Elddis Encore 255

[zen1th]

We are still looking to purchase a MH, and absolutely love the Mercedes Malibu - layout, style etc. plus having a Mercedes engine.

However, just been look in at Elddis Encore 255, which is over half the price.

Question is, would the Elddis be any good or is it night and day compared to Merc Malibu?

Thanks for any info.

 

[Lenny HB]

No comparison at all the Elddis will look good with glitz and the spec that comes as standard something has to give and it will be the quality.

The Malibu is made to a far higher standard and you are far less lightly to have any major problems with it.

Reminds me when I was selling my first van a couple that came to see it couldn't understand why I was asking more for a 6 year old Hymer than they could by a new Elddis for.

 

[zen1th]

No comparison at all the Elddis will look good with glitz and the spec that comes as standard something has to give and it will be the quality.

The Malibu is made to a far higher standard and you are far less lightly to have any major problems with it.

Reminds me when I was selling my first van a couple that came to see it couldn't understand why I was asking more for a 6 year old Hymer than they could by a new Elddis for.

Thanks.

Yeah, I guess I knew the answer but just wanted to hear someone else confirm.

The Malibu is lovely. Might be a bit out of our price range, but having viewed it are struggling to find anything that matches up.

It will be used to your all over Europe, as soon as we retire. Planning on living in it, so needs to be decent (and reliable).

 

[WESTY66]

I had an Elddis encore 255 as my first van, it was ok and tbh everything worked and was spot on, however very little storage for us, we now have a Carthago Chic C line now and I wouldn’t go from that to an Elddis for all the tea in China but Mrs Westy loved the Elddis

 

[Guffy60]

We had an Elddis for less than a year.

Had to put decent size and length screws in all cupboard doors as the ones used were so short, after a couple of uses the ones under the front seats were falling off.

There were also lots of other signs showing where corners had been cut to keep the price down.

There were nice touches, but would have been worried if we had kept for 3 or 4 years what would have fallen off.

Plus they are the slowest draining van, waste or fresh water - common comment of Elddis groups.

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[WESTY66]

Plus they are the slowest draining van, waste or fresh water - common comment of Elddis groups.

Yeah I remember irate German moho owners in the queue behind me to empty the waste, it was embarrassing

 

[zen1th]

Ah cheers all.

One to avoid then. We definitely need lots of storage space and a high quality build, as we plan on touring pretty much non stop for a year or so.

 

[zen1th]

I had an Elddis encore 255 as my first van, it was ok and tbh everything worked and was spot on, however very little storage for us, we now have a Carthago Chic C line now and I wouldn’t go from that to an Elddis for all the tea in China but Mrs Westy loved the Elddis

I see the Carthago hold their prices well.

Assume a great build quality, and a used model would still be decent?

 

[WESTY66]

I see the Carthago hold their prices well.

Assume a great build quality, and a used model would still be decent?

Absolutely, mines 2016 built like a tank, everything just works, it is specced up to the hilt, everything is geared for Offgrid capability!
That said there’s one small fly in the ointment, I have to get a shower panel replaced, got the panel from Carthago £58.00 but up to 10 hrs to fit it

 

[B+W vanman]

I see the Carthago hold their prices well.

Assume a great build quality, and a used model would still be decent?

This is Carthago City!
Try to anticipate the answers……..

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[AndyPK]

We’ve had two Elddis ‘vans from new - Majestic 120 and 155 - and both had ‘issues’, floor delaminating in the 120, and damp in the 155…… Would I buy another Elddis? No.

 

[zen1th]

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This seems to have everything we are looking for, and at only 7.5 Metres it’s not too long.

Looks like Carthago is the way to go!

 

[Two on Tour]

We have had our Elddis 175 for nearly 8 years and had no problems to speak of with ours.
We feel that it has been good value for the money and have no intention of changing it anytime soon.

P.S. ignore Lenny, he hates any British vans, especially Elddis.

 

[WESTY66]

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This seems to have everything we are looking for, and at only 7.5 Metres it’s not too long.

Looks like Carthago is the way to go!

Don’t discount the Carthago A class

 

[WESTY66]

We have had our Elddis 175 for nearly 8 years and had no problems to speak of with ours.
We feel that it has been good value for the money and have no intention of changing it anytime soon.

P.S. ignore Lenny, he hates any British vans, especially Elddis.

You really are the exception with your Elddis Paul, that said we never had any problems either, just no storage

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[Jon Stewart]

I see the Carthago hold their prices well.

Assume a great build quality, and a used model would still be decent?

We have a 15 year old one (Iveco daily based, less than 8m). Everything solid, despite a lot of rattles and shakes in transit! Lovely internal size and space for long term touring, and a huge garage (and the payload to match) for bikes/e-bikes/ moped, plus all your other stuff.

Nothing falling apart, but if buying second hand, check everything. We had the dealer fix both shower tray and bathroom sink (speed coat). The Alde heating system is a delight, and the beds are superb.

This one is a double floor, and lovely and quiet and cosy inside, what with all the insulation.

Took a while to find at a price we could afford.

I did pull the rear bumper off today (twice!) through rank noobie stupidity, but looks like an easy fix due to the sensible build method. Major thing (for me) will be a grp fix on the broken end cap.

 

[zen1th]

Don’t discount the Carthago A class

Thanks. No, I’ll keep that in mind.

 

[Two on Tour]

You really are the exception with your Elddis Paul, that said we never had any problems either, just no storage

I agree that storage is not as much as other vans with a garage, but you know me Adi, I have utilised space under our van for non essential items and modified other area to max their usage.

 

[Jon Stewart]

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This seems to have everything we are looking for, and at only 7.5 Metres it’s not too long.

Looks like Carthago is the way to go!

There are a couple of chic s plus on for that sort of money!

 

[Jon Stewart]

Don’t discount the Carthago A class

A far more sensible, and usable purchase.

*Other opinions are available!

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[zen1th]

A far more sensible, and usable purchase.

*Other opinions are available!

So you’d say the A Class is much superior? I guess the cost may be the issue.

 

[Jon Stewart]

So you’d say the A Class is much superior? I guess the cost may be the issue.

As I said, there's two chic s plus currently on auto trader for less than £100k, similar to the c class you shared.

Both on the 6t chassis if I remember right.

Much better space at the front, capacity, payload, fresh and wastewater.

We're on a 5.4t chassis, fully loaded up for extended touring (full water (200l), diesel, bikes, pizza oven, ladder for accessing roof to clean solar panels etc ), running just short of 5t so about 400kg for french/Spanish wine!

Only thing is you'll need C1, but you didn't mention not having that on your licence.

 

[zen1th]

As I said, there's two chic s plus currently on auto trader for less than £100k, similar to the c class you shared.

Both on the 6t chassis if I remember right.

Much better space at the front, capacity, payload, fresh and wastewater.

We're on a 5.4t chassis, fully loaded up for extended touring (full water (200l), diesel, bikes, pizza oven, ladder for accessing roof to clean solar panels etc ), running just short of 5t so about 400kg for french/Spanish wine!

Only thing is you'll need C1, but you didn't mention not having that on your licence.

Thanks again.

Only on early stages of looking, so aren’t fully aware of all the models out there.
Some great info. The space, capacity, payload etc is very important, as we will be extended touring.

I have C1 on my licence. My missus doesn’t, so might have to get her licenced up to give me a break .

 

[Lenny HB]

but Mrs Westy loved the Elddis

Val's got no taste, look who she married.

 

[Jon Stewart]

Thanks again.

Only on early stages of looking, so aren’t fully aware of all the models out there.
Some great info. The space, capacity, payload etc is very important, as we will be extended touring.

I have C1 on my licence. My missus doesn’t, so might have to get her licenced up to give me a break .

Cradle snatcher!

We had a hard limit of £50k on our purchase (last year). They do come up a lot less than £100k, but you might hunt a while. I'm delighted with ours.

All the best with your search.

Edit; do consider the advantages of rear wheel drive (Iveco daily, and some Merc based mh's)

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[Wee Bold Davy]

Having been a member of FUN for 9 years I've read countless horror stories from most manufacturers.
We spent 2 years looking at vans and reading of thousands of members experiences before throwing our life savings at our current van, an Elddis Accordo 105 Prestige despite hearing bad things about Elddis build quality. Most peoples main fear is water ingress but the fact that Elddis gave a 10 year water ingress warranty showed their confidence in their product.
In 7 years of ownership the only issue we've had was our fridge wouldn't stay lit on gas which raised its head in the first month. No other issues at all. We may just be lucky.
On the other hand my brother in law bought a new Dethleffs and had nothing but trouble with build quality related issues. He got rid of it less than 2 years later.
He came across it in a dealers in November and made some enquiries and was shocked to hear that it's had 3 owners since he sold it 5 years ago!
I've long been of the opinion that motorhome build quality is a bit of a lottery. You pay your money and take your chances unfortunately.

 

[Richard n Ann]

We were in a similar situation in 2014. We were considering the Elddis Accordo 105 but also liked an Autotrail. The autotrail was very similar, taller with a nicer sunroof but less weight capacity.

The Autotrail was over £10,000 more though, so we bought the Elddis I thought to myself I can finish off any problems with it for £10,000 no problem. Over the next few years It needed sealant round the inner rear wheel arches, bathroom tap securing properly, waste drains assembling correctly, some cotton threads on the seats that Ann fixed, and that's about it.

It's been a good van, build quality is OK inside, cupboards and drawers are all fine and still going strong

 

[Dolmen]

Unfortunately, if you tap in any Motorhome manufacturer name and the words problem and faults you will find numerous disasters and complaints of build and design faults. I guess if Elddis sell ten times the vans Carthago do then you will see ten times the number of issues reported, however, not necessarily more per van sold. At the difference in price point you should rightly expect one to be better than the other and it is just hope after that.

 

[AndyPK]

True, but I still can’t workout why Elddis insist on using wood in their construction……?
Must be because it’s cheaper, and they’re built for a price point……

 

[zen1th]

Suppose the question needs to be asked, whether to go for shiny new cheaper model such as Elddis, or used model such as Hymer or Carthago.

With choosing a Hymer or Carthago (or similar), chances are the previous owners would have added quite a few upgrades/extras.
Plus, a used higher end MH would still look extremely decent.

Tough one for sure.