Autocruise Jazz
I have a separate post asking for advice on buying a small(ish) motorhome.
A van that really interests me is the Autocruise Jazz but the ones for sale are all many miles away.
I would be very grateful if anyone could let me know if one comes up for sale within striking distance of Manchester, say up to 100 miles away.
Thanks for reading.
Comments
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After having a Swift Bolero you would not get me anywhere near another one. Build quality was absolute rubbish and if you complain to much on Swift Talk they remove your posts. They only like people who write nice things about them. If you are really serious then you need to look much further afield. Our Dealer is about 200 miles away.
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I have never owned a Jazz but I did look at one in 2011 because the 5.4 metre length was attractive.
The plus points are that it has a good kitchen and four travel seats. For us the negatives (based on the vehicle we saw) were :-
Indifferent build quality.
Limited storage (not enough for an extended trip abroad).
The combination of a relatively small 100ah battery and a compressor fridge with no solar panel as standard would mean that the LB would run down relatively quickly if not on hookup.
Of course for some people the above points won't matter as to some extent it depends how you wish to use the vehicle.
The engine will most likely be a 110bhp Euro 5 with a five speed gearbox. I am not sure if 130bhp/ 6 speed variants exist but worth having if you come across one.
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Thanks for taking the trouble to post.
Q4, I'm not sure what your last two sentences mean. (I don't want to travel too far to view/buy in case there are warranty issues.)
BVM, the storage issue is one of the reasons we want to view one. We know we will have to compromise on space, having had caravans for many years, and the lack of a hook up will not be an issue for us.
I will take very seriously both your comments on build quality and also see what engines are available.
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Thanks. I hope my comments are useful and I hope ultimately you find the right van for you be it a Jazz or otherwise.
The 2011 Autocruise brochure shows a 130 bhp engine (which comes with a six speed gearbox) as an option at additional cost :-
Options
Upgrade from 110bhp to 130bhp engine with 6-speed gearbox in Jazz (Only available in conjunction with Comfort Pack)
Special value Comfort Pack with:- Upgraded radio/CD player with Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity, USB iPod/MP3 device connection and steering wheel controls
- Fog lights
- Cab air-conditioning
- Cruise control
- Alarm
- Reversing sensors
Roll-out canopy awning
Alloy wheels
Exclusive ‘Impala’ stain resistant, easy-clean fabric.So you may find one with the comfort pack and bigger engine which are definitely "nice to have" Obviously don't take a dealers word for it about the engine size. It looks like the 130bhp version is built on a Ducato but the 110bhp version on a Peugeot see :-
https://kpcm.co.uk/downloads/autocruise/Autocruise2012Brochure.pdf
i am not sure exactly when the Jazz came out but I ordered a new van (not a Jazz) in September 2011 for delivery in March 2012. One of the reasons for the delay in build was the changeover from Euro 4 to Euro 5 so again check the build date of your new van if you can to ensure it is Euro 5.
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Can't comment about the Jazz but would make a comment regarding the 'knock Swift' brigade.
We had an Autocruise Accent and yes it had problems BUT it was easy to get them sorted out and Swift were very helpful. We now have a Rapido V68 and it also has a number of issues which were not expected and are not as easy to sort out, whether that is a language issue or company attitude I'm not sure but I'd rather have a van from a manufacturer where the parts only have to come from UK.
Dave
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"…comment regarding the 'knock Swift' brigade."
That's an unfortunate way to talk about your fellow club members and posters, GDF, and I’ve known posts to be removed for less. No doubt you didn’t mean anything derogatory but we all have different views, opinions and experiences and shouldn’t be given a group name for stating them.
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Concerning your comment about ...."parts only come from the UK.."
I have owned several motorhomes both UK and German brands. Any vehicle and especially a motorhome with its habitation complexities will have parts which are manufactured in several different countries and the habitation part will very likely contain major components such as windows, fridge, heating system, toilet and cassette etc. which will be sourced from non UK manufacturers. To quote a simple example the gasket on the cap of my dometic toilet cassette fell down a "WC chemique" Dometic don't sell direct to individuals and no dealer I contacted was interested in getting the part. However I was able to buy the complete cap from a company in Yorkshire at a cost. Nearly all the problems I have encountered have been due to component failure rather than build quality but effecting repairs has been dependent on the capability and availability of the supplying dealer.
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Evening
In October 2013 I bought an Autocruise Rhythm from Marquis. October is when dealers shed their stock ready for the next years models so there's always a deal to be had. I would have preferred an Autosleeper equivalent but at the time there was a 20k difference which I didn't want to spend! So five and a half years later with 45000 miles on the clock I'm still happy. Yes the build was questionable but I knew that at the time. I knew that my van would be with me for a long time so I've made it my own and made changes to suit. It is a Peugeot Boxer with the 2.2 130bhp engine with a six speed box. I tow my twin axle caravan and also a car transporter trailer with ease.
I've added a 150w solar system, put extra insulation in the rear doors, hardwired a dash cam and a wifi booster amongst other things. This winter I'm having the interior reupholstered, change the tyres and install a decent sound system. I do all my mods over winter while in Spain as parts are far cheaper and I have too much time on my hands! (I also know a few locals)
Value for money wise it's proved to be a good van with few issues. Marquis were good to deal with overall and I'd go to them again.
Can't advise on a dealer near you but I thought I'd give my opinion on the brand. Hope it's of help
JK
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You will certainly NOT find one of those. The FIAT / PEUGEOT are made in Italy. FORD are made in Turkey, Mercedes are German, Dometic is Swedish, Thetford is American, Hartal Doors are made in Germany and Project 2000 ( Bed Frames, Electric Steps, Electric Beds ) are from Italy. CBE Electronics and Control Systems are made in Italy.
So basically what you get from a Uk supplier is rubbish build quality with Uk Spec which includes a Daewoo Microwave from South Korea. Interior woodwork and exterior panels are about the only bits from the UK apart from Sargant electrics. You also get that annoying no electrics in the habitation area restriction.
What you should be looking at is the Dealer. Your contract is with him not the manufacturer. He is responsible for fixing it. Pick a rubbish Dealer and you will have no end of trouble trying to get it fixed. So do your research and then research the Dealer you are going to be spending thousands of your hard earned ££££ with him.
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I always liked the layout of the Autocruise Jazz, and at 5.40 metres a viable length for everyday use. Shame Swift canned the whole range in when,2017 ? now all they have are 122 and 124 with rear lounge/beds. Original Autocruises before Swift were very well put together, I had a 2005 Starlet 2, a very good van. Compressor fridge is a negative as they run down the battery very quickly.
A roof solar panel of 100watts or more and twin batteries will keep you....chilling. good luck.
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Stop press!
We put a deposit on this Jazz this afternoon. Can't get my hands on it for a couple of weeks as it has to go through the workshops so already impatient!
I wouks like to thank everyone again for all of helpful advice and insights. Although we have camped and caravanned for many years, this will be our first campervan. No doubt I will be seeking help and advice in the future - we are already planning various changes that we would like to make - so, as they say, watch this space.
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Well done👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
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Sorry, Rayjsj, to disagree but my fridge runs quite happily on the battery for a couple of days If I'm careful but, as I say, I do tend to use Club sites & EHU wherever I pitch up so it does not get deep discharge / recharge cycles very often.
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Well done. At 5.4 metres you can park in a normal car parking space which makes a difference.
Lots of advice will be forthcoming on here or on other forums such as "out and about live" or motorhome fun. Some of it will be good, some prejudiced and some just plain wrong so read with discernment.
My top piece of advice is don't rush out and buy lots of accessories at the beginning. A lot of stuff from home can be adapted until you have enough experience to know what you need .
However a mains hook-up lead and gas bottle(s) will be needed and these may come with your van. Good levelling blocks and a simple hose for filling water (ours is a 5 metre off cut which takes up minimal room) or alternatively a 10 litre plastic container and a funnel. You will also need toilet chemicals (lots of opinions about which ones).
All the best have a great adventure its very exciting !!
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Ours is 6m and overhangs a typical supermarket car park bay by about 0.5m.
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OK strictly speaking you are correct because traditionally a car parking space is 2.4 metres wide x 4.8 metres long. That size is too small to accommodate some modern cars and creates interesting problems in the world of commercial property since no developer is going to oversize car spaces at the expense of lettable space (Costco is an exception).
However my point was that you can pretty much park in a normal space. After all many cars even small ones will (unnecessarily) overhang at the front rear or side and the bigger luxury cars are almost the same length as a small campervan.
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Congratulations on getting the Jazz, hope you have many happy times away in it.
We have an Autotrail V line 600, with a Webasto drawer compressor 12v fridge. So do know the shortcomings of 12v only fridges. We also have twin 110a batteries and a 100w solar panel, we can manage upto 4 days away from EHU. Depending on the sunshine.
Autocruises were a very well respected brand, before Swift took them over, still see many on sites, 3 on the site at the moment, a Starburst, a Starfire and a Pioneer, another Autocruise brand. Well made vans.
I have no trouble taking my 6 metre van anywhere that doesnt have a height barrier.
Supermarket car parks are not a problem, just park at the far end away from the store. Dont park in Cities with wardens measuring spaces though.
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As Rayjsj says -- park at the ' remote end ' of car parks or, preferably, where there is a grass or similar bank behind you so you can reverse in until the reversing sensors just start to squeal non stop. In those conditions the sliding side door makes loading your groceries an absolute doddle
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Like you, I'm buying an Autocruise Jazz and am waiting to collect it, I pick it up on wednesday and then I'm heading to Wales for a few days with my dog. I'm so excited and can't wait to get it. As soon as I saw it I loved the layout and the size of it and hope to have many happy and relaxing weekends (or maybe longer) away in it.
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I'm a bit late to the discussion here but I bought a Swift Mondial EK in 2013. To all intents and purposes it is an Autocruise Jazz, indeed some of the fixtures and fittings have Autocruise labels on them.
It's been a great choice for us. Our only reservation was storage space which hasn't proved to be a problem. The compact size has been a welcome bonus given some of the roads that we've traveled on, and the ability to fit in most car parks has been a real boon.
We have a 100 watt solar panel which helps keeps the fridge going although we now generally have a hook up to charge our electric bikes, which we carry on a tow bar mounted carrier.
I've done quite few mods on the van which I'm happy to share with fellow owners..............
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We're currently having a three week tour of France in the Jazz (can't resist adding 'nice' every time I say it - remember the Fast Show?) and we are really enjoying the van. The only thing I have a big issue with is the firm (read 'hard') bed and am wondering if anyone else has found this, and, if so, what have they done about it?
Daleman, I would be interested in hearing about your modifications if you would like to share them.
Thanks.
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well, where to begin...
Externally
DRLs
Tow bar for our bike rack
Rear air suspension
Rear view/reversing cameras
Rear flood light so we can mess with our bikes in the dark if needs be
External Whale water pump socket replaced by a standard 12v socket so we can use our air pump as well as our water pump.
Roll out awning of course
100W solar panel
Ditched the useless TV aerial and opted for a satellite dish that we store in the back door, and an Avtex sucker mount aerial.
Internally....
Re-trimmed the main seating area and side door with stretchable van lining carpet and hidden fixings
Lowered seat bases to make the driving position more comfortable for my partner, plus tailored sheepskin seat covers
Replacement radio powered directly form the leisure battery.
three addition spot lights in the main seating area.
Additional 12v socket in the 'kitchen'
Flexible cable duct in the TV cabinet so that it moves in and out as intended and doesn't shred the cables
Additional shelves in the tambour cupboard and the 'wardrobe' - we have a single hanger inside the rear door if ever we need to hang anything up.
All overhead cupboards fitted with elasticated luggage net to prevent objects falling out when the doors are opened..........after the rear worktop was holed by a falling chopping board, which resulted in the fitting of a larger sink with a draining board rather than paying a King's ransom for a new worktop. The job panned out at only £23 plus my labour since I sold the original sink on
A few hidden blue LED strips to provide floor level lighting.
We have a 2" thick memory foam mattress topper that we store crammed under the wardrobe when not in use
That's about it I think...............so far
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......forgot the Thetford cassette external vent kit - since the cassette compartment is not sealed from the van interior.
I guess that I could have just fitted a seal around the wooden 'utilities door' but I preferred to fit the kit and add a tiny fan to the outlet, powered from the washroom light.
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Thanks for all of that information. Our van came with some of those already installed but one improvement that I have made is to ditch the long bolster cushion that jams between the top of the bed and the front sears, and have replaced it with a piece of ply which I cut to shape using a cardboard template. This sits on the edge of the bed and slots into the gap between the driver's seat back and base. It stops the pillows from falling through the gap and travels easily behind the rear seats.
I am thinking of a rear camera, although, to be honest, I've not found any real issues with reversing so far. Which one do you have? Do you like it?
Cheers.
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Thank YOU Ronhub, for the comment about the 'bolster cushion' !! I never worked out what it was, where it fitted or where to store it so it resides always chez ABM. Confusion came from the driving position I use which meant the gap 'tween drivers seat & top end of the bed is small so pillows do not escape
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Our EK doesn't have the bolster cushion which I was told is intended to be used to separate a sleeper from the sidewall of the van, particularly the table mounting rail. There's nowhere to store it anyway.
We have the cab seats rotated through 90 degrees when the bed is made up - fills most of the gap
I fitted a reversing camera after I crushed our bike rack against an unseen bollard.
The kit was supplied by ReversingcamerasUK and has proved to be reliable
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