Are Coachman caravans going downmarket?
My wife and i have been Coachman caravan owners for many years and we have usually changed the van at 5 years old. We have been very happy and hugely proud of our Coachman vans.
Our VIP575 was planned for replacement this year and we could hardly wait to visit our dealer to see the new model yesterday.
What a disappointment !
The van design has changed so much it was barely recognisable. It may still be a well-built van, but corners have been cut in the design and spec - presumably to reduce cost. Locker space is severely reduced and less practical, decor is plain, upholstery options are almost non-existent (and pale unpractical colours). It looks like an entry level van.
Simple cost saving changes just spoil the look - e.g. the microwave is no longer hidden behind a matching hinged door and now has a mirror door instead (at an impractical height for many people). The useful corner cupboard in the bedroom area has gone - replaced by an extension of the already useless long narrow shelf above the window (you can't leave anything on that shelf when travelling). The cupboards above the off-side above the sink have been reduced from 5 to 3 larger ones - not practical for storing different types of item. There is no solar panel - now an optional extra.
Sadly we are limited in towing weight by our Volvo XC60 which we cannot afford to change.
We need an island fixed bed, and prefer an end bathroom.
Can anyone suggest an alternative van of a quality and finish we used to get from Coachman?
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I think you will find that many c/van makers are trying to make as many as possible and as light as posible to cater for the upsurge sales,which mostly do not go well together
we have some friends who have the same as you noted how coachman are "not the same now" but as many are now trying to attract younger owners
They are now wholly owened by a Swedish company?
as you will have noted some continental LVs although some say are better built? are also heavier than what most UK owners are looking for
All the latest Gizmos but to tow with the smallest vehicle
If the one yu have suits your needs stick with it
If you really need a fixed double bed it means a bigger/heavier van
W have a Bailey Pegasus ad it has all we need with the front seating areas that very easily make a big double or as we now do two over six foot singles
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Yes, I fear you are right about trying to make vans lighter - and that's understandable.
But as we have a car capable of towing 1850Kg (max) we might as well make the most of the allowance we have.
OK we are lucky in being able to change our van every 5 years, but as you suggest, this may be the time to stick with what we have (and love).
There are a few minor things starting to go wrong, but we can live with them rather than go downmarket in style of van. I guess it's cheaper to pay for repairs than change a van..!!
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In general all manufacturers are doing "cost down" construction of some sort.
If your 5 year old van is sound in body and chassis you are lucky as my independent service engineer says if you've got a good-un keep it!!
Any minor faults and irritations are relatively cheap and easy to fix.
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The designs have changed, it is the current trend. The minimalist look is in. The differences between the VIP and the base models are now minimal, they add more feature not mood lit wine racks and flouncy decor. Customers are voting for practicality over pretty things. I have a 575 (following two 560s) and went for a dealer special rather than the VIP. Same running gear, floor, chassis, windows, fixtures, etc. and minimal costs to add the features I would miss from the VIP spec.
You will struggle to find a level of decor and finish that has those finishing touches you used to get. The market is driven by build quality and feature content and Coachman are pretty high up the tree in those respects, and certainly at their price points.
I looked at the continental offering and Hobby certainly offer a higher quality finish but cost, weight, and dealer network all steered me away.
Best built van on the market is probably the Adria but minimalist finish was not for me.
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Best built van on the market is probably the Adria but minimalist finish was not for me.
Totally agree with your sentiments. But do owners want a well built caravan or something which looks pretty and is plagued with faults?
Having owned an Adria for the last 6 years it proved to be by far the best caravan I have owned in 40 years of caravanning and I've had many UK built vans. I have found that since the introduction of new manufacturuing methods, including Alu-Tech and SoLid, the build quality and problems in UK built vans has risen, whilst the Europeans have not.
Yes, I agree the modern 'boutique hotel' look is not for everyone and seems to be the current trend, but I buy things which function well, are reliable, robust and well engineered. The Adria suited me to a tee and my cost of ownership worked out at 22 pence per day!
This from C&CC 2020 ownership survey:
So which brands build the most reliable caravans? Among new caravans, it's no surprise that there's a close correlation between the most satisfying caravans to own and those which develop the fewest faults. Adria is our winning new caravan manufacturer, and 48.6% of owners say their caravan has not gone wrong at all. That's streets ahead of the UK-made competition.
And the latest customer satisfaction Gold award? You guessed it.
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We had a brief look at changing our caravan last year. We could get neither the spec we had or the look we wanted. I agree Extugger that build quality should be the first item of importance but, as was said about the Adria, I couldn’t spend time sitting inside a van (which happens more in this country) that I kept thinking looked very basic and feeling uncomfortable about it, which to our mind they do. We will just stick with ours for a while now and maybe the style will change!? Brissle, sorry off topic, but did we meet you in Bel Ombrage a few years ago?
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Our Knaus Starclass 695 actually has a MIRO which is 10kg lighter than our previous Bailey Barcelona. So it doesn’t always follow that European vans are heavier than UK ones. It has all the equipment that the Bailey had - and more - with the exception of a solar panel. Build quality is in a different league.
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OK I'm persuaded - we are going to look at an Adria Adora Isonzo tomorrow...
I take the points made above, but don't agree with all the sentiments.
We are not looking for "mood lit wine racks and flouncy decor" but we do want to feel comfortable - and minimalist, plain light plastic finishes and impractical coloured upholstery and carpets are not to our taste. We spend up to 3 months at a time in our van - in Portugal in the winter and elsewhere towing around in Europe in the summer, so it's a second home for us.
Yes we have got used to the convenience of a microwave and Aldi heating and a solar panel (essential to keep the battery topped up for a van in storage 20 miles away and for the occasional venture into a CL or site with no EHU). We need an island bed (too old to clamber over one another to get out to go to the loo) and a good end bathroom and shower with room to swing a cat (in seven weeks last autumn in the UK we didn't use site facilities once). We want outside 240v and gas points and plenty of storage.
We have owned several Swift and Elddis caravans and switched to Coachman for reliability and build quality. Three Coachman vans have not let us down.
We'll see what Adria can offer....
Thanks for all your thoughts - it makes us look at alternatives.
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We changed our pastiche 560/4 2012 dealer special for a vip 575 2018 model. It’s a well made and pleasant to be inside. The gripes we have are the dometic toilet which has let us down twice, once with the waste tank bursting when it was being emptied! And then the electronics when wrong. The van has also had water ingress via the rear drivers side awning rail, some thing we are rally disappointed with.
Im looking to swap the toilet for the much better stronger thetford at my cost.
If we had our chance again we would have stuck with the previous van, which did have a few minor niggles but was much more solidly made - good old wood and screws holding it together.
Stick with what you know, it’s not an old van and I bet it looks supeb
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We have just picked our new 2021 Coachman Laser Twin axle 675. We have had a for 4 days what a fantastic caravan loads of room and very stylish still putting thinks back in the van there is so much storage don't know where to put things. We have a twin auto motor mover fitted and it works a dream, as for electric cars what a waste of time and money. I will keep my Toyota Land Cruiser LC4 until I die or falls apart which I don't think will happen
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Mind your payload. Don't put too much back in.
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I happen to agree with the OPs original thoughts about Coachmans newer models.
We had to replace a Lunar 2 years ago. Bought a 2017 Coachman 460 VIP. This was in September and fhe dealer had the 2019 models on display with a 460 VIP so we had a shufti. Disappointed? You bet. We told the salesman we wouldn't have bought that outfit.
Hope to keep the current one for many a year. I tend to agree with Pontefract Paul. If it ain't broke then keep it.
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Heddlo - we could well have met at Bel Ombrage as we go there almost every year and spend 3 or 4 weeks there in June / July on pitch 140.
Our names are Chris & Dawn.
First went there in 1979 with a tent and small kids and fell in love with the site, the area and the company! We always see familiar faces. Have only missed 3 or 4 years (including last year and probably this year....).
Dorset, Hampshire and Sussex won't be quite the same this year but we are enjoying exploring the UK........
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Honestly...having changed mine in 2017 and spent the first three years with constant grief and visits to the dealer, if you are happy with your current one then stick with it. I think mine is just about sorted out...I m. It going to look to change it and start all this pallava again. If you do change, go for a local dealer as having nearly gone down the legal route all the communications and liability sits with dealer and not the manufacturer
Bought a new Kampa awning last year....is being collected by the supplier to test it as it was still leaking when last used used before lockdown. I think quality is utter rubbish at the moment
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Reading this post (as well as some others and talking to people in general) it is rather alarming that so many newer vans seem to have problems, including damp and even water ingress. Surely with newer innovations, the very opposite should be the case and I am very surprised that solar panels should be classed as an extra and not an essential. As for the decor or furnishings, I find it ludicrous that they are putting in very light coloured (usually cream) seating, carpets and curtains, especially as so many owners have dogs.
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Update - at the risk of boring everyone....
We looked at the Adria today. Very impressed in many respects, but the end bathroom was a disaster (for our needs). If it's home for 3 months we want a decent bathroom. This was cramped and dark.
So we started looking around and found the Bailey Unicorn Vigo.
This seems to be a nice van - decor to our taste, design and layout good, equipment levels good. Price OK.
So I'm back to square one and now have to research the quality and reliability of recent Bailey vans.
Reading posts above there are good and bad reviews of almost any van, so I need to find an average.
Someone said "if it ain't broke ...." but the issue with us in early 80s is that we don't know how many more years we've got caravanning - at least caravanning to the far corners of Europe. If we hang on to our current van for another 3 or 4 or 5 years and then need to change, we won't get the benefit of the new van. At least that was our argument 6 years ago when we changed to this van.....
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Yes, tend to agree, the Euro built vans don't do good bathrooms, they are not as important to their customer base as in the UK.
Nothing wrong with Bailey, nearly persuaded myself but didn't get the giant fridge taking so much space, I like the TV by the door..
Don't try to justify buying a new van, its not possible, just do it and enjoy!
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If you only use it three times in seven years, it's would appear that any deficiencies of a continental van's bathroom are hardly relevant. Judging by the catering arrangements in them, either BBQs or eating out is the norm for our continental brethren.
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Good morning AD, Caravan shower three times in seven years? That's far more than me!
In 50 years with caravans I always used on site facilities and never once attempted a shower in a caravan. Dragging water to the van, heating it, letting it dribble over me, mopping out the cubicle, and then dragging the water away again seemed pretty stupid to me.
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We changed to a Coachman 460 VIP 2018, second hand. Wish we'd known then what we know now. The Dometic toilet has been a disaster from the first time we tried it out. When we came to leave the CL we'd stayed on, and tried to take the cassette out, it just wouldn't. Rang dealer, to report and book it in. There was no way it would budge. And yes, we've had caravans/motorhomes for years, so are well versed in knowing how to empty the toilet!
Long story short: dealer couldn't remove cassette either, so we had to leave the van there. They rang us later to tell us they'd removed it.....breaking the whole toilet in the process! So a whole new unit had to be ordered and fitted. We asked about replacing with a Thetford but were told not possible due to warranty terms. Have lost all faith in it, as at subsequent service they had trouble removing it again, but managed not to break it. Have asked a couple of independent caravan engineers about changing, neither of whom wanted to do it. Have written to Coachman, whose reply was that we shouldn't treat it like a Thetford!! So totally disillusioned with the whole thing. Had a Coachman in the early 90s, which was brilliant, hence our decision to buy this one.
Interestingly, models from 2020 onwards are now fitted with Thetford toilets, speaks volumes.
It's not fit for purpose, as it is very flimsy, so we daren't even wheel it to the emptying point.
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Yet another disastrous tale about this darned dometic toilet, coachman really need to recall all the vans this was installed in and replace it with a thetford toilet, these are much more robustly made and are fit for purpose.
I may have found a dealer who will replace our dometic and provide guarantee on the work, il keep everyone posted, I can’t reiterate enough how dissatisfied we are with coachman for not doing the right thing in relation to this quality control failure on their part.
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If you manage to find a dealer who will change the toilet, we'd be very interested to find out further details. Other than the disastrous Dometic toilet, we do like the rest of the van, but have been thinking seriously about changing it, as we have no faith in the toilet being 100% reliable. Agree with you about Coachman; they should replace these toilets. But their reply to our letter was very off-hand and certainly not customer-friendly.
Please keep us updated with any progress you make.
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