Globecar Summit Prime

[alanandrachel]

Highbridge Caravans knowingly sold us a brand new 600 in November. The wind deflector was already broken, the wind noise and rattling on the way home was horrendous. Pretending surprise they reassured it was a warranty issue but we are STILL waiting. It’s not pleasant to ride in on anything other than a perfect road surface but at no more than 50mph. Nobody from Highbridge Caravans has been honest about the known problems and we knew nothing about them until we read this site. There’s no justice, no replacement and no compensation.

 

[Riverbankannie]

and welcome. I can understand that you are upset and cross about your experiences with a brand new van that you have paid £££s for and would expect to be perfect. Unfortunately in the real world, none are. There are always issues to be snagged. Have you got a conversation trail with your dealer, are they still offering to put it right. It sounds like you need a replacement seal.
Parts are notoriously difficult to get hold of at the moment.
If the dealer is not playing ball, one option is to get it fixed elsewhere and put in a small claims court request to pay for it. You must have your records of the responses so far up to date.

 

[Blue Knight]

Hi Alan/Rachel.......and a big welcome to the FUN forum ;-)

The Globecar Summit Prime range has suffered from a dodgy front sky roof design for about two years now. It's a very well reported fact in Germany where 90% of the Primes end up being sold. They can leak or come loose or just rattle continuously. It's the dealers responsibility to resolve the problem but be warned that it may take many months for the parts to be sent to the UK.

Here are just two of the German threads that relate to the window. They contain 35 forum pages of advice, recommendations and complaints regarding the sky roof on the Summit Prime.

Sky Roof Fahrgeräusche

Hallo, interessiere mich für Pössel Prime (Sky Roof), hat jemand Erfahrung über Fahrgeräusche,sind die durch das Sky Roof höher. Die Motorgeräusche sind...

poesslforum.de

SkyRoof Problem Gelöst! endlich glücklich mit dem Ding ! Rotersummit - Frankfurt am Main

Ich hatte gestern den Einfall das SkyRoof wieder auf Distanz zum Dach zu bringen und im Bezug der Scheren auf Druck zu belasten. ES HAT FUNKTIONIERT. Vorteile:...

poesslforum.de

Please note one thing though: Highbridge has just started selling the Globecar brand so they know nowt about it whatsoever and therefore don't be surprised if their advice is somewhat wanting.

You can use the two links above as evidence to support your claim.

If you need anymore advice on the Prime then we'll all chip-in and help.

All the best,

Andrew

 

[twerly]

Hi and Welcome to the forum.
I was sold a brand new van from Highbridge, it to had many many serious defects (look at my posts), so many that in the end I rejected the VAN. To be fair to Highbridge handled the situation in an extremely professional manner. If you ask they will permit you to use a local specialist to make repairs under warranty, we did this on a number of the defects. We paid the local specialist and Highbridge reimbursed the amount we paid with no questions, we too had some annoying rattles that we had fixed perfectly. If after initial attempts you still have serious defects you are fully entitled under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 to reject your van and request a full refund. Our problems became so serious and dangerous we did just this. Again Highbridge acted with utmost professionalism and we ended up with a satisfactory outcome. In my opinion
Good luck and I am sure you will get a your VAN sorted.

 

[davidbaldam]

Hi and welcome to FUN. Sorry to hear of your problems but your in the right place for advice.

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[AndyPK]

Welcome from Salisbury!

Make sure you keep records of all communications with Highbridge, including emails……

 

[Jimjo]

Hi Alan/Rachel.......and a big welcome to the FUN forum ;-)

The Globecar Summit Prime range has suffered from a dodgy front sky roof design for about two years now. It's a very well reported fact in Germany where 90% of the Primes end up being sold. They can leak or come loose or just rattle continuously. It's the dealers responsibility to resolve the problem but be warned that it may take many months for the parts to be sent to the UK.

Here are just two of the German threads that relate to the window. They contain 35 forum pages of advice, recommendations and complaints regarding the sky roof on the Summit Prime.

Sky Roof Fahrgeräusche

Hallo, interessiere mich für Pössel Prime (Sky Roof), hat jemand Erfahrung über Fahrgeräusche,sind die durch das Sky Roof höher. Die Motorgeräusche sind...

poesslforum.de

SkyRoof Problem Gelöst! endlich glücklich mit dem Ding ! Rotersummit - Frankfurt am Main

Ich hatte gestern den Einfall das SkyRoof wieder auf Distanz zum Dach zu bringen und im Bezug der Scheren auf Druck zu belasten. ES HAT FUNKTIONIERT. Vorteile:...

poesslforum.de

Please note one thing though: Highbridge has just started selling the Globecar brand so they know nowt about it whatsoever and therefore don't be surprised if their advice is somewhat wanting.

You can use the two links above as evidence to support your claim.

If you need anymore advice on the Prime then we'll all chip-in and help.

All the best,

Andrew

Sorry to hear about this for those who have had problems but just to say that we have the Summit Prime 540 (purchased new from Highbridge in July 2021) and to date we have had no problems at all with the sky roof (touch wood).

 

[alanandrachel]

Aren’t you the lucky one.
We tried it in the sunshine yesterday along the B3157 coast rd and with the roof open it’s okay but closed it rattled continuously (up by our heads) like a stone in a tin can. We turned around and came home lIf you HAD to use it you could but it’s meant to be a £64030.00 PLEASURE vehicle for christs sake.
They all seemed pleasant enough people at HIGHBRIDGE CARAVANS but when faced with difficult questions they are like politicians….they dodge them.
What makes me so very angry is (it’s now apparent) that they knew it had a problem before handing it over and 4 months later its no different. It wasn’t the only defect as there are 2 imperfect fly screens and a heater control was stuck (that at least is fixed). Obviously it had no pre delivery inspection. At my insistence they had it back and then kept it for the whole of February waiting for parts. After repairing the old wind deflector it was returned Mr Grant After sales manager considered there was now just normal noise. I have many videos to disprove this if anyone wants to hear them and it’s now accepted that it needs different parts….. but WHEN.
If (as we are considering) we hand it back we’ll be left without a van. Obviously our lovely old 8year old (but quiet) Sunliving Flexo has long gone. .

 

[mapman55]

Hi AlanandRachel

Sorry to hear about your problems and I would like to see a video of this if possible. This is a van I’m interested in but if this is the quality you get from globecar then I’m thinking twice about it now. Hard to get new vans at the minute but would rather not have one with knowing faults, thanks for sharing

 

[twerly]

Hi AlanandRachel,

Be aware and read the 2015 Consumer Rights Act, your options reduce after 6 months, I think you can still reject a purchase, however the dealer I think may be able to offer less, I may be wrong, but check it out. We rejected after 4 months. I understand your situation and not wanting to be without a van, but on the other hand so you want to keep a van you are unhappy with? We ended trading up and paid more for a second hand van and are much happier. We had a very similar experience to yourselves and blame the manufacture for almost what we see non existent quality control checks. You may have a "Friday" van like us, as I have read many glowing reports on Globecar range, same with Dreamer (Rapido) - but 100% not on our van.

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[hja]

We have a Sumit 640 with sky roof. Is it the sky roof you are referring to as a deflector? We asked abt this when we purcphased and were told it was earlier versions. We have wind noise above about 58 mph on some roads. One road we use regularly is at a patch where you do get a cross wind, so not all the time at that speed. Our will be going in for hab check in May and I will talk to them about what else they can do. The German possle forum has lots about this and in Germany they seem to be fitting additional handle catches on the sides.
The noise is concerning at times, worry it might fly off, even though you know that is very unlikely.
You suggested you used it open, was that just see what happened? I would never drive with any roof light open, although I did notice one of the new vans ( cant remember which make) had designed a a sky roof that could be opened on the journey.

 

[alanandrachel]

Hi mapman, I tried to download on this site but the video is too large. I’ll ask someone more intelligent to have a go or I can email them. Availability was the only reason we’ve got the Globecar as we’d wanted an Adria twin.
HELLO hja the deflector is what they call the plastic strip under the front of the Sky Roof. This was in two peice’s when we picked it up but the Highbridge staff we delt with thought it might be meant to be like that I’ll post a photo. They’ve since had it repaired as the Germans (after 4 months) still haven’t found a replacement. The external rattle at speed has gone but the louder/internal rattle (‘normal’??) on any but the smoothest road plus the wind noise you describe is still there. The videos have persuaded Highbridge and Globecar Uk that there is a problem after all. So now there’s a replacement part including seals coming which has been developed as there are ‘just a few vans’ with this problem. But goodness only knows when. That’s our plans for the summer gone.

 

[Andy MacD]

I empathise re your Globecar problems. If it’s any consolation I bought a new Adria Twin last year and have had an endless series of faults and sub standard dealer service. Regrettably seems standard these days, and if you do return the van there are none available to replace it.

 

[alanandrachel]

Here’s the photo showing the deflector (or spoiler)

spoiler)

 

[Blue Knight]

Here’s the photo showing the deflector (or spoiler)

spoiler) View attachment 595496

A split deflector is also a known fault on the Summit Prime series but that is a seperate problem to the many reported about the Sky window.

The split in the aero deflector has come about because Globecar used an incompatible glue in the bonding process and one that doesn't expand or contract in synch with the hot and cold weather; the result is that the aero module splits.

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[Blue Knight]

The videos have persuaded Highbridge and Globecar Uk that there is a problem after all.

Be aware that 'Globecar UK' means 'SMC in Newark' who operate as the primary franchisee for all Globecars in the UK.

......so if you have a problem with your Globecar then you'll find that Highbridge will first need to send all warranty claims to SMC before they forward them to the H-Line factory.

Minxy Mel is very knowledgeable of this process.

 

[alanandrachel]

It’s a shame nobody told Highbridge Caravans. There again perhaps they did and they just wanted another sale.
…To hell with customers….
Peter Dabell the only (possibility) Globecar UK employee actually works from an SMC office.
A Possl employee Paul Kollman seems to be responsible for the UK sales but is very unsympathetic. His response to our plea after 3 months was.. the part was still on order with the manufacturer ( it’s in fact a Sky Roof made by Dometic) but unavailable….
Any apologies must have been lost in translation.
Both Messrs Kollman (Possl) and Dabell (Globecar UK) instruct us that all communications should be directed at Highbridge ONLY.

 

[Minxy]

Be aware that 'Globecar UK' means 'SMC in Newark' who operate as the primary franchisee for all Globecars in the UK.

......so if you have a problem with your Globecar then you'll find that Highbridge will first need to send all warranty claims to SMC before they forward them to the H-Line factory.

Minxy Mel is very knowledgeable of this process.

Ain't that the truth!

It’s a shame nobody told Highbridge Caravans. There again perhaps they did and they just wanted another sale.
…To hell with customers….
Peter Dabell the only (possibility) Globecar UK employee actually works from an SMC office.
A Possl employee Paul Kollman seems to be responsible for the UK sales but is very unsympathetic. His response to our plea after 3 months was.. the part was still on order with the manufacturer ( it’s in fact a Sky Roof made by Dometic) but unavailable….
Any apologies must have been lost in translation.
Both Messrs Kollman (Possl) and Dabell (Globecar UK) instruct us that all communications should be directed at Highbridge ONLY.

Unfortunately due to everything having to go through SMC this adds delay, the 2nd one we bought was from a dealers down south who told us that they are not allowed to go direct to Globecar at all, only via SMC ... the way that SMC dealt with stuff and the 'attitude' they had to dealers (not to mention customers as our first one was from them and I said I'd never buy from them again) is one of the reasons this particular dealer gave up the franchise. It looks like Highbridge have taken up the Globecar gauntlet and are now finding out why the other dealer gave them up!

It took an age to get items for our 2 Globecars and that was pre-covid, with a lot of messing about but we got stuff sorted in the end and I'm sure you will too in the meantime if you can do a temporary fix (good old gaffer tape?) so you can at least use the van I suggest you try.

 

[Aladin Sane]

Highbridge Caravans knowingly sold us a brand new 600 in November. The wind deflector was already broken, the wind noise and rattling on the way home was horrendous. Pretending surprise they reassured it was a warranty issue but we are STILL waiting. It’s not pleasant to ride in on anything other than a perfect road surface but at no more than 50mph. Nobody from Highbridge Caravans has been honest about the known problems and we knew nothing about them until we read this site. There’s no justice, no replacement and no compensation.

We have exactly the same situation with our Summit Prime, will be keen to know how you get on.
We have seen a modification on later models.

 

[alanandrachel]

We have exactly the same situation with our Summit Prime, will be keen to know how you get on.
We have seen a modification on later models.

Hi, After 4-months of getting no where and the van unusable in our opinion Highbridge offered us our money back plus some expenses. So we unfortunately gave up.

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[Jimjo]

Sorry to hear. about the problems you have had.

I did a post to this thread back in March about our 540 Summit Prime purchased in 2021 from Highbridge. At that time we hadn't experienced any problems but shortly afterwards we did start to get some pretty bad rattling from the Sky Roof. We took it up with Highbridge and after a couple of months a modification was carried out to the Sky Roof using a kit supplied to Highbridge by Dometic. This kit enabled three additional fasteners to be added to the roof which now secures it more tightly and I'm pleased to say, touch wood, that it appears to have cured the problem - we have just got back from a 12 night trip to the Outer Hebrides which passed without any issues.
Whilst it took a while for the kit to be sent over from Germany, Highbridge (Leighton) did their best to keep us informed. We had no dealings or mention of SMC Newark throughout this process which was completed under warranty.

Maybe we have just been lucky but we are very pleased with the van and the service we have had from Highbridge.

I appreciate that not everyone is so lucky, and in the past we have also had some terrible service and experiences with other providers.

 

[hja]

Our Summit Prime went in to SMC for hab service at the very end of May. They agreed we needed the sky roof fix and we also needed two new spot lights. All under warranty. The parts were ordered. Unfortunately Possle only sent one spot instead of two. They are sending the second one in the next consignment. Unfortunately SMC don’t know when that will arrive. As their next available slots for the work are November we have now booked it in and hope the second spot will have arrived by then. The sky roof fix means the van has to stay overnight for the seal to go off so that was the important thing to get booked in. As we don’t live far from SMC it won’t be a problem if we have to have the second spot fitted on another occasion.
Touch wood SMC have always been helpful. We had a problem with the water pump early on in our ownership. Took the van in to look at and although the pump was stuck rather than broken they said they would replace it. This was just at that time when there was an acute parts shortage. They didn’t have a replacement, neither did Brownhills who are just up the road, so they just put us a better pump in (more powerful?). It did make a difference to the water pressure.

 

[alanandrachel]

I’m pleased for you, perhaps Highbridge (Leighton included) learned from our problems but it’s left a very bad impression with us.
They wouldn’t even acknowledge our problem until I’d had an independent engineers assessment, bombarded them with emails and involved the companies owners (The Davies family).
While we did get the purchase price and some of our costs back our van was long gone so we were left without a M/H and little choice regarding a replacement…… At least what we did eventually get from Alan Kerr doesn’t rattle.

 

[Soycd]

Welcome. I've lined up a Summit Prime 640 as one of our options for our next van. `Now I'm not so sure. I have not read all the post above properly yet but will do later. I'd probably be thinking down the lines of importing LHD, but seeing what you have been through I may have to have a major re-think. We looked at a few at Der Freistaat in Sulzemoos in the summer and loved the Summit layout.

 

[Jimjo]

My understanding is that the new Summit Primes now have a completely new Sky Roof which has cured the problems ( I got this from the Possl forum) but obviously you would have to check it out and satisfy yourself.
As I’ve said we love the layout and finish of ours and in particular the modern look inside.
Good luck with whatever you choose.

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[Garfields]

The panoramic roofs on a few makes of PVCs seem to have been a bit problematic?.
They do make the front of the vans feel much more specious and bright though.

 

[Littlewheels]

Be aware that 'Globecar UK' means 'SMC in Newark' who operate as the primary franchisee for all Globecars in the UK.

......so if you have a problem with your Globecar then you'll find that Highbridge will first need to send all warranty claims to SMC before they forward them to the H-Line factory.

@Minxy Mel is very knowledgeable of this process.

Ain't that the truth!

More of a Minxypedia Boundless knowledge

 

[Minxy]

Ain't that the truth!

More of a Minxypedia Boundless knowledge

I have knowledge, sometimes boundless, but it doesn't necessarily mean it is relevant to what you want to know!

 

[Soycd]

I have knowledge, sometimes boundless, but it doesn't necessarily mean it is relevant to what you want to know!

Minxy, is the Minxipedia to do with Globecar models or with SMC Newark? I'm interested in possibly getting a Globecar Summit at some stage and going on whats been posted here SMC Newark is an option?

 

[SpeedyDux]

The panoramic roofs on a few makes of PVCs seem to have been a bit problematic?.
They do make the front of the vans feel much more specious and bright though.

You lose the overcab locker. It is just the right size for the Silver Screen in its bag. Plus some other essentials.

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