New van advice please

[Sharky0492]

Hello all,

I'm very interested in purchasing a motor home and was directed here by my father who was a member of the forum when he owned a motorhome himself.
My wife and I love to travel and we live in Dover so easy access to France, we have a 5 year old girl.
We have been to a local dealer and stepped inside over 30 vans and came away with an idea of what he would like.
We like the fixed bed option either a French bed or the twins over the garage (I prefer this option) and either a pull down double or dinette double.
At the dealer there was a Bailey Advance 76-4 which I thought was smart for £45k with some extras including solar panel, awning and tv aerial.
I've had a look on the internet and also like a few other vans.
We have no idea how much to spend and our maximum is around £45k
Not opposed to second hand but like the idea of new.
Please feel free to offer any and all advice to help us as I'm going around in circles.
We would like a nice tidy 4 berth with some storage and a fixed bed.
Question is new or used and which van?


Thank you for taking time to read this and for all advice offered.

Kind regards

Adrian

 

[Stealaway]

A garage/ bunks is always going to be safer if you're intending to take bikes on your travels.
You will get a better buy S/H and lose less money over the years, buying private would be even better.
Don't expect the first van to be the perfect one for you.

 

[Hettie's Crew]

My wife and I love to travel and we live in Dover so easy access to France, we have a 5 year old girl.

As you live so close why not get over to France/Belgium, you’ll get much better value for money.
Do searches online for French/Belgian camping car dealers.

 

[tacr2man]

Big thing to watch , as you will see on forum if you search is weight , as many are a bit marginal , especially if you need to stay under 3500kg for license reasons.

 

[TerryL]

Download a copy of Jim's excellent book "Buying a Motorhome". Lots of good information to start you off.

You need to be a subscribed member - but it's the best £15 you'll ever spend on motorhoming.

Oh yes -

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[peterc10]

You really need to go to lots of dealers as there are lots of types layouts and makes available and most UK dealers often have very limited ranges. Once you have chosen a layout then you need to check the payload, especially when travelling with a family. I suspect you have not got a C1 license (depends when you passed your test) so that will limit you to vehicles at or under 3500kg maximum weight. Frankly you will struggle to find a motorhome of that weight that is large enough for a family and has the payload needed for everybody's stuff.

On the long term you may find it easier to get a C1 licence.

 

[Rolyan]

On the question of new or used, it really does depend on what you want. But in my opinion its more to do with how you feel than anything practical.

If you think about a fixed top budget, that fixed price will (usually) get a higher spec used van with more extras added than the same model brand new. Or, the other option is, you can get the same model and specification, but save a LOT of money by buying used over new. Or, if you can afford it, you buy new simply because you want to.

We looked at lots of used vans, and we soon discovered that every single one of them was kept in excellent condition. We sat in ours and it looks and feels and drives like new. It's fully serviced, low mileage (most are), full mot, fully checked, bodywork and fittings immaculate; so we were happy. We got a full gold 12 month warranty with it, but honestly I can't see it being needed.

I've only ever bought one vehicle new (a car), with delivery mileage. I'm glad I did it, for the experience of buying new, however, ironically that's the only vehicle I've ever had that had a fault that could not be fixed and ultimately meant swapping it for another car!

So it's up to you, but for me, new v second hand is more of a heart than a head decision. Others will disagree though, so only you can decide. Good luck and do what makes you the happiest, because that's what really matters.

 

[gus-lopez]

 

[PP Bear]

 

[mikebeaches]

Hi and

Dover, what a great location for escaping to the continent!

When getting a first van, lots of things to consider and decisions to be made, as you've discovered.

We're on our third one: first was a used one and the next two we bought new. Would probably buy new again, but just a personal choice.

As others have already mentioned, if you need to keep to 3,500kg because of your driving licence, then check there will be sufficient payload - suggest a minimum of 500kg, but preferably a bit more.

Size (length and width) is another consideration and not just because of the weight issues. It's a question of living space verses driveability, parking and gaining access to interesting places ie villages and country lanes. Narrower vans are generally more relaxing to drive. Some of the Bailey's are particularly wide; wider in fact than most standard coachbuilts. I live in the city where they are made, and might otherwise consider having one - but the extra width is a complete turnoff. They do make narrower vans too these days, but in reality I prefer continental converters.

Layout is a personal thing - we had french doubles in our first two vans, but now fixed twins, which we much prefer. All have had front dinettes and belted seats for 4.

Anyway, good luck with your search.

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[suavecarve]

As per usual i will go completely left field and say ..................... Dont spend 45k. Look for one that you think suits your needs about the 20k mark. I would be buying privately at around that mark with the intention of keeping it for a year. You should be able to get hold of about a 10 year old version of current 45k new motorhome. The most you are going to lose is a couple of grand in that year because it is not going to be the right one for you after you have used it. If you get bunks and a garage you ll find the kids want to sleep in the overhead and youre in teh bunks or the bikes have to go on the rack and there is nothing in your garage or the dinette is the wrong way round etc.
Once you have played with it for a year and then been on aires and campsites you will get a reasonable clue as to what you think suits you.
Then, with all the advice you have received, then and only then, will i give you the authority to spend your hard earned 45k. But with where you live, and the mention of going over the water (eurotunnel frequent traveller) then taking your hard earned 45,000 english pounds and spending them in Germany seems a very reasonable idea and you have the left hand drive.
Be wary of the highly probable fluctuations in the pound euro exchange rate next March which probably wont work in your favour. It may be worth keeping first van for a couple of years until Brexit (No i dont want to hijack this thread) settles down and the british economy is boosted and we get back to 1.40 euros to the pound or a Burstner instead of a CI !

In relation to the C1 licence. Take £500 off your top end and get the licence. It will be extremely limiting for a family of 3 at the moment and i note that you have a girl. They add so much weight to the van in their teens with make up, clothes, hair dryer, straighteners, extra battery and inverter to work them, bigger solar panel to recharge mobile phone that she will be constantly on. Then when they get back past the teenage years and they have perfected the tilted head, eyes looking up at you as they drop their chin and slowly but heart wrenchingly say "Daaaaaaddy" and you have already gripped your wallet as you hear those words only to hear "You know i love you and is there any chance ..............." and you hold your breath thinking "Please dont let it be a pony this time" but they get to that point when "Can i borrow your motorhome?" ...... Now thats when it gets really good because you can say................"Sorry darling of course i would lend it to you but ..............................you havent got a licence for it and thats the reason i uprated it"

Glad i got that off my chest.

Enjoy

 

[Pausim]

With a 5 year old I guess you might be in the age group where your driving license may limit you to 3500kg. If so keep a close eye on weights, some sub 3500 mhs of the type you may be looking at have very little, if any, payload. Some dealers have been accused of a dismissive/misleading attitude to payload.

 

[Cheshirecat57]

I too will go left field a bit

Hire one for a week

It will be the best £1000 you ever “waste”

 

[Spriddler]

As per usual i will go completely left field and say ..................... Dont spend 45k. Look for one that you think suits your needs about the 20k mark. I would be buying privately at around that mark with the intention of keeping it for a year. You should be able to get hold of about a 10 year old version of current 45k new motorhome.

Totally agree. Experience is something you get just after you needed it. You rarely find the first m/h to be exactly what you want/need. Having sufficient payload is very important.
Around 20 grand can get you a low mileage, cherished and virtually unmarked m/h which will lose little, if anything after a year or two, and will enable you to make a more informed/experienced choice for the next one.
As @TerryL said, subscribe here and download Jim's 'Buying a motorhome' guide. Look online and visit lots of m/homes (at dealers is more time efficient), then look at more. The season is coming to an end for many which is one of the better times of year to buy.
A word of caution; from reports on here it seems some dealers are a bit like the Curate's egg: Wonderful until you get a problem. I have no connection with them but 6 years ago I bought my first, faultless and current s/h m/h from the very helpful and experienced Johns Cross Motorhomes who are not too far from you and worth browsing their website and a visit if you see something you like.