New Van - Diesel Engine Question.

[Neddog]

Hi All,
I am in the process of looking at a newish or new van to purchase such as the Marquis Majestic 125. It a great compact van the only downside for me is that there is no alternative to the diesel engine and as far as I can see that is the same for all new camper vans - they are still using diesel engines. Some cities across Europe are considering bans on older models and the UK Government proposing charging zones for ageing diesel cars and councils introducing various diesel surcharges. With that in mind, £40,000 plus is a lot of money for a vehicle that is using a fuel that will eventually be phased out or am I missing something?? Any advice most appreciated.

 

[Sid52]

Yes, I made that point in an earlier post. As you point out there will be plenty of diesel and petrol vehicles on the roads probably past 2050 even if in the unlikely event the 2035 cutoff happens.

 

[Neddog]

Many thanks all for your informative replies and opinions. I feel much more confident now buying with a diesel engine.
This really is a very good forum.

 

[62272]

I wouldn’t worry about it. I looked into the emission zones across Europe and it seems most are very specific which are in city centres. Its easy to avoid them and get to camp sites, and just bus in, train or cycle (we have an ‘a‘ frame car so we just drive in from the campsites on the outskirts). In Lyon for example you can by-pass the critique air zone by staying on the main road which goes through the centre of town, but does not require the sticker!

 

[thebriars]

Hi All,
I am in the process of looking at a newish or new van to purchase such as the Marquis Majestic 125. It a great compact van the only downside for me is that there is no alternative to the diesel engine and as far as I can see that is the same for all new camper vans - they are still using diesel engines.

Frankly from personal experience, I'd be far more worried about the dreadful design and build quality of an Elddis than whether it is diesel or petrol.

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[Neddog]

Frankly from personal experience, I'd be far more worried about the dreadful design and build quality of an Elddis than whether it is diesel or petrol.

What was it, in particular, you didn't like about the design and build quality?

 

[thebriars]

What was it, in particular, you didn't like about the design and build quality?

Everything. A big chunk of plywood fell off the ceiling after just a week. There was a bodge recall for that eventually. The microwave cupboard had also started to part company with the wall. After a month of use, 8 cupboard doors came off or were loose, all 4 bed frame hinges were loose, cushions deformed, etc etc, and worst of all the roof started to collapse. The repaired microwave cupboard was falling off again. Eventually rejected it. A year later, the same model on display at NEC had the same roof fault and that microwave cupboard was also parting company, so not just a one off! The motorhomes are made in the same factory and still use wood framing.

In 2 years with a Benimar, virtually no faults at all, and we've used it for about 25 week now and covered 10,000 miles.

 

[pappajohn]

You'll still be able to use existing diesels long after the cut off date......if you can afford the diesel.
After the cutoff date diesel tax will rocket as a punishment for not falling in line with the govs wishes.

 

[Neddog]

Everything. A big chunk of plywood fell off the ceiling after just a week. There was a bodge recall for that eventually. The microwave cupboard had also started to part company with the wall. After a month of use, 8 cupboard doors came off or were loose, all 4 bed frame hinges were loose, cushions deformed, etc etc, and worst of all the roof started to collapse. The repaired microwave cupboard was falling off again. Eventually rejected it. A year later, the same model on display at NEC had the same roof fault and that microwave cupboard was also parting company, so not just a one off! The motorhomes are made in the same factory and still use wood framing.

In 2 years with a Benimar, virtually no faults at all, and we've used it for about 25 week now and covered 10,000 miles.

Wow that's hardly a recommendation but really appreciate your opinion. I may have to rethink! I have just been on the Benimar website and they say their are 99% wood-free construction. Excuse my greenness when it comes to motorhome construction but what's the problem with using wood in the interior and what material does the Benimar use?

 

[thebriars]

Elddis make the framing of the exterior panels with wood. If water penetrates from outside, the wood gets damp and rots. As both the inside and outside skins are made of GRP- fibreglass - the damp cannot get out, and the structural integrity of the van is lost. A very, very expensive repair! My first new caravan suffered from this, had a major repair in the first year, and three years later was a write off with damp. That cost us more than half its new value. Sometimes with a motorhome the water can get in from underneath, splashed up from below on a rainy day.

Benimar make their framing (like most makes now) from a plastic substitute, a sort of tough recycled plastic I think, which glues well and holds screws really well. Its feels like those recycled plastic picnic benches you sometimes see. The 1% of wood in a Benimar is the plywood layer on the inside of the floor. Thus if damp does penetrate from an outside seam, there is nothing to rot. The walls are 2 skins of GRP with this plastic framing and 25mm of insulation between. The roof has 2 GRP skins but 75mm insulation. The floor is also 75mm insulation, but the outer skin is GRP, and the inner skin plywood.