Positive Pilote

[Roby2008]

So, we have had the new Pilote 696D for 11 days now, it took 11 months and 3 weeks from order to collection, no major issues, it needs a new hab door due to a defect in the lamination but that´s in hand, the bathroom lights stay on all the time and the lounge lights don´t work, again, in hand and will be sorted ( Caravan Brockmann nr Munich ).

First impressions with the 9-speed auto, worth selling a kidney for if you had a comformatic before (we did, but had no issues in 98K km).

Collected it on Friday 1st Sept, by Friday evening we were over 300km away in Slovenia, we spent the weekend talking about what we needed to make it wheelchair friendly for herself, then the following Monday to Thursday was spend putting a second floor 13cm higher with space underneath for lightweight ramps plus a few teaks in the bathroom to make a little more space around the toilet.
On the 8th Sept we set off for Lazise on Lago de Garda ( 350km from home ) for the weekend to test the new format, all worked well, just a few tweaks here and there.

The Ducato 140 with the 9-speed is really good and flew (relative term) over the Brenner, I like the stop -start, the gear changes are smooth, the cabin seems to have more space that the previous gen Ducato (2103), and Herself can access the toilet and the coffee machine alone when we are slow moving or in a traffic jam.


Seem to be on about 9.5 to 10 ltrs per 100km, so 28-30 Mpg, that I can live with.

The Hab side is good, obvious production short cuts, the wrong sized countersink for screws, non-recessed hinges and other little things, but nothing to be worried about.

Love the solar, the inverter, and probably even the tv when we can work out how to use the sat dish, not impressed with the Navigation working off Android Auto but we will get the hang of it ( being old and not liking change is the problem).

We are 6.99m and under 3500 kg, we live 10km from the Austrian border, going around is not an option, 99€ for an annual Vignette (Pickl) works for us, with a toll box ( Got the ADAC one ) for everywhere else ( apart from Switzerland)

So 11 days and 1,500 km later, we are very happy.

 

[Folkranger]

With any other purchase you would be livid at this performance. Took a year to arrive, needed a new door, problem with 2 sets of lights. Good that you like it and are currently at beautiful Lago De Garda, where we spent some of this years tour. Enjoy!

 

[Roby2008]

With any other purchase you would be livid at this performance. Took a year to arrive, needed a new door, problem with 2 sets of lights. Good that you like it and are currently at beautiful Lago De Garda, where we spent some of this years tour. Enjoy!

True, but the positives far outweigh the snags, herself has full mobility inside with the wheelchair, it is comfortable to drive and it is exactly what we wanted in a MoHo, it is a complex bit of kit from two different manufacturers so some issues can be expected.
It is doing what we bought it for, and doing it well, and most importantly, herself is happy, that is all that matters.

 

[Monty 2]

Hello, I'm pleased you like your new Pilote, I'm waiting for delivery of mine P696U. Do you know what chassis the 696 has, I can't find the info. I'm looking to get a towbar fitted and need to know.

 

[Roby2008]

Hello, I'm pleased you like your new Pilote, I'm waiting for delivery of mine P696U. Do you know what chassis the 696 has, I can't find the info. I'm looking to get a towbar fitted and need to know.

To be honest, I don´t know, I will have look in the morning if it`s not too wet, we are at camping Sobec in Slovenia in the rain at the moment, but the Pilote is great, warm, cosy and spacious compared to our last MH....
The 696U was our initial choice with the rear lounge but the layout didn´t work with wheelchair access to the bathroom so we went for the 696D with the bathroom across the back and the drop down bed...

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[Monty 2]

Thank you for replying.
I do hope the weather picks up.
I'm just waiting for the DVLA to get their finger out and register the van.
It is great you like it, I was after a Burstner but changed my mind at the last minute..lol

 

[Lenny HB]

Good to here you are pleased with it despite a few teathing problems.
Surprised you went for the 140 with the auto box, auto boxes always work better with more power

 

[treblid]

auto boxes always work better with more power

Isn't that just on old automatic technology?

Modern autos are fully electronic and more efficient. I have never had a problem with 140PS on a modern automatic box.

 

[Roby2008]

Good to here you are pleased with it despite a few teathing problems.
Surprised you went for the 140 with the auto box, auto boxes always work better with more power

It came down to availability, everyone wants the higher power and the full digital experience, electronic handbrake etc and this added 6-8 months plus to the delivery time, our initial estimate was July 23 on a Sept 22 order, we got put back of course and had it on Sept 1st, with the higher spec we would still be waiting, the last MH had the 150 with the comformatic box and it was fine so I reckoned that the 140 with the 9 speed would be ok and a manual handbrake is no hardship, and it has proved to be so, we run at autobahn speeds, up over the Brenner and Großglöckner etc with no problems, we have 2000 + km on it in the first 3 weeks, getting 9ltr per 100km on average too so well happy.

 

[Roby2008]

Isn't that just on old automatic technology?

Modern autos are fully electronic and more efficient. I have never had a problem with 140PS on a modern automatic box.

Having gone from the comformatic to the ZF box, I am well impressed, it´s not like autos of old, I still like to stir a manual but that's on my car for fun and short journeys, give me a modern auto for long jaunts any day.....

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[Roby2008]

Hello, I'm pleased you like your new Pilote, I'm waiting for delivery of mine P696U. Do you know what chassis the 696 has, I can't find the info. I'm looking to get a towbar fitted and need to know.

Had a look this morning, it was too wet on site, it appears to be a standard Fiat chassis with a beam axle and leaf springs.
If you need any more pics then let me know .

 

[Monty 2]

Hi, thanks for the photo I really appreciate it.

 

[Dryerview1]

Hi try LNB towbars I have a 696U and they quoted about £1600. Last year but I did not go a head
Hope your new van is better than mine The electric bed and major electric problems we have had wish I had never bought a Pilote

 

[Monty 2]

Well I hope you have had the problems sorted.
I can't wait to get mine, the DVLA seem to be taking ages. I will update once I have it.

 

[Neil S]

Hi try LNB towbars I have a 696U and they quoted about £1600. Last year but I did not go a head
Hope your new van is better than mine The electric bed and major electric problems we have had wish I had never bought a Pilote

What electric problems have you with
the electric drop down bed
Ours seems to work ok
Although we dont use it as we have two singles at the rear

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[MichaelT]

Good to here you are pleased with it despite a few teathing problems.
Surprised you went for the 140 with the auto box, auto boxes always work better with more power

Most we have looked at only sell with the 180.

 

[Roby2008]

Most we have looked at only sell with the 180.

The 180 is good and that is what most people spec, in my opinion, unless you are towing or are over 3500 kg then its not necessary, my first choice was the 180 but the delivery time stretched out so far that the dealer was unwilling to order.

 

[Roby2008]

Hi try LNB towbars I have a 696U and they quoted about £1600. Last year but I did not go a head
Hope your new van is better than mine The electric bed and major electric problems we have had wish I had never bought a Pilote

That´s a shame, maybe it´s a French thing with the electrics, ours is actually back at the dealers this week to sort a few things like, the microswitch for the lights when the bed is raised, lights in the bathroom on all the time and a glitchy control panel, a few things to get cross about in an €85k MH, but as Herself said `The MH layout is perfect, it works well with the wheelchair and feels good, anything that doesn`t work can be fixed, and will not spoil our enjoyment`.

On the personal side, The wheelchair stuff is 75% done, a sub floor has raised the floor by 13cm to give a flat access all the way through and make getting in and out of bed easier (plus ramp storage underneath), the bathroom been tweaked a bit to make more space around the toilet and shelves have been re-arranged, the shower has yet to be done but a seat will be made so she can get in easily.

I want levelling jacks, will be off to a E & P local suppler next week to see about the price etc.

When it is all done I will post some pics of what was done...

For us the Pilote was the right decision...

 

[Bustup15]

How was the floor raised?
A second floor over the original I assume?
Any pics if you get time.
Any issues on warranty by making significant changes?

 

[Dryerview1]

I had electrical problems after just three weeks the redarc b to b was replaced hoping that would sort the problem it didn't it is now fourteen months and at the dealers having a new bed motor a new master distribution box fitted the bed wall supports bonded and fixed to the wall for the third time the cooker ignition not working plus numerous other things

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[Norrie59]

We bought a new Pilote P650 three years ago and it was really lovely, but the supplying dealer in Preston didn't PDI it (very obvious and confirmed by another dealership) and we had lots of ongoing niggles.
They offered no support whatsoever and it soured the ownership experience so much that we sold it and have given up motorhoming.
For such an expensive purchase, I simply don't understand how so many dealers can be so bad - yet survive. I run fairly expensive cars and motorbikes and these dealerships are much, much better.

 

[Neil S]

We bought a new Pilote P650 three years ago and it was really lovely, but the supplying dealer in Preston didn't PDI it (very obvious and confirmed by another dealership) and we had lots of ongoing niggles.
They offered no support whatsoever and it soured the ownership experience so much that we sold it and have given up motorhoming.
For such an expensive purchase, I simply don't understand how so many dealers can be so bad - yet survive. I run fairly expensive cars and motorbikes and these dealerships are much, much better.

i know the dealership you mention and they seem to get good reviews although I haven't personally had any dealings with them

 

[Norrie59]

We bought from them because they had good reviews but all things are relative I suppose. (Tallest dwarf syndrome...?)
We enjoyed motorhoming for nearly 20 years and visited 90% of Europe during that period but our last motorhome was the first time we bought new and from a dealer - thinking it would be relatively care/problem free.
So disappointing.

 

[MontyB]

Bought my Pilots from SMC Newark nothing but problems from day one had it for three years both Pilote and SMC a waste of space still waiting for parts three years on from day one.
Never had a trip out without something going wrong had to do most repairs myself including the final straw when the oven came loose fortunately the gas was turned off at the time glad to see the back of it.

 

[Roby2008]

Update: Had the Pilote in the dealers for a few things, picked it up 48hrs later with a new hab door, all the electric gremlins sorted and even the satellite tuned properly, all under warranty of course as its only 4 weeks old but super service, so much better than the service for our previous Miller.
So now to finish the conversion bits for herself and then Italy for a week in October.....

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[Roby2008]

Bought my Pilots from SMC Newark nothing but problems from day one had it for three years both Pilote and SMC a waste of space still waiting for parts three years on from day one.
Never had a trip out without something going wrong had to do most repairs myself including the final straw when the oven came loose fortunately the gas was turned off at the time glad to see the back of it.

As they say, you only get one chance to make a first impression, so many dealers fail in this......

 

[A S R]

Sorry, am I hearing you right? £1600 for a towbar?

 

[Neil S]

Sorry, am I hearing you right? £1600 for a towbar?

Thats about the going rate if you need chassis reinforcement extensions

 

[Dryerview1]

Yes that's correct
If you do a search for Pilote towbar you will see pictures depending on your model mines was for 696U as Pilote only have light weight support from the end of the chassis to the rear supporting the rear floor so you need arms and plates to support from the rear of the chassis to the Bach of the MH

 

[A S R]

Utterly ridiculous! And with all this extra ironwork you can still keep it under 3500kgs?