Nevis
Free Member
Well, I am just back after travelling down to the NEC from the Scottish Borders to spend a couple of exhausting days immersed in 21st century MoHo technology - like a kid in a toyshop in search of our first A-Class. This has helped narrow my choice down a little and I have reached the conclusions unless you are minted you can't have everything and a compromise needs to be reached.
We have decided to buy new as we don't have the experience to buy second hand; don't have too much choice where we live to buy local; and would like to have the security of a warranty. (It's also a retirement present to ourselves)
Seeing the vehicles in the flesh was invaluable. Some big brands fell short of my expectations, some exceeded them. As you would expect, most had tempting base-line prices which were not realistic considering the essential items that needed to be added.
I was really impressed with Laika, a brand I had not previously considered.The Laika A-Class vehicles I looked at seemed to punch well above their weight. However, I don't think there is a dealer in Scotland. I was also keen to see if the Mobilvetta K-Yacht lived up to the hype I was hearing. I have to say it did - the fit and finish was as good as anything else, and the level of inclusive kit impressive- e.g. element-heated windscreen, hill-hold assist, hill decent assist, solar etc. The downside was the payload and I think to be a contender a chassis upgrade would be necessary (but this £1400 option was being offered f.o.c. at least at the show!) More importantly it came within our budget.
Now we are considering the pros and cons of a rear lounge with smaller garage or fixed beds and larger garage space.
As I said, all compromises however, we are pretty good at adapting to what we have, and what we can afford!
This forum has been, and is, a great help.
We have decided to buy new as we don't have the experience to buy second hand; don't have too much choice where we live to buy local; and would like to have the security of a warranty. (It's also a retirement present to ourselves)
Seeing the vehicles in the flesh was invaluable. Some big brands fell short of my expectations, some exceeded them. As you would expect, most had tempting base-line prices which were not realistic considering the essential items that needed to be added.
I was really impressed with Laika, a brand I had not previously considered.The Laika A-Class vehicles I looked at seemed to punch well above their weight. However, I don't think there is a dealer in Scotland. I was also keen to see if the Mobilvetta K-Yacht lived up to the hype I was hearing. I have to say it did - the fit and finish was as good as anything else, and the level of inclusive kit impressive- e.g. element-heated windscreen, hill-hold assist, hill decent assist, solar etc. The downside was the payload and I think to be a contender a chassis upgrade would be necessary (but this £1400 option was being offered f.o.c. at least at the show!) More importantly it came within our budget.
Now we are considering the pros and cons of a rear lounge with smaller garage or fixed beds and larger garage space.
As I said, all compromises however, we are pretty good at adapting to what we have, and what we can afford!
This forum has been, and is, a great help.
