First motorhome questions

[Jevo]

Hi all!
Just a couple of questions regarding a motorhome we have seen.
It's a 2002 Compass Avantgarde 400 4 berth. Does anyone have any experience of this vehicle and any good or negative points? One of my concerns is with it only having a 2l engine and would it struggle up hills?
This would be our first motorhome so want to make the right choice.
Thanks

 

[TheBig1]

the 2l is indeed gutless. The compass conversion is probably getting a bit tired after 22 years, but the internal parts are interchangeable with their caravans of the same era. Production ceased some years ago on the compass brand, so body panels may be difficult after an accident

Be very very picky about any signs of water ingress, as the rear bodywork is made of a wooden frame with 4mm ply inside and 0.2mm aluminium outside. Any minor scratches left to corrode will end in hundreds of tiny holes. Otherwise a fairly solid van and there are loads about still

 

[Jevo]

the 2l is indeed gutless. The compass conversion is probably getting a bit tired after 22 years, but the internal parts are interchangeable with their caravans of the same era. Production ceased some years ago on the compass brand, so body panels may be difficult after an accident

Be very very picky about any signs of water ingress, as the rear bodywork is made of a wooden frame with 4mm ply inside and 0.2mm aluminium outside. Any minor scratches left to corrode will end in hundreds of tiny holes. Otherwise a fairly solid van and there are loads about still

Thanks for this. I'm going to test drive it tomorrow and try to find some big hills to try it out. We are only wanting to go up to 20k as it's our first van and the pickings are slim.

 

[TheBig1]

My advice is wait a month or 2 and see prices falling. They are artificially high right now but dropping.

Another point is to check for rust under the cab and check old MOTs online to see if the van has been looked after. Multiple fails, especially in the same areas spell trouble.

I used to buy and sell motorhomes and caravans

 

[Lenny HB]

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[herald_400rl]

Whilst a 4 berth, are there only 2 traveling seats? If this is a consideration for you.
We have a 2000 plate and you do need to be a bit more mindful of corrosion on the van side and ingress on the hab side. Check everything works, check all paper work, etc.

 

[FrankNicklin]

We have a 52plate Swift 1.9 and it’s not going to win any races but where are you racing to anyway. Tootle along at 55 to 60, drive to the road conditions and prepare for hills. No problem on gentle inclines but will need a lot of gear work on steeper hills. If you are going to run at 70mph on motorway, which I don’t recommend, be prepared for low mpg. A steady run in ours gets about 25 to 28mpg. Ours is 5 berth with 4 belted seats.

 

[FrankNicklin]

My advice is wait a month or 2 and see prices falling. They are artificially high right now but dropping.

Another point is to check for rust under the cab and check old MOTs online to see if the van has been looked after. Multiple fails, especially in the same areas spell trouble.

I used to buy and sell motorhomes and caravans

People have been saying that for a few years now but prices are still higher than they should be, just how long do you wait. We bought last year on a very limited budget having been looking for over 12 months. Sometimes you just have to go for it to live the dream, life’s to short.

 

[Jo662]

 

[TheBig1]

People have been saying that for a few years now but prices are still higher than they should be, just how long do you wait. We bought last year on a very limited budget having been looking for over 12 months. Sometimes you just have to go for it to live the dream, life’s to short.

second hand car prices are dropping month on month, most by 20%+ with premium brands like range rovers dropping 45-60% in the last few months. Less disposable income means that luxury items are first to go. Last 2 years it has been a sellers market with supply chain issues being the main driver. It is rapidly turning back to a buyers market. So prices fall

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[Cockers]

Welcome to a world of advice and information. My opinion is that secondhand van prices won’t change much over the next year whilst new van prices are so high there will always be a strong market for secondhand. bit the bullet, buy the van and get out and enjoy it, you never know what’s round the corner, life can change in an instant.

 

[FrankNicklin]

second hand car prices are dropping month on month, most by 20%+ with premium brands like range rovers dropping 45-60% in the last few months. Less disposable income means that luxury items are first to go. Last 2 years it has been a sellers market with supply chain issues being the main driver. It is rapidly turning back to a buyers market. So prices fall

Different market forces though. People spent big on MHs and are still looking to recoup their money when selling. Cars will drop 30% in value the moment you drive it off the forecourt. That is not the case with a MH.

There is a ton of over capacity in car production which is why you are seeing zero percent finance on new cars. Range Rovers are bad examples and recent press coverage has shown them to be extremely expensive to insure, buyers are dropping them like hot cakes and that will reflect in 2nd hand values, people don’t want them.

We thought the very same after COVID that luxury items will be the first to go and possibly correct, but as I said sellers want to recoup their spend. Delays in base vehicles from the manufacturers of MHs have kept 2nd hand prices higher as well.

My sister bought a new Mercedes PVC last year, the moment they got it, they had 3 offers of 10000 euros more than they paid for it and that’s on a 90000 Euro vehicle.

 

[FrankNicklin]

Welcome to a world of advice and information. My opinion is that secondhand van prices won’t change much over the next year whilst new van prices are so high there will always be a strong market for secondhand. bit the bullet, buy the van and get out and enjoy it, you never know what’s round the corner, life can change in an instant.

Spot on.