Losing confidence new van purchase
We are relatively new caravanners (2 years) and just changing our 2008 Lunar Zenith 6 for a 2010 Baily Pegasus 524 as kids too big for bunks. We've been very excited and today took our Zenith in (part-exchanging) to be checked. Our van was serviced a couple of weeks ago by recommended mobile engineer and serviced last year by the dealer we purchased it from.
New dealer just informed us it has damp issue in the rear and wood completely rotten as well as laminate floor lifted and slight damp in front near water heater. The floor was like that when we bought it and I can't believe the service missed the damp. We are now completly paranoid about buying this other van as google research suggested they have had some damp issues in front locker. Are we over reacting? We've lost confidence now and are terrified we are making the wrong decision. We noticed a little black mildew in the van above where it's rotted over year ago and raised with dealer (when it was still under warranty) and he said it was fine. We are worried we were "had" and don't want it to happen again.
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Loads of problems with Bailey's if you look on the internet. Ok they make alot of units but I don't think they are very well put together. All Motor Homes and Caravans are hand built so some are better than others. Also depends when it was built. Friday just before knocking off or Monday with a hangover. We had a Swift MH for 3 years and it had loads of different faults. The Pilote MH after that which was better built.
When we traded in our Pilote the dealer spent over two hours checking it for damp. They found some in an external door and put it down to badly adjusted. They said at the time that they don't like Uk built products because of the damp problems.
If they have found problems perhaps you should return to the people who checked it and demand your money back because they evidently didn't do a very good job.
You could also name and shame them on here and let everyone know what a bunch of cowboys they are.
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Is the dealer trying to knock down the part exchange offer. Can you be strong and walk away rather than accept a lower offer?
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Yes they've knocked it down by £400. Can't really walk away as we need to change and I'm desperate to get rid of it now I know it's got damp. I"m just worried we'll buy another problem van :-(
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You have been unlucky BW but take heart there are also many good experiences. For example we are on our second Bailey Unicorn. The first had 3 minor warranty jobs on items which were supplied by a third party, for example the AlKo braking system. Our current
Unicorn is going next month for its 4 year service but has never had a single repair. All you can do is check your vehicle as thoroughly as possible on purchase and choose a dealer with a good reputation who gives sound after sales support.0 -
BW - you will always find doom and gloom on not just this - but most other internet websites. It's human nature that people are more motivated to complain than they are to praise.
If it makes you feel any better, we have owned our Bailey Barcelona, from new, for 18 months now and apart from a couple of minor warranty issues which were quickly sorted by the dealer, we have had no problems whatsoever, nothing has dropped off, no damp
at first service - and we are absolutely delighted with it. It has been used for at least one week every month since we got it.We had a similar experience when we owned a Bailey Pageant about 20 years ago.
I think a lot is down to whether or not you have confidence in your dealer and it may be, from what you say, that you might feel happier looking elsewhere?
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On the basis that you cannot trust dealers, ask the them if you can bring an indepandant engineer in to inspect the new van, just like you can use the RAC to buy a car. If the dealer says no then you have your answer and walk away
Write your comments here...good idea OP but would advise not to use the mobile engineer used for the last service as he missed the damp.
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If it as damp as suggested then £400 is far too low. Either the dealer is having you on or you have got a remarkably good deal. From what you say it sounds damp so I would grab the deal. At least Baileys are not wood framed so you should not have the same
problem again. If it leaks then the damage is far less severe if that helps.0 -
We have a Bailey motorhome, just before its 3 year service I told the OH I think we have damp under one of the settee's/beds as I though it smelt musty. Sure enough at the service we were told 88% damp. The dealer registered it with Bailey and over winter
the whole back/side part of the floor was removed, replaced and resealed. We got the van back at the end of January. While we were away in France this spring I once again thought it smelt musty, sure enough we have damp again in the same place this time 43%.
Our dealer says its a known problem with some of the Bailey Approach motorhomes, Bailey and dealers are working on a permanent solution. They think they have an answer but are trying to work out how to access the area and carry out the work. What is strange
is that it only affects certain ones, this has been tracked back to the build, which line/team that worked on them. So far they can't work out what has been done differant between the teams. It is upsetting to find a problem like damp, however as it is affecting
so many M/H of that series Bailey will have to sort it under warrenty. My concern though is that it will reduce the trade in value.0 -
THanks for all your replies....the £400 was the "cost" to put it right before they can sell it on.
Have emailed new dealer to ask them to check front lockers and remove trays...
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I cannot see how it would be possible to repar the damage described anywhere near £400 which made me wonder about the whole thing. In general the damage can only be fully establishes when the area has been stripped out. You could get an independant check
carried out by an independant engineer if you wanted but if you believe the damage was as bad as they say do not argue.0 -
The plot thickens...we were offered £5500 p/ex as forecourt resale was £7000. We haggled as we thought van in excellent condtion so they agreed £5750...subsequently knocked down to £5350 due to £400 damp repair.
They've now listed it for £8,000 on their website. Feeling really ripped off, are we overreacting?
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First thing you have to remember is they have to pay VAT on the difference between buying and selling so there's £440 off to start with. Then they have to fix it and guarantee the work. Then the next guy comes along with an older van he wants to trade and so it goes on. They have to make a profit and they will have had to spend time servicing and repairing your new van. Did you just take their word for it that there was no damp in the new one or did you get it checked yourself.
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The plot thickens...we were offered £5500 p/ex as forecourt resale was £7000. We haggled as we thought van in excellent condtion so they agreed £5750...subsequently knocked down to £5350 due to £400 damp repair.
They've now listed it for £8,000 on their website. Feeling really ripped off, are we overreacting?
When we traded our 2011 caravan in the dealer had it on the forecourt for £250 more than they gave us for it.
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That wouldn't even cover his VAT. Obviously a 'loss leader' with his margin being made on the new van.
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The plot thickens...we were offered £5500 p/ex as forecourt resale was £7000. We haggled as we thought van in excellent condtion so they agreed £5750...subsequently knocked down to £5350 due to £400 damp repair.
They've now listed it for £8,000 on their website. Feeling really ripped off, are we overreacting?
If there was no delay in putting the caravan on the market you were either ripped off or the dealer is trying to dump a faulty caravan on some unsuspecting mug at a premium price. Either way I would avoid them in future.
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Brought a baily senator from motorhomesand caravan services bognor regis . With 6 months warranty and full service . After much messing around and bodging repairs .told them I was taking It for an independent service and they would pay for any work that
had to be carried out . worst faults out of date tiresand perished in treads. No battery in smoke alarm. brakes badly adujsted and 60% damp to front. Long story short .to payment they say no very nice judge he say yes. from here on in independent survey every
time . or walk away0
