Morelo or Niesmann?

[TheOls]

Hi Folks,

Newbie here.

My wife and I are thinking of purchasing a motorhome. We now live in Luxembourg and mainly will be cruising in central Europe.
After extensive research, we shortlisted our options to 2 brands: Morelo Palace vs. Niesmann Bischoff Flair.
We had a close look at both models at the Dusseldorf show this year and liked them both in terms of design and functionality. Technology and innovation wise they both seem to be ahead of other German brands.

Unfortunately, we haven't made up our mind yet

In the meantime, a web site that we came across raised some question marks.
As we were crawling through forums/blogs/social platforms to read reviews, we bumped into a blog called "Morelo Experience" on Medium.com. Not sure if we are allowed to paste links in here but a quick google search will do the job.
Seemingly, the blog has been recently started by an angry MORELO customer who faced a lot of problems. At first I thought it was some sort of bogus thing but as I kept on reading, saw many screenshots of email exchanges with the factory. He talks about their dealer disappearing, his order being cancelled by mistake, and his motorhome still sitting in the factory parking lot because the factory lost original documents, and finally lawyers had to be involved etc. Unless these are all made up, what he seems to be going through is horrific.

I've heard that doing business with German companies could be sometimes complicated for foreigners, but never thought it would reach such levels that made someone start a blog!

Anyways, if any of you folks in this forum had any experience with either of these brands or models, I would really appreciate a feedback.
Thanks a lot...
Theo.

 

[Figaro]

Both quality brands, you won't go far wrong with either.
Beware what you read on the internet, there is always someone ready to try and trash someone else.

 

[jongood]

Both are premier products, we re on our second arto 6 years + 8 years always found n&b very helpful. Have friends with Morelo, again pretty happy. The big difference between the palace and the flair is kitchen room Imo.

 

[jongood]

Have you looked at Concorde or Phoenix?

 

[TheOls]

Thanks for the feedback folks!
We haven't looked at Concorde and Phoenix but plan on doing so soon.

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[JJ]

Are you certain you wouldn't prefer a Swift?


JJ

 

[sallylillian]

I bought the new Model Flair in 2015 from a German dealer. Traded it this year with another German dealer for my new Morelo Palace Liner (so on a Merc Truck chassis).
In my decision process I drove a Palace on the Daily chassis which my Flair also had.
NiBi are the most honourable company I have dealt with, you can buy direct from the factory or a German dealer which will get you the best deal.
Morelo are growing too fast in my opinion, the management have lost control of many functions. If you are not German they can communicate but you are at a disadvantage and this is the cause of most friction.
That said their manufacturing is superior to NiBi, both in design for use and finish. I would buy another Morelo tomorrow for that reason. Your best plan if you have the time is go out to Germany and book some time at NiBi, Morelo and as you are in the vicinity Concorde and Phoenix. Ask for test drives to compare.
Get the brochures from all and configure your ideal and a plan will evolve which will inevitably enable you to define the floor plan that works for you as well as preference in style, finish and look.
I have read the articles you refer to and whilst I cannot deny I have had my own paperwork issues with Morelo the guy blew it out of proportion. His choice skills are easily defined by the atrocious washing machine install that he approved. We have had them in both the Flair and our Morelo and to have strapped in the garage like a crate of vegetables is beyond my comprehension and for me tells me all I need to know about the buyers abilities.
Michael

 

[Lenny HB]

Had a look at both a Caravan Salon. Thought N&B have lost the plot.
By comparison Morelo are in a different league they just ooze quality but no good looking at the base price you need to add at least €60k of extras to get a decent spec.
We spent about ¾ hour with the Morelo sales manager I was impressed with his in-depth knowledge.

 

[596]

I went to Dusseldorf and had a good look around, I looked at the Morelo very closely it was a lovely looking van, it was close but in the end I went for the Swift 596 as it had a rear lounge, Oh! and the Porsche in the garage was more than the Swift

 

[Lenny HB]

I went to Dusseldorf and had a good look around, I looked at the Morelo very closely it was a lovely looking van, it was close but in the end I went for the Swift 596 as it had a rear lounge, Oh! and the Porsche in the garage was more than the Swift

How can you even use Swift & Morelo in the same sentence.

Oh sh*t I just did it.

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[sallylillian]

I went to Dusseldorf and had a good look around, I looked at the Morelo very closely it was a lovely looking van, it was close but in the end I went for the Swift 596 as it had a rear lounge, Oh! and the Porsche in the garage was more than the Swift

An Empire Liner (as per your pictures) at near to €500,000 with a 2-3 ton payload and needing a C licence was a close second to a £60,000 Swift. I forgot the Swift had just the right floorplan.

 

[sallylillian]

Had a look at both a Caravan Salon. Thought N&B have lost the plot.
By comparison Morelo are in a different league they just ooze quality but no good looking at the base price you need to add at least €60k of extras to get a decent spec.
We spent about ¾ hour with the Morelo sales manager I was impressed with his in-depth knowledge.

Was that Andreas? I think he speaks 5 languages and a passable 2 more!

 

[Wh05apk]

Could the swift go in the liner's garage, that would keep it dry then?

 

[funflair]

Had a look at both a Caravan Salon. Thought N&B have lost the plot.
By comparison Morelo are in a different league they just ooze quality but no good looking at the base price you need to add at least €60k of extras to get a decent spec.
We spent about ¾ hour with the Morelo sales manager I was impressed with his in-depth knowledge.

He does know his stuff for sure, it’s nice to have answers before you have even asked the question sometimes.

Martin

 

[funflair]

Was that Andreas? I think he speaks 5 languages and a passable 2 more!

We were sat with Andreas at Dusseldorf and he took a call from a customer who had a IVECO related breakdown in Italy, the guy was French I think and didn’t speak any Italian to communicate with the garage so Andreas was having a conversation with both and looking after his customer? I was quite impressed.

Martin

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[596]

Could the swift go in the liner's garage, that would keep it dry then?

Too high I did check, always better to ignore the price and find what suits you best, THEN look at the price, the rear lounge as I mentioned is what did it for me, otherwise quite similar, both get you to where you want to go, both have heating Alde in the Swift, both have hot and cold water, both have a toilet and shower, Swift has remote internet control for power/heating/lightying e.t.c. Swift uses less fuel and cheaper at peage, could not fit the Morelo on my drive, less depreciation from what has been mentioned, but as I said I never checked the price of the Morelo, and although the British workmanship on the Swift has a lot to be desired I am supporting my country (VERY tempted to go German though as great workmanship), I can't think of anything else as I found them pretty similar, Oh! the Swift is 6 berth

 

[funflair]

So N+B or Morelo? What a choice? we have had a Flair for nearly 8 years now and it’s a cracking van, wether the latest are quite as good I doubt it as they have gone a lot more bling.

Styling outside I think N+B have the edge and of course safety with air bags in the standard IVECO dashboard, other than that though I think that Morelo certainly have the edge, as someone else said the Palace kitchen is a cracker and the general feeling is of a more spacious and more modern van.

Martin

 

[jongood]

I went to Dusseldorf and had a good look around, I looked at the Morelo very closely it was a lovely looking van, it was close but in the end I went for the Swift 596 as it had a rear lounge, Oh! and the Porsche in the garage was more than the Swift

I hope Morelo realise that they have to compete with Swift #terrified

 

[Robert Clark]

Too high I did check, always better to ignore the price and find what suits you best, THEN look at the price, the rear lounge as I mentioned is what did it for me, otherwise quite similar, both get you to where you want to go, both have heating Alde in the Swift, both have hot and cold water, both have a toilet and shower, Swift has remote internet control for power/heating/lightying e.t.c. Swift uses less fuel and cheaper at peage, could not fit the Morelo on my drive, less depreciation from what has been mentioned, but as I said I never checked the price of the Morelo, and although the British workmanship on the Swift has a lot to be desired I am supporting my country (VERY tempted to go German though as great workmanship), I can't think of anything else as I found them pretty similar, Oh! the Swift is 6 berth

Hope you check on customer satisfaction surveys too?

 

[funflair]

I hope Morelo realise that they have to compete with Swift #terrified

With Morelo being at least 4 times the price I suppose Swift could be considered competition Jon.

Martin

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[TheAleMan]

We were in the same boat as the o/p. With the Flair we couldn't find the perfect layout for us, ie, long couches and island bed, so ruled them out. Concorde we have looked at a fair bit, and although beautiful vans, I think they need to, as in ASAP, make their awnings an integral part of the van now..they have been left behind in that respect I feel. We now have our hearts set on a Morelo Palace 93 MB after extensively giving the one at Düsseldorf a good going over. IMO, there is something about the Morelo's that just sets them apart from the others. The biggest job is sorting through all the extra's - eye watering too.

 

[Lenny HB]

, I think they need to, as in ASAP, make their awnings an integral part of the van now..they have been left behind in that respect I feel.

I'm not so sure on the Home it puts the height up from 3.2m to nearly 3.4m.

The biggest job is sorting through all the extra's - eye watering too.

Just need a bottomless pit for a wallet.

 

[Southdowners]

I think you’re right about the exterior of the Concorde... it doesn’t look good compared to Morelo. However, in my opinion, the interior of the Concorde is more stylish.

 

[Robert Clark]

We looked round a Concorde at Southdowns and were surprised how many exposed screws they had.
Looked clumsy and cheap

 

[funflair]

Should be a new Charisma out at Dusseldorf next year?

Martin

I think you’re right about the exterior of the Concorde... it doesn’t look good compared to Morelo. However, in my opinion, the interior of the Concorde is more stylish.

Comes down to subtle differences but for us the Kitchen in the Morelo Palace would decide it for us,

Incidentally the Morelo “novel” kitchen doesn’t really give you much over the standard one now as they have changed the hob so they are now both the same.

Martin

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[Southdowners]

We looked round a Concorde at Southdowns and were surprised how many exposed screws they had.
Looked clumsy and cheap

Really. I’m surprised. We don’t have any exposed screws. Where were they?

 

[sallylillian]

I think you’re right about the exterior of the Concorde... it doesn’t look good compared to Morelo. However, in my opinion, the interior of the Concorde is more stylish.

I do agree some features in the Concorde interior are simply more stylish. A big example for me on the bar version is the table. The Morelo design whilst immensely practical looks like a school canteen table top compared to the wood trimmed Concorde. It is a balance of compromises. For a long time I have been anti the hedge trimming awning placement and the roof top fixing in a smooth one eyeline construction on the new Palace, a la the Empire, is far superior to the Flairs. But and it's a big but, the height on the Merc chassis on my liner makes deployment a test. Still would repeat it though. Of course the Daily chassis does not have the same issue.

 

[Robert Clark]

Really. I’m surprised. We don’t have any exposed screws. Where were they?

The southdowns salesman pointed them out in numerous places.
He said that they rated Carthago much higher for styling and build quality.
Too much dark wood and screw heads according to him

 

[Southdowners]

For the salesman to say ‘too much dark wood and screw heads’ they must have been self-evident. Where were they? I’m sitting in our Charisma now and I can’t see any.

We have the ‘dark wood’ - it’s called Wenge. It looks really stylish against Ivory overhead lockers and leather upholstery.

 

[Robert Clark]

For the salesman to say ‘too much dark wood and screw heads’ they must have been self-evident. Where were they? I’m sitting in our Charisma now and I can’t see any.

We have the ‘dark wood’ - it’s called Wenge. It looks really stylish against Ivory overhead lockers and leather upholstery.

All the fixing screws on the Carthago had covers, even those under the shelves.
On the Concorde they showed us they were all exposed
Maybe someone stole them ?

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