Which base vehicle?
So, we hear a lot about the merits of the 'habitation builders' but with all the base vehicles now available, which one do folk considered the best? Also should it be manual or 'auto' gearbox?
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Merc Sprinter auto. There’s nothing to touch it in my opinion.
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You tend to get what you pay for, Micky.
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I don't know. What’s the price difference between a MH based on the new Merc and the same hab unit on a Sevel van?
It's not just purchase price though as Merc spares and servicing costs, in my experience, are less than those or Fiat/Peugeot. Yep, surprising. Cheaper to buy = dearer to keep, perhaps.
All I can say is that, given the choice of like for like models, I’d happily pay a fair bit more for the Merc version.
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IF? we ever decided that anot her motor caravan would be a better option, it would be an Auto Merc based PVC and the ride seems far better than other base vehicles if the "white van man" version I have been in is the norm also less engine noise
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You are right on both counts, JV, and easier to access the roomier cab, and being RWD. Sadly it is those very advantages which prevent the shorter wheel base versions being converted to PVCs in our preferred layout.
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VW crafter is getting good reviews, Knaus is taking a giant leap and converting on Iveco this year (usually the preserve of larger, more expensive A Classes)....
the Transit can be had in FWD, RWD or 4WD and is liked by many a reviewer, but is unbelievably ugly....
despite the predictable 'knocker' above, the Sevel is still a blooming good base unit. yes, there was the gearbox issue (which was fixed for anyone under warranty), and I agree the inset dials aren't as readable as the previous version, but I don't have a problem at night (illuminated) as perhaps my seats are at a slightly different height, but can be alttered anyway..ill probably have the 'back light on' fix done at service time.
weve done over 10k miles in 18 months and it's been faultless....
the thing is, if you choose the base unit first, and it isn't Fiat/Peugeot, the choice of van might be restricted....
if you choose a Merc, other than AS (spend some time reading their forum first if considering one) you'll be looking at Hymer (and AS fans couldn't possibly.......) and that's about it untill you move further upmarket...Frankia, perhaps.....lovely MHs....
then there's IVECO, MAN.....and you're into Truck territory...
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Don’t forget La Strada who do Merc PVCs, and Lunar.
By gearbox issue, do you mean the clutch judder of old? If so, I can assure you it was not fixed under warranty on all variants. Fiat refused to acknowledge there was a problem with the 3 litre models. I know, I was part of that battle.
Knocker? It’s no wonder really after what we went through but remember I’m now giving a PSA a second chance.
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I didn't know Fiat were part of PSA group.....
which Puegeot/Citröen have you had before, or do you mean the Swift/Bessacarr you had previously?
I was asked by mt Fiat dealer if I wanted the 'judder' fixed, but we didn't have the problem....reverse gear too high...?
yes, this issue was a pain for some, but overall the vehicle is extremely well suited to its job as a camper base.....despite few other brands mentioned, converters certainly aren't deserting the Ducato in droves, overall with the increase in sales, the sales of the Fiat must still be rising...
Lunar convert on a Renault....but would you buy a Lunar or a Renault?
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Sorry, slip of the tongue/stylus. I do indeed mean the 3L Fiat on which the Bessacarr was built and, during the time we had it, and the immediate years following, I am not aware of any fix being offered. They fixed the smaller sized engine versions but not the 3L. Incidentally, the judder is still present in our 2017 Peugeot but is not nearly so noticeable. Maybe until a different make has been experienced, the issue isn’t obvious.
I think Fiat have endeared thenselves to the MH market by offering the purpose built chassis versions and doubtless supply them to the manufacturers at favourable prices.
Err, yes I’d be willing to give Renault a try. Why not? And if we’re talking PVC, then it’s unlikely a Lunar would be leaky. Are Lunar no longer producing the Merc based PVCs? They were still on forecourts only a matter of months ago.
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Lunar PVCs, yes they could be, but they are Huge.....but confess I haven't seen one for a few months......
I think the idea there is that the cachet of the Merc base would dispel doubts over the conversion....
I realise this may not apply to PVCs but any converter that can build a van (lunar) without a single external storage opening would demonstrate they don't understand that MHs sometimes have wet/dirty kit to find a home for.....yes, their caravans might not need it as there will be a tow car.....yet, the caravans generally have lockers..
the rear washroom one seemed a good idea but the lounge is so long, presumably for a single bed configuration.....but it's an almighty PVC for two......if it had Yodel on the side it might look OK....
most PVC makers need to have a good long look at Westfalia to see how good the conversion needs to be to be called top class....
anyway, Renault..?....don't think I could.....that interior/dash is just horrendous.
more upmarket MHs are now replacing original dashboards with bespoke ones to allow a change in (say) seat position to enhance space etc, but retain the Fiat/Merc/Iveco underpinnings...
still plenty to choose from, more if your purchase is further up the price scale....but for the mid market, or a PVC I'd be more than happy with a Ducato (I'm really pleased with this one, a 150)
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The Lunar PVCs at 7m were an immediate no-no for us despite the Merc base vehicle.
It’s good you’re really pleased with you Ducato. We’re happy enough with the 2L 160 Peugeot but would be happier still if it was the smooth quiet Sprinter. Such is life😀
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I'm now on my third Ducato and they've been faultless (so far), but given the choice I'm sure everyone would go Merc, I would.
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I could have gone Iveco but only on larger vans...for our small ish van, the Ducato was the only option....but with three engine choices...
I'm on my fourth and I agree with HBW, that the Ducato is still a damn fine vehicle although ours gets a fairly gentle life compared to its raison d'être...
of course, the Merc is a fine van, too, but it make those vans thus supported (lunar, AS) mightily expensive for their market position.
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The Lunar Landstar (Merc Sprinter) is both too long and too narrow for us as we would find it totally impractical. No, I wouldn't buy a Lunar having had a poor experience with their caravans.
The motorhome we want is the Auto-Sleeper Bourton (Merc) or Broadway EK TB LP (Peugeot). We would love the Merc/Sprinter but I think it hard to justify the additional cost for the Sprinter for a vehicle which may not cover more than 4,000 miles annually.
I think there may be a delay in the new Sprinter finding its way into the motorhome market. I read somewhere that Mercedes are going to release a few models to motorhome builders for prototype testing in September. My guess is that availability may not be until 2020 in which case we will opt for the Peugeot but with the Fiat auto option fitted.
I think I am right in saying that Renault models are more or less identical to Nissan. We are on our third Nissan and each one has been excellent.
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Personally I’d opt for the Merc as I consider it worth every extra penny but it’s your choice, Q.
I thought the AS auto option consisted of having the Fiat base vehicle rather than the Peugeot. I understood the Peugeot wasn’t available in any sort of auto version - hence the option to have the Fiat instead🤔. Have things changed recently?
It's my understanding that the Renault, Nissan and Vauxhall vans are the same animal.
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You are probably right about Fiat option form Auto-Sleeper. The information on their web site is not very clear and I have not asked a dealer to explain. I think I prefer a Fiat to a Peugeot.
I almost chose a Fiat car to replace our last Nissan but we found the seats too hard. Apart from that I liked the Fiat engineering so hope a Ducato will work well.
It's all a minefield as some people say the the Merc is useless and the Fiat brilliant and vice versa.
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In terms of MHs, you have to consider how many people have experience of both base vehicles so they are able to compare.
As for Peugeot v Fiat, leaving our past disastrous experience of Fiat aside, all I can say is that we found the 2L 160 Peugeot to be smoother and a better performer than the 2.2 150 Fiat.
I’d not be swayed by any experience of cars when it comes to choosing a MH base as, for the most part, the commercial vehicles tend not to share DNA with their domestic counterparts.
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Tinwheeler - you make the Merc option sound more and more appealing! I must confess I find the thought of a proper TC box a strong factor in all of this. In fact I am non my second Nissan with a CVT. The first was reasonable but the new one feels just a good as a TC.
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Your choice, Q. We hunted high and low for a Merc based PVC and it would just not work for us. It took a lot of soul searching to revert to a manual Peugeot. (We wanted a TC auto, not the Fiat automated manual.) The Peugeot goes well once wound up but it’s noisier and lumpier.
We're all different and what suits one won’t suit another. Why not test drive a selection from those already on forecourts? Ex-Dems and the like can be as good as new and buying one can save the wait and a few quid.
Happy hunting.
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It is a big jump from a caravan to a PVC but you soon adapt. It was a similar change from the coachbuilt to the PVC but we got used to it very quickly.
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I think it would be difficult to define best. Mercedes might well be considered the best but if the motorhome you want is not available with a Mercedes base vehicle its all a bit academic. For the last five and half years I have been driving a motorhome based on a Peugeot Boxer, OK not as smooth as driving a car but it gets us from A to B perfectly well and its been all over Europe. In the last week or so we have been looking at a possible replacement for our Bailey. We had initially thought about a PVC and actually found an Autotrail V-Line with a Comfortmatic gearbox which was tempting. Unfortunately the long bunks are not really wide enough sleep on and we are trying to get away having to climb over each other to get to the loo in the middle of the night! In most other respects we thought it very good. The search will continue for a smaller coachbuilt within our limited price range or we may just keep what we have. At the end of the day the engine choice will only be part of the decision.
David
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I must admit when we bought our M/H it was the layout that was the deciding factor and I never gave the base vehicle a second thought ,it is Fiat based
When I worked at a Vauxhall dealership i vowed I would never buy one , then I bought the shop and bought a Corsa van 9 years ago and have had no trouble ( that's done it
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That’s true, David, it’s the whole package which is the very reason we had to compromise on the base vehicle. There’s always a compromise somewhere.
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Knaus are building on MAN base vehicles for some of the range next year.
We have only ever had the Fiat 150 with comformatic box and overall we are pretty pleased with it. Not as smooth as a car obviously but it pulls well, fairly economical considering the size and weight and they are easy to get serviced etc. The 2 year warranty is over now so no need o go to a Fiat dealer although we will continue to do so as they did not rip us off last this year for the first (year 2/20k) service £210. I enquired about a service for next year and they said not to bother, the MOT is a good safety check and as its low mileage (6k a year) not to worry.
I think if you buy a MH based on the base vehicle alone you are limiting yourself severely as to choice, best to get the layout and features you want/need then if you have a choice of base vehicle choose from there.
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