We are just back from the Dusseldorf show after having visited for two days - bloody hell what a place!!
Despite the fact it was very busy on Sunday there was still access to the vans and on Monday when quieter we had plenty of viewing opportunities. It really would be possible to lose the plot there - Carthago alone had 37 vans on display!
We went with a list of Rapido/Carthago and Hymer vans to look at as well as my "mystery van" (a Dethleffs 4 Travel with end bathroom and drop down electric bed but still incorporating garage).
SWMBO quickly knocked out the single bed over garage models as she'd feel claustrophobic being so close to the overhead lockers.
Hymer - due to "production difficulties" had no island bed vans there at all(!).
The Boss doesn't like vans with separate shower/loo as she feels that this is a waste of space so that knocked a load out of my list too...
Quite by chance we stepped into a Rapido 850 (which is not available in the UK) and is a sort of French bed with space beside the wall but with a smaller garage than I'd like and a corner combined loo/shower. Its 6.7 metres but because of the design feels more open and she loved it. However there were some fairly substantial compromises which we discussed overnight in that the garage is limited and I think that storage space is limited too with it appears the option of a single outside locker and small underfloor space in addition to the garage.
We then looked into a Carthage 142QB which is the same length, has a garage, transverse bed (which we didn't want) but with access from the bottom as well as the side. That got a vote too so now we have a bit of a dilemma!
The Rapido looks to be substantially less expensive and the Carthago about £10-£15k more so a large price differential although we had loaded some extra's onto the Carthago which we'd have to add to the Rapido.
Issue is if we buy the Rapido will I always be cursing the garage/storage limitations and thinking maybe we should have gone Cartahgo.
We priced the Carthago with a UK dealer at the show with "sensible options" having explored on Mobile.de in the past. He advised that £/€ has really screwed things both for importing and for the dealers as the manufacturers have dictated exchange rate prices to them for this year and there is less to play with for discounts this side of the channel as well (effectively) as pushing up prices importing from the other.
Going to spend a few days with a spreadsheet doing pro's/con's and pricing but would appreciate feedback from those of you with more experience that we have.
Cheers
Despite the fact it was very busy on Sunday there was still access to the vans and on Monday when quieter we had plenty of viewing opportunities. It really would be possible to lose the plot there - Carthago alone had 37 vans on display!
We went with a list of Rapido/Carthago and Hymer vans to look at as well as my "mystery van" (a Dethleffs 4 Travel with end bathroom and drop down electric bed but still incorporating garage).
SWMBO quickly knocked out the single bed over garage models as she'd feel claustrophobic being so close to the overhead lockers.
Hymer - due to "production difficulties" had no island bed vans there at all(!).
The Boss doesn't like vans with separate shower/loo as she feels that this is a waste of space so that knocked a load out of my list too...
Quite by chance we stepped into a Rapido 850 (which is not available in the UK) and is a sort of French bed with space beside the wall but with a smaller garage than I'd like and a corner combined loo/shower. Its 6.7 metres but because of the design feels more open and she loved it. However there were some fairly substantial compromises which we discussed overnight in that the garage is limited and I think that storage space is limited too with it appears the option of a single outside locker and small underfloor space in addition to the garage.
We then looked into a Carthage 142QB which is the same length, has a garage, transverse bed (which we didn't want) but with access from the bottom as well as the side. That got a vote too so now we have a bit of a dilemma!
The Rapido looks to be substantially less expensive and the Carthago about £10-£15k more so a large price differential although we had loaded some extra's onto the Carthago which we'd have to add to the Rapido.
Issue is if we buy the Rapido will I always be cursing the garage/storage limitations and thinking maybe we should have gone Cartahgo.
We priced the Carthago with a UK dealer at the show with "sensible options" having explored on Mobile.de in the past. He advised that £/€ has really screwed things both for importing and for the dealers as the manufacturers have dictated exchange rate prices to them for this year and there is less to play with for discounts this side of the channel as well (effectively) as pushing up prices importing from the other.
Going to spend a few days with a spreadsheet doing pro's/con's and pricing but would appreciate feedback from those of you with more experience that we have.
Cheers
