Hmmmm. Reading the replies doesn't fill me with hope of ever seeing an unbiased survey which is a shame.
The industry receives a lot of money from consumers who in turn need to have confidence they are buying a quality product. I have lost that confidence at the moment as I don't know which manufacturer to go for when the time comes to replace our van.
I partly agree with buying used and we take this approach with cars however because we are relative newbies (3 years) to caravanning, the idea of trying to fix problems with DIY frightens me a bit. I'm already fretting about trying to fix a one inch crack in the shower tray! I like the comfort that a warranty gives.
I have found the same problem, you think you have found the right van for your own purposes, then carry out further research only to find problems with the model you selected, sometimes serious faults. Definitely a mine field, and something I am not looking forward to when the time comes.
My feeling is that there is no consistency among any of the makes. One off the production line might be perfect and the next one a bag of trouble. They leave it to dealers and first owners to pick up problems during the pre-delivery inspection (ha ha) and during the warranty period.
Thats why I will never, ever buy new.
Buy used with a warranty, get it serviced every year and you are quids in.
Quote: Originally posted by alan29 on 09/8/2013
My feeling is that there is no consistency among any of the makes. One off the production line might be perfect and the next one a bag of trouble. They leave it to dealers and first owners to pick up problems during the pre-delivery inspection (ha ha) and during the warranty period.
Thats why I will never, ever buy new.
Buy used with a warranty, get it serviced every year and you are quids in.
Agree on the UK manufacturers. It seems, no pride on the manufacturing process or a company ethos that makes them "buy in". Very hard to change whatever the design as long as there is human intervention
Another reason why many German and Far Eastern manufacturers produce high quality products off the line, because of the culture of those firms
I seem to recall someone telling me that German manufacturers had solved the damp problem but they have other problems such as weak chassis (at least I think it was that).
I'd love the British and Continental manufacturers to get their heads together to create a problem free caravan. Knowing my luck they'd use the UK structure and sealing and a German chassis!
I can only say that our Abbey Spectrum 215 is 23 years old, and has got no damp issues at all.
There are people on our storage that have caravans not even 6 years old with major probs, from damp to leaking windows. We bought our caravan 3 years ago for £800.
He(Brian) has been well worth the money.
Quote: Originally posted by fradillian on 09/8/2013
I seem to recall someone telling me that German manufacturers had solved the damp problem but they have other problems such as weak chassis (at least I think it was that).
I'd love the British and Continental manufacturers to get their heads together to create a problem free caravan. Knowing my luck they'd use the UK structure and sealing and a German chassis!
And if they did make the damp free supervan would you like the layout?
We have never seen a layout we like better than the one we've got, and they don't make them any more. We are very happy with the 'van - so the only way forward for us is to mend it if it breaks and keep checking for leaks.
Yes, this is true. I love our current layout as the bunks and the table are at the rear of the caravan so the kids (and us) have our own space when we want it.
It's not so much the damp, although this is very important, it's more the whole package although I appreciate that a lot of appliances fitted belong to third party manufacturers. It's silly things like the quality of the build, bits of trim falling off, things cracking, ease of use etc.
Likewise it would be great if those who have problem free caravans from manufacturers that are still in production also commented to build a true picture of what's out there.
I think I'm going to start a caravan company. I'll call it Nirvana and make a caravan that will never leak or fall apart. It will have to cost £80k and weigh 4 tonne
------------- Love a lot. Trust a few. But ALWAYS paddle your own canoe!!
Minds are like parachutes:- They only function when they are open!!!
Those who talk don't know.
Those who know don't talk.
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Topic: Long Term Reliability Surveys
