufacturers do this?.

Adria were one manufacturer that had been offering ‘price protection’ on the agreed price at time of order. That may have changed recently but they were certainly honouring the sale price when we purchased - and ‘saved’ £20k over list when delivered!

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[Clewie68]

You don’t really expect the dealers to know what their selling do you…

Especially with knowledge about the extras you want, my advice would be to buy the model you want and get the extras fitted by the experts who deal in them and have the knowledge….

Even if I had the money I couldn’t/ wouldn’t buy a new one on order as I’d die of boredom waiting for it, if I lived that long..

Malibu sales didn't know if the Truma 6 D+E was an option at last October's NEC show. Lots of asking each other, no answer

 

[Clewie68]

Adria were one manufacturer that had been offering ‘price protection’ on the agreed price at time of order. That may have changed recently but they were certainly honouring the sale price when we purchased - and ‘saved’ £20k over list when delivered!

Very interesting. Was this recently?.

 

[Lenny HB]

What about all the prices rises passed on from Malibu until delivery?. Have you heard of this before?. Do other manufacturers do this?.

That's normal in the current market, lucky my Compactline is coming through at 2022 prices, today's price is £8k more

 

[Clewie68]

That's normal in the current market, lucky my Compactline is coming through at 2022 prices, today's price is £8k more

Is your Compactline (very nice choice) a new order?. I'm assuming you had a price fix?.

 

[Lenny HB]

I'm also thinking of putting a good Victron Energy system in after delivery. I'm thinking this is going to weigh in-excess of 60kg.

How do you get to that weight?
I'm going to fit a Multiplus 3000 that's about the heaviest bit of kit at 18kg the other stuff doesn't weigh much.

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[Orion]

Very interesting. Was this recently?.

Ordered in October 21 and delivered in December 22. At that time they were still adhering to the ‘price protection’ for vehicles on order and for new orders, although the sales bod didn’t know how much longer it would remain in place.

 

[Clewie68]

How do you get to that weight?
I'm going to fit a Multiplus 3000 that's about the heaviest bit of kit at 18kg the other stuff doesn't weigh much.

2 solar panels, one 460ah life battery and something close to your inverter, plus all tge other bits and bobs. It's probably best I guesstimate a heavier weight rather than leave myself short. Then I'll need a new spare wheel too as Malibu don't supply the van with a spare.

 

[Lenny HB]

Is your Compactline (very nice choice) a new order?. I'm assuming you had a price fix?.

Long story had one on order that got cancelled I was told it was a Carthago that did but I know different it was the dealer.
Saw one on Go European so I gave Dan a ring, it was a cancelled order they kept on their books. I was able to change the spec of the Carthago side but not Fiat part so I'm stuck with RHD something I really didn't want but didn't want to wait another year for LHD.
Also on the light chassis, not too bad as the 180 engine and auto are standard on the Compactline with that you the running gear is almost the same as the Maxi with the bigger hubs & brakes & 130 PCD wheels. But rear chassis the light but I'm getting it registered at 3960 and looking at fitting full air so that will take the rear axle up to 2240kg should just be enough.

 

[Clewie68]

How do you get to that weight?
I'm going to fit a Multiplus 3000 that's about the heaviest bit of kit at 18kg the other stuff doesn't weigh much.

2 solar panels, one 460ah life battery and something close to your inverter, plus all tge other bits and bobs. It's probably best I guesstimate a heavier weight rather than leave myself short. Then I'll need a new spare wheel too as Malibu don't supply the van with

Ordered in October 21 and delivered in December 22. At that time they were still adhering to the ‘price protection’ for vehicles on order and for new orders, although the sales bod didn’t know how much longer it would remain in place.

Was it the dealership that had the price fix in place or Malibu?

 

[Lenny HB]

2 solar panels, one 460ah life battery and something close to your inverter, plus all tge other bits and bobs. It's probably best I guesstimate a heavier weight rather than leave myself short. Then I'll need a new spare wheel too as Malibu don't supply the van with a spare.

I'm planning on either 2 x 230 or 280ah lithium and as many solar panels as I can get on the roof.

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[Just smiffy]

2 solar panels, one 460ah life battery and something close to your inverter, plus all tge other bits and bobs. It's probably best I guesstimate a heavier weight rather than leave myself short. Then I'll need a new spare wheel too as Malibu don't supply the van with a spare.

I wouldn’t let a dealer anywhere near my van to fit that stuff…

 

[Orion]

Was it the dealership that had the price fix in place or Malibu?

It was an Adria, and it was applicable to all vehicles/dealerships direct from Adria.

 

[Clewie68]

I'm planning on either 2 x 230 or 280ah lithium and as many solar panels as I can get on the roof.

That's another thing that's concerning me. How much solar can I put on a campervan roof with three skylights.

I'm plumping for the 180hp engine. I think I can get it with the heavy chassis.

 

[Lenny HB]

That's another thing that's concerning me. How much solar can I put on a campervan roof with three skylights.

I'm plumping for the 180hp engine. I think I can get it with the heavy chassis.

For Victron kit and solar panels have a word with RogerIvy he can probably supply panels to suit, not everything is shown on his site and a 10% discount for Funsters.

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[CRD]

I'm looking for a specific set of optional extras. Like the 180hp engine and a Truma 6DE, etc. It's highly unlikely I'll find my design already waiting on a forecourt. I'll have to place a new order.

We‘re part exchanging our Malibu 640GT with 9 speed auto and Truma 6DE (diesel and electric) in the next few weeks. It’s got lots of goodies such as solar/Victron, Growler and non starter and has done only 15k miles. Bought new in May 2021 and it’s in very good condition.

It has the 140 engine, but we’ve never felt the need for a 180.

Send me a PM if you are interested and I’ll tell you which Carthago dealer it’s going to soon.