Caravan Satisfaction Survey

spent the weekend at a manufacturer's show, had good look around and I have to say the 'quality' of construction of habitation area is getting worse, if that's possible...

yes, there is still a difference in what you get for (sometimes much) more money but even the premium brands (not British, as there aren't any) are looking to cut corners (costs)...not with quality of build perhaps, but certainly in how the materials have changed in the last five years or so.

the two Carthago ranges that we've had are definitely not as 'nice' now as when we had ours..the upper range still looks great but prices have risen.

other branded mid range vans has wobbly walls, drawers that fell out or wouldn't slide, cheaper cupboards when crying out for drawers.

catches that didn't work were de rigeur and doors that opened the 'wrong way' and caused obstructions were popular.

one mid range brand stood out and that was Adria and OH and I both picked out one that we both really liked and was well put together, however, owner said they weren't selling as the price had risen and there was less margin (allthough their PVCs were going like hot cakes).

in addition, we found Buerstner to have upped their game considerably in the past two years or so and had a noticible lift in design and quality.

as were are likely to be around (for reasons beyond our control) we will probably visit the NEC for the first time in a few years, but not to buy, the way things are moving.