Rapide561
Free Member
Hi
Yes, here it is, I have it. My six wheeler Swift, complete with left hand drive.
The van was collected by myself from the Swift factory on Wednesday, with assistance from our very own Peter - aka Humber-Traveller.
The handover was very thorough and was done by the CEO - Peter Smith, Andy Spacey - I think he is from the design department, Lynsey Place, customer service manager and also Alistair - not sure of his job, but a very pleasant chap. Another guy joined in and he talked me through all the applicances etc etc.
So - the Kontiki - it is new to me but not brand new. First registered on paper a few weeks ago, and owned by The Swift Group, the van has been subjected to various road tests from motorhome magazines and was also used by a TV celeb - well - an absolute TV star in my opinion.
The spec is as per the UK brochure - with the exception that the base vehicle, a Fiat 3.0 Multijet is left hand drive.....and the drive is superb. Pulling away in the low gears, accelerating in fourth and fifth, and cruising in sixth are a doddle. Up hiil and down dale, she marches on. There is a little "bing, bing, bing" when the speed reaches 100km/p/h, but this speed can be exceeded - all too easily.
For the habitation side, additions have been made, notable a Dometic roof air conditioner, a towbar and numerous little extras, including double power sockets, removal of the rear vinyl transfers, and the provision of a well built shelf in the rear boot. There is also a TV point, power point and 12V socket in the boot - no, not for the use by refugees, but for outdoor TV and CDs etc on those warm Italian evenings.
The interior is absolutely immaculate. Nothing else to say.
On Saturday, the van is going to TSC/Robert Jackson in Wakefield for the factory fit Freeview removing and the Oyster refitting.
The best feature to date is the remote controlled in dash CD player - connected to speakers above the lounge area, the dash and also above the bed. Sound qualilty is on par with my Bose system.
Swift excelled on the day by providing a copy of Sarah Beeny's book about dating - duly autographed. I am a big fan of SB, and so was the late Oscar. Those of you that knew Oscar will believe without doubt that he sat on my knee and watched property ladder. This book will be of real sentimental value, and joins other autographed books by Sarah Kennedy. My two heroines!
Swift rounded of the day with a small gift - a watch and also a quick look at a photo of Peter Smith's dog - a Weimaraner.
I know longer think of the van as "being a Swift", but think of it as "one of Peter's" if that makes any sense at all.
I am off to Italy on Monday for a high speed dash and will write a full review of the van then. My friend, a motorhome virgin is coming along, so she can help with the review.
I will see you all at the end of September at the meet. No doubt I will be loaded up to the rafters with foreign plonk.
Russell
Yes, here it is, I have it. My six wheeler Swift, complete with left hand drive.
The van was collected by myself from the Swift factory on Wednesday, with assistance from our very own Peter - aka Humber-Traveller.
The handover was very thorough and was done by the CEO - Peter Smith, Andy Spacey - I think he is from the design department, Lynsey Place, customer service manager and also Alistair - not sure of his job, but a very pleasant chap. Another guy joined in and he talked me through all the applicances etc etc.
So - the Kontiki - it is new to me but not brand new. First registered on paper a few weeks ago, and owned by The Swift Group, the van has been subjected to various road tests from motorhome magazines and was also used by a TV celeb - well - an absolute TV star in my opinion.
The spec is as per the UK brochure - with the exception that the base vehicle, a Fiat 3.0 Multijet is left hand drive.....and the drive is superb. Pulling away in the low gears, accelerating in fourth and fifth, and cruising in sixth are a doddle. Up hiil and down dale, she marches on. There is a little "bing, bing, bing" when the speed reaches 100km/p/h, but this speed can be exceeded - all too easily.
For the habitation side, additions have been made, notable a Dometic roof air conditioner, a towbar and numerous little extras, including double power sockets, removal of the rear vinyl transfers, and the provision of a well built shelf in the rear boot. There is also a TV point, power point and 12V socket in the boot - no, not for the use by refugees, but for outdoor TV and CDs etc on those warm Italian evenings.
The interior is absolutely immaculate. Nothing else to say.
On Saturday, the van is going to TSC/Robert Jackson in Wakefield for the factory fit Freeview removing and the Oyster refitting.
The best feature to date is the remote controlled in dash CD player - connected to speakers above the lounge area, the dash and also above the bed. Sound qualilty is on par with my Bose system.
Swift excelled on the day by providing a copy of Sarah Beeny's book about dating - duly autographed. I am a big fan of SB, and so was the late Oscar. Those of you that knew Oscar will believe without doubt that he sat on my knee and watched property ladder. This book will be of real sentimental value, and joins other autographed books by Sarah Kennedy. My two heroines!
Swift rounded of the day with a small gift - a watch and also a quick look at a photo of Peter Smith's dog - a Weimaraner.
I know longer think of the van as "being a Swift", but think of it as "one of Peter's" if that makes any sense at all.
I am off to Italy on Monday for a high speed dash and will write a full review of the van then. My friend, a motorhome virgin is coming along, so she can help with the review.
I will see you all at the end of September at the meet. No doubt I will be loaded up to the rafters with foreign plonk.
Russell
