Hi everyone (1 Viewer)

[Sadie1970]

I have joined Motorhome Fun in the hope you experts will be able to help me research the purchase of my first Motorhome. I am looking forward to chatting with you all rather than just reading your posts.

I have read on here that you think you should establish exactly the layout you want to start with, I think we would get the most out of a U shaped rear lounge and hubby wants a separate shower or at least one that is large enough to use a curtain and keep the mess to a minimum. Our budget is flexible but we would love to get what we want for about £25k without having to go for an ancient specimen.

What do you think, is that doable?

 

[Boringfrog]

And yes, I would say plenty of vans out there for that type of money.

 

[Sadie1970]

Thanks Mr Frog.

Can I add that I have just seen the 'perfect' MH on this site for sale, mrGaz's Auto Trail, but because we are so early into our research and money not available until November, hubby won't budge at the moment. I hope I won't think of it forever as the one that got away!

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[lorger]

Hi Sadie and welcome to fun youv'e done the right thing by joining here first. I wouldn't rush into and if your money isn't available until November then why dont you go along to the big show at the NEC. I know your not going for new but it will give you dozens of different layouts to sit n and try for size. If you do take your time maybe spend two days and spend loads of time imagining your on holiday and how you would relax at night.

 

[davidbaldam]

Hi and welcome to FUN.

 

[The Dudess]

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[Baldeagle7470]

Hi Sadie and a big from Portugal.
I wouldn't worry too much about a van you can afford being a few years old.Once you start looking in earnest you will find that some of the older vans have more substantial fittings and my own experience confirms this.Last year we PX'exed our 15 year old van for a new one.The old did have a little dampness in the storage area and gas bottle box.It could have been fixed but we decided to have a new one for our retirement.
It's nowhere near as substantially built as the old one but of course incorporates many features the old one didn't have and of course benefits from a warranty,we will soon see what that's worth!!

Good luck with your search and for your budget I expect you can have best of both worlds.decent build quality with any snags already ironed out.Possibly the German Marques would be worth closer inspection!
If we could ever afford another that's where we would look first,although you sometimes hear with problems but not quite so many,maybe

 

[buttons]

Hi and Welcome.....

 

[jumartoo]

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[MC 55 FUN]

& . . yes your requirements are doable

 

[Sadie1970]

Thanks for the lovely welcome and great advice everyone x

 

[SwissBob]

We did a lot of research on what age we should go for with our budget. A lot of research. It involved spreadsheets and everything. It may be different in other markets but here in CH the main depreciation appears to be in years 1 to 5 and then things calm down a lot with a 10 year old MH being not much cheaper than 5 year old one. Options mean nothing in terms of monetary value and neither does mileage (or kilometre-age over here) until you get past 100k or more. So we found the sweet spot was 5 years old. We ended up with options we never would have added to a new van (due to cost) such as comformatic gearbox, 160 multijet engine, funky sound system, interior upgrades, solar panel, power sockets everywhere, winter options (actually we probably would have stretched to the winter stuff). We were lucky enough to find a very low mileage, one owner MH with all the documentation and in "as new" condition. We paid less than half the original invoice figure. Also worth mentioning that if we'd gone new we would not have got the layout we wanted (PVC with lengthways double bed).

25K is a lot of money - there's bound to be a good deal waiting for you .

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[Yorick]

without having to go for an ancient specimen.

There's a few of them on here

 

[Celtic Ramblers]

 

[Madeinengland]

Hello

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[Ber090]

Welcome! you will find what you want, just keep looking!
Cheers
Bernie & Rona

 

[WynandJean]

Hello and welcome from West Midlands.



Wyn

 

[wigster]

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[Anthea M]

Hello and welcome! Good luck with your search!

 

[Mickrik]

Hi There and................ from Mick and Pauline

We collect this beauty on the left on Monday. An Auto-Trail Apache 634 with a U lounge. We also decided that the U lounge was right for us though this one also has a double berth over the cab as well to give a bit of extra versatility. Can't wait to take her out Monday night. We have spent a few months looking around and for me the best advice has come through looking on these forums and visiting a Major Show such as Malvern.

 

[Anthea M]

Hi There and................ from Mick and Pauline

We collect this beauty on the left on Monday. An Auto-Trail Apache 634 with a U lounge. We also decided that the U lounge was right for us though this one also has a double berth over the cab as well to give a bit of extra versatility. Can't wait to take her out Monday night. We have spent a few months looking around and for me the best advice has come through looking on these forums and visiting a Major Show such as Malvern.

So pleased you've found one enjoy and happy travels !

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[Sadie1970]

Oh, I am very envious of you, I look forward to reading about how you get on. I will be especially interested in what you find out as it is exactly what we want. We do intend visiting some of the big exhibitions too.

 

[scousebird]

 

[TUCANO]

I missed the original post here but Our first van was the 634U, great van and thoroughly enjoyed it, loved to reverse into slots so we could use the rear lounge to advantage.

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[Jo662]

 

[f6c]

Welcome aboard

 

[beejay]

We've just made our decision to buy. We were torn between rear lounge and fixed bed. The dealer helped us decide in the end and we're having a fixed bed. So here's hoping made right decision. BTW seems to have taken longer to decide to buy the motorhome than deciding to buy a house. However it's still a huge decision and I'm sure I speak for others, we don't want to buy in haste and repent at leisure.

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[Cat53]

 

[buttons]

Hi and Welcome........