New v used. Committed but confused

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  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,170
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    edited September 2019 #32

    some of the continental single axles are nearly as spacious as UK twin axles.  perhaps you should consider a fifth wheeler

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited September 2019 #33
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  • boldlygoingsomewhere
    boldlygoingsomewhere Forum Participant Posts: 26
    edited September 2019 #34

    I would love a 5th wheeler, sadly the steps inside would make it a non starter. I have fond memories of a Ford P100 pickup truck.

  • boldlygoingsomewhere
    boldlygoingsomewhere Forum Participant Posts: 26
    edited September 2019 #35

    We will definitely be off to the NEC to look at many caravans🥴

  • JayOutdoors
    JayOutdoors Forum Participant Posts: 572
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    edited September 2019 #36

     

    Maybe consider an inspection if you buy used and are not sure about everything. The lists there will give some indication as to what to look at yourselves as you search various brands. This is a link to CAMC advice if you haven’t already looked at the top of the page tabs. Good luck and happy searching.

    https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/advice-and-training/advice-for-beginners/caravan-and-motorhome-inspectors/

     

     

     

  • DaveandVicki
    DaveandVicki Forum Participant Posts: 192
    edited September 2019 #37

    You need a drive down the A6 to Ambergate Caravans, Ripley Road (A610)

  • boldlygoingsomewhere
    boldlygoingsomewhere Forum Participant Posts: 26
    edited September 2019 #38

    It needs to be a fifteen sided coin right now, we’ve gone right back to the drawing board and started the process all over again.

  • boldlygoingsomewhere
    boldlygoingsomewhere Forum Participant Posts: 26
    edited September 2019 #39

    We are going tomorrow 

  • boldlygoingsomewhere
    boldlygoingsomewhere Forum Participant Posts: 26
    edited September 2019 #40

    Thanks for the link, we have been researching caravans for almost twelve months, other half is an engineer and we are both have perfectionist tendencies so rest assured inspections will be thorough.

  • derekcyril
    derekcyril Forum Participant Posts: 408
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    edited September 2019 #41

    Dont go !! A lot of people regret it  Bet you end up heart over head !!

  • boldlygoingsomewhere
    boldlygoingsomewhere Forum Participant Posts: 26
    edited September 2019 #42

    I have a heart made of stone, no shiny gizmos or smooth sales patter will sway me😬

  • dreamer1
    dreamer1 Forum Participant Posts: 141
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    edited September 2019 #43

    Buy new its not the same having a second hand van too many personal areas that other people have used. Thats my personal choice others may disagree id rather take the hit on the depreciation . money isn't everything.

  • Unknown
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    edited September 2019 #44
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  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited September 2019 #45

    Agreed. Our caravan was around 3 years old when we bought it but it was obvious it had hardly ever been used, it still had that new caravan smell. We bought a high end caravan for an also-ran price.

  • Unknown
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    edited September 2019 #46
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  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Club Member Posts: 10,224
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    edited September 2019 #47

    One wonders if the "must have new" mindset applies to houses as well or do you have the bathroom ripped out every time before you move in?

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant, Forum Participant Trusted Posts: 17,454
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    edited September 2019 #48

    Works the other way with us. We are deeply suspicious of certain new aspects of life, particularly new houses, new caravans, to a certain extent new cars. New houses seem to be thrown up in any old place, and using substandard materials and couldn’t care less builders. Build on a flood plain? 😱 Builders having to come back to replace ceilings after 6 months? ( SILs new house😱) And as for new caravans........

    New cars seem a great deal better nowadays, but then the manufacturers in this country learned the hard way. We love folks who buy new, then decide it’s not what they want. They take the hit, we benefit from a much lower price! 😁

  • boldlygoingsomewhere
    boldlygoingsomewhere Forum Participant Posts: 26
    edited September 2019 #49

    Goodness me it’s been busy in here while I’ve been taking in the phenomenon that is the interior of a Hobby caravan, of the ones that I could legally tow without buying a truck or transit van I’m so so disappointed by the very small payload.

    The chart is coming along nicely three caravans have been eliminated. I have drilled down into the customer satisfaction surveys and I’m appalled that such a high percentage of brand new caravans have problems and although the Buccaneer does score lower than some it’s not by enough to have put us off so the cruiser is still in the running.

     

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,892
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    edited September 2019 #50

    There are other makes of caravan that have a very similar layout, and getting an unused pre-owned one is not impossible.  My current caravan was ordered before one of it's first owners took seriously ill, and the caravan sat in storage for three years completely unused, just taken for an annual service.

    I would change to a new(er) model now, but for there not being an L-shaped lounge model available, and our dislike of the fold-up transverse bed. There are two 2020 models that suit our needs, so we will wait two years and see what is availabe then pre-owned.

    So even more options available to you!

  • boldlygoingsomewhere
    boldlygoingsomewhere Forum Participant Posts: 26
    edited September 2019 #51

    Which is why I have a white board in my kitchen with a very complicated chart and equally complex scoring system with fifteen caravans on it. Like all good projects it has a name and for fun any caravan eliminated from the process gets sent to Top Gear.

  • Unknown
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    edited September 2019 #52
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  • JayOutdoors
    JayOutdoors Forum Participant Posts: 572
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    edited September 2019 #53

    If buying used something else to bear in mind is that some people buy new from the display at the NEC which could mean p/x used ones appearing on the dealer’s forecourt during winter others order new & have to wait often until spring the following year so p/x used caravans will appear then.  Narrowing down to 2 or 3 caravans which suit you is IMHO a good way forward.  Possibly contacting relevant dealers after October to ask if they may be expecting one of these in in the not too distant future may prove fruitful.  Good Luck.

  • boldlygoingsomewhere
    boldlygoingsomewhere Forum Participant Posts: 26
    edited September 2019 #54

    Thanks everyone for the replies we’ve had a day of visiting the last few vans on the list. I’m sure I’ve lost a few brain cells during this process and I’ve definitely left a couple of salesmen rocking backwards and forwards in dark corners.

    I think we have narrowed it down to three one used and two new.

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,892
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    edited September 2019 #55

    Are the new caravans "now" or some variable time later this year, maybe next?

  • boldlygoingsomewhere
    boldlygoingsomewhere Forum Participant Posts: 26
    edited September 2019 #56

    Both the new will be early next year which is ok with us, we have a long oversea trip coming up anyway and a few projects that need finishing before we can start enjoying our new hobby.

  • boldlygoingsomewhere
    boldlygoingsomewhere Forum Participant Posts: 26
    edited September 2019 #57

    Finally made a purchase, a Coachman Laser Excel 875 it is expected to be ready April 2020.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Trusted Posts: 23,476
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    edited September 2019 #58

    You got there, BGS. Now you’ll be counting the days until you can enjoy your new van. 😀

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,170
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    edited September 2019 #59

    Congrats BGS, enjoy your trips

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