Warwick Duo: would love feedback please
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I'm interested in this thread. It's the one we've been drawn to if we buy another.
I'd also like to know if the newer ones have driving aids similar to cars? Such as blind spot warnings, electric handbrake etc. Sadly we don't have many dealers selling down here. Anyway last time we just looked we walked away with one, too dangerous!
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Right then. We had a 2017 Peugeot based Duo. Build quality - not perfect but probably no worse than anything else. The heat shield of the fridge was wrongly installed leading to overheating - fixed under warranty. The plumbing to the Truma Combi boiler was shoddy resulting in a leak over the floor. Other issues were minor - loose taps etc. The reversing camera via the sat nav screen was utter ****. We later had reversing sensors fitted.
We both struggled to fight the dash mounted gear lever while the handbrake, as in all the Sevel vans, is low down on the offside. The 2.0 Euro 6 engine fairly flew.
Last week we changed it for the Marquis Special Warwick Duo which is based on the Fiat with the new 9 speed TC auto box. It’s early days but the slightly down rated engine seems to go well and the g/box is a dream. The handbrake is still awkward (it’s not electronic, B2) but there is no longer a need to reach it while holding a clutch pedal down. The drive selector is still dash mounted but there is far less need to reach it. All told, an easier drive than the Peugeot.
The reversing camera is a vast improvement on the previous and reversing sensors are standard, as is hab Aircon. The Fiat has its own built in TomTom satnav as opposed to the add on Avtex Garmin in the Peugeot.
It’s evident that some penny pinching has taken place over the last 3 years but the build quality doesn’t seem too bad with just minor niggles - snagging drawers, misaligned fridge door, the infamous loose taps. We had these items attended to before collecting the van but, as I said, it’s early days yet.
The Marquis Special is only available from one chain of dealers and I’d advise anyone buying to check the AdBlue tank has been topped up to avoid getting an engine warning light coming on 20 miles down the road!
Hope the foregoing helps.
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Ours is the Duo which is the 6m model. The XL is 6.3m. I hated the XL with the washroom restricting movement of the driver's seat but that’s down to personal choice.
6m isn’t too bad to park but you will need 2 parking spaces in many places. It overhangs a supermarket bay by about 0.5m which doesn’t matter if you can reverse to a grass verge or similar. I’d not want to be parking the 6.3.
Both the Duo and XL have the minuscule wardrobe which overhangs the nearside bunk. Two jackets and it's full but the overhead lockers have ample space for folded clothes, especially if you fit shelves in them.
If interested in the Fiat auto, it is available in the slightly more basic AS version but, due to the Fiat factory cutting/pausing production, the autos are like hens teeth at present in either version.
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You are right as the XL has a more conventional wardrobe on the offside. Sorry, I was thinking of the Symbol which also has the tiny wardrobe.
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It’s worth ringing to check they’ve got an example of what you're interested in as the website doesn’t tell you the branch stock.
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Just adding a bit more info. Marquis are the retail arm of Autosleepers and our small Autosleeper coachbuilt has Marquis branding all over it. It's been a good reliable van. We previously purchased a rebadged Autosleeper Symbol from Marquis (West Country Motorhomes.) I really like this design of Symbol which was produced previously, huge storage and easy to set the beds up etc., now not so good. Our Symbol was produced by "Orion" for the rental trade and was probably one of the last produced and was high spec.
Westcountry motorhomes near Highbridge ususally have some Autosleepers, new and secondhand available.
I like both the Warwick designs, they'd be my next choice. Hope you enjoy yours TW!
Looks like sales are busy WTG. They'll get one to your nearest dealer if you're interested in a purchase.
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Thanks, Brue.
WTG, I’ve been in a Symbol Plus. It’s the same as the shorter Symbol at the sharp end but has a huge rear kitchen. It would be wasted on someone who doesn’t cook. 😀
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They used to be next door to Golden Castle caravans at Staverton (cheltenham) but both have now moved ,I sometimes still get emails from Cotswold motor caravan the also show the bigger symbol ,in stock
When Autosleeper was still owned and run by the two brothers,Cotswold did most of their Customer additions when ordered via other dealers before Autosleeper had their own customer service centre
Broadway site always had a couple of SOS pitches (Sick Auto Sleepers) for those needing a couple of nights to have work done at Willersly factory
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There is an extra 6" at the front (or is it 4”?) making the single bunk a more usable length that the 5’8” of the regular Symbol. Other than that, it’s all at the rear and, if I recall correctly, you cannot enter/exit via the rear doors.
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We had one for a few years prior to returning to caravans. I would describe them as three season vans, perhaps they have changed but single glazed windows produce condensation and a steel shell is essentially cold. You can reach places where no other van will go however so everything has its plus and minus.
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Evening TW
I'm really interested in your overall thoughts of your new van. We have an autocruise rhythm which is the same layout as the duo. I favour the warwick xl as the bathroom looks more useable. We use the drivers seat as storage when parked up now, so the xl looks good in my book. Looks like extra kitchen space too?
Had no big issues with the boxer, a few niggles with battery drain which to this day I couldn't find the source. A 120 watt solar panel sorted it though. I've got seatbelt and airbag warning lights on all the time but I'm booked in tomorrow to sort that along with a service and mot.
Do you know what the two liter is like for towing? My 2.2 boxer is good with a 2.5 ton limit.
Sorry for thread hijack
JK
JK
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It’s really too soon to say, JK. It’s the 2.3 140 engine in the Fiat and, as yet, it’s only done about 300 miles. However, it feels powerful enough, although still tight, and the TC g/box is really smooth. With 9 gears, there’s no lag while it makes its mind up which gear to choose.
You're right about the washroom in the Warwick XL being larger but we couldn’t get the driver's seat to move back far enough for driving comfort due to the bulkhead of the washroom wall. The kitchen is on the nearside, unlike the Duo, and I’m not sure if it’s more spacious. We find the offside kitchen in the Duo plenty roomy enough with space to bend and reach into oven and fridge. Like you, we put stuff in the cab on the seats when on site.
I don’t know what the 2.0 Peugeot is like for towing. Ours was the 160/165 engine (can't remember which) and it pulled like a good un. It would fly up Haldon Hill so I reckon it would be fine.
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We are new to PVC's only buying it a month ago but we have the Autotrail V line 635 SE. Have to say we are both very pleased with it.
Beds easy to make up 1 slightly longer than the other. Massive if made up as a double/king.
Plenty of kitchen storage. Half wardrobe. Both seats turn and a smallish round table can be used to have meals on at the cab end as well as a larger table at the rear living end.
We've done 1700 miles in it so far putting it through its paces and feel its going to do us fine.
It's 6.3m so a good size for getting just about everywhere.
WTG might be worth a look at.
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We have a Broadway and last year we crawled over just about every AS PVC at the local Marquis branch as we were considering downsizing. Our favourite was the Symbol Plus but it is really important to look in detail at storage areas and sleeping arrangements, depending whether you want two singles or a double. The built-in LPG tank is a great feature on the Autosleeper’s range and I also like that they are fitting air suspension on the PVCs so the ride should be good.
Two things prevented us buying - firstly theare is no option for an electric sliding door and like all van conversions it is heavy to handle and unacceptable to OH (incidentally there is also no option for a mid-point stop though this can be done). The other is that there is no option for fly screens on the sliding door and a retro fit is not easy. Both these features are available on the Adria range and in my view AS need to get their act together.
It is worth looking at the owners forum (ASOF) as there is a lot of information on the whole AS range.
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One other feature of the AS PVCs that's worth bearing in mind is that they have 'proper' athermic glass windows which provide far more security than the acryllic caravan style windows. The downside (perhaps the upside?) is that, apart from 2 small sliders, they don't open. With Cab windows & doors, 2 Hekis and the rear doors, opening windows have not been missed and we feel reasonably happy to park it in public places.
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IMHO, the symbol Plus is a nice van to sit and cook in but the rear doors become redundant (do they even open?) against the kitchen/washroom rear, which creates its biggest issue (for a long term tourer)...no large storage areas and no external access to that storage.
storage itself for larger items is likely to be limited to under the OS side seat (and possibly small NS seat) which may already have Truma and Sargent kit there...but for table, decent chairs, BBQ and the long list for a long tour, its going to be tight.
then there is the issue of your ebikes. a rear rack (depth with 2 bikes at least 70cm, towball fitted one, even longer) would take the 6m vans over 6.7m and fitting one to the XL would take you into at least 7m territory.
i realise what you say about fixed bedded PVCs but, one great thing is that they provide large, readily available storage.....oh, and a great night's sleep.
we're back to the old cannundrum of whether the van is likely to be for travelling (and spending time outside....Europe) or for parking up and making use of the nice lounge/kitchen (UK?)...where you tour will greatly influence this decision.
either way, youll need to travel light (with regard to larger items) with this type of layout.
the WXL will have more storage options, with opening rear doors but its a larger van and your bikes (with potential 7m length) will still need to be considered.
have a look at the autosleepers owners forum, plenty of info there on issues, likes, dislikes etc.
the WXL seems to be a popular layout but read the forum carefully for 'deeper insights'.
good luck.
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