New Motorhomes - What do you really get?

Barclaybasher

Barclaybasher

Joined
Apr 13, 2012
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Mobilvetta Euroyacht
Exp
1996, then break 'til 2011
I can see the point of buying new if you needed particular features but apart from that what do you get?

I have 2 MHs, a 5.5m 1991 poptop Eriba and a 7.5m 2001 mobilvetta A class.

They both have similar spec, blown air heating, boiler, toilet and shower. One is a daily driver but you have to make the bed up, the other has more space and a fixed bed.

The Eriba is 'basic' wind up windows, no electronics.

The Moby has electric windows, mirrors and step and aftermarket cruise - it's a 2001 - what, apart from styling has really changed in nearly 20 or even 30 years?

.
 
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Base vehicle will have more toys and features, especially environmental and safety. So same size engine has more power, for hopefully better MPG and less emissions. Modern vehicles now start to have things like stability controls, hill hold. I suspect you've got toys like DAB radio (OK so you could upgrade older vehicle) inbuilt sat nav, air con, depending on models.

Conversion is probably a better overall spec for things like insulation. Most lighting will be efficient LED (so yep that could be upgraded). In theory newer appliances are better, but I'll agree it's difficult to see how you can make much difference to a cooker or hob unit.

On the other hand, perhaps the older tried and tested vehicle conversion has proven to be robust, compared to the modern lighter weight trends.

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Scotch mist said:
Just go and drive a 30 year old car never mind a MH and I’m sure you’ll find the difference
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I have noticed very little difference in cars motorhomes or HGVs regarding the driving experience over the last 20 to 30 years.Previous to say 1980 yes but since then don't think much has happened other that they are all more complicated.BUSBY.:LOL::LOL:
 
Robert Clark said:
With a new motorhome you can be certain that nobody has pooped in your toilet, peed in your shower, shagged in your bed, or worst of all

Crunched your gears

New is best !
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Not too sure that is true, someone piddled in a new motorhome. Owner posted on here today. I would have told them to keep it. :(
 
ABZSteve said:
Not too sure that is true, someone piddled in a new motorhome. Owner posted on here today. I would have told them to keep it. :(
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That’s disgraceful
I’d be prepared to accept an accidental botty belch, but anything worse ...

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ABZSteve said:
Not too sure that is true, someone piddled in a new motorhome. Owner posted on here today. I would have told them to keep it. :(
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Plenty of folk peed in my vans before I bought them;)
 
ABZSteve said:
Agree.
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My sister once said to me "I wouldn't buy or sleep on a second hand bed"

I replied - how many hotels have you stayed in?

...
 
busby said:
I have noticed very little difference in cars motorhomes or HGVs regarding the driving experience over the last 20 to 30 years.Previous to say 1980 yes but since then don't think much has happened other that they are all more complicated.BUSBY.:LOL::LOL:
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Not sure I totally agree.

We are on our third MH - first was a 2004 X240 Ducato base, then a 2010 X250 Ducato base and then a 2016 X290 van conversion with comfortmatic. The latter two purchased new.

The driveability is what is different. The brakes in particular, are vastly superior. I had the brakes on the first 2004 van rebuilt, but they were still relatively rubbish. The newer vans also have better steering, come with cruise control and cab a/c as standard.

They just need to make the suspension a bit more comfortable and I think they've cracked it - mind the latest van is much better on that score than the 2004 version. :)
 
Barclaybasher said:
My sister once said to me "I wouldn't buy or sleep on a second hand bed"

I replied - how many hotels have you stayed in?

...
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That’s why we always insist on staying in the bridal suite

Not much sleeping ever happens in their bed

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mikebeaches said:
Not sure I totally agree.

We are on our third MH - first was a 2004 X240 Ducato base, then a 2010 X250 Ducato base and then a 2016 X290 van conversion with comfortmatic. The latter two purchased new.

The driveability is what is different. The brakes in particular, are vastly superior. I had the brakes on the first 2004 van rebuilt, but they were still relatively rubbish. The newer vans also have better steering, come with cruise control and cab a/c as standard.

They just need to make the suspension a bit more comfortable and I think they've cracked it - mind the latest van is much better on that score than the 2004 version. :)
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The driveability between the 1991 and 2001 vans is noticeable but the 2001 is as much a pleasure to drive as my Jag(y)...it's just more difficult to park !;)
 
Barclaybasher said:
The driveability between the 1991 and 2001 vans is noticeable but the 2001 is as much a pleasure to drive as my Jag(y)...it's just more difficult to park !;)
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What vintage is the Jag? ;)

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Wondering if it’s worth investing in a new Jag
Apparently the electric one is meant to be a Tesla beater
 
I bought my first (and maybe only) motorhome two years ago and decided on an older model (2006).
Two reasons.
1. I bought for £26k,(which wasnt cheap,but I was happy with the price)equivalent new van about £60k,and I couldn’t see the value in spending a further £34k.
2. It seemed to me that lots of folk had problems with newer vans,including brand new ones. What problems have I had........none,thank goodness.(y)(y)(y):D
 
Barclaybasher said:
2003 S-type 4.2 V8 Sport Automatic

Goes like the proverbial(y)
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OK, I'm sure it does; but again possibly not directly comparable to driving say a modern XE, which we are fortunate to own. (y)
 
mikebeaches said:
OK, I'm sure it does; but again possibly not directly comparable to driving say a modern XE, which we are fortunate to own. (y)
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Mine cost £2k off Ebay 2 years ago.....best value for money car I've ever bought..

80k miles and all the goodies(y)

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I think anyone worrying about pee should not visit an old French campsite.....
 
What you've never had you don't miss. But you do notice the difference when you drive a newer vehicle.

One day at an ex-workplace of mine, I drove a 2005 Citroen Relay (Same as the Ducato X244) panel van in the morning, and a 2010 new-shape equivalent model in the afternoon. Both were OK to drive but the 2010 model was noticeably quieter and more civilised, with a much much better cab interior.

Doesn't bother me that much though, as not long afterwards I bought a 2006 Ducato based motorhome - one of the very last of the "old" X244 shape - as it was around £7k cheaper than buying a "new" 2007 shape equivalent. As for toys, it came with aircon and electric windows, I added cruise control and a full "Soundkiller" kit, as I will admit it was a noisy van, which the new one wasn't.

Cars - I choose to drive a 2005 Audi A6, it was the top end 4.2v8 model at the time with every option going, the 1st owner spent a small fortune on it. I'm not going to pretend it's as good as its 2019 top end A6 equivalent, but I drove a "cooking" standard 2.0 diesel A6 as a hire car in France not long ago, and it wasn't as nice as my car I thought.

I could have a company car now, but it would be a BMW 3-series and a basic one at that, my employer is not generous with cars. It just doesn't float my boat - it would cost me a fortune in tax, and I don't think I'd enjoy it as much as my old A6, and as a distinct bonus the company pays me a decent allowance to use my own car.

It's on 140k miles now, eventually I'll have to replace it, not a clue what with though. That's the trouble of having a nice big V8 petrol (converted to LPG in my case) engine in a car - a rattly 4-pot turbo diesel just seems like the poverty option afterwards, even though they are now vastly superior to what they were like a few years ago!

I suspect I'll always be in the same vein - motorhome or car - happy to buy used, but I'll buy something top spec, well cared for but a few years old. I tend to hang on to vehicles for a while.

Each to their own though, and those buying new, please carry on, as I need you to buy my next vehicle! ;)

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