Are Swift caravans really this bad?
We have a 2008 Sterling Europa caravan. We bought it as the second owner at two years old. When we purchased it we took out a 3 year "Gold" warranty, we "ummed" and "ahhed" at the time, but decided to go for it, it was the best decision we ever made! In the time we have had the caravan we have had (under warranty):
Damp
3 x sessions of damp treatment at the dealers under warranty (last one was £1000+), plus one out of warranty (as I suspect the dealers were feeling guilty) however I am confident we'll find more damp at next years service and if we want anything done, I'll have to pay for it! (Shane the dealers haven't sorted the problem in three attempts!).
Electrics
2 x Fridge power boards (one in warranty/one ouside that I paid through the nose for the part from Thetford!)
1 x battery charger + I replaced a defective switch on the front for the electric heater controls.
Fittings
The grill piezo no longer works (and is too expensive to even consider fixing!)
Effect on Furnishings
Because of the damp, we have mould marks on all the blinds and the veneer ( say veneer, I mean the thinnest wood coloured sticky back plastic available!) is peeling and falling off.
No Hope!
I paid cash for it (like a fool) so there is no interest by the manufacturer in responding to any of this. Our mobile caravan service agent tells the tale of two customers, they both purchase the same make and model of van, both have significant issues with their vans, one paid cash, the other used finance. The one who paid cash - no interest - they've got his money, the one on finance, the finance company have told the manufacturer that if they don't sort out the problems, they wont agree any further loans for their caravans. Guess who's caravan is being fixed and who is being given the run-around!
So, back to the point, are all Sterling/Swift caravans just as crap or have I been unlucky? I was hoping to keep this for a few years, but with the damp problem, it may not be tenable to keep, but at the same time it has little trade in value.
Thanks for reading my rant!
Cheers
Peter