Your thoughts on this RV (1 Viewer)

[Goose]

Hello to all. This is a fabulous forum. Having lurked for the past weeks and learnt an incredible amount I'm very grateful. I'd really appreciate your comments on an American RV that I'm keen on and want to bring to the UK.

In 2010 the wife and I are moving from Canada to the UK after a 6 month tour of the US. We've travelled around Central Europe before, spending 6 months in a CI Coach Built 2.4Lt diesel Class C. I don't remember the vehicle length of that motorhome but we realised during that trip the importance of owning the smallest motorhome one is comfortable with. (Some of those village lanes in Italy and France were a little hair-raising and a wrong turn, resulting in an extremely stressful two-lap tour around the Arc de Triumph, had the old ticker doing a drum-roll)

The idea is for us to spend months at a time in Europe - not necessarily full-timing but pretty close.

With that in mind, we'd really appreciate everyone's opinion on the Coachmen Prism Class C motorhome that we're keen on. What we're looking for is the living space of a 30' Class A in a compact 25' Class C. Because we also intend travelling as opposed to simply spending months in any one location, I'm keen on the relative fuel efficiency of the 3Lt Mercedes diesel engine.

Because of our circumstances, I think we can pick up a new one in the USA for around $75,000 - $79,000. And I think we can land it in the UK for around $85,000 all in. (Our circumstances are such that there should be no sales taxes or import duties). Of course, if we can pick up a used one that would be even better. There are around 10 manufacturers each with their version of the 3lt Mercedes diesel on a Sprinter base and many have the same floorplan as the Coachmen Prism M220 we like. We simply prefer the interior design of the Prism.

This is the floorplan we're keen on - the M220:

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I can't find any European-made motorhome that compares in terms of appointments and layout for around GBP52,000 equivalent.

Would you mind looking at this video clip and then letting me know your thoughts:

2009 Coachmen Prism Diesel w/Slide (M230): Motor Home Specialist

I'd really like to know if there are any concerns you can see with this vehicle that I haven't thought of. I'm comfortable with the 110v/230v electrical issues. But what else? For example, there appear to be a lot of bells and whistles on this vehicle for the price, but they're no use to me if they aren't going to be functional in Europe eg the black/grey water boom-pipe setup etc.

Thanks in advance for your input. :thumb:

 

[moandick]

I must admit to being an A class fanatic - wasting all that cab space when in parking mode seems to be a total non-starter. However, I also have to admit that the designers of this C Class have thought quite hard about it and the end result is quite impressive. The lift up panel in the cab bed allowing good entry into the cab is a nice touch and would make the cab a lot less claustrophic whilst on the road and the cab blind system is definitely a winner. One thing that I do wonder about though is what you would use the overcab space for when in park mode. Are you going to use it as a bed - if so what do you do about the swing out TV when the bed is made?

Lots and lots of indoor storage, maybe but it is almost all peculiar shapes and most of the things we store are square and simply waste a lot of 'curved' storage space.

From your floor plan I think the bed is 'walled' in on three sides - not very easy to 'make' the bed up and certainly not very comfortable for the inside member to clamber out to go to the loo in the middle of the night. I think you will be surprised at how annoying the 'cut-off' bit at the bottom of the bed becomes when you are trying to get your feet and legs into a comfy position during the night

The computer table attached to the bucket chair is a gimmick - there is not enough room to operate the computer when you are sitting comfortably and you run the risk of knocking it off the table every time you move past it.

All-in-all a very good compromise but no where near good enough to tempt me away from my A Class

 

[weymard]

:thumb: Very nice MH ! Just a little long at my point of view. With a slide you can not find an European MH.
I have a camper US and I'm living in France. About 110 to 220 volts you will need to have a very good and powerful converter (waterproof if possible) for grounds camping and you will need of a powerful generator to product 110 volts when you are in free stage (boundocking) OR in campground where the electricity power is to weak (6 A for example, which is frequent). For the rest, fill or empty tanks , the US materials work good in Europe, not always usefull but it is ok, do not be worry.

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[Terry]

Hi, 85,000 = 52,000 £ ish then factor in 110v things that may need converting / changing to 240v you will probably be near to £60,000 :Sad: still a nice m/h but at that price I would prefer a euro one probably a lot better built than the yank.Whilst the van is nice and light ,all that dark wood is to me depressing.The outside shape is not brill to me
terry

 

[6pm Cowboy]

I quite like it, especially the version with the back slide for the bedroom. I haven't seen that before.

if you are staying in 'Europe' then your left hand drive would be ok but if spending much time in UK then it is questionable.... though I believe many people drive them here without to much of a problem.

 

[carl65]

love the unit think it is a great for travelling only thing i feel is no fixed bed at the back but that is only minor every other all those extras great go for it

carl

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[Goose]

Thank you all very much for the feedback.

Mo and Dick:

I must admit to being an A class fanatic - wasting all that cab space when in parking mode seems to be a total non-starter.

Yeah. Winnebago have just launched their new Via (an A class) with the same 3Lt Merc diesel engine but now married to a Sprinter F50 chassis. It is 25'6" and has cabin seats that fully rotate so that the cabin becomes part of the dining arrangement. Much better design. But I'm not sure it's worth $30,000 more than the present Merc/Sprinter offerings (their Winnebago View for example).

From my research elsewhere, I see you can buy add-on seat adjusters for around $200 that will allow the front seats to fully rotate. The only problem some have experienced is that the extra 2 inch height causes problems on the steering side with some models.

One thing that I do wonder about though is what you would use the overcab space for when in park mode. Are you going to use it as a bed - if so what do you do about the swing out TV when the bed is made?

That's the thing. When we toured Europe in 2002 for 6 months we used the bed over the cab and kept it made up. I initially liked the Coachmen Prism M230 with its double sofa layout and no rear bed. It seems to be their most popular model and is the one you see in the video. The one sofa is used for dining when the removable table is set up, and the other sofa converts to a double bed for extra sleeping. Of course, with the slide out, the two-sofa layout presents the illusion of huge interior space. Big appeal.

But it comes back to the bed arrangement. How many of you full-timers, or long-termers sleep in the cab-over bed (if you have a C Class)? It worked well for us in 2002 but I'm worried that as the missus and I age it's not going to be as appealing. And so I've started leaning toward the fixed rear bed layouts. I guess we'd use the cabover section for storage if we went for the rear bed setup.

The computer table attached to the bucket chair is a gimmick

I agreee. It's almost as if they couldn't figure out what to do with this small area and gave up. I'd rather there was a flip up table fixed to the wall that the passenger side cabin seat could use when rotated.

Weymard, the Prism comes standard with an LPG generator which I believe is quieter and more efficient than the optional diesel genny.

Terry, that's interesting. Which European-made motorhomes do you have in mind as being comparable at GBP60,000? The main reason we're looking at bringing the Prism across is because we haven't seen anything as "liveable" in the European models. It seems the UK and Europe manufacture more for the vacation crowd and not for those who want to long-term in them. Without a slide giving you that extra 30 inches living-space-width, wouldn't the European models be a little cramped for long-termers?

 

[ourcampersbeentrashed]

There are some lovely C class vehicles out there, and remember the roads in the UK are nowhere near as wide as those in the USA xxxxx

Additionally think about the vehicle length, parking bays are much smaller in the UK and if you overhang you are likely to get a ticket.

And the most important thing if you are using it for such a long time, is to really ensure that the best is comfortable, so take time in trying it out, and not worry about any blushing or pushy salesmen

Hope this helps xxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[Terry]

Hi Goose I would not know where to start 60k buys a lot of M/H :thumb:If you can get your hands on a copy of MMM they have a list & prices of all the big makes of van for sale in the UK-- somebody on here may know a on line version / link ?????? It would be a case of seeing what is in your price range (most of them ) then googling to see on line versions :thumb:
tery

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[weymard]

LPG generator is a very good things, very useful .
you wrote : How many of you full-timers, or long-termers sleep in the cab-over bed (if you have a C Class)? It worked well for us in 2002 but I'm worried that as the missus and I age it's not going to be as appealing. And so I've started leaning toward the fixed rear bed layouts. I guess we'd use the cabover section for storage if we went for the rear bed setup.

You are right, more older more difficult in the cabover , but as you say the cabover can be used as storage, I do it with an Italian camper it was very useful. I think you can find a MH with rear fixed bed and lot of space in the length in european camper (but you will not have the width as US MH), i think that some brand as Carthago, Flair or Hymmer could give you a great comfort for a long term, and a very best comfort than US MH if you project to go in coldest countries in winter !

 

[Terry]

hi Goose try this search prices from hi to low to save time Link Removed
terry