Greetings from Ely, Cambridgeshire

[TinkieWoo]

Good afternoon everyone, I hope you are well.

I have joined and subscribed as we are looking into getting our first motorhome.

Having retired early it seems the perfect time to scratch an itch we have had for a few years now and start a new adventure!

Best wishes,

Tracey

 

[Go_buddy_go_]

 

[TheAleMan]

AND

 

[Figaro]

 

[scousebird]

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[chatteris]

welcome

 

[Jev88]

Hi from Eye (Peterborough).

 

[BillyBear]

Hello from the villages near Cambridge. When you get your new motorhome don’t go under that bridge. You know the one I mean!

 

[meanders]

High from another East Anglian Funster. If you want to get to meet a load of Funsters you could do a lot worse than get to Jaws Swaffham Bash about an hour away from you.

 

[FRANKIE58]

Hello from another funster from near to Cambridge

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[AndyPK]

Welcome from an ex-Ely resident!

 

[Janine]

Welcome to the Fun, Tracey

 

[fishplug]

Welcome Tracey,

You'll find an answer to pretty much any question you might have (and to some that you haven't even thought of yet!) on here.

Seems like we have a well represented region. I'm another based near Cambridge.

Do you have an idea of what you want to buy yet?

If not, there's a helpful guide on here somewhere that might give you some thought provoking bedtime reading....

 

[gus-lopez]

 

[rolosroller]

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[cliffanger]

AndTracey

 

[Mohawk Mo]

 

[TinkieWoo]

Thank you all for the very warm welcome, it is kind of you all and much appreciated

Great to see so many local members.

I will reply to the individual posts with questions etc.

 

[TinkieWoo]

Hello from the villages near Cambridge. When you get your new motorhome don’t go under that bridge. You know the one I mean!

Hello BillyBear,

Hehe, I do indeed know the one. Very unlikely that will happen as it spends so much time closed for repairs!

Quite astonishing that so many drivers continue to “modify” their vehicles to open tops given the traffic lights, the warning signs, cautionary markings and the by pass which has reduced the volume of traffic that uses it!!

 

[TinkieWoo]

High from another East Anglian Funster. If you want to get to meet a load of Funsters you could do a lot worse than get to Jaws Swaffham Bash about an hour away from you.

Thank you for the suggestion Meanders. Looks like a very popular event, I hope you and everyone else attending has a lovely time.

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[Andacami]

 

[TinkieWoo]

Welcome Tracey,

You'll find an answer to pretty much any question you might have (and to some that you haven't even thought of yet!) on here.

Seems like we have a well represented region. I'm another based near Cambridge.

Do you have an idea of what you want to buy yet?

If not, there's a helpful guide on here somewhere that might give you some thought provoking bedtime reading....

Thank you very much Fishplug.

I have spent a few days looking at some threads before I registered and subscribed earlier on. It is very evident that there is a wealth of knowledge and I hope in due course I might be in a place to share my views to help others too.

Yes, great to see so many folk who are local to the region. I expect that is especially helpful for feedback on local dealers, servicing options etc.

We do have some initial ideas. I completely understand that we need to get out and about and view actual vehicles but it seems prudent to have an initial shortlist of what we think we would like. These include single beds (age related - multiple bathroom visits at night!) a garage area and a good sized washroom. We don’t feel we need a drop down bed as there is just the two of us. Would rather optimise payload than have a heavy drop down bed we won’t use.

Probably like a lot of first timers there is a balance between something of a size that works for us but also being mindful of the practicalities of parking, driving on smaller roads etc. We both have C1 licences so that of course allows us to consider vehicles in excess of 3,500kgs.

I am quite research driven ( anal may be a better description ) so I am sure I will start a “fors and against” spreadsheet to assist with this. Many years ago I worked in the motor trade and one of my initial observations is how different motorhomes are with regards to very low mileages for their age. This makes me cautious of things like cambelt changes; I suspect some motorhomes in the market place may not have had them changed as owners have based the requirement on mileage rather than age. I know there will be pros and cons and compromises but I am definitely avoiding Ford engines as I have concerns about the wet belt technology.

Apologies for the lengthy reply, I hope you don’t regret asking the question now!

 

[Jev88]

Hi again,

Jaws Swaffham Bash is a great place to see almost every configuration of van (and a few RV) in one place.
We aren't averse to letting people have a look around our vehicles generally speaking and it's the reason we have the RV now after seeing another Funster's vehicle.

If you wanted to visit Swaffham for the day and come and say hello (we take over the rugby club) I am sure you get a head start narrowing down your options.

(Ps I always say Layout is number one).

Wellsbridge Motorhomes not too far away from you and have a wide range of used stock to get a feel for things too - roughly half of them indoors.

 

[fishplug]

Apologies for the lengthy reply, I hope you don’t regret asking the question now!

Not at all - I think you and I will get along just fine as I'm normally the one who compulsively researches everything and fires off long replies, sometimes to questions that haven't been asked yet

It does sound like you have some ideas on what you want and need from the space and from my own personal experience that's very important.

It's easy to get distracted by some nice stying or an elegant feature and lose focus on the important things - like wanting single beds.

There's honestly no better way than to get chatting to others who, as Jev88 said, are normally more than happy to show you around and tell you what they like / dislike / wouldn't live without / would change tomorrow.

I remember going to a show (think it was in Peterborough?) a good few years ago and got to try a skylight fan that I'd been planning on buying. It felt fragile and was incredibly noisy. The reviews had been good, the price was good, but the reality was that it wasn't for me. Nothing like seeing it in person to make the decision.

Ooops! See what I mean. Long rambling answer from me as per usual

 

[Aspenshaw]

Spent a week on a CL at Little Downham in 2123. Found the people very friendly and helpful in the village and Ely, just like us so you will fit in!

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[f6c]

Welcome aboard

 

[DerryW]

Hello and Welcome from down the road in Mid Suffolk.

 

[mapman55]

Hello

 

[Lenny HB]

 

[Lenny HB]

am quite research driven ( anal may be a better description )

You sound just like me.
For a first van if you are not used to driving larger vehicles best to stick to vans 7m and under. Also don't go for too wider vans we have found narrower vans easier in tight spots.

If you are looking at A Class vans you won't find many without drop down beds unless you oder new. Don't let it put you the advantages of Class worth it. Easier to drive with the flat sides nice big windscreen for good visibility and more spacious and loads with a big garage.

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