Swift Motorhomes

[nozzel]

A friend (here in the USA) intends to tour UK & Europe for at least a year with his wife and twin sons (tracing both sides of the family tree in England and Germany). They've seen a SWIFT KON TIKI 640 motorhome for sale, which they like and think will meet their needs. Being a 'brit RV'er' they've asked for my opinion on the make etc. My son will help them buy and register it. I can advise him of the chassis/engine problems to look out fore, but not the living area or bodywork. I've heard that Swift is having problems. I know owners have trouble getting repairs done by Swift through their dealers. Poor build quality, damp caused by leaking rain water and furniture/fittings failing after a few weeks use, true?

Can any Swift owners give me a truthful opinion of their vehicle, especially the 640

Many thanks........We've got until April.
Nozzel

 

[Diabalo]

Hi Nozzel

We had a new Swift Bessacarr back in 2007 it did have a few probs on the habitation side which Swift put right in a timely and satisfactory manner.

Had the base vehical problem with water leaking over the engine which again Fiat sorted out on a recall with a couple of other things.

If you are buying second hand all the little probs should have been sorted, Swift have got there act together now so a new one should be OK.

I have found Swifts customer service to be very good, it would be fair to say they where let down nythe dealer I got mine from, again that has been sorted out and it is much better now.

 

[Douglas]

A friend (here in the USA) intends to tour UK & Europe for at least a year with his wife and twin sons (tracing both sides of the family tree in England and Germany). They've seen a SWIFT KON TIKI 640 motorhome for sale, which they like and think will meet their needs. Being a 'brit RV'er' they've asked for my opinion on the make etc. My son will help them buy and register it. I can advise him of the chassis/engine problems to look out fore, but not the living area or bodywork. I've heard that Swift is having problems. I know owners have trouble getting repairs done by Swift through their dealers. Poor build quality, damp caused by leaking rain water and furniture/fittings failing after a few weeks use, true?

Can any Swift owners give me a truthful opinion of their vehicle, especially the 640

Many thanks........We've got until April.
Nozzel

In My opinion, if you want to keep them as friends don't recommend anything from the Swift group, they do not keep a stock of spares even for there current range and the likelyhood of getting spares for an old model are not good.

I can't even get a acomodation door for a 7 year old Swift and I have to buy a new frame, seals, locks, hinges and fly screen as what they can supply will not fit the original door frame.

Doug

 

[pappajohn]

hi Nozzle,

we have a 2001 Swift 640 L (L being rear lounge) and have had very few problems.
its built on the 3.85 tonne, 2.8ltr ducato with the chassis behind the cab being a full length Alko chassis.

Externally...... i cant fault it...except no ladder access to the roof.

internally ......the only problem was a broken bed frame/slat on the couch slides which make the bed base, soon fixed with glue and screws.
the roof in the overcab bed isnt high enough for two adults but fine for one or for kids.
the internal locker door stays are a poor design and dont hold the doors fully open but that aint a real problem...just inconvenient.

the fresh water draindown tap is just about inaccesable unless you have bendy arms and you need to unscrew and remove the dinette seat slats to get down the back of the tank to reach it. again inconvenient and may have been moved on other models. (it will on this one when i get round to it)


the 2.8 turbo deisel gives us 26/27mpg average.

all in all we love it and would buy another if we needed to.

john.

 

[shifter]

swift kontiki

i have swift kontiki 645.only probs was swivil drivers seat,was replaced by recall no probs.

5th gear pritty useless forever changing to 4th to 5th to 4th to 5th you get my drift :Angry:

apart from that i think they are a great MH best floor plan out of all makes and models

go for it theyl love it

:coolthumb:

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[Peter JohnsCross MH]

I have a varied selection of New and Used Kontikis in stock if you are interested in getting a good one!:thumb: and we would no doubt buy it back at the end of their tour.

Regards

Peter

 

[theresa]

we have had two kontikis in the past and had no probs . made the mistake of changing to an elddis .had LOADS of things wrong with that .

 

[lesleyjean]

I also have a swift Kontiki 640L

I absolutely love it.

The layout is of a U shaped rear lounge which converts into a large double bed, centrally located bathroom and wardrobe. There is a forward 4 seat dinette (converting to another double bed) opposite a stainless steel sink and drainer over a large fridge with good sized freezer. Next to this is the 4 burner hob and full size oven.
Above the cab there is a single bed. The passenger seat swivels to face any direction.
There is a huge amount of storage space throughout the vehicle including underfloor accessable from within the vehicle or from outside.

I leave the U shaped lounge bed made up when on holiday and use the 4 seat dinette for socialising if the weather is not good.
Fabulous layout, in my opinion of course.:Blush:

 

[Tiderus]

A friend (here in the USA) intends to tour UK & Europe for at least a year with his wife and twin sons (tracing both sides of the family tree in England and Germany). They've seen a SWIFT KON TIKI 640 motorhome for sale, which they like and think will meet their needs. Being a 'brit RV'er' they've asked for my opinion on the make etc. My son will help them buy and register it. I can advise him of the chassis/engine problems to look out fore, but not the living area or bodywork. I've heard that Swift is having problems. I know owners have trouble getting repairs done by Swift through their dealers. Poor build quality, damp caused by leaking rain water and furniture/fittings failing after a few weeks use, true?

Can any Swift owners give me a truthful opinion of their vehicle, especially the 640

Many thanks........We've got until April.
Nozzel

Hi Nozzel. Have an 08 Swift Bessacarr E789, Had a couple of minor things that aren't worth mentioning. So pleased I'm awaiting a Swift 649 in March, Miss the end lounge of the Arapaho, but not the build quality. Thinking about it I had some water drip down from condensation on my first trip when it was raining and cold. That was from the roof void, but none since. So a truthfull opinion is go for it.

 

[weymard]

Here in France, Kon-Tiki 640 had a very good reputation of reliability and comfort (1996 and followings model to 2000). For the recent I do not know they are not any more imported.

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